Hey guys!
This week has been a bit complicated and with two weddings, baking, events and work... my reading and my motivation has suffered a bit. And let's not talk about my messed up emotional state. I hoping to pick up my reading and be able to schedule a bit more in advance so I don't feel like I'm running around like a headless chicken.
After a massive book hangover when I finished Ruin & Rising, I wasn't even sure what to read, but then I remembered that I still hadn't read the middle grade classic chosen for The Midnight Garden's Classic's Read-a-long for June, so I decided to give it a try! So happy that I did, cause it was the right book to get me off that massive hangover! Thank you Wendy for suggesting this one! And after talking about it yesterday on the discussion post, today I have is as my Saturday Pages entry!
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Westing Game is one of those classics that I hadn't heard of before the ladies at The Midnight Garden chose it as June's book for the read-a-long. And now that I've read it, I want to quick myself for not having read it a long time back! This is a book that I've loved and that I know a younger me would have adored too!
This is a delightful book, a murder mystery middle grade that is full of social comentary but that never once sounds preachy. That's one of the things that I don't seem to get over too easily on classic books like these, they sound way too preachy for the adult me.
The Westing Game starts with a bunch of new tenants taking their new houses in a new building, and right from the start we see something more is going on. There's a clear Agatha Christie feel to certain parts of the book, but not in a way to feel like it was bothersome and felt like a copy. Not at all, but it just gave you that feel of clever mystery and deep understanding of human nature.
It's a bit hard for most of the book to think of one character as the main character although I'd consider Turtle the main character. She's a young girl, very clever, very brave and with a big tendency to kick shins and to treat her braid as her defining point. She knows about the stock market and deals with lack of emotional connections.
All characters are somehow connected with each other and with Sam Westing, the man that is found dead and that wants his heirs to discover who killed him to claim their inheritance, and there starts the Westing Game. The game not only has us going after red herrings and suspecting people left, right and centre but also serves as a way to show us what makes each character tick and who are these people and what's going on in their lives.
I found myself turning the pages faster and faster, making new theories and throwing them away as some new details were revealed here and there, and I was right suspecting the right guy but I wasn't even close to discovering all that was behind everything!
The ending was great and that little epilogue was the right way to tie everything together and I loved knowing what happened with everyone.
A wonderful classic that I hightly recommend if you haven't read it yet! 5 well deserved stars!
View all my reviews
This week has been a bit complicated and with two weddings, baking, events and work... my reading and my motivation has suffered a bit. And let's not talk about my messed up emotional state. I hoping to pick up my reading and be able to schedule a bit more in advance so I don't feel like I'm running around like a headless chicken.
After a massive book hangover when I finished Ruin & Rising, I wasn't even sure what to read, but then I remembered that I still hadn't read the middle grade classic chosen for The Midnight Garden's Classic's Read-a-long for June, so I decided to give it a try! So happy that I did, cause it was the right book to get me off that massive hangover! Thank you Wendy for suggesting this one! And after talking about it yesterday on the discussion post, today I have is as my Saturday Pages entry!
The Westing Game by Ellen RaskinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Westing Game is one of those classics that I hadn't heard of before the ladies at The Midnight Garden chose it as June's book for the read-a-long. And now that I've read it, I want to quick myself for not having read it a long time back! This is a book that I've loved and that I know a younger me would have adored too!
This is a delightful book, a murder mystery middle grade that is full of social comentary but that never once sounds preachy. That's one of the things that I don't seem to get over too easily on classic books like these, they sound way too preachy for the adult me.
The Westing Game starts with a bunch of new tenants taking their new houses in a new building, and right from the start we see something more is going on. There's a clear Agatha Christie feel to certain parts of the book, but not in a way to feel like it was bothersome and felt like a copy. Not at all, but it just gave you that feel of clever mystery and deep understanding of human nature.
It's a bit hard for most of the book to think of one character as the main character although I'd consider Turtle the main character. She's a young girl, very clever, very brave and with a big tendency to kick shins and to treat her braid as her defining point. She knows about the stock market and deals with lack of emotional connections.
