I just finished reading The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart. This book was up for a Volunteer State Book Award. I am confused about how I feel about this book.
I really like the heroine's insights into boyfriend/ girlfriend relationships in high school. Some examples of great observations include:
"[Lots of girls] are so focused on their boyfriends that they don't remember they had a life at all before their romances, so they don't become upset that their boyfriend isn't interested [in their friends, interests, lives]."
"'He's letting me go,' she told Trish./ 'Letting you? Since when does he let you?'"
"Don't let him erase you."
The story is full of commentary on teenage relationships. I think this is a good story for a girl who is losing her identity in a relationship.
Where I become confused about my admiration for the character is when she infiltrates an all-guys secret society and starts living a life of lies. I still don't quite get her motivation for this. If you read the book, I think she should have just asked the guys (or just Matthew) at lunch one day if they had found the "Disreputable History." If she had done this and nothing more, she would have "show[n] them the tiniest edge of your secret, but the rest you keep under wraps." She would have made the guys feel like they were living in the panopticion.
Finally, I like the discussion of neglected negatives and other random grammar thingies. They made me smile.
Discussion: If someone reads this book, let me know what you think of it. Are you confused about Frankie's motivation as well?
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