Orphaned Beth Harmon is the newest child prodigy of chess. At age 18 will she beat the unstoppable Russians?
This novel is fast paced and follows orphaned Beth from eight years old until she is eighteen in Moscow facing the best chess players in the world, the Russians. Beth ends up in the Methuen Home, an orphanage for Christian girls, after a car crash claims her mothers life. Methuen is where Beth starts taking tranquilizers that will haunt her throughout the entire novel. She is brilliant in her studies and gets the honorary task of cleaning the erasers in the basement. There she meets Mr. Shaibel, the janitor, who teaches her chess and finds a child prodigy in the process. However, when she is 12 years old she is adopted and never sees Mr. Shaibel again. Beth begins playing in tournaments as a teen and learns that she is an outsider in this world just like she was at the orphanage and in school. She is one of the only girls who plays and she almost always wins. Beth and her adopted mother, Mrs. Wheatley, learn that chess can make them lots of money and help them live life comfortably. Beth plays chess in new and exotic places throughout her teen years while Mrs. Wheatley vacations and drinks to her heart’s content. Readers can follow Beth through the highs and lows of her teen years. She struggles with addiction and intimacy as she climbs higher in the chess world that does not favor women. This book makes non chess players want to delve deeper into the game and see if little Beth Harmon can outwit the Russians.
Tevis’ work is detailed and makes you visualize the chess boards and Beth’s home life as if you were in the room with her. Chronological chapters allow you to piece together Beth’s life from the time she was orphaned to being on top of the world. The ending is as expected but with a few twists and turns along the way.
You know, I didn't even realize that the Netflix show was based on a book! I had been meaning to watch it but honestly haven't had the time. Maybe reading the book would be a better way to get the story! It does sound quite interesting and I really appreciate chronological chapters haha. Books that skip back and forth between present and past are fun, but I do sometimes get lost. Thanks for sharing your review!
ReplyDeleteI have noticed Netflix has been on a book to movie or show kick and always look them up now. I try my best to read the series if I can find them. If you enjoy audiobooks I highly recommend this one! The narrator does a phenomenal job of bringing the characters to life.
ReplyDeleteExcellent job! You have a great opening and closing line and this reads like something that you could definitely see in Kirkus. I've been dying to see the show and now I have to read the book as well! Great job and full points!
ReplyDeleteThe show is great! I ended up watching it because of a post my outreach coordinator did about books that were now Netflix originals. I listened to the audiobook over a couple days because I did not want to stop knowing about her life. I hope you enjoy them!
Delete