“I'm about 3/4 through, I've been really enjoying it and want to recommend it to my 19-year-old daughter...for whom it seems to be written. College girl looking back on her momentous high school senior year.
Unlike most of the comments here, I love the conceit of her being "home-schooled" by her egghead Dad while criss-crossing the country from one college town to another -- instead of listening to the radio or ipod, she has to read an incredible "syllabus" of books aloud to him, and then discuss the concepts together, making her the most erudite, best-read kid in any school she attends. Six months is the usual timeframe at any given school before moving on the next town -- Dad's a guest lecturer on the small college circuit, his topic being violent uprisings and revolutions throughout history. Mom died tragically when Blue was 3, so she and Dad are best friends that hang out watching film noir on late-night tv in motel rooms and rented houses.
Yes it's a conceit, but pretty original to me, and continually entertaining. Hey, every novel's got a gimmick, it's just that some are more transparent than others.
Anyway, I'm finding the writing fun, the mystery compelling -- I was disappointed to read below someone complaining about the ending. I'll be sure not to read any more of these comments in case there are spoilers.
As I said up top, this review is from a Dad's perspective. I bet most of these reviewers are a lot younger than I am...”
posted Thursday, December 6 2007