Special Topics in Calamity Physics [Hardcover]

 

 

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My initial interest in this book was mainly down to the fact that I had read numerous reviews comparing it to Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History', one of my favourite novels of all time. Having finished it, I can now say with confidence that these comparisons are inaccurate and lazy. The only real similarity between the books is that both concern an elite group of young people in an academic setting (in this case, a much-admired clique known as the 'Bluebloods' in an American high school) whose friendships are torn apart by an unexpected death. Otherwise, they are entirely different; 'Special Topics in Calamity Physics' is a very odd book - in fact, it's one of the strangest I have ever read.

At first, I felt sure I was going to dislike the novel. For a start, there's the narrative voice; Blue van Meer is an extremely precocious sixteen-year-old girl who narrates the story using constant references, comparing everything to something else (the book would probably be about a third of its actual length if Blue's incessant metaphors and similies were removed). The style is exhausting, and the continual attempt to cram as many references as possible into each sentence quickly becomes irritating. Blue's narration is smug and self-satisfied, and it's hard to reconcile this with the fact that the character is apparently a 'wallflower' with little confidence and no real friends other than her fiercely academic father. The characterisation is also, if not exactly bad, then strange - it's difficult to believe that the Bluebloods would actually be friends with each other (or that they would command the respect and awe they mysteriously seem to enjoy from their peers), let alone accept Blue into their clique, however reluctantly. They aren't remotely believable; they come across as a crudely drawn gallery of grotesques, none of whom you can envisage as real people. In fact, none of the characters are at all likeable - including Hannah, the supposedly charismatic teacher at the centre of the Bluebloods' friendship - although this is perhaps intentional.

However, despite its imperfections, the book did draw me in. For all that it irritated me, I never once thought about not finishing it, and around halfway through (once all the largely unnecessary exposition was out of the way) I found myself hooked. I was genuinely intrigued by the mystery surrounding Hannah's identity, which deepens in the final third, and I found the eventual denouement thrilling, with the way the tale unravelled coming as a genuine surprise. Incredibly (given the length of the novel), when I reached the final page, I actually found myself wishing there was more.

There are touches of brilliance in this book, but it's deeply flawed. On one hand, it's impressive that Pessl completed such a lengthy, complex debut at a relatively young age (27); on the other, her immaturity as a writer is evident in its faults. Her skill, wit and intelligence shine through sporadically, only to be obscured by unnecessary detail or missed opportunities - we really don't need to know the exact minutiae of every tiny thing that happens to Blue, and yet the chapters explaining her conclusions about Hannah's death and the conspiracy surrounding it could have benefited from more detail. 'Special Topics' left me feeling that Pessl is a hugely talented writer, but one still finding her feet, and yet to produce her magnum opus. It's certainly worth reading (if you're a persistent reader), but expect an impressive yet imperfect piece of work, not an absolute masterpiece.

I loved this book.

The narrator has an excellent tone of voice and it never falls into the trap of other teen-narrated books - this girl is no idiot. Blue Van Meer has been raised only by her high-brow, low-comfort father since her mother's death in a car crash years earlier, and they've travelled from place to place ever since; partly due to his modern ideas of schooling, and partly due to his inability to treat women well.

She's finally landed at St. Galway's, where the hip, culty kids she's being forced towards (very Secret History) make it clear they don't want her around. But unlike so many of these books, she doesn't really want to be around them either, and it's her fresh eye and lack of usual gullibility that make this book worth reading. Why should she hang around with these kids? Is her father hiding something from her? And what truths does the death of Hannah Schneider hide - or reveal?

Bloody brilliant. Addictive. You'll give it to everyone.

This is a very fresh, bubbling read from a young glamerous author who will go on to do great things. It's really a who-done-it, but the first half of the book contains some wonderfully observed references to literature and the interaction between school kids. Clever and witty, and in places reminding me of Joyce Carol Oates's - 'I'll Take You There'.

The second half tumbles at a hundred miles an hour, deepens in darkness, and after page 300 I just couldn't put it down. The injustices the main character - Blue - receives from her fellow 'bluebloods' is superbly observed and makes you want to scream out.

Minuses; The editors could have done more editing. Just when the storyline speeds up and the 'incident' occurs, we want to be getting to the denoument, but Pessl goes off on a thousand little tangents referring to stories in other works of literature that - frankly - I don't care about. I want to read Pessl's novel, not anyone elses. Also, Too Many Capitalised Words to underline common turns of phrase. It's distracting and ugly.

One more plus; slick old-skool presentation by Viking publishing; a very sexy dust cover on the hardback.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and Addictive
When I first picked up this book, I was expecting something entirely different. I thought it was going to be a pretty simple book about a teacher who has killed herself and how... Read more

Published 2 days ago by Sian

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Blue
This is a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant book. I loved every moment of it. A great place to submerge yourself. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Howard Change

5.0 out of 5 stars Desert island books
Review sections of amazon.co.uk are frequently rich in hyperbole-both overly positive and overly negative. Read more

Published on 25 Jan 2010 by Ed Foye

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read (but wish there was rather less of it)
I really enjoyed this book - the first part drags a bit but it picks up tremendously in the second half and the last few chapters took me totally by surprise. Read more

Published on 3 Dec 2009 by Book Critic

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting debut
I picked this book up on a whim because it had a pretty cover, funky title and was in a 3 for 2 collection. Read more

Published on 7 Nov 2009 by Sulkyblue

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely fun read!
Some readers found the constant annotations throughout this novel awkward and irritating. I found them to be tremendously funny and entertaining. Read more

Published on 21 Jun 2009 by Maureen A. Blake

4.0 out of 5 stars It's certainly different!
Judging by the conflicting reviews so far, I reckon the author should be proud of herself having produced a book about which no two people seem to agree, Not bad for a first... Read more

Published on 7 Mar 2009 by lily mandolin

4.0 out of 5 stars Perplexing and strange
It seems that readers of this book have not known quite what to make of it. Professional and amateur reviewers alike are clearly divided in their opinions. Read more

Published on 3 Nov 2008 by Trimalchio

1.0 out of 5 stars Please, for the love of god, call a spade a spade...
I would quite like to track down the reviewer who compared this work of nigh-incomparable dullness to The Secret History and enquire as to whether she has ever read Tartt's work... Read more

Published on 22 Oct 2008 by MJ Perry

3.0 out of 5 stars Completely misleading cover
a) Ignore the title - for all intents and purposes, it is completely irrelevant. I believe Stephen Hawking bought the audiobook and was furious. Read more

Published on 4 Sep 2008 by Mr. S. Fell

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