Comments on: E. Lockhart: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/ Book reviews of contemporary literary fiction and modern classics. Sun, 20 May 2012 18:41:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mrs. Berrett http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-9221 Mrs. Berrett Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:08:44 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-9221 Kristin Cashore (YA fantasy writer) just did a name analysis of Frankie. I was actually linked there from E. Lockhart's blog so I'd say it's fairly accurate. http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/2010/07/frankie-alpha-matthew-names-power-and.html She brings up a lot of points that I was aware of, but hadn't taken the time to really think about. Her thoughts on Matthew's character was particularly interesting to me. Kristin Cashore (YA fantasy writer) just did a name analysis of Frankie. I was actually linked there from E. Lockhart’s blog so I’d say it’s fairly accurate.

http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/2010/07/frankie-alpha-matthew-names-power-and.html

She brings up a lot of points that I was aware of, but hadn’t taken the time to really think about. Her thoughts on Matthew’s character was particularly interesting to me.

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4210 KevinfromCanada Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:28:20 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4210 Max: I am pretty sure that Emma would find aspects of Frankie's character worthy of note. Max: I am pretty sure that Emma would find aspects of Frankie’s character worthy of note.

]]> By: Trevor http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4205 Trevor Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:07:26 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4205 It's a worthy read, Max. And I'm pretty sure the sophomore/senior talk will make sense quickly. If not, come back and we'll straighten it out :). It’s a worthy read, Max. And I’m pretty sure the sophomore/senior talk will make sense quickly. If not, come back and we’ll straighten it out :).

]]> By: Max Cairnduff http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4202 Max Cairnduff Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:35:37 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4202 It does sound very good, your bold comment at the start got my sympathy by the way Trevor, I posted up my Amitav Ghosh too soon and then had to reedit it and ended up deleting about 400 words. It was still too long after that, but there comes a point where you either start again from scratch or live with it. Anyway, I'd noted this when Kevin wrote about it, there does seem to be a bit of a YA renaissance at the moment and YA or not this sounds very good regardless. I'll take a look, alien to me as its talk of sophomores and all is. It does sound very good, your bold comment at the start got my sympathy by the way Trevor, I posted up my Amitav Ghosh too soon and then had to reedit it and ended up deleting about 400 words. It was still too long after that, but there comes a point where you either start again from scratch or live with it.

Anyway, I’d noted this when Kevin wrote about it, there does seem to be a bit of a YA renaissance at the moment and YA or not this sounds very good regardless. I’ll take a look, alien to me as its talk of sophomores and all is.

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4200 KevinfromCanada Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:33:41 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4200 Nothing at Alabaster offered Frankie a suitable challenge -- until she discovered the L.O. of B.H. And then, the social anarchist part of her said that was where she should exercise her influence. And she did. One of the more interesting feminist sides of the book is that it is only here that Frankie can find an outlet for her creative side -- yet, as Mrs. B points out, there was still a part of her that could not go there. And we have not even explored the games that she plays with language, which go well beyond anything that she was being taught. One of the more powerful aspects of the novel is the way that Frankie finds avenues to explore her ability that are well outside the mainstream of what she is supposed to be learning and experiencing. I think that is where E. Lockhart has written a truly innovative modern novel. Nothing at Alabaster offered Frankie a suitable challenge — until she discovered the L.O. of B.H. And then, the social anarchist part of her said that was where she should exercise her influence. And she did. One of the more interesting feminist sides of the book is that it is only here that Frankie can find an outlet for her creative side — yet, as Mrs. B points out, there was still a part of her that could not go there. And we have not even explored the games that she plays with language, which go well beyond anything that she was being taught. One of the more powerful aspects of the novel is the way that Frankie finds avenues to explore her ability that are well outside the mainstream of what she is supposed to be learning and experiencing. I think that is where E. Lockhart has written a truly innovative modern novel.

]]> By: Mrs. Berrett http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4198 Mrs. Berrett Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:45:49 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4198 Oh, you forgot to finish your sentence! Here, let me help you: I'm pretty sure it is your fault because I only want to spend time (and money) on you! Sports have nothing on the entertainment you bring to my life. Very sweet. Sara Zarr, another excellent YA author, did an interview with E. Lockhart that I found really interesting. You can find the interview here: http://www.sarazarr.com/archives/1368 They discuss some things that are interesting, like the power of looks for females. Obviously Frankie gains social power because of her looks, but loses intellectual clout. On the flip-side, Sara Zarr comments on being powerless and ignored because she wasn't attractive. Here's a small sample (SZ is Sara Zarr, EL is E. Lockhart): SZ: It seems that books can be similarly misjudged. I’ve always thought that your books are like Frankie—formidably brainy in adorable skin. Because the stories are fun and entertaining, the intelligence within them might be overlooked. Was being a finalist for the National Book Award validating in that regard? EL: Oh, it is very nice to be validated by the patriarchal establishment. That is what Disreputable History is about, after all. Oh, you forgot to finish your sentence! Here, let me help you:
I’m pretty sure it is your fault because I only want to spend time (and money) on you! Sports have nothing on the entertainment you bring to my life.
Very sweet.
Sara Zarr, another excellent YA author, did an interview with E. Lockhart that I found really interesting. You can find the interview here:
http://www.sarazarr.com/archives/1368
They discuss some things that are interesting, like the power of looks for females. Obviously Frankie gains social power because of her looks, but loses intellectual clout. On the flip-side, Sara Zarr comments on being powerless and ignored because she wasn’t attractive.
Here’s a small sample (SZ is Sara Zarr, EL is E. Lockhart):
SZ: It seems that books can be similarly misjudged. I’ve always thought that your books are like Frankie—formidably brainy in adorable skin. Because the stories are fun and entertaining, the intelligence within them might be overlooked. Was being a finalist for the National Book Award validating in that regard?

