Books like special topics in calamity physics

This mesmerizing debut, uncannily uniting the trials of a postmodern upbringing with a murder mystery, heralds the arrival of a vibrant new voice in literary fiction. Special topics in calamity physics paperback roscoebooks. Marisha pessls dazzling debut sparked raves from critics and heralded the arrival of a vibrant new voice in american fiction. After a childhood moving from one academic outpost to another with her father a man prone to aphorisms and meteoric affairs, blue is clever, deadpan, and possessed of a vast lexicon of literary. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Is special topics in calamity physics required reading for devotees of inventive new fiction. No 617 special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl. She frequently appends citations to her own descriptions such as referencing an encyclopedia article on a hyena after describing. Books similar to special topics in calamity physics.

Unless your name is something along the lines of mozart, matisse, churchill, che. But the presence of pessls special topics on the times list shouldnt come as a surprise. Special topics in calamity physics, page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44. At the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific. Special topics in calamity physics, the dazzling debut of marisha pessl, is a buoyant combination of comedy, tragedy, mystery, and romance, a story of disturbing secrets and the eccentric high school student who uncovers them. Special topics in calamity physics made me stay up all night reading. Special topics in calamity physics ebook written by marisha pessl. I wanted to like special topics in calamity physics, just because the title alone kicks ass, doesnt it. Summary special topics in calamity physics, the dazzling debut of marisha pessl, is a buoyant combination of comedy, tragedy, mystery, and romance, a story of disturbing secrets and the eccentric high school student who uncovers them. Special topics in calamity physics 2006 is the debut novel by american writer marisha pessl. Marisha pessl has composed a complex narrative comprised of nuanced character development, ostentatiously long sentences and a smattering of cultural references, often directly cited, scattered about like sprinkles on a cake.

While it can at times be too clever for its own good, it has at heart a love of fiction as a transformative power, a belief in knowledge and learning, and a massive amount of ambition. The death might have been a murder or might have been suicide. After a childhood moving from one academic outpost to another with her father a man prone to aphorisms and meteoric affairs, blue is clever, deadpan, and possessed of. This young american authors first novel, the subject of a bidding war, was eventually sold to penguin for a. Special topics in calamity physics all the tropes wiki. Special topics in calamity physics the peculiar reader. But beneath all the jihad and june bugs, the juice never really came. The book was first published in august 2006 by viking press, a division of penguin group. Special topics in calamity physics is a darkly hilarious comingofage novel and a richly plotted suspense tale told through the distinctive voice of its heroine, blue van meer after a childhood spent moving from one academic outpost to another with her father a man prone to aphorisms and meteoric affairs, blue is clever, deadpan, and possessed of a vast lexicon of literary, political. As the story develops, we learn that the victim is one of a cast of extraordinary characters. Janet maslin, the new york times the joys of this shrewdly playful narrative lie not only in the highlow darts and dives.

Special topics reads like a real syllabus, and i was the student skimming over all the boring parts to get to the juicy stuff. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl books. Goodreads members who liked special topics in calamity. Special topics in calamity physics is a darkly hilarious comingofage novel and a richly plotted suspense tale told through the distinctive voice of its heroine, blue. Find books like special topics in calamity physics from the worlds largest community of readers. Praise for special topics in calamity physics a whirling, glittering, multifaceted marvel, delivered in an irrepressibly smart and flamboyant new voice. Its hard to pinpoint the plot of marisha pessls physics, which is part of its problem its many, many problems. The chapters are also named after great books like madame bovary and. Special topics in calamity physics, her debut novel, was a bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Special topics in calamity physics is a startling take on the thriller reading like a dawsons creek script interspersed with various oxford companions to literature and selected extracts from the encyclopaedia britannica. She lives with her husband and daughter in new york city.

Special topics in calamity physics book tulsa city. Special topics in calamity physics book chicago public. Marisha pessl is the author of night film and special topics in calamity physics, her bestselling debut, which was awarded the john sargent sr. The book had everything you wanted in a chick lit thriller. How i tricked my brain to like doing hard things dopamine detox. Suddenly, like a zanier secret history, she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. Similar books like special topics in calamity physics tastedive.

The chapters are named after literary works like othello, a portrait of the. Similar books like special topics in calamity physics. Authors, they just dont publish big story books like they used to. But so too is her frisky, smartypants debut, special topics in calamity physics, a 514page escapist extravaganza packed with literary and pop culture allusions, mischievous characterizations.

Special topics in calamity physics marisha pessls ambitious debut is a literary mystery a blend of the secret history and salingers glass stories with that rarest of delights. Special topics in calamity physics pessl, marisha on. Blue is compulsively literate, with a nearly perfect memory for the many books shes read and all the trivia her father has drilled her in. Special topics in calamity physics in an interview with marisha pessl and an excerpt from her book, we meet blue van meer, this years most appealing teen. I completely agree that mystery novel isnt the best appellation, and ive read both books you mention. Or maybe its not so much of a cross, but it definitely. It takes a while to get going, and blues incessant annotation is at times overwrought, but the gripping conclusion is. I wrote this account one year after id found hannah dead. Blue van meer is an eccentric, rich teenager who cant seem to make friends or remain in. In vivid prose sprinkled with literary and cultural. Special topics in calamity physics marisha pessl, 2006 penguin group usa 528 pp. I had heard so much hype about sexy marisha pessls debut novel, special topics in calamity physics, i stillettod right out on my lunch break to pick up my hardback copy.

Marisha pessl, the author of special topics in calamity physics. Unlike most books i finish, persevering through special topics in calamity physics was a hardearned effort. If you like special topics in calamity physics you might like similar books the keep, the imperfectionists, a visit from the goon squad, super sad true love story, the marriage plot. Special topics in calamity physics book by marisha pessl. Pessls book special topics in calamity physics, there was grumbling about another attractive young writer earning a big advance for a first novel. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read special topics in calamity physics.

Special topics in calamity physics paperback secret. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to special topics in calamity physics. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl this is a murder mystery. Special topics in calamity physics book san antonio. Books similar to special topics in calamity physics goodreads. Special topics in calamity physics is a darkly hilarious comingofage novel and a richly plotted suspense tale told through the distinctive voice of its heroine, blue van meer. Special topics in calamity physics pessl litlovers.