The novel is the firstperson narrative of blue van meer, a bright teenager who since her mothers death has. There she becomes part of an uppercrust social set called the bluebloods and gets caught up in the mysterious death of their favorite teacher. Yet special topics in calamity physics is one of the most tightly plotted, carefully constructed narratives that i have read in recent years. She has studied an eclectic mixture of latin, english, and russian literatures, as well as theology the written word is simply what makes her tick. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl book. Organized as a great books course, the novel requires careful attention and literary knowledge from its readers, especially when blue spouts esoteric tidbits. Special topics in calamity physics made me stay up all night reading. I loved this book audrey niffenegger, author of the time travelers wife. Special topics in calamity physics, book by marisha pessl. Special topics in calamity physics, her debut novel, was a bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. A darkly funny comingofage novel and a richly plotted suspense tale told through the distinctive voice of its heroine, blue van meer. The chapter headings and references may suggest a book that goes off in various directions, plays with a range of discourses, and breaks all the rules. Special topics in calamity physics signed advance uncorrected proofs by marisha pessl and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Like kushner before her, pessl resisted the temptation to stick with a winning. So special topics in calamity physics is a faux literary book, a shelf with fake bookspines adorned with fancy names and titles, all of them hollow except for a few to fool the gullible. Special topics in calamity physics reading list 36 books. It takes a while to get going, and blues incessant annotation is at times overwrought, but the gripping conclusion is. Special topics in calamity physics is your first novel. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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. At the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic knowledge. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl alibris. Aug, 2006 like alan bennetts delectable and brilliant play the history boys, now on broadway, special topics in calamity physics tells the story of a wise newcomer who joins a circle of.
Donna tartt goes postmodern in this eclectically intellectual murder mystery. Ted gioia writes on music, literature and popular culture. As i had only recently discovered it, i turned to the many other people who had already discovered it for advice. On the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific. Blue van meer, daughter of a womanizing widower, has spent her entire life following her erudite father on sixmonth stints to the small posts he chooses at obscure universities. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl reading guide. The book was first published in august 2006 by viking press. At the center of this cracking good read is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic knowledge. Special topics in calamity physics literaturesalons blog. Special topics in calamity physics crisscrosses genres, moving from a road trip narrative to a high school expose and finally concluding with a murder mystery. Extravagant, witty and dark, special topics in calamity physics is a sprawling campus novel, an intricate murder mystery, a comingofage tale and a sly satire of intellectualism and academia. Special topics in calamity physics book by marisha pessl. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl. At more than 500 pages, special topics in calamity physics isnt a quick read, but it is a captivating one.
Extravagant, witty and dark, special topics in calamity physics is a sprawling campus novel, an intricate murder mystery, a comingofage tale and a sly satire. This young american authors first novel, the subject of a bidding war, was eventually sold to penguin for a. Special topics in calamity physics kindle edition by. Marisha pessls dazzling debut sparked raves from critics and heralded the arrival of a vibrant new voice in american fiction. This study guide consists of approximately 23 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of special topics in calamity physics. Marisha pessl was born in 1977 and lives in new york. And yet pessl keeps the focus on that shelf for a good deal of the time. Special topics in calamity physics, by marisha pessl. She lives with her husband and daughter in new york city. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
Her book was met by critics with resounding praise and made it to the new york times bestseller list in 2006. Special topics in calamity physics wake county public. Gareth is a perennial visiting lecturer, who raises blue in a series of obscure towns throughout america. Special topics in calamity physics, by marisha pessl the. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl kirkus. Learn more about our phased reopening approach during the covid19 pandemic.
Special topics in calamity physics kindle edition by pessl. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading special topics in calamity physics. 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 marisha pessl, author. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl books. It is also a given that many will automatically compare special topics or, as i like to call it, the book that is bound to wind up on many endoftheyearbests lists to donna. Dec 12, 2006 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. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl goodreads. And marisha pessls skylarking book will leave readers salivating for more. The first hundred pages of this wildly idiosyncratic. An anglicized california native, n r nolan has been writing since a child.
Think back to some of the places that they have lived, and the accompanying americanathe walmarts, chain restaurants, and suburbs that blue and her father drift through. On the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic info. Special topics in calamity physics book depository. At the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl, signed. At the center of special topics in calamity physics is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific. The novel concerns a teenager who, after spending the first three years of high school moving each semester with her eccentric teacher father, settles in in a north carolina town for her senior year. First novel prize now the center for fictions flahertydunnan first novel prize and selected as one of the 10 best books. 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. Reading guide for special topics in calamity physics by. What was the inspiration for this very original story. 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 internet archive. At the center of this cracking good read is clever, deadpan blue van meer, who has a head full of literary, philosophical, scientific, and cinematic. One of the main attractions may have been that pessl was only 28 years old when she first published her novel. The death might have been a murder or might have been suicide. We learn of the mysterious death of one of the main characters early in the book. Special topics in calamity physics kindle edition by pessl, marisha. I wrote this account one year after id found hannah dead. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Pessls debut, 2006s special topics in calamity physics, was a smash critical and popular success that fetched a sixfigure advance, and now she needed to produce a followup that somehow topped it. Marisha pessls dazzling debut special topics in calamity physics is an inventive comingofage novel and a book lovers dream. Special topics in calamity physics 2006 is the debut novel by american writer marisha pessl. Im also rereading the spoils of poynton and will take several weeks to get through it, although it is a short novelat least for henry james. 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. The book was first published in august 2006 by viking press, a division of penguin group.
As the story develops, we learn that the victim is one of a cast of extraordinary characters. Videos about marisha pessls special topics in calamity physics discussion questions. 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 introduction part i. Marisha pessls special topics in calamity physics is an unforgettable debut novel that combines the storytelling gifts of donna tartt and the suspense of alfred hitchcock. Dazzling, people exuberant, vogue marvelously entertaining, the dallas morning newsmarisha pessls mesmerizing debut has critics raving and heralds the arrival of a vibrant new voice in american fiction. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our pro connect email alert. Like alan bennetts delectable and brilliant play the history boys, now on broadway, special topics in calamity physics tells the story of a wise newcomer who joins a circle of. Download special topics in calamity physics pdf ebook. 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, political, philosophical, and scientific knowledgeand is. Blue van meer is the main character, chief protagonist, and narrator of the novel special. Special topics in calamity physics by marisha pessl this is a murder mystery. Marisha pessl is the author of night film and special topics in calamity physics, her bestselling debut, which was awarded the john sargent sr. Special topics in calamity physics reading group choices.
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