by Jennifer Miller
Paperback- $10.36
“Do you know what it took for Socrates’ enemies to make him stop pursuing the truth?”
“Hemlock.”
Storied, fiercely competitive ...
Overall rating:
How would you rate this book?
Member ratings
What an excellent book! Alternating between one year from 1999 to 2000 and another year from 2012 to 2013, and told from three characters' perspectives, this book is a mystery about students and faculty at a private school. But it's a different type of mystery: who are the characters, really? What are their motives, really? What happened to Justin, really? Although this book is billed as a YA novel, a style that always bores me, Miller uses language and suspense in THE YEAR OF THE GADFLY that appeals to me. It is surely a novel for adults. I only have two problems with this book: Miller's descriptions of two "initiations." The first was so maddening and, I thought, unreal, that I could barely read about them.The second initiation description almost made me throw the book against the wall. But it is a wonderful mystery in spite of these two parts.
It was a mixed bag on this book amongst our members. No one disliked it, but some felt they could not relate to the book. I really enjoyed it- finding it difficult to put down. Our club had a Skype session with the author which was fun and informative. Everyone loved speaking with Jennifer about her characters and the writing process for Gadfly.
the book is a well written story and overall a good quick read.
It was a suspenseful book, but it didn't offer a lot in the way of discussion. Most of our group thought it was a quick read, but thought the content itself was just okay.
Book Club HQ to over 88,000+ book clubs and ready to welcome yours.
Get free weekly updates on top club picks, book giveaways, author events and more