( 11 reviews )
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Posted: Jun 21 2009
I am a huge fan of E. Lockharts, but I have to admit, at first I couldn't quite get into this book. Maybe because of its artsy-ish tone - the heroine Gretchen Yee is a student at the Manhattan Art School, so everything about her (and for that matter everybody in the school) is art orientated and I can't quite identify with imaginative and artistic types. Maybe because of a bizarre twist in the middle, when the story becomes somewhat fantasy-like - Gretchen finds that her wish of becoming a fly on the wall a boys locker room, quite literally comes true. However the story really takes off (at least in my opinion) when we start learning about the world of male relationships, insecurities, secrets - the world which is a mystery to me up to this day. From then on the book is very hard to put down. The major themes of all Lockhart's creations - facing difficulties instead of hiding from them, taking charge of ones life, and women empowerment - are very present in this book and delivered very well. Another great book by E. Lockhart. Not the best written by her, but still worth your attention. P.S. For those parents who monitor their kids' reading, this book has some mature content - male "attributes" are discussed quite openly, but without being inappropriate in my opinion. Accusations by some Amazon reviewers of it being "pornographic" are unreasonable.
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Posted: Jan 26 2009
While much about this book was unique (the entire setting, for example), for the most part, it was the very bad kind of unique. From the very beginning, the dialogue and situations were just completely unreal. And then it just worsens. The main character, out of nowhere, in a seemingly "realistic fiction" book, turns into a fly, no explanation given, not even the dreaded "it was a dream". While she is a fly, no joke, the summary on the back is not lying-she spends her entire time in the boy's locker room. We grow to love none of the characters, and the majority of time is spent analyzing...well...naked guys. It's not something I wanted to read about, and I highly doubt most others would want to read this as well. It's just gross. It's not interesting, nothing engaging, very plotless and dry, and just plain disgusting. Rating: .5/5
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Posted: Nov 24 2008
I liked this book very much and while it wasn't my favorite by her, I still liked it. It teaches us that appearances can be deceiving and that we should be more understanding of others. Also that the way other people see us is not the same as the way we see ourselves. I am a teenager and I completely disagree with the parents who say this book is "pornographic". Trust me, if your kid goes to high school, he/ she already knows way more than you think. Anyway, I recommend reading this book by E. but also the rest of her books because they are even better.
