This piece truly gives off a Heathers vibe, and it is written extremely well.

Once you become aware of the plot twist, it seems to be everywhere in the book, making it definitely worthwhile to reread.

The unreliable narrator throughout is also a great aspect. It keeps the reader on their toes and adds an extra layer of mystery and intrigue.

You never quite know what to believe, which makes the story even more engaging.

The author has done a wonderful job of creating a unique and captivating world that draws you in from the very beginning.

Overall, it's a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

This book, as I see it, is being unjustly compared to 'The Secret History' by Donna Tartt and 'Special Topics in Calamity Physics'. I firmly disagree with this comparison. Both Donna Tartt, especially, and Marisha Pessl are not only more accomplished writers but also far superior in the execution of a story.

That's not to say that 'The Basic Eight' is without merit. In fact, I found it to be an interesting read. However, I do have two main complaints. Firstly, the execution was rather clumsy. I believe that if this aspect had been more streamlined, it would have significantly improved and elevated the story. Secondly, and more importantly, the dialogue rings false. I don't think Mr. Handler was able to channel a female teenager very believably. Throughout the entire story, I was constantly aware of this weakness, which pulled me out of the narrative in fits and starts. This is a major problem. As the novel progressed, instead of becoming immersed in a complex web of relationships and situations, I found myself increasingly skeptical of the plot, which seemed to become more and more unbelievable and outlandish. As a result, the ending lacked the impact that I'm sure the author intended.

In conclusion, while 'The Basic Eight' has its moments, it falls short in several key areas when compared to the works of Tartt and Pessl.

A Twist in the End That Leaves You Rereading and Rethinking

I truly loved this story. The way it ended with a twist was simply amazing. It made me want to go back and reread it right away, trying to pick up on all the little details that I might have missed the first time around. However, upon rereading, I still found that some things just didn't ring totally true. One of the big questions that remained in my mind was: Who was Natasha talking to? There didn't seem to be any clear clues at all. It was as if the author had deliberately left this part a mystery, perhaps to make the reader think even harder. But it also left me a bit frustrated, as I really wanted to know the answer. Despite this, I still thought the story was well-written and engaging, and the twist at the end was definitely a memorable one.

So if I had read this in high school, I can guarantee you it would have been my favorite book at the time.

It is an incredibly mean-spirited high school drama with a sick twist. The story revolves around a clique of outcast/precocious/uppity/self-involved intellectuals, much like myself (or the self I thought of myself as) in high school.

I can vividly picture myself at 15, sitting outside a coffee shop, engrossed in reading The Basic Eight. I would be listening to the Dead Milkmen on my Walkman and smoking clove cigarettes, oh so very cool.

It's definitely a page-turner. I found myself having a hard time putting it down, in more of a guilty pleasure type of way than anything.

I'm willing to bet that in less than 2 years, this will turn into the next "Mean Girls". I can envision Camilla Belle playing the heroine, Flannery Culp, and Evan Rachel Wood playing the mysterious and infamous closeted lesbian, Natasha.

Mark my words, it will happen - or a similar casting anyway.

Fans of Lolita and/or the coming-of-age/high school genre will surely dig this book. It offers a unique and engaging perspective on the often tumultuous world of high school, filled with complex characters and a captivating storyline.

Before delving into this work, I had certain expectations, imagining it might bear some resemblance to the movie Heathers (even though I haven't actually seen it). However, due to my appreciation for Handler's (and Lemony Snicket's) unique brand of humor, morbidness, wit, and the way his narrators are often pedantic language snobs, I decided to give it a read. This is his first novel targeted at adults, and although it revolves around high school kids, it is clearly intended for a more mature audience (perhaps even the oldest of teens).

I thoroughly enjoyed the not-at-all-subtle critique of pop-TV-psychologists. Additionally, the narrator's seamless merging of her past journal entries with the present as she "revises" them for publication is quite engaging. In the beginning, she attempts to rationalize or at least point out, during the "revision" process, how she seems to know certain things before she should. But eventually, she simply abandons this pretense altogether. The question then arises: Is she a confused teenager, or is this yet another satirical jab, this time at tell-all books? Revealing what else I liked (and what other books or movies came to my mind) would spoil too much of the story.

