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claudiaslibrarycard 's review for:
I Have Some Questions for You
by Rebecca Makkai
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I Have Some Questions for You is well written and engrossing, if you like a slow, detailed mystery that examines cultural biases and the way power structures protect and sacrifice different people. After reading reviews both glowing and scathing, I was completely unsure what I would think of this book. I decided to give it a go on audio because it is narrated by Julia Whelan. As much as I love her narration, I know even she can't save a book (Re: The Measure), so I was prepared to DNF if the book wasn't working for me.
In fourteen hours of reading, DNFing did not cross my mind a single time. Yes this book is long, but it is well paced in my opinion with just enough happening consistently and a great balance of intrigue and reveals. So let's dive into the plot. Thalia was murdered in her senior year at an elite private school in New Hampshire. About twenty five years later, Bodie Kane returns to Granby School to teach a class and ends up intertwined with some teenagers who are making a podcast about the old case. A black man is in prison for the murder of Thalia, but is he truly guilty?
The book feels organized by suspects in the murder of Thalia Keith. Bodie methodically explores different potential suspects and lines of thinking around the murder, eventually leading us to the person she is speaking to in the book- thus the title "I Have Some Questions for You." But in true mystery novel fashion, that means there are still twists to be revealed.
Ultimately, I think this book accomplishes so much. Many criticisms center on the idea that the author takes on too many hot button issues like the Me Too movement and systemic racism in the justice system. I think what this book does so well is show that so many factors come together in any given scenario and we can't examine one without examining the whole.
So who is this book for? Someone who loves a private boarding school settting, appreciates a slow pace that maintains tension, and someone ready to sit in some uncomfortable topics without clean resolution. If that's you, jump in.
In fourteen hours of reading, DNFing did not cross my mind a single time. Yes this book is long, but it is well paced in my opinion with just enough happening consistently and a great balance of intrigue and reveals. So let's dive into the plot. Thalia was murdered in her senior year at an elite private school in New Hampshire. About twenty five years later, Bodie Kane returns to Granby School to teach a class and ends up intertwined with some teenagers who are making a podcast about the old case. A black man is in prison for the murder of Thalia, but is he truly guilty?
The book feels organized by suspects in the murder of Thalia Keith. Bodie methodically explores different potential suspects and lines of thinking around the murder, eventually leading us to the person she is speaking to in the book- thus the title "I Have Some Questions for You." But in true mystery novel fashion, that means there are still twists to be revealed.
Ultimately, I think this book accomplishes so much. Many criticisms center on the idea that the author takes on too many hot button issues like the Me Too movement and systemic racism in the justice system. I think what this book does so well is show that so many factors come together in any given scenario and we can't examine one without examining the whole.
So who is this book for? Someone who loves a private boarding school settting, appreciates a slow pace that maintains tension, and someone ready to sit in some uncomfortable topics without clean resolution. If that's you, jump in.