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[CCBC-Net] Narrative voice in Disreputable
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From: Lynn Rutan <lynnrutan>
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:21:21 -0400
I am sorry to be slow in chiming in here and I hope I have enough coffee in me this morning to make sense ;-)
The narrative voice was a strong one, I agree, and I can certainly see that people have responded differently to it. For me, the ironic tone of the voice was reminiscent of the Wodehouse stories even though those are in first person. One of the elements of Frankie that I liked most was the very subtle exploration of gender politics and I think the narrative voice underscored the contradictions in what Frankie believed, how she behaved and eventually how she began to change.
Frankie, for all her initial irritation with the male power dominance, does what lots of girls do. She loves the idea of being the girl friend of the BMOC, loves the idea of being in love, loves sitting at the senior table and the change in her status. Then slowly, gradually, she starts to feel uneasy about the situation, the role she is put into and she starts to flex her own muscles in a really intriguing power play. Still - Frankie, even as she fights back with those hilarious practical jokes, falls right into the very same gender expectation trap in the way she regards her roommate (who may be the most empowered character of the whole book). I don't have the book here so I can't quote text but I think the narration heightens the reader's awareness of this irony.
Other thoughts on Frankie:
I appreciated how Frankie grows throughout the book, beginning to understand not only all those unspoken rules that have governed gender power and relationship expectations but also her own strengths and what is going to be right for her. Frankie makes mistakes but she is young and by the end of the book, I felt that she was firmly on a path that would let her be true to herself. I had the sense that Frankie was just beginning to figure out how to beat the rules and take over the world and the next time it was going to stick ;-)
I'm a sucker for word play so all the Wodehouse stuff really tickled my funny bone and of course Wodehouse was perfect for Frankie to be reading! This was just a great package with interesting issues explored with finesse, very witty humor, and an appealing heroine. This is a book with great depth yet exceedingly accessible. A great Printz choice!
Lynn Rutan Librarian Holland, MI lynnrutan at charter.net
Received on Wed 25 Mar 2009 07:21:21 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:21:21 -0400
I am sorry to be slow in chiming in here and I hope I have enough coffee in me this morning to make sense ;-)
The narrative voice was a strong one, I agree, and I can certainly see that people have responded differently to it. For me, the ironic tone of the voice was reminiscent of the Wodehouse stories even though those are in first person. One of the elements of Frankie that I liked most was the very subtle exploration of gender politics and I think the narrative voice underscored the contradictions in what Frankie believed, how she behaved and eventually how she began to change.
Frankie, for all her initial irritation with the male power dominance, does what lots of girls do. She loves the idea of being the girl friend of the BMOC, loves the idea of being in love, loves sitting at the senior table and the change in her status. Then slowly, gradually, she starts to feel uneasy about the situation, the role she is put into and she starts to flex her own muscles in a really intriguing power play. Still - Frankie, even as she fights back with those hilarious practical jokes, falls right into the very same gender expectation trap in the way she regards her roommate (who may be the most empowered character of the whole book). I don't have the book here so I can't quote text but I think the narration heightens the reader's awareness of this irony.
Other thoughts on Frankie:
I appreciated how Frankie grows throughout the book, beginning to understand not only all those unspoken rules that have governed gender power and relationship expectations but also her own strengths and what is going to be right for her. Frankie makes mistakes but she is young and by the end of the book, I felt that she was firmly on a path that would let her be true to herself. I had the sense that Frankie was just beginning to figure out how to beat the rules and take over the world and the next time it was going to stick ;-)
I'm a sucker for word play so all the Wodehouse stuff really tickled my funny bone and of course Wodehouse was perfect for Frankie to be reading! This was just a great package with interesting issues explored with finesse, very witty humor, and an appealing heroine. This is a book with great depth yet exceedingly accessible. A great Printz choice!
Lynn Rutan Librarian Holland, MI lynnrutan at charter.net
Received on Wed 25 Mar 2009 07:21:21 AM CDT
