Review of 'Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
did this an audiobook, and it started awkwardly... but i'm sure it was just the format that was awkward. because, as the story unfolded, and the main character revealed her sharp eye for teenage culture (upscale as it may be in this particular setting) - i fell in love with frankie landau-banks.
this book is littered with nuggets of truth about the siren comraderie of boys, the deeply rooted chavenism of modern institutions, and the dilema of classism. all that sounds highbrow and uninteresting to teen culture, but how about how a boy prefers his girlfriend to be weak and helpless? or how power (male or female) is exerted in social situations when one pretend not to remember you, or something you said? how a girlfriend, unceremoniously dumped, is immediately excised from her former boyfriend's social circle. how frankie notices that she enters her boyfriend's world entirely, but he never …
did this an audiobook, and it started awkwardly... but i'm sure it was just the format that was awkward. because, as the story unfolded, and the main character revealed her sharp eye for teenage culture (upscale as it may be in this particular setting) - i fell in love with frankie landau-banks.
this book is littered with nuggets of truth about the siren comraderie of boys, the deeply rooted chavenism of modern institutions, and the dilema of classism. all that sounds highbrow and uninteresting to teen culture, but how about how a boy prefers his girlfriend to be weak and helpless? or how power (male or female) is exerted in social situations when one pretend not to remember you, or something you said? how a girlfriend, unceremoniously dumped, is immediately excised from her former boyfriend's social circle. how frankie notices that she enters her boyfriend's world entirely, but he never bothers to visit hers. how girls' witness male bonding - 1) find it boring and don't bother to show up, 2)watch from the periphery with other girls, or 3)wholeheartedly join into the fun thereby gaining acceptance and even respect.
so much of teenage life is instinctive reaction: frankie's quick mind analyzes the situation as it occurs and weighs her reactions. i love how regular events are deconstructed and shown as a potential power struggle. frankie never lets her identity belong to anyone or any one group. all teenage girls should read this book.