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Special Topics in Calamity Physics

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"Dazzling," (People) "Exuberant," (Vogue) "marvelously entertaining," (The Dallas Morning News) Marisha Pessl's mesmerizing debut has critics raving and heralds the arrival of a vibrant new voice in American fiction. At the center of this "cracking good read"4 is clever, deadpan Blue van Meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic knowledge. But she could use some friends. Upon entering the elite St. Gallway school, she finds some—a clique of eccentrics known as the Bluebloods. One drowning and one hanging later, Blue finds herself puzzling out a byzantine murder mystery. Nabokov meets Donna Tartt (then invites the rest of the Western Canon to the party) in this novel—with "visual aids" drawn by the author—that has won over readers of all ages.

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More Video Reviews

242 Reviews

Love it (57%)  |  Hate it (24%)  |  On the Fence (19%)  |  Didn't Rate it (0%)
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From: Amazon Posted: Jun 20, 2008 Type: User Review Worth the words

There are so few books written today that are interesting, intellectually challenging and worthwhile. Although "Special Topics" is verbose it is also fascinating and completely worth the read--if only for the remarkable way the author brings all...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 18, 2008 Type: User Review Beware!

Yes, I know all the professional book reviewers love this book. Ignore them.

Reading this book was a trial. The author is so in love with her own "voice" that she does not know when to stop (a sentence, paragraph, chapter, or book)....
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 11, 2008 Type: User Review After 350 pages, a plot appeared...

Like lots of other reviewers, I'm really torn about my review. I think the author would make a fantastic poet - she strings words together in a way that's like chocolate - they're all smooth and creamy and yummy and make me want lots more. read full review | report as inappropriate





3.00 Star Rating
3.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 02, 2008 Type: User Review Absolutely wonderful novel

Absolutely wonderful novel. I enjoyed the book a lot.

The main characer is a girl named Blue who is easy to like.

Her world is filled with interesting and eccentric characters.

The suspense builds right up...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 30, 2008 Type: User Review In a word: Blaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

By the end of the first CD's listening to STCP, I was STCPed out -- but I persisted. So many great reviews, I thought. Greatness must lie up ahead...

16 additional CDs' listening, and 2 weeks later, having kicked, clawed, and...
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 30, 2008 Type: User Review A wonderful read.

After reading several reviews of Special Topics in Calamity physics, I was hesitant to read the book, but I am very glad that I did. Although the other reviews are correct in saying that the beginning is rather slow, the book gains speed right...
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4.00 Star Rating
4.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 27, 2008 Type: User Review Special Topics in Calamity Physics

Review of: "Special Topics in Calamity Physics"

By Marisha Pessl

This is a murder mystery. We learn of the mysterious death of one of the main characters early in the book. The death might have been a murder or might...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 26, 2008 Type: User Review Absolutely wonderful first novel

Loved it, loved it, loved it, loved it, LOVED IT!!!!!!!!! Do whatever you can to get your hands on this wondrously good read, post haste. And whoa, what a heartstopper of a plot twist in the final one hundred or so pages - absolutely astonishing...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 03, 2008 Type: User Review It could have been a good book...

I was NOT going to let this book get the better of me. I hung on for dear life, carting this 668 page tome around in my bags for nearly 2 months. For nearly 2 months, I endured some rather rotten characters in the first 434 pages to only have...
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2.00 Star Rating
2.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Apr 25, 2008 Type: User Review Shoot Me! Please!

I don't think I've ever been so disappointed in a book. I couldn't get past page 200. Here's a synopsis of those pages:

"I just wish I could fit in so long as I don't have to do anything to fit in like be friendly or something. I've...
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
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