Approximately halfway through, I thought I had an inkling of what was about to unfold, but then I second-guessed myself, only to have my initial suspicion confirmed. However, knowing what was coming doesn't detract from the novel's power. It simply means that I was a careful reader.

There is a particular incident from the narrator's much younger days that is briefly mentioned in just part of a paragraph, yet it holds the key to answering one of the questions (a literal question - there are "study questions" and "vocabulary" sections at the end of several of the "journal" entries). This paragraph is perhaps the only truly subtle element in the entire novel, as, above all else, this is a work of satire.

I simply couldn't put this book down. It bears a resemblance to The Secret History - a high school clique, a murder committed by someone within it, and you read on to discover the exact details of how and why it occurred. I've been devouring mystery cozies one after another, usually not really caring about who did it or the reason behind it. But this story truly intrigued me. And when Handler delved into that aspect, he didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed the format of Flan's diary, and it actually made me feel as if I spent the weekend back in high school (thankfully, I didn't murder anyone during my high school days).

Comments to skip if you haven't read this already:

Although the twist wasn't overly shocking in these years following Fight Club and The Sixth Sense, I still liked it. However, I am disappointed that the book simply ended without providing an explanation of what happened to the other characters. I didn't require a detailed play-by-play, but it would have been nice to know a bit more than what Flan's journal hinted at. I thought The Secret History did a great job of showing how everyone's lives fell apart after Bunny's murder, and The Basic Eight was on its way to that when Flan just walked out of Roewer. Also, I'm curious to know where her parents were throughout the whole ordeal. It's a bummer that my questions will never be answered - I feel like I didn't get sufficient closure.

The "Basic Eight" is a captivating novel that revolves around a group of teenage friends. Our neurotic narrator, Flannery Culp, takes us on a journey filled with love, murder, and the complexities of high school friendship.

This review features the very own Basic Eight from Los Alamitos, Orange County. The photos, circa 1988, add a touch of nostalgia.

The keywords associated with this novel include realistic, privilege, sarcasm, San Francisco, unrealistic, pretension, and friendship.

Jeff finds the novel somewhat impressive on a technical level, given it's the author's first. He enjoys the dark, intelligent humor and particularly likes the character of Natasha. Overall, he feels the novel is somewhat realistic as he engaged in similar "Basic Eight" activities in high school. However, he was a +1 to a different group that mainly indulged in binge drinking.

Kathy loves the book and finds it hilarious. She admits to not understanding everything but still enjoys what she does understand. She also shares that she grew up to be a schoolteacher and a mother, and even survived falling off a waterfall.

Mike has a mixed opinion. He relates to the gay character and admires his courage but is annoyed by the sarcastic humor that he feels gets boring after a while. He also shares his own journey of coming to terms with being gay after going on Christian missions.

Kelly has some issues with the book. She didn't understand many of the references and was confused by the mix-up of Oprah and Dr. Phil. She also questions the realism of the setting in San Francisco and the events that occur.

Craig is not a fan of the book. He thinks the girls are neurotic and pretentious and that the book is about boring, angsty teenagers who don't appreciate their privilege.

Marcy agrees with Craig about the characters being pretentious but does appreciate the sarcastic, nihilistic humor and how the book takes sexual harassment seriously.

Bill finds the book self-indulgent but still entertaining. He laughs a lot but admits it doesn't make him think.

Mark likes the book for its easy readability and the mind games it plays on the reader. He also enjoys the voice of Flannery Culp and the increasing darkness of the narrative. However, he has a caveat about the comparison of absinthe and acid.

Overall, the reviews of "The Basic Eight" are diverse, with each reviewer having their own unique perspective on the novel.

Welcome to Flannery Culp's charming, black, leather-bound journal. On these pages, she will document all the memories of her senior year with her closest friends, "The Basic Eight". She'll disclose all the wonderful, terrible, and unsightly details - including a small story of murder.