All characters are somehow connected with each other and with Sam Westing, the man that is found dead and that wants his heirs to discover who killed him to claim their inheritance, and there starts the Westing Game. The game not only has us going after red herrings and suspecting people left, right and centre but also serves as a way to show us what makes each character tick and who are these people and what's going on in their lives.
I found myself turning the pages faster and faster, making new theories and throwing them away as some new details were revealed here and there, and I was right suspecting the right guy but I wasn't even close to discovering all that was behind everything!
The ending was great and that little epilogue was the right way to tie everything together and I loved knowing what happened with everyone.
A wonderful classic that I hightly recommend if you haven't read it yet! 5 well deserved stars!
View all my reviews
I've not heard of this book before! Sounds interesting and to hear it pulled you out of the Ruin & Rising slump says volumes! I'll have to check it out eventually.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about it before, but I wish I had! I highly recommend it, Kristen! If nothing else, eventually for you and your boy!
DeleteThis sounds really intriguing! I always find it a wonder how a MG can successfully pull off a murder mystery, and with enough suspense to keep you chasing the pages. I really need to read this one as well... I'd love meself some good whodunit story. And it's even a classic! God knows how many classics I've read (guess: it's less than my fingers). Thanks for reminding me, Pili!
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato Reviews
Well, this read like a fantastic story for all ages, even if sometimes we're reminded that the main focus is Turtle, and she's like 12... This one felt like it could hold its own against some Agatha Christie stories, so it was a lot of fun! I hope you'll check it out, Faye!
DeleteI haven't heard of this one but dang, five stars?! Wow! I don't read too many Middle Grade books anymore, unfortunately :( Must rectify that! This one is a classic, eh? I'll check it out :D Fabulous review, Pili!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
I might even push this one on you for September! It was a delight! =D
DeleteWow, that book sounds excellent! I love how everyone is kind of interwoven with each other's stories and the social commentary sounds great! Thanks for the review, I love discovering new books.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend this one, Jeann! It was a quick read that was really clever and kept me guessing!
DeleteAw, yay :D Amazing review sweetie. <3 I have not heard of this book before, but it makes me happy that you loved it :D It do sound good. Also, *hugs* <3 Hoping you are feeling better sweetie. :)
ReplyDeleteI am feel a little better today, but I think I'm gonna have ups and downs for quite a while... *hugs*
DeleteThank you sweetie!
Eeeeeee, it makes me so so happy that you loved this, Pili! THE WESTING GAME is dear to my heart, and sometimes the structure can be too much for some readers, so I'm always thrilled when friends end up enjoying it. I don't think it feels like an outright copy of Agatha Christie either, although she is clearly influenced by her--I think it's awesome that Raskin adapted the structure and tropes to suit a middle grade audience, and it still stayed a book that's clever enough to be enjoyed by adults. I personally think her characterization is a lot more nuanced and memorable than Christie's too, but I'm also biased. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining along with these readalong discussions, Pili! We always love chatting with you about books, but it's so lovely that you help introduce readers to classics as well.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Thank you, Wendy, for helping me discover new (old) books that are wonderful! I love your blog cause it's YA for adults, and it's nice to see that there are more adults like me out there that love YA!
DeleteI'm a big fan of Christie, so I'm biased towards her but that doesn't mean I can't say how amazingly clever her plot was and how well crafted the characters are!
PS--two weddings?! And are you feeling okay, re: emotional state, or did you mean RUIN AND RISING? We are still so crazed that I haven't had a chance to read that yet (IIII know, and I have three copies in this house right this minute), but it looks like things will get back to normal after the 20th, so I have my fingers crossed I can get to it then.
ReplyDeleteWendy @ The Midnight Garden
My emotional state in itself is really not very good at all, and Ruin & Rising gave me a bad reading hangover, so it was a combination of things! And YESSSSSSSSSSS, READ IT ALREADY, I WANNA DISCUSS IT!!!!
Delete