Special Topics in Calamity Physics

by Marisha Pessl

Book Overview

A New York Times Ten Best Book of the Year

The mesmerizing New York Times bestseller that combines the storytelling gifts of Donna Tartt and the suspense of Alfred Hitchcock

Special Topics in Calamity Physics is a darkly hilarious coming-of-age tale and a richly plotted suspense story, told with dazzling intelligence and wit. At the center of the novel is clever, deadpan Blue van Meer, who has a head full...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143112120
• ISBN13: 9780143112129
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 528 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

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 have been suicide. As the story develops, we learn that the victim is one of a cast of extraordinary characters. We know from the start of the death. When it happens, the sequence of events is still surprising. The main character is a precocious teen girl named Blue van Meer. She has extraordinary talents, exceptional perception and is a dynamic central character. The reader quickly builds up sympathy and concern for her welfare. The gradual introduction of revolutionary cabals, conspiracies, hidden societies and secret identities keep the readers attention up to the astonishing ending. Other reviewers noted the overuse of illusion and metaphor. I felt that the literary illusions added to the story. Both Blue van Meer and her father, Gareth van Meer, are academics in a closed circle of literati. Their frequent references to literary scenes and characters, both real and fabricated, felt very natural in this setting. Even the fabricated literary references add to the tale. Note that there is an interesting web site for "Special Topics in Calamity Physics." The web address is: http://www.CalamityPhysics.com/main.htm I liked this book very much and I recommend it to others.

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 have been suicide. As the story develops, we learn that the victim is one of a cast of extraordinary characters. We know from the start of the death. When it happens, the sequence of events is still surprising. The main character is a precocious teen girl named Blue van Meer. She has extraordinary talents, exceptional perception and is a dynamic central character. The reader quickly builds up sympathy and concern for her welfare. The gradual introduction of revolutionary cabals, conspiracies, hidden societies and secret identities keep the readers attention up to the astonishing ending. Other reviewers noted the overuse of illusion and metaphor. I felt that the literary illusions added to the story. Both Blue van Meer and her father, Gareth van Meer, are academics in a closed circle of literati. Their frequent references to literary scenes and characters, both real and fabricated, felt very natural in this setting. Even the fabricated literary references add to the tale. I liked this book very much and I recommend it to others.

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 and well worth the time the novel takes to set it up. I did NOT see that coming, not by a long shot!! Yes, STIRP is very similar in plot to Donna Tartt's "The Secret History" and it won't be for everyone, as it is very idiosyncratic and wordy. However, I think its idiosyncratic style is perfectly in keeping with the character of chief protagonist and narrator, Blue Van Meer. Blue is a certified 16-year-old genius (IQ 175) who, thanks to her erudite college professor father, is remarkably well-read in all manner of subjects, both arcane and pedestrian. The narrative makes clever use of this, annotating the text with references to all the great and minor works that Blue has read. I found this plot conceit unique and charming and it endeared Blue to me as a character. As a bookworm myself, I can instantly relate to another one! I highly recommend this most unusual novel and have given it 5 stars. It is absolutely terrific, rivetting from page one, and I look forward to further works by the very talented and creative Marisha Pessl.

If you're still on the fence....

I'll be honest, I almost bypassed this book. The reviews were off putting. The over all ranking was not good. Phrases like "pretentious" and "overly loquacious"were sprinkled liberally throughout the reviews. This all added up to a "I should pass on this one" in my book. Even the positive reviews mentioned numerous negative aspects. So why did I read the book? Someone asked me to. Since they asked nicely, I complied, if not without some misgivings. Wow, what a clever, refreshing read. Less of a whodunnit and and more of a what the....? It's the book you go back and re-read the first chapter after you're done. It's the book you don't care how late it is or how early you have to get up the next morning. It's the book you're sorry when it's over. It's the book with clever asides that make you chuckle, or you just don't get, but it doesn't matter. It's the book that you wouldn't mind reading again. A brief plot summary wouldn't do it justice or be accurate. If I said Blue and her father have worked all their lives toward Blue graduating high school as valedictorian and getting in to Harvard you would think it's a coming of age chick lit book. But there is more than that involved. If I said the book details the harrowing experiences of Blue as she struggles to find her niche in a clique driven private school, it wouldn't even begin to scratch the surface of the real plot. If I made some obscure reference to Blue's blazing intellect that she uses in an effort to solve one of the greatest mysteries of her life, you'd wrongly picture her as Nancy Drew. If I said it is more a story about social revolution, terror cells and secret societies that wouldn't be quite right either. It is hard to summarize without spoiling the story. What you read is a heavily referenced, pseudo research paper that details Blue's efforts to understand the many events that unfold over the course of her senior year of high school. All in all it's a great read. If you're still undecided, consider this a little shove towards diving in.