Name: The Beginners
ISBN: 9781594487996

Rebecca Wolff

Struggling for a greater understanding of the world as she approaches young adulthood in her sleepy New England town, Ginger is drawn to newcomers Theo and Raquel Motherwell and becomes fascinated by their past at the same time she reaches a greater understanding of her community's dark history. 20,000 first printing.

The Beginners

Kerri McDonald

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The Beginners has got to be the most confusing thing I've read in a very long time. Seriously.

The story follows a young girl, Ginger Pritt, and her interactions with a new couple that moves to her small town called Wick. As I took it, it was a story about exploring herself and relationships. Along the way, she explores the history of her small town, as well. The synopsis made the 'dark' history of the town seem like it played a lot more a role in the book than it actually did. Unless I was missing something... which is entirely possible since, as I said, I was very confused.

Let me say right now, though, that the writing was superb. It was rich and thought provoking, something I haven't been exposed to in awhile. I especially enjoyed the way feeling was conveyed. It brought me back to when I was fifteen and learning about sex and similarly alien things that had been 'icky' up until then. It was expressed almost exactly as I remember it! There were times that I felt Ginger's voice was a little more adult than it should have been, but she is portrayed as a very intelligent girl, so maybe that was supposed to be attributated to that. Otherwise, though, I really enjoyed the writing.

The plot? I'm still not entirely sure I understood it, lol. And, yet, I was sucked in. It was definitely a page-turner. I wanted to know what new, weird twist would show up on the next page! But the plot is definitely why this book only gets 3 stars. I would like to at least somewhat understand the point of a story. Just sayin'. Of course, I may be trying to look too deeply into it. Perhaps the point was just what was on the surface... a girl's coming-of-age. For some reason, though, I get the feeling there's so much more to it. Who knows...