Absolutely scrumptious. I have no idea how this book ended up on my "to read" list. I'm extremely grateful that Goodreads is here to jog my forgetful mind. I was completely transported back in time with this one - it was reminiscent of "Heathers" (complete with a croquet scene, no less) and truly delightful. Dark, edgy, and brilliant. So much fun and it even adds an extra little twist as the cherry on top.

Figured it out. I added it to my list when "Why We Broke Up" was recommended to me. "Why We Broke Up" was awful, but "The Basic Eight" was amazing. Go figure.

A Foxian Masterpiece

This is truly a remarkable piece of work that can be rightfully considered a foxian masterpiece. The concept behind it, which scores a 4, is both unique and engaging. It presents an idea that is fresh and thought-provoking, captivating the reader's attention from the very beginning.

The writing itself is of a high caliber, with a score of 5. The author's use of language is precise and eloquent, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The sentences flow smoothly, and the overall structure of the piece is well-crafted.

Readability is also a strong point, as evidenced by the score of 5. The text is easy to understand, yet it doesn't sacrifice depth or complexity. It manages to strike a perfect balance between being accessible to a wide range of readers and still offering something of substance.

In terms of length, it earns a 5 as well. The piece is just the right size, not too long to cause boredom or fatigue, but not too short to leave the reader feeling unsatisfied. It contains all the necessary information and details to fully develop the concept and engage the reader.

Overall, this foxian masterpiece receives a perfect score of 5/5. It excels in all aspects, from concept to writing, readability, and length. It is a work that is sure to be enjoyed by readers and leave a lasting impression.

While this story is not without its flaws, it was ambitious and experimental in the best possible way. This is probably reflective of the fact that it is Handler's debut novel. It is effectively campy, pretentious, and aesthetically-driven. The story is filled with amazing lines, such as "Natasha arrived bearing cleavage and brie". Most of the elements that I like from stories such as The Secret History and Heathers are present. There was no way I could not enjoy this.

The campiness of the story adds a fun and lighthearted element, while the pretentiousness gives it an air of sophistication. The aesthetic-driven nature of the story makes it visually appealing and engaging. The amazing lines add depth and character to the story, making it more memorable.

Overall, I found this story to be an enjoyable and engaging read. It may not be perfect, but it has a lot of heart and soul. I look forward to seeing what Handler has in store for us in the future.

“May we generally be happy, generally be witty, generally be honest, but above all always be interesting.”

I've seen The Basic Eight described as Heathers meets The Secret History, and this description fits the novel perfectly. It's a messy, daring, and genius piece of work. The main character was terrible, and that's precisely part of why I loved it so much. There was something about their flaws and imperfections that made them truly captivating.

I did have a few small issues with the narration at times. There were moments when it felt a bit disjointed or unclear, which might have led me to lower my rating just a little. However, these minor drawbacks were outweighed by the overall excellence of the story.

(Trigger warnings for sexual assault, body image, and graphic depictions of violence.) The novel doesn't shy away from exploring these difficult and often uncomfortable topics, which adds an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the narrative. Despite the triggers, I found myself completely engrossed in the world of The Basic Eight and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and thought-provoking read.

The Basic Eight is the debut novel by Daniel Handler, who later achieved greater fame under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket.

It tells a captivating story about the lives of a group of bored, self-centered, and overly intelligent high school students in the San Francisco area.

The book is written in the style of journal entries from the perspective of Flannery Culp. We quickly learn that Flannery has been imprisoned for a heinous and headline-making murder that involved her and her seven friends, known as the Basic Eight.

Since this event is so infamous, readers are immediately thrust into the story as if they should already know what happened and who the key players are. However, as we read, we not only learn how Flannery explains the events, but also have to read between the lines to uncover the truth.

Although the story takes place mainly in a high school and its surroundings, it contains a lot of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, so it is not suitable for children or many young adults. It is satirical, but also a dark comedy - and sometimes just dark.

Overall, The Basic Eight is a unique and engaging novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they try to piece together the mystery of what really happened.