13th book of 2021
Reading period: Feb 04th 2021 – Feb 10th 2021
Summary
When she is sent to an orphanage at the age of eight, Beth Harmon soon discovers two ways to escape her surroundings, albeit fleetingly: playing chess and taking the little green pills given to her and the other children to keep them subdued. Before long, it becomes apparent that hers is a prodigious talent, and as she progresses to the top of the US chess rankings she is able to forge a new life for herself. But she can never quite overcome her urge to self-destruct. For Beth, there’s more at stake than merely winning and losing.
Rating
Review
I had a reading slump just after starting this book, but when I begin it again, I finished it quickly as I was diving into it.
There is a gripping thing which makes you read this book and do not stop it before finish reading it. I knew that it was set in the 50s/60s, but it was so contemporary that sometimes, for me, it was happening in our decade. I think it’s due to the writing and some of the elements still in our society, even decades later. You connect to the main character, Beth, as you follow her through her life and see her becoming a woman.
The chess part of the story wasn’t the easiest to read for me as I don’t understand this game at all. However, it was my favourite parts; it was like watching Beth while she is playing and sharing all her feelings. You have great tension during those games, and it is well transcribed in the book.
The way the author describes her life, her addictions, her relationships has a truth to it. It was like listening to a real person and not a fictional one. I was sometimes surprised by her age as she is a genius. I also like how she is a quick thinker and doesn’t care to be a woman in a man’s world.
Now I can watch the Netflix mini-series, as I wanted to wait and read the book before do it.
Liz.
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