Prep: A Novel

published	November 22nd 2005 by Random House Trade Paperbacks
binding	Paperback
isbn	081297235X (isbn13: 9780812972351)
pages	448
description	Curtis Sittenfeld's poignant and occassionally angst-ridden debut novel Prep is the story of Lee Fiora, a South Bend, Indiana, teenager who win...more [close] Curtis Sittenfeld's poignant and occassionally angst-ridden debut novel Prep is the story of Lee Fiora, a South Bend, Indiana, teenager who wins a scholarship to the prestigious Ault school, an East Coast institution where "money was everywhere on campus, but it was usually invisible." As we follow Lee through boarding school, we witness firsthand the triumphs and tragedies that shape our heroine's coming-of-age. Yet while Sittenfeld may be a skilled storyteller, her real gift lies in her ability to expertly give voice to what is often described as the most alienating period in a young person's life: high school. True to its genre, Prep is filled with boarding school stereotypes--from the alienated gay student to the picture perfect blond girl; the achingly earnest first-year English teacher and the dreamy star basketball player who never mentions the fact that he's Jewish. Lee's status as an outsider is further affirmed after her parents drive 18 hours in their beat-up Datsun to attend Parent's Weekend, where most of the kids "got trashed and ended up skinny-dipping in the indoor pool" at their parents' fancy hotel. Yet even as the weekend deteriorates into disaster and ends with a heartbreaking slap across the face, Sittenfeld never blames or excuses anyone; rather, she simply incorporates the experience into Lee's sense of self. ("How was I supposed to understand, when I applied at the age of thirteen, that you have your whole life to leave your family?") By the time Lee graduates from Ault, some readers may tire of her constant worrying and self-doubting obsessions. However, every time we feel close to giving up on her, Sittenfeld reels us back in and makes us root for Lee. In doing so, perhaps we are rooting for every high school student who's ever wanted nothing more than to belong. --Gisele Toueg [close]
date added	12-13-06 edit book

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Anna rated it:

07/07/07

recommends it for: prep schoolers

Having attended a prep school myself, I found the descriptions of prep school logistically were fairly accurate. It was a strange flashback into life with boarding students and the activities/events that surround going to an elite private school that focuses greatly on matriculation into Ivy Leagues.
Despite the vague nostalgia that I felt at times, the protagonist was extremely hard to identify with, although she did have characteristics that could have made her more sympathetic. What I belie...more Having attended a prep school myself, I found the descriptions of prep school logistically were fairly accurate. It was a strange flashback into life with boarding students and the activities/events that surround going to an elite private school that focuses greatly on matriculation into Ivy Leagues.
Despite the vague nostalgia that I felt at times, the protagonist was extremely hard to identify with, although she did have characteristics that could have made her more sympathetic. What I believe this book portrayed was the angst-ridden judgement and insecurities felt by a less wealthy prep schooler...completely maximized in a way that stereotypes students at prep schools and the emotions that lie inside a teenage mind.
While this book was an extremely quick read, therefore proving that it wasn't so painful that you put it down completely, the main character remained fairly unchanged in her views, and even in retrospect, lacked the ability to see that by judging those around her, she had pigeon-holed herself.
What many people believe, in real life, I have found, is that those who attended the elite boarding schools of America are rich, ungrateful, spoiled and unlikeable people. What many people don't see is the fact that these types of people exist everywhere--in or outside of prep schools. Therefore, while many of them do attend these schools, it is unfair to believe that everyone who attends these schools are as such. Unfortunately, the protagonist has a few glimpses into the world of the wealthy, and some moments of clarity where she realizes that riches or popularity don't necessarily lead to happiness, but she still neglects to see the bigger picture, or fully understand that sentiment. Believing that others are ostracizing her for her lower income, her financial aid, or her general social awkwardness, she ends up isolating herself in a manner that ends up more frustrating than heartfelt.
There are many identifiable moments in the book, which are best served to those who went to prep school and felt, at times, a little bit out of the loop. It speaks especially to those who were not considered the "cool kids" but so desperately wanted to be, but in the end, it remains a tale of woes from a girl who has judged herself worse than others could have ever judged her, and who remains closed to the idea that everyone is lonely sometimes....less

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Renee rated it:

01/31/08

Read in January, 2008

I liked this book as much as I thought I would, I suppose. I wasn't expecting too much. At parts, probably because I'm in high school right now, I can really relate to Lee's observations about her school, friends, etc. On the other hand, sometimes she just starts to get frustrating. She is so detached from everything and everyone (even her "friends") and I wanted her to find some sort of happiness by the end of her years at Ault School.

(SPOILERS!!!)

For a while there, it seeme...more I liked this book as much as I thought I would, I suppose. I wasn't expecting too much. At parts, probably because I'm in high school right now, I can really relate to Lee's observations about her school, friends, etc. On the other hand, sometimes she just starts to get frustrating. She is so detached from everything and everyone (even her "friends") and I wanted her to find some sort of happiness by the end of her years at Ault School.

(SPOILERS!!!)

For a while there, it seemed like she was pretty content, but then all of the sudden she reveals to the NY Times reporter that she's not happy at all and she really dislikes boarding school. It just made the whole lead-up to that point seem like a waste. She was making improvements in herself, found a real friend, really changed from the socially awkward and invisible girl she was as a freshman. I didn't think she'd be happy, smiley, enthusiastic girl at the end of high school, but I at least thought she'd admit that her time at Ault had been alright. She didn't seem THAT miserable toward the end until she said it to the reporter. And when she did say it, I was just as mad as her father. Why in the world did she stay so long at Ault if she hated it there? Why? Is she a masochist? I just don't get it.

And her entire relationship with Cross annoyed me terribly. He was only in it for the sex, obviously. She told herself that she loved him, but obviously she was just in love with the sex too, and the comfort in knowing that he liked her enough to come to her during the night. I just found it all a little contrived too. Lee has an enormous crush on Cross, the golden boy, for years, and then suddenly he shows up one night and starts kissing her? They barely even know each other. He could have had any other girl in the school he wanted and yet he chose detached, awkward Lee? He never says why he likes her so much. He even admits that he wouldn't ever have been her boyfriend. But I don't blame him. I blame Lee. She knew all this, and yet she let it happen and let herself believe that it was love and not just sex. She even told him that she didn't want them to be seen together in public. It was her fault, and that's what makes it so frustrating. I wanted to slap her out of it.

(End of Spoilers!!!)

So all in all, it was just alright. Some parts I really identified with, others really frustrated me, and in the end, I just wish that Lee could have made more progress in her life. Throughout the entire thing, she's terribly apathetic. I just really wanted her to find something or someone to believe in. ...less

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