Any time I see a copy of Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, I have this strong compulsion to buy it. Even though I already own it. Because this book is just that good.
(In fact, once I did buy a second copy – because I was staying at my parents’ and I needed something to read.)
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve read Prep. I wish I could go back to when I had never read it, JUST so I could read it again for the first time.
It’s the story of teen Lee Fiora who leaves her small town for a prestigious prep school, Ault. Seduced by storybook-perfect images of boarding school, Lee applies for a scholarship that she’s surprised to secure.
However, prep school life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Lee goes from being a loud, confident, high-achiever to a wallflower who feels eclipsed by the big personalities, designer clothes, and strict hierarchies of boarding school life.
There’s a lot of books that claim to see things through the eyes of the protagonist. For me, Prep does this astoundingly well. Sittenfeld can articulate complicated emotions and thought processes in such an incredible way, you really do feel every moment of Lee’s struggles: her heartache, her homesickness, and her realisation that the specialness that defined her life pre-prep has been stripped away.
I really think Prep is one of the finest books ever written about adolescence. As well as being an incredibly skilled piece of writing, it’s also really enjoyable to read.
I keep wondering when the Prep TV series will be announced, though I’m not sure something on a screen could really capture the magical characterisation and descriptions Sittenfeld is so good at. I’ve also read her book The Man of My Dreams, and the story is just as nuanced and moving as Prep. There are lines from both Prep and The Man of My Dreams that pop into my head all the time, which is how you know a book has really had an impact.
So if you happen to see Prep in a bookshop somewhere, please get it. (You probably don’t need to buy it twice though – unless you really want to.)
Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read.
Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler.
Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn and on Instagram.
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