EL: Oh, it is very nice to be validated by the patriarchal establishment. That is what Disreputable History is about, after all.

]]> By: Trevor http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4197 Trevor Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:12:46 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4197 Mrs. Berrett brings up many points that I, through neglect or lack of intelligence, failed to note in my review. I'm hoping that the weight of our opinions plus KFC's will encourage people to read this book. And, Mrs. Berrett, it's been a long time since I had a decent ping-pong tournament, and I'm pretty sure it is your fault. Mrs. Berrett brings up many points that I, through neglect or lack of intelligence, failed to note in my review. I’m hoping that the weight of our opinions plus KFC’s will encourage people to read this book. And, Mrs. Berrett, it’s been a long time since I had a decent ping-pong tournament, and I’m pretty sure it is your fault.

]]> By: Mrs. Berrett http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4191 Mrs. Berrett Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:23:33 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4191 Coolest boy in school? What is this, 1997? Matthew is not the coolest boy in school, that would be Alpha. Matthew is just the most perfect boy, and even that I think only comes from the female perspective (Alpha is too much of a playboy). I actually think that is an important distinction for the novel. It's the reason Frankie can't compete with Alpha (or me with Brian, or probably Kevin for that matter, if he lived closer). It's possibly one of the factors that drives Frankie to do what she does, a need to be as much a part of Matthew's world as Alpha is (no worries, I have no intentions of hijacking your ping-pong competitions with your brother). One of the things I found so interesting about this book was the complications it portrays with feminism. Frankie is struggling to be just as important as Alpha, but to do that, she needs to get a nod from Alpha. The only way feminism can succeed is to get the patriarchal nod, defeating the whole purpose. But even more than that, the struggle Frankie herself has with being female and the expectations that brings. For Matthew it means she must be clever, beautiful, but for the most part silent. For Zada it means Frankie can't adhere to any notions of romance. Frankie herself struggles, flinching from phrases like "you've got balls," but being flattered by being offered Matthew's shirt. How much of who Frankie is depends on Zada and Matthew's interpretations? That seems to be a big theme through the book, starting with her as bunny rabbit. I like the way it starts, and ends, with Frankie being a possibility. Something else I loved was the social warfare, particularly from Starr and Alpha. It was weird to read it from an outsiders point of view because I totally did that in school, but never consciously made the decision to do it, it was just there. I appreciated that the book called it to my attention. This really is a fabulous book. Every time I think about it I get more and more impressed with how much E. Lockhart was able to put in there and how everything seems to go together (Panoptic, P.G. Wodehouse, Feminism, High School Hierarchies). I think she's brilliant! Coolest boy in school? What is this, 1997? Matthew is not the coolest boy in school, that would be Alpha. Matthew is just the most perfect boy, and even that I think only comes from the female perspective (Alpha is too much of a playboy).
I actually think that is an important distinction for the novel. It’s the reason Frankie can’t compete with Alpha (or me with Brian, or probably Kevin for that matter, if he lived closer). It’s possibly one of the factors that drives Frankie to do what she does, a need to be as much a part of Matthew’s world as Alpha is (no worries, I have no intentions of hijacking your ping-pong competitions with your brother).
One of the things I found so interesting about this book was the complications it portrays with feminism. Frankie is struggling to be just as important as Alpha, but to do that, she needs to get a nod from Alpha. The only way feminism can succeed is to get the patriarchal nod, defeating the whole purpose.
But even more than that, the struggle Frankie herself has with being female and the expectations that brings. For Matthew it means she must be clever, beautiful, but for the most part silent. For Zada it means Frankie can’t adhere to any notions of romance. Frankie herself struggles, flinching from phrases like “you’ve got balls,” but being flattered by being offered Matthew’s shirt. How much of who Frankie is depends on Zada and Matthew’s interpretations?
That seems to be a big theme through the book, starting with her as bunny rabbit. I like the way it starts, and ends, with Frankie being a possibility.
Something else I loved was the social warfare, particularly from Starr and Alpha. It was weird to read it from an outsiders point of view because I totally did that in school, but never consciously made the decision to do it, it was just there. I appreciated that the book called it to my attention.
This really is a fabulous book. Every time I think about it I get more and more impressed with how much E. Lockhart was able to put in there and how everything seems to go together (Panoptic, P.G. Wodehouse, Feminism, High School Hierarchies). I think she’s brilliant!

]]> By: KevinfromCanada http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/2009/10/09/e-lockhart-the-disreputable-history-of-frankie-landau-banks/comment-page-1/#comment-4186 KevinfromCanada Sat, 10 Oct 2009 03:47:45 +0000 http://mookseandgripes.com/reviews/?p=2583#comment-4186 Frankie is holding up very well with time -- all my memories of this book are positive. It is interesting the YA literature acquires that tag (and sells a lot) and tends to get overlooked by adult readers. And while your review has focused on the serious aspects of the novel, I would underline that parts of it are more than clever -- and very, very funny. Mrs. Berrett deserves a major pat on the back for bringing this one to our attention. Frankie is holding up very well with time — all my memories of this book are positive. It is interesting the YA literature acquires that tag (and sells a lot) and tends to get overlooked by adult readers. And while your review has focused on the serious aspects of the novel, I would underline that parts of it are more than clever — and very, very funny. Mrs. Berrett deserves a major pat on the back for bringing this one to our attention.

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