Sorority

by Genevieve Sly Crane

Sisterhood is forever…whether you like it or not.

Prep meets Girls in White Dresses in Genevieve Sly Crane’s deliciously addictive, voyeuristic exploration of female friendship and coming of age that will appeal to anyone who has ever been curious about what happens in a sorority house.

Twinsets and pearls, secrets and kinship, rituals that hold sisters together in a sacred bond of everlasting trust. Certain chaste images spring to mind when one thinks of sororities. But make no these women are not braiding each other’s hair and having pillow fights—not by a long shot.

What Genevieve Sly Crane has conjured in these pages is a blunt, in your face look behind the closed doors of a house full of contemporary women—and there are no holds barred. These women have self-inflicted, family inflicted, sister-to-sister inflicted—and it is all on the page. At the center of this swirl is the sister who died in the house, and each chapter is told from the points of view of the women who orbit her death and have their own reactions to it.

With a keen sense of character and elegant, observant prose, Crane details the undercurrents of tension in a world where perfection comes at a cost and the best things in life are painful—if not impossible—to Beauty. A mother’s love. And friendship… or at least the appearance of it. Woven throughout are glimmers of the classical myths that undercut the lives of women in Greek life. After all, the Greek goddesses did cause their fair share of destruction.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Friendship

291 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Genevieve Sly Crane is a graduate of The University of Massachusetts and Stony Brook Southampton, where she received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Literature in 2013. Prior to her writing career, she worked as a security guard, babysitter, karate studio receptionist, bookstore clerk, editor, fancy-clothing-store salesgirl, and animal hospital office manager. Currently, she teaches in the English department at Monroe College. Sorority is her first publication.

Reviews

[Tucker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read news reports about hazing and other illegal activities in college fraternities but not seeing much news about sororities, I was interested in how Genevieve Sly Crane would portray them. “Sorority” is fiction but because Crane was once a sorority sister I anticipated that it would have some truth and reality in it, and if it does, it’s not a pretty picture. The sisters were cruel, judgmental, extremely self-absorbed, and none of the characters were very likable. The characters were well drawn, but from the blurb of the book I was expecting a plot driven story with a resolution at the end. “Sorority” was more like a collection of short stories told by a variety of characters (too many in my opinion) who shared some common experiences. I would like to read more from Genevieve Sly Crane, but this book wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Gallery Books for providing my free copy of SORORITY by Genevieve Sly Crane - all opinions are my own.

Lately, I’ve been really enjoying slow-burn, character-driven stories and I thoroughly devoured this one! Crane is not afraid to shine a light on the downfalls of sorority life and unlikable characters, but does so with intensity and heart, and in such a clever way. The story centers around Margot as she is found dead. Was it suicide or something else? We read about each sorority sister in the house and the events that led up to that moment.

This book is unlike any other I’ve read. Each chapter is about its own character, almost like a collection of short stories with each story including the character’s individual triumphs, flaws, and hardships. There are some exquisite details, specifically in the beginning chapter, where we get a brief introduction of each girl before diving into their unforgettable stories. There are quite a few harrowing moments because these girls are not exactly the innocent type. Crane does a phenomenal job writing a large cast of characters and keeping them distinct with their own voice so it’s never confusing. The writing is beautiful, dazzling, and something I wasn’t expecting which made it unique and wonderful. Crane is a true talent and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!

[Crumb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scandalous, Soapy, and Purrrfect!

While this book definitely has it's lighter moments, it also gets pretty dark. The heavier themes include eating disorders, trichotillomania, drug use, and casual sex. A deliciously candid, inside look into a sorority house.

While hazing is a normal part of Greek life, a death isn't. When the girls find one of their sisters dead one evening, it is up to them to figure out what really happened on that night. Was it an accidental overdoes? Or was it something far more sinister?

I ate this book up. I devoured it. The highest acclaim I can give a book is "a page-turner" or "unputdownable." This book really won't let you go to sleep. But, do you really want to sleep when you have a book like this to read? The correct answer is no. At least I don't.

