special topics in calamity physics/marisha pessl

[DarrellSHivers]

Excitedly started this , thinking, similarities to The Secret History/Donna Tart, but golly it seems to just go on and on. It seems as if the author is trying to show my how well-read she is rather than entertain me.Going to keep going though.
Anyone else in progress or finished it, what do you reckon?

did you ever finish it?
I've just read it and it did get really good in the last 3rd - but the first 2/3rds could really have done with some editing! And it was very self-conscious - not sure if that's the actual writer's style, or whether she was doing it on purpose because that is what the narrator was like. It WAS worth sticking with it in the end, but I know I glossed over a lot of it because it just got on my nerves.

I think it was a bit of a mistake that they marketed it like the Secret History - yes was a bit similar in the small incestuous group, New England-ish setting etc. but that was it really.

so, all in all, I thought there was a good book in there, somewhat obscured by a lot of smart-arsedness. (new word alert). Someone else must have read it too?

At last someone else has read it.
I agree it picked up quite a bit and the conspiracy stuff was good.
I also ended up speed reading it , and ignoring some of the blind alley bits. I read a review which said it needed about a 1/3 of it edited away, and I would agree.
I thought she showed talent , but needed next time to concentrate on the story rather than how 'smart-arsed ' she was.
Interesting point however that she was writing as the narrator, who was obviously well read.
Some bits have stuck in my mind, like when she is in the woods, having lost the teacher and she hears the swinging noise. Chilling