That was interesting.

I graduated from high school in 1999, which allowed me to somewhat transport myself back to the setting when this book took place.

The ending was, understandably, rather difficult to follow. However, I truly enjoyed the book!

It was like taking a journey through time and experiencing the events and emotions that the characters went through.

The story had its own charm and kept me engaged from start to finish.

Despite the challenges in understanding the ending, it didn't overshadow the overall enjoyment I got from reading the book.

I would highly recommend it to others who are looking for an interesting and engaging read.

It's a book that makes you think and feel, and that's what makes it special.

Overall, it was a great reading experience, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book.

Oh, that was an absolute blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Handler's remarkable way with words often brings to mind other talented authors. At times, it reminds me of Dodie Smith, with her ability to craft engaging and unique stories. Or perhaps Shirley Jackson, known for her captivating and somewhat eerie tales. Maybe it's a combination of both? And oh my God, it was uproariously funny. So incredibly funny that I was either shaking with laughter or exclaiming, "DAMN THAT'S CRAZY!!!" repeatedly. Well done, sir. You truly know how to keep your readers entertained and on the edge of their seats.

It's rare to come across writing that can elicit such strong emotions and reactions. Handler has a gift for creating characters and situations that are both relatable and outrageously entertaining. Whether it's through her witty dialogue or her unexpected plot twists, she always manages to keep us guessing and laughing.

I can't wait to see what else Handler has in store for us. Her writing style is refreshing and engaging, and I'm sure that there are many more hilarious and memorable stories waiting to be discovered. If you haven't already read anything by Handler, I highly recommend giving her work a try. You won't be disappointed.

When the unreliableness of the narrator is so blatantly clear, it's like a thrilling mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But even with this obvious flaw, the story is still so twisty and full of surprises.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They were so well-developed and complex, each with their own unique personalities and motives.

The style of writing was also a major plus. It was engaging, descriptive, and really brought the story to life.

In conclusion, this book was like a delicious meal that I couldn't get enough of. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery or a well-written story.

I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

The unreliable narration in the book is truly remarkable. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly questioning what is real and what is not.

The structure of the book is also very well thought out. It weaves together different storylines and perspectives in a seamless way, adding depth and complexity to the overall narrative.

And that twist at the end! It completely blew my mind. I never saw it coming, and it made me look at the entire book in a new light.

As a writer, this book has been incredibly inspirational to me. It has shown me the power of using unreliable narration, a unique structure, and a surprising twist to engage and captivate readers.

I cannot exaggerate enough how much this book blew me away. The characterization, the dialogue, the humor, the tension, all of it was phenomenal. It is a masterclass in storytelling, and I will definitely be referring back to it for inspiration in my own writing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller. It is a must-read for any aspiring writer, and I am sure it will leave you just as impressed as it did me.

I think I'm going to retire for good from the young adult section of Western literature.

I don't know if I'm being too critical or if the book was just really bad, but I'm going to leave here with all the sincerity in the world what I thought (divided into topics!).

• Narrative structure: I really liked the interactions with the reader, the breaks in the timeline, and the questionnaires at the end of each chapter. Very creative. I think this is the only strong point of the book.

• Characters: a caricatured version of every unbearable adolescent who believes that erudite culture dignifies the man. Liking dinners, operas, plays, writing poetry, and classical music is so pretentious and petulant that I couldn't avoid rolling my eyes every time one of them used a pseudo-cultured reference.

• Plot: the premise is interesting, but the author couldn't explore anything. Most of the book is just arrogant adolescents, nothing happens, it's a mess. If I wanted to watch adolescents being adolescents, I would ask my younger brother to tell me his gossip. The final revelation was the laziest thing of all. The height of clichés. It aimed for "Island of Fear" and hit any half-baked horror movie that forces a plot twist.

• Other addenda: the amount of racist, fatphobic, and homophobic moments is shocking. A farce.

I don't recommend it. Stay away. It's a waste of time.

This book is definitely a fun summer read.

However, I definitely had some issues with certain aspects of it.

Particularly, when considering that it's a man writing about teenage girl problems such as eating disorders and sexual assault.

Many of the situations and interactions just seemed implausible.

Overall, it was enjoyable to read when it wasn't making me feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps if the author had done more research or consulted with actual teenage girls, the portrayal of these issues could have been more accurate and believable.

Nonetheless, it still managed to hold my attention and provide some entertainment during the summer months.

But it's important to be critical of how such sensitive topics are presented in literature, especially when written by someone who may not have direct experience with them.

This book presents a rather distinctive story.

Told via diary entries, Flannery Culp is penning a book that details how the events leading up to the death of her classmate Adam State transpired.

It's quite interesting to have a murder mystery where one knows right from the start who the culprit is. The query for this book is "why?"

So, it's truly enjoyable to observe how the story progresses towards answering that question.

Flannery and her friend circle, known as the Basic Eight, are a highly unlikable bunch.

Many individuals compare this book to Heathers, and I can clearly perceive the similarities in terms of the dark humor and the exclusive "in" group.

Overall, it offers a very unique perspective on the mystery genre and is definitely distinct from Handler's other works.

It keeps the reader engaged and curious, eager to uncover the motives behind the murder and to understand the complex dynamics within the group.

The use of diary entries adds a personal touch and makes the story more immersive, allowing the reader to get inside Flannery's head and experience her thoughts and emotions.