[Marti Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

To clarify some clear misunderstanding...this book is meant to be short fiction, NOT a novel. Things will not “wrap up” in the end. The amount of characters is not overwhelming nor overkill; as each story concludes, you are meant to move past the characters within it.

I was haunted and intrigued as I read this book. I have never been part of a sorority, but related to some of these women on a brutally close level. Their stories are real and dark. The depth to which I felt I knew the characters was impressive.

Again, if you’re looking for a novel that satisfies your need for conclusion...wrong choice. For me, I have never related to a group of characters more. I tend to enjoy more artfully written and realistic reads, if that gives any insight.

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting (despite the last sentence) and beautiful book full of unforgettable characters. Keeping up with 24 characters (obviously that corresponds to the characters in the Greek alphabet and rooms in the house) required constant referral to the catalogue at the start (did the author borrow that from Homer?) but having now written a book with many scenes set in a girls’ dorm, I was most envious of Sly Crane’s skill in marshaling her cast. It is gracefully and wittily written with many sentences I’d give my eye teeth to have composed. The tone and outcomes are clearly ironic—many of the sisterhood have fates far below their and the chapter’s expectation. The visitation from the nationals officers (like the three Fates—or Furies) was a hoot. They were so pleased to discover Margot’s death could be ascribed to a heart defect—that and ‘a shit ton of Molly!’ Emotionally the relationship between Margot and Deirdre was so affecting and the depiction of Deirdre’s grief heart rendering. Morally the sorority chapter really stinks. It’s not just the dangerous immature hazing practices, but these girls really don’t have each other’s backs. Getting pregnant and having the baby gets one ‘disaffiliated’ pronto and I was appalled at what the pledge mistress allowed a frat man to do to one of her pledges. Confronted years later by the victim, she still doesn’t get it. It’s a stunning portrait of a very flawed but breathtakingly attractive little world.

[Kristy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The girls of the sorority house are a close-knit--if not particularly happy--group. That is until Margot's death. When she's found dead in the house, it changes things, and each girl must deal with Margot's passing and its aftermath in her own way.

Well, this was a weird one. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. We are introduced to the sorority girls in the first chapter by a "chorus," who tells us who lives in each room and a small bit about each one. Except for Margot's room, we're told; Margot is dead.

Then the following chapters detail a snippet of time in each girls' life. Some chapters may take place before Margot's death; others take place after. I was really glad I was reading a hardcopy, because at the start of each chapter, I had to flip back to that first chapter about all of the girls and find that girl's little paragraph or so blurb that introduced them. I could never keep any of them straight--perhaps because there was so many or maybe because most them didn't really stand out to me.

Because yes: I didn't really love this one. The short bits of time spent with each character make it hard to get attached to anyone. While we are technically following the thread of Margot's death, there's really no arc to the story. The book probably speaks to some higher meaning that I just didn't get. Instead it's a bit disturbing (some of the chapters are really awful), and no one is happy at all, which was really depressing. Sure, some of these dark glimpses into people's lives can be a little oddly fascinating, but honestly, it was often horrifying too. For me, it felt like the book was trying to be literary and clever and it just didn't work for me (or, more likely, I'm just not a good candidate for literary, smart books, ha).

For instance, was this one praising or mocking sororities? I really don't know. Margot's death seemed so pointless, so it certainly didn't seem to be doing the idea of sororities any favors. A lot of the book didn't seem to show the sisterhood in a good light. Yeah, I just didn't get it. I'm not sure exactly why I slogged through it, except that the full details of Margot's death aren't completely revealed until the end. I actually liked Margot the best, but she was dead, and yes, that probably sums up this book the best for me.

Overall, this one was too weird for me. I can do dark, but dark, strange, no real plot, and few characters with any redeemable value--it just didn't work for me. I'm sure it is enjoyable for others, especially those that don't need a real plot arc. And I do feel the need to point out that there's a trigger for self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in this novel. 2.5 stars.

