Just got it today and hoping for a good read.

I tried reading this. Got all the way up to page 130 and just couldn't force myself to go further. To me it was unbalanced and her character was completely unlikeable. Too meek, yet unbalanced like the book. Once minute she would be all deep and intuitive, the next shy and blank, the next giggling with her friend. Is that what high school is supposed to be like? One of the critics said that the novel was just like how high school was. Um...I'm in it, and for me, high school is nothing like the book. It wasn't completely horrible. I just realized I had better things to do with my time. Why is it that I find the books covered with raving reviews to be bad?

This book is reserved for a book ray.

Current participants:
SqueakyChu (U.S. Only)
Gothamgal (U.S.)
EllyMae58
Karenlea
Directionshome (U.S.)
KarenZero (U.S.)
KateKintail
Skcreader (No Restr'n)
Blaisezabini12
CandyDarling (lives in Finland)
Hshah

Got the book today! Was it ever well wrapped!!!

I had to clarify one number of the BCID that I thought was a 9 and which turned out to be a 7. I wrote a small note on the title page so no one else will be confused by this.

This book was fabulous! Thank you so much, refracted-light and gothamgal, for allowing me the time I needed to finish it. It was worth every minute.

For me, high school was something I experienced over 40 years ago, but, by reading this book, I was brought back to many of the feelings I harbored back then. I was struck by the author's detailed prose which covered four years (and over 400 pages) of Lee's high school years without my even once losing interest in the story.

Although I attended public high school, my daughter attended private high school (having graduated 1 1/2 years ago). I could really understand what the author way trying to say about such things as Lee's feeling anxious among both girls and guys, being embarrassed at her parent's cluelessness, worry about a family's background, and the stress of a crush. Reading this book seemed like a composite of both my and my daughter's high school years (as only I could interpret both).

I wish this book a long and safe journey. I hope others enjoy the pleasure of reading it as much as I did. Thank you, refracted-light, for sharing such a gem.

This book is now in the mail to gothamgal in Ohio.

P.S. to gothamgal. If you're wondering what those things are on the packing slip, they are two crocuses (a white one and a purple one) from my spring garden! :-)

Just received in mail. Can't wait to read it. There is a really great bookmark, thanks Squeaky!

Normally it is in college when the average student leaves their family to travel an extended distance to attend a prestigious school, in her first novel, Curtis Sittenfeld takes readers into the dazzling world of prep school.

Lee Fiora is fourteen when she leaves a small town in Indiana for the infamous Ault school near Boston, Massachusetts, thanks in part to a large scholarship.

But being away from home proves hard for the narrator, she slips into a shy, self-conscious phase, further setting this unwealthy girl apart from her outgoing upper class counterparts.

Lee doesn't realize how much power she has as a little fish in the big pond (she even gets someone expelled) until it's too late. As we see Lee throughout her high school years, it is hard not to recall your own triumphs and tragedies--that angst-ridden first kiss, problematic classes and that one terrible roommate you just don't 'get.'

For me, this novel was reminiscent of my college years. My one regret in the whole novel was that Lee didn't seem to grow in the intense way I expected her to (with her environment). At times, I felt she needed to get off the metaphorical cross she put herself on. Then again, everyone has embarrasing high school stories--I give this a conflicted 4 tires.

I got this book as a part of a bookring on Friday and was finished with this book on Saturday, despite a busy schedule. I was fully immersed in the story, but felt there was more, especially at the end of the story, Sittenfeld could have done to fully invest readers into Lee's character.

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Random House
420 pages
ISBN: 081297235X

This arrived sometime while I was on vacation in Oregon. I just got back last night.

I'll be passing this on immediately. While in Oregon, I attended Wordstock, and heard Curtis Sittenfeld speak, and had her autograph my own copy of the book.

Caught!!! I have five books ahead of this one (rays/rings, but I should be able to get to it soon. I am a fast reader and it looks like a quick read. Thank you for sharing!!!

I utterly enjoyed this book. Although I didn't go to a boarding school, I did attend an arts magnet school and many of the characters and situations rang true to my high school and even college years. I loved Sittenfelds style and I look forward to reading her other novels. I just really loved this book!!!

I will be mailing it off to the next reader on either Monday or Tuesday.

Thank you for sharing!!!!

Received book in the mail.
I wil be mailing it to the next reader.

Received this in the mail today. I have 1.5 books ahead of it in my reading list, but I really can't wait to start it! Thanks!

I just finished this (very sorry to all that it took me so long).

I've been wanting to read it ever since I read the review in The Washington Post (which is mentioned on page 415!). I never attended bording school (though I did go away to college for 5/6 years) but I've always been fascinated by stories set at ones (Catcher in the Rye, Dead Poets Society, A Separate Peace, Peace Breaks Out, Harry Potter, etc). It did not disappoint!

My favorite stories are character-driven ones, and I definitely fell in love with Lee Fiora (as a shy but observant person, myself) and her take on the people she comes in contact with. She has a fascinating skill for observing and understanding people, and analyzing the world around her. And the prep school setting made for some interesting insight. It only made sense for that to get her into trouble on more than one occasion, but the adventure is a wonderful one to go on with her. I agree that she wasn't always brilliant with her insights... but I thought that was realistic- we all see the world a certain way, and it was fascinating to see things through her eyes, I thought.

Thank you, refracted-light, for letting me read it! (Sorry you didn't enjoy it as much)

Breeze144 and BarterHordes passed on the book (both acquired copies and read it already) so I shall be mailing it out to Skcreader tomorrow during my lunch break.

(Edit: "tomorrow" was a government holiday, so it ended up being Wednesday)

received today and will start reading tonight!

read in two days - quick, fun read! Now on a journey to Romania!

Picked up today from the post office. It looks great! Thanks so much for organising this ray:) I will post more comments after reading it.

23 February 2007: This is one of the books I am going to start recommending to all my friends! I've loved it so much especially because it seemed so honest. Plus it was so similar to real life, where things do not always turn out as you would like them to.

I have pmed the next reader on the list for the address.

Got the book in the mail today, thank you!

The book was released on the book exchange shelf in Vuosaari library.

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Happy Reading!

I took this from Vuosaari library a few days ago when I released another book there. What a long journey this book has already had!

I got interested in this book because I like boarding school stories and it was fascinating to read about Lee's life at Alt. I did like the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed it got more and more boring and I started to dislike Lee's character, which was a pity, since the first chapters really got my hopes up.

Prep will continue in EU bookbox!