The Queen's Gambit: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Engaging and fast-paced, this gripping coming-of-age novel of chess, feminism, and addiction speeds to a conclusion as elegant and satisfying as a mate in four. Now a highly acclaimed, award-winning Netflix series.
Eight year-old orphan Beth Harmon is quiet, sullen, and by all appearances unremarkable. That is, until she plays her first game of chess. Her senses grow sharper, her thinking clearer, and for the first time in her life she feels herself fully in control. By the age of sixteen, she’s competing for the U.S. Open championship. But as Beth hones her skills on the professional circuit, the stakes get higher, her isolation grows more frightening, and the thought of escape becomes all the more tempting.
Eight year-old orphan Beth Harmon is quiet, sullen, and by all appearances unremarkable. That is, until she plays her first game of chess. Her senses grow sharper, her thinking clearer, and for the first time in her life she feels herself fully in control. By the age of sixteen, she’s competing for the U.S. Open championship. But as Beth hones her skills on the professional circuit, the stakes get higher, her isolation grows more frightening, and the thought of escape becomes all the more tempting.
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I really enjoyed this book even though I never knew it was a book. Of course, I have heard of the Netflix show but I didn't start watching it until I finished the book last night. I had no idea what the book or show was even about. Sometimes that is the best way to read a book.
Beth Harmon is an eight year old orphan girl living in the early 1960's in Mount Sterling,KY, just east of Lexington. When Beth is given the task of going to the basement to clean the erasers, she observes Mr. Shaibel, the jaintor, playing chess. He begins to teach Beth the game and soon she surpasses his ability. When Beth is adopted, as a teenager, and enrolled in the local high school, she begins to enter local and state competitions and win. She is sharp and laser focused, replaying games in her head, studying and reading books on chess for 5-6 hours a day. By 16, she is competing in the US Open championship game in Las Vegas. As Beth continues to play the championship circuit (in a very much male dominated game), she grows more isolated. She was a child prodigy, obsessed with winning.
I really liked this book. It was beautifully written, suspenseful and entertaining. I only gave 4 stars because at times I grew bored with all the chess plays/descriptions of games, and the names of all her opponents were a bit confusing at times. I have never played a game a chess in my life and I am intrigued after reading the book.
Beth Harmon is an eight year old orphan girl living in the early 1960's in Mount Sterling,KY, just east of Lexington. When Beth is given the task of going to the basement to clean the erasers, she observes Mr. Shaibel, the jaintor, playing chess. He begins to teach Beth the game and soon she surpasses his ability. When Beth is adopted, as a teenager, and enrolled in the local high school, she begins to enter local and state competitions and win. She is sharp and laser focused, replaying games in her head, studying and reading books on chess for 5-6 hours a day. By 16, she is competing in the US Open championship game in Las Vegas. As Beth continues to play the championship circuit (in a very much male dominated game), she grows more isolated. She was a child prodigy, obsessed with winning.
I really liked this book. It was beautifully written, suspenseful and entertaining. I only gave 4 stars because at times I grew bored with all the chess plays/descriptions of games, and the names of all her opponents were a bit confusing at times. I have never played a game a chess in my life and I am intrigued after reading the book.
Rather droll after a while, probably because I'm not an avid chess player. If the main character was a man, I'm sure I wouldn't have picked up the book at all.
I have watched the Netflix show based on this book. I decided to read the book because I wanted to know more about Benny. I felt like he would have been addicted to gambling. I also felt like Bennie’s French friend would have been a Russian spy in the book. I thought surely a book would go into more detail. I was sad to find out that the series followed to book very, very closely. Not much more or interesting was revealed.
Excellent read. Even though I've never played chess I could follow the technical talk well enough and the story line is solid.
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