Prep: A Novel

Definitely insightful but not my cup of tea.

Can relate to the emotions this girl felt in prep school...

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Sure, this is a wonderfully written and insightful novel that includes a realistic view of private high schools and socioeconomic, racial and gender politics in general. Sittenfeld digs deep into the protagonist Lee Fiora's psyche, which strengthens this novel as a whole. However, though Fiora is relatable, Fiora could be an extremely unlikable...more

I have mixed feelings about this novel. Sure, this is a wonderfully written and insightful novel that includes a realistic view of private high schools and socioeconomic, racial and gender politics in general. Sittenfeld digs deep into the protagonist Lee Fiora's psyche, which strengthens this novel as a whole. However, though Fiora is relatable, Fiora could be an extremely unlikable character who is snobby, superficial and extremely insecure. As I was reading this novel, I was getting extremely annoyed by the main character. Nevertheless, this novel is greatly recommended to anyone who has felt alienated in a private or a predominately wealthy institution due to their social economic status or their ethnicity. 3.5/5   hide

I really did not like this book. The only reason I finished it was because I was reading it for a book club. I had to make myself finish reading it and there was just nothing to the ending.

I hated it. But maybe that's because it was a little too close to my life story for comfort. Right down the the fact that she was from the same town in Indiana as I was...

An OK read. I found I didn't "bond" with the main character though. Not even close to the quality of Sittenfeld's, "An American Wife."

Good, smart, guilty pleasure Summer read. I think that about sums this one up in its entirety. I completely enjoyed this one, while being simultaneously embarrassed and sympathetic for the main character, Lee. Prep takes the reader along with Lee in her journey as a scholarship student in a prep school. Lee was painfully aware of her surroundings and her peers. She examined...more

Good, smart, guilty pleasure Summer read. I think that about sums this one up in its entirety. I completely enjoyed this one, while being simultaneously embarrassed and sympathetic for the main character, Lee. Prep takes the reader along with Lee in her journey as a scholarship student in a prep school. Lee was painfully aware of her surroundings and her peers. She examined every facet to its death and many times this left her lonely and feeling terribly awkward. But I liked her so much and recognized a little of myself in her while I was in high school that I just had to keep reading.   hide

This book was weird to me. I liked it in the sense that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. However, the main character was hard to swallow. She is a 13-year-old girl who somehow finds the gumption to go out east to boarding school, even though no one in her hometown of South Bend, Indiana, has ever considered such a thing. Seems like a girl with some backbone. Once...more

This book was weird to me. I liked it in the sense that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. However, the main character was hard to swallow. She is a 13-year-old girl who somehow finds the gumption to go out east to boarding school, even though no one in her hometown of South Bend, Indiana, has ever considered such a thing. Seems like a girl with some backbone. Once she gets there, though, she spends the entire time pretty much letting everyone else make her decisions for her, and not ever taking a stand about anything. It's just weird. I couldn't admire her, and although her life is not a happy one while she is there, I couldn't feel sorry for her, either, because it's all of her own making. Not sure what message the author's trying to send.   hide

This was the first English book (novel) I have ever read. Even so, it was a page turner. But I still think it was overrated by the New York Times book review, which was the reason that I wanted to read it. Maybe it is not meant for people at my age?