BOOK REVIEW: Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

I've avoided reading Prep for years. Nothing to do with the book and everything to do with this review, written by Curtis Sittenfeld in 2005. The opening lines ("To suggest that another woman's ostensibly literary novel is chick lit feels catty, not unlike calling another woman a slut -- doesn't the term basically bring down all of us? And yet, with The Wonder Spot, it's hard to resist.") kicked off a furore and made me dislike Sittenfeld intensely. (Even reading it now raises my hackles.)

But then I read and loved Sittenfeld's latest novel, American Wife, and some friends whose opinions I respect told me that Prep was brilliant. And, you know, five years have passed and I decided to let it go and have a read. And, oh my goodness, I'm glad I did. 

It's the story of Lee Fiora, who is a scholarship student at Ault, a prestigious East Coast boarding school. She feels like an outsider and finds it difficult to make friends. It's hard to say much more because there isn't exactly a plot, we just follow Lee through school. She's narrating it from the future, so she has some distance and can reflect on the mistakes she made and how her time at Ault influenced her life.

The most amazing thing to me was how much of it sounded like me. I'm 38, I know that many of the fears and insecurities you have as a teenager aren't, as you think at the time, exclusive to you, but SO MUCH of it sounded like me that it actually freaked me out a bit. I felt like Sittenfeld had been spying on me. In fact I thought, "This sounds so much like me. How did she know... Wait. Does EVERYONE feel like this?!" (Like I say, I'm 38.) Astonishing. 

The other thing I loved about it was that it all seemed completely real. I didn't feel like I was reading a book, I felt like I was spying on Lee's life. 

It's an incredible book. I loved it. You should read it. 

Comments

[Jenny]

I want to read this! Thanks for reminding me :)

[Michelle]

Huh. How strange. I just picked this book up from the library yesterday. You'd mentioned it awhile back because of the covers and then I saw Ms Mac's review on her book blog and there you have it. I will read it. Fairly soonish, too!

[diane]

This was one of those rare books that I found really hard to put down and wanted to hole up on the sofa with for hours (always the best kind).

I found it was tinged with melancholy, and Lee is just *so* awkward it's almost painful, but it was very realistic. I kind of wish it had been a bit happier, but that's not life, I guess.

Also, it made me realise that if I had a kid they will not, EVER, be going to boarding school. (Not that I'd want to send a child there anyway but... well, this book is not like Enid Blyton).

[SarahP]

Yes, yes and yes - I felt exactly the same way reading this book. I really enjoyed it and felt (painfully) for Lee. I loved American Wife, too, and will definitely read her next one... Has anybody heard any news on that front?

[Helen]

I'm finally reading Prep and so far, half way through, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I have to say I enjoyed America Wife more, but even so, I've become somewhat of a fan of Curtis Sittenfeld.

[Keris]

I enjoyed American Wife more too, Helen, but Prep has lingered longer, if you know what I mean.