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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “ |
Didn’t Like It4 of 4 members found this review helpful “I'm honestly torn -- I wanted to be able to give this book a higher rating, really I did -- but the fact is there's only so much clever I can take. And "clever" began to feel like the point of Pessl's weighty tome less than a quarter of the way through. |
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“great read. one of my all time favorites.”
Michelle L wrote this review 4 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'm not sure what I was expecting from this novel, but it completely blew me away. It is by no means perfect and lacks plot development at times but Marisha Pessl is undoubtedly a genius. So much so that I felt quite inferior and uneducated in comparison.
rachel wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
As much as I enjoyed it myself, I recognize that this book will not appeal to everyone. Therefore, I would only recommend it to a few sophisticated readers who can tolerate extraordinary amounts of witty, deadpan humor and will not be overwhelmed by Pessl's somewhat excessive use of literary and cinematic references. ”“This novel has a very self-conscious engagement with literature, and tests how sophisticated your reading is. Epic similes and extended metaphors are found on almost every page and go on and on throughout the novel. Pessl's deep understanding of literature, and the arts in general, allow her to use such intricate and elaborate literary references. Like Nabokov's Lolita, this book catches the bad reader - it's meant to trap the reader who just wants to read for plot. If you can stomach extended metaphors and epic similes and that no real plot development (in terms of detective fiction) occurs until well over the half way point of the novel, and if you have some understanding of the literary world and the arts in general, this book is a must read. I highly recommend it. I think in a few years I will read it again, a great work of meta-fiction. ”
Teni T wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“
Deanne G wrote this review 13 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Wow. It's been a very long time since a book did a complete turn around in my mind like this book did. In the beginning I was so completely overwhelmed by the authors constant interjections that I didn't care a hoot for the story itself. By the middle of the book I was a little more numb to it, and by the end I was so engrossed in the characters and intrigued by the story that it truly didn't faze me much. Though Ms. Pessl made me feel inferior and somewhat unschooled, I was impressed with her expansive wealth of information. She must truly be a genius and is most definitely a very gifted author. I'm tired from trying to keep up with her, but so glad to have read the story. Stick with it folks, it's worth it.”1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Verbose but excellent, nonetheless.”
Ira E wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Multi-layered who-done-it with witty, enjoyable narrative. Refreshing and original.”
Alice I wrote this review Wednesday, October 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Fun. Ms. Pessl has a lot to prove though, what with her constantly name-dropping other books...should I be impressed that the author read so many classics? No, because it didn't make her own book any better.”
Leif wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Blue van Meer, an intelligent adolescent, moves during her senior year with her college professor father and widow to a small liberal arts college community. She is befriended by a high school teacher and four other students under her Svengali-like mesmerizing influence. The teacher is not all what she seems to be.
John W wrote this review Monday, September 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Although I thought the book could have used some better editing since it dragged unmercifully at times, the authors metaphor use is quite beautiful.”
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“The prose is at times, weighty and arduous to sift through, as Blue describes things in meticulous detail, comparing them with quotes from famous (sometimes fictional) textbooks, however, the book is consistently gripping, especially the last section of the book, where everything is tied together and explained. It's very promising, and I hope Marisha Pessl writes more books.”
Timothy S wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl is an exercise in reference checking. Trying to figure out all the literary references is a calamity for sure.
Mike R wrote this review Friday, September 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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