Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl
Upon first plunge the book seems a slow stroll through the young years of a child’s transient life with her widowed father. They travel from one hum-drum rental to the next as her father begins yet another post as visiting professor to America’s lesser-known universities. Their overloaded Volvo station-wagon always filled with a thick cloud of intellectual conversations & lectures most adults would struggle to participate in; however, Blue’s wit and knowledge surpass the intellectual capacity of the average grown American. Several chapters in the pace hastens and shortly thereafter I found myself out of breath trying to keep up turning pages almost faster than I could consume the words upon them.
A highly intelligent, thriller. Twists and turns held my attention, while also being entertained by her brilliant (sometimes too lengthy) descriptions and the highly intelligent language and settings. At times a fun coming-of-age tale and others a slightly gritty thriller.
Pessl adds to her talented writing by contributing the ever-so- geeky element of frequent citations and footnotes (I believe to both existing & made-up works). A novelty that brought me great pleasure.
I found the book intoxicating. The day after finishing it I felt I was still in Blue’s world, experiencing the sensation usually reserved for the morning-after a vivid dream I just can’t seem to shake.
Lots of fun! Read it!
(Don’t follow all the links on her page until you’ve read it. It would be very sad if you read any spoilers.)
On SALE at Logos
Special Topics in Calamity Physics
By Marisha Pessl
$9.98 while supplies last
Logos has just received a handful of new journals from Paperblanks. Beautiful journals based on Japanese lacquer boxes with a magnetic closure. Prices from $4.95 to $14,95.