Beth's review of The Westing Game
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The writing is straightforward, but the plot is anything but simplistic. An eclectic group of persons gather for the reading of a will. Sam Westing, multi-millionaire, has a mystery for them to solve — the winner receives the entire inheritance. But what, exactly, are they supposed to discover? And, though it’s only a game (the Westing game!), is one — or more — of the heirs in real danger?
The author herself describes this as a “puzzle-mystery” in the dedication — and it truly was like a jigsaw puzzle. As a reader, I found piece after piece of the puzzle as I turned the pages — and soon my mind was turning, trying to make sense of them all. Just when I figured it was getting too complicated, one or two pieces would fit together — and then, of course, new clues, new pieces would be added into the mix. Halfway through the novel, I was skeptical that the story would — could! — come together, there were just so many loose ends — but in the last forty pages or so...more
The author herself describes this as a “puzzle-mystery” in the dedication — and it truly was like a jigsaw puzzle. As a reader, I found piece after piece of the puzzle as I turned the pages — and soon my mind was turning, trying to make sense of them all. Just when I figured it was getting too complicated, one or two pieces would fit together — and then, of course, new clues, new pieces would be added into the mix. Halfway through the novel, I was skeptical that the story would — could! — come together, there were just so many loose ends — but in the last forty pages or so...more
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We're going to be reading this for book group. I had never heard of it, but your review has gotten me really excited!
I saw that it was chosen for book group -- and just after I'd read it! Weird. ;-)
I definitely thought it was worth reading. Since I posted this on my blog I got lots of people responding that its one of their favorites -- I don't think I'd care to reread it, necessarily, but it was a lot of fun.
I made Nathan read it (he finished it over the weekend). He didn't love it -- he was frustrated when he couldn't figure things out in the middle!
