The San Francisco Chronicle says about Prep, "[It] conveys the inner world of an entirely typical teenage girl with remarkable warmth. One of the most tender and accurate portraits of adolescence in recent memory." I would have to agree. I can't remember a book I've read recently or maybe ever for that matter that transported me back to my high schools days as much as Prep did. And I mean that in a good way. Although the main plot line (a 14-year old girl who decides to go to a private boarding school rather than public school) isn't all that typical, the life she lives within that boarding school is. Sittenfeld's writing is excellent. She puts you inside the head of a typical teenage girl, and you just can't get out.From the memories of the great day with her secret crush to watching the queen-bee and wanna-be's, Sittenfeld includes everything to make you feel like you're living through high school all over again. I laughed out loud numerous times as I remember having so many of the same feelings that Lee (main character) has. You grow up as she does and feel for her as she just tries to make it through another day without screwing up.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I was getting ready to tell my parents that my 15-year sister had to read it. And that all ended when I got to chapter 8: Kissing and Kissing. For me, the chapter was completely unnecessary and ruined any chance that I could recommend the book to anyone and feel okay about it because of the descriptive love scenes, especially not my 15-year old sister.
Even with chapter eight included, I still really enjoyed this book, and Sittenfeld ends it out well. I would recommend it to anyone that likes good writing and well really anyone could read this. Just realize this recommendation comes along with my forewarning about chapter eight. If not for that one chapter, I would have easily given it 5 stars.
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I've had this in my to be read pile for a couple years now. Maybe now I'll get it read!!
ReplyDeleteI've seen this book at the library and used bookstore, but never been too sure about it. Next time I see it I'll have to pick it up.
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