I received my copy of this book through one of my favorite websites, Paperbackswap.com, where you can swap copies of all your favorite books (hardcover, paperback, and more). (And it's already back out in the world!)

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[Devyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads.

Another Not My Cup of Tea review.

Like many, I thought Sorority was a murder mystery. I thought it'd be a pretty interesting book about a sorority sister that offed another sorority sister, and now the whole feckless house is scrambling to find out who did it before more murders are committed.
But, sadly, no.
No murder, no plot, no fun.
It turns out I can only stomach the 'Mean Girl' thing if one of them is dead or dying.
I understand that the whole point of this book is that there is no point and no plot, but reading about a bunch of stuck-up, hatful women joining a sorority to drink, dope, and fornicate while pressuring younger women to drink, dope, and fornicate is simply not what I want to spend my time on.
Maybe this book should be shelved as a tragedy... because the way these women treat themselves and each other is just plain depressing.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book... I hope my daughter never joins a sorority now. Scares me a bit how things go on and I know they do. I was in college and had friends in them.

[Magdalene Brandeis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is haunting, and compelling, and the writing is so beautiful and exacting it makes my toes curl. Don't miss out on a fabulous read!!

[Mikol by the sea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an advance copy. People expecting a light and easy read will be disappointed. Those that want to explore a work that has gritty, honest and challenging character portrayals in a singularly unique novel format are in for a fabulous read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.

I did not go to a college that had sororities (nor would I have tried to join one if there were), but I really enjoyed the show Greek, so that’s kind of what I was expecting from this book. However, Sorority was not at all like I anticipated. It did not really follow a typical plot structure, but was more shorter vignettes of different girls from the House. I was a little taken aback at first because that’s not generally something I like, but I found the writing so addictive that it didn’t end up bothering me that much.

The story was very character-driven. All the girls were a little hard to keep straight and I can’t say that any of them were that likable or redeemable, but I found a few of their stories kind of fascinating. Even for the ones I didn’t like as much, I found the writing compulsive enough to want to find out what happened. The downside of that, though, is that there is not really any conclusion to the story. Several of the characters we saw a few years after college, but even then their stories did not feel complete. Part of me really dislikes open-endings so this was hard for me. I also did not really understand what was happening at the end of the book.

Overall, once I got over my preconceived expectations I did like this book. I thought the writing was really addictive. I don’t think it will be for everyone, though. I think readers who really enjoy some in depth character study and don’t mind open-endings will really enjoy it.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars

[Lisa Reads & Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing with some observation gems, but I couldn't care about the characters. Would have liked at least one redemptive quality. Even moments that should have been touching, were empty. While the stories may reveal truth, novels should be entertaining, or eye-opening, or soul-nourishing--something to make the time spent reading them worthwhile. I felt depressed after reading this, sad that anyone's life can be that cold and shallow.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at contemporary sororities--with all the drama, friendship, betrayals, and secrets one would imagine. Fortunately it was nothing at all like the sorority I belonged to in college as apparently now drug use, rampant sex upstairs, vicious hazing, and raging parties are not much monitored so it is like one big "sister" party most of the time. (Sure, we snuck in a bottle of wine every now and then but we had a house mother who was rabid about our behavior; now I'm glad we did)!
So in this house, we see the rivalries and friendships, as past and present come together with the girls' stories. There is both pathos and poignancy to the novel which is well-written and honest; we see family struggles and bullying, socialites and loners. In short, it's a good look at what transpires in college sororities as friendships are tested and tragedy often strikes as sisters either hang together or reject the friendships offered. Either way it is a novel that deserves to be read.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This linked story cycle kicks off with the death of sorority sister Margot, but it's not a whodunit. Margot's demise is more of a catalyst, triggering each of the sisters we meet to act out in their own particular ways, thus revealing a new facet of the sometimes-powerful, sometimes-toxic connection among them.

It's not a "woo-hoo, spring break!" book, but there's plenty of bad behavior on display, and while a lot of the characters we meet aren't exