What: In Marisha Pessl's debut novel, a high school student named Blue has spent much of her life traipsing around academia with her professor father. It's messed with her head a bit, which might explain her reaction to the death of her film studies teacher. Or it might not.
Comparable to: Topic-wise, Special Topics in Calamity Physics is very similar to Donna Tartt's The Secret History. Tone-wise, though, it's closer to Jaclyn Moriarty's I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes (Rec. #235).
Opening lines: "Dad always said a person must have a magnificent reason for writing out his or her Life Story and expecting anyone to read it."
You might not like it if: You find the countless (and sometimes obscure) references to film and literature daunting, especially considering the 500+-page heft of the book. Take heart, though --- the book also includes several visual aids.
How to get it: Buyable, borrowable, Kindle-able. And possibly coming at some point to a theater near you. (Miramax has the rights.)
Connection to previous Wreckage: I Have a Bed Made of Buttermilk Pancakes was Rec. #235 and it is magnificent.
If this puts you on a kick of "more references, please, I'll track 'em down, I'll track them all down," I'd also suggest The Tournament (Rec. #12), wherein Alfred Hitchcock plays tennis and is referred to as "Fred."
[Originally posted 4/17/13.]
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