Despite the unlikable characters, the book has a certain charm that draws the reader in and makes them want to keep reading until the very end.

Dark, devious and intoxicating.

This book is truly a masterpiece that has the power to draw you in with its unique charm. From the very first page, I was captivated by its twisted, magnetic force.

It was as if I was under a spell, unable to put the book down. Before I knew it, it was 2 AM and I had finished reading it in one go.

The story was so engaging and the characters were so well-developed that I felt like I was a part of their world.

I can't wait to write a full review and share my thoughts with others.

This is definitely a book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller.

It will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish and leave you wanting more.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with this book and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This was a rather challenging book to rate, and I find myself truly all over the place in terms of how I feel about it.

First and foremost, Daniel Handler did an outstanding job with character development. He managed to delve deep into the mind of a scattered high school girl in a way that most men, and quite frankly, a significant number of women, simply couldn't.

I was completely riveted at the beginning. However, around 150 pages in, I started to get bored and even considered just skipping ahead to the murder (this isn't really a spoiler as the back blurb already mentions the murder). As I was searching for the murder scene, I became curious about how certain elements would come together later in the story, and ultimately ended up reading all the way through.

The big reveal at the end was something that I had suspected from approximately the point where I initially grew impatient. Then I convinced myself that Handler wouldn't take that route, so I continued reading. Eventually, I realized that he had indeed done what I had suspected, and I was disappointed. Nevertheless, the reveal was executed well.

That being said, Handler's caustic wit is very much present throughout the story. I was quite impressed by how he seamlessly interwove Othello into the plot. Additionally, at the end of each chapter, there are vocabulary words and study questions, which were rather hilarious.

So, in conclusion, I'm not entirely sure. It's a great book with a twist that I unfortunately figured out way too soon, which made it a bit of a letdown. Still, it offers an incredible character study of a high school girl who is a bit unhinged.

“The Basic Eight” is a captivating satire that offers a unique take on the high school experience. Through the eyes of the main character, Flannery, it exaggerates the typical hardships faced by teenage girls, even going as far as including murder. English classes come under the harshest critique, with study questions巧妙地embedded within the story for the reader to ponder. Handler's choice of a diary style of writing gives the reader an intimate look into Flannery's innermost thoughts about the events leading up to her being accused of murder. This看似transparent approach actually adds an element of mystery, keeping the reader engaged until the very end. Despite writing from the opposite sex, Handler manages to realistically portray a teenage girl and her daily experiences, allowing the reader to become fully immersed in the story. This demonstrates that it is indeed possible to write from a perspective that is completely different from one's own.

I really dug this book, even though I was late in getting to read it.

It’s not The Secret History, despite what some may claim. I adored The Secret History, but it was denser, more baroque, and creepier than The Basic Eight. Moreover, I read Secret History when I was younger (as perhaps did you) and more impressionable. If The Secret History is like the Dead Poets Society of high school murder novels, all lofty, meaningful, emotional, and such, The Basic Eight is, well, like Brick, with more energy and less noir.

The novel is ostensibly a self-edited version of Flannery Culp’s senior year journal, during which she killed a classmate. She is remarkably nonchalant about the whole affair. My theory is that if you have a cool name like “Flannery Culp,” insouciance might just be your middle name. The novel is Flannery’s account of that killing.

What’s great about the book? There’s a lot. The writing is excellent. I mean aspects like pace, dialogue, what’s said and left unsaid. But mostly, I mean there are some turns of phrase throughout that are real treasures. And they’re not just thrown into the narrative as one-liners or for comic relief; the story is told in a very engaging and impressive manner.

There’s this wonderful line: “You’d think that sweet would be a land far, far away from irritating, but as it turns out they’re right next door, and always having border disputes.”

And then there’s this one: “I felt like the Egyptians must have when the rivers had already turned to blood and the cattle had all died: Ho hum, locusts. Guess Ahmed wins the plague pool.”

I mentioned “what’s said and not said.” You learn as much about Flannery and her friends (a high school clique with an exclusive “club” and strange, variable interpersonal relationships within – yes, that’s where the Secret History comparison comes from) from how Flannery phrases certain things and by what she omits as you do from the narrative taken at face value. It’s a technique that’s difficult to pull off successfully, often resulting in the author seeming to be playing hide and seek just to surprise you artificially. But that’s not the case here.

And as for the story? We know from page one that Flannery killed her friend Adam State, so this isn’t a mystery about who did it. In general, as the story progresses, we can somewhat imagine why she did it. We know the consequences because Flannery is “editing” her senior year journal from confinement. And yet, without giving away any spoilers, let me just say that if you stick with the story until the end, you’ll be rewarded.

A personal favorite, despite the ridiculous ending.

This statement holds true for many of us. There are certain things in life that we hold dear, even if they don't end in the most conventional or expected way. It could be a movie, a book, a relationship, or an experience.

The ridiculous ending might add a touch of uniqueness and charm to the overall package. It makes us remember it more vividly than if it had ended in a predictable manner.

Sometimes, the journey is more important than the destination. We enjoy the process of getting there, even if the final outcome seems a bit absurd.

In conclusion, a personal favorite with a ridiculous ending can still bring us joy and satisfaction. It reminds us that life doesn't always have to be perfect or make sense. We should embrace the unexpected and find beauty in the imperfections.