Book #69 of 2021:The Queen’s Gambit by Walter TevisI don’t love this 1983 novel quite as much as its
Book #69 of 2021:The Queen’s Gambit by Walter TevisI don’t love this 1983 novel quite as much as its ritzy Netflix adaptation, but it remains the strong story of a (fictional) female chess prodigy growing from a shy orphan to a capable international contender, thrilling even for audiences who aren’t able to follow the particulars of gameplay. I’m surprised to discover how faithful that miniseries has been overall, and the few changes I’ve noticed are uniformly improvements, like the dropping of an unnecessary early book scene wherein the child protagonist’s friend Jolene sexually assaults her and gets called the n-word in return.That aside, this volume is every bit the exciting sports saga and interesting bildungsroman I’ve expected after seeing the show. I wouldn’t go so far as to call Beth Harmon an antihero, but she’s fascinatingly unapologetic for her drug addiction and her small thefts from family and friends, and her complexities and insecurities make for a great character study. As with the actual tournament rounds and the mid-century setting — less of a period piece when author Walter Tevis was writing — these elements are probably more striking on-screen, but the heart of the narrative still captures a talented young woman overcoming personal challenges to reach the top of her field, and it’s easy to see why the title has endured.★★★★☆–Subscribe at https://patreon.com/lesserjoke to support these reviews and weigh in on what I read next!–Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter -- source link
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