Search - Prep

Very well written, this book felt in many places like a memoir rather than a fictional account. It's a coming of age story with a twist: although told in the first person and the present tense, the narrator's voice is obviously a bit older and wiser than the main character, viewing her own struggles and triumphs with an eye that is sometimes sardonic and sometimes wistful.

This is a great book. I thought it was well-written, and I was truly engaged in the life of the main character. I honestly couldn't put this book down and finished it in a few days. I could relate to all the emotions the character went through--in my past and present. I really loved this book!

I really enjoyed this and felt I could relate to the main character, Lee, on many levels. She's an unusually introverted, sensitive character; that's how she chooses to be. She isn't the butt of school pranks or even a victim of "mean girl" teasing, so don't even think that's what this book is about. Rather, this is just the collective views and thoughts of a midwestern girl trying to graduate from a WASPy New England prep school. Her narration and observations into her rich classmates are spot-on, from the casual way in which they pay $3000 for laundry service to the flowery bedspreads that cover the rich girl's beds. The whole rich vs. poor theme really didn't seem offensive, nor was it overly played. The part that struck me was the reaction of Lee's father, and the way his teasing became increasingly cruel and hurtful.
The end of the book, where there is conflict with Lee giving a scandalous "tell-all" interview to a NYT reporter seemed overly done and out of place. Aside from the ending, the book is quite entertaining.

I loved this one. Susan Cain referenced this book a few times in "Quiet: The Power of Introverts.." so I thought I'd check it out.

Lee is an introvert with an inferiority complex. On scholarship at a very wealthy New England boarding school, she manages to convince herself that she'll never match up with her peers at anything. This results in a shyness to participate in life, a keen observational style and sometimes snobbery. She can be an unlikeable character, but she is definitely one of the more honest and relateable characters in fiction today.

Some of the conversations and characters in her peer group are so spot-on, it's almost heartbreaking. There are no one-dimensional people, or situations, here. Some parts were uncomfortable to read, like her "relationship" with the only boy in class who pays any attention to her, and the way she treats a classmate and teacher, both of whom she disdains for trying too hard - but they ring true.

This is an engaging, well-written book with surprising depth. It's written from the point of view of Lee as an adult, so there's some removal from the teen angst, but it is angsty... But if you ever were a teenager, or an outsider, it comes highly recommended.

Loved this book! First discovered Curtis Sittenfeld through American Wife, which I also loved. Read Prep and Man of My Dreams, and Prep is definitely my favorite out of those three. For anyone who has gone off to college or prep school and felt like they weren't quite fitting in the way they thought they would, this is a perfect read.

An interesting read about a middle-class girl's experience at a prestigious boarding school from her freshman year to graduation.

The book is from the protagonist's perspective as she reflects back on her insecurities, challenges, classes, students and friendships. Sometimes its hard to like her. Sometimes you feel sorry for her. Sometimes you feel her pain. Sometimes you appreciate her sincere honesty.

I wouldn't call this a 'feel good' sort of fiction, but I would call it a possible realistic portrayal of girl who struggled through her teenage years with identity, love friendship, and family. The backdrop for the struggles just happen to be at a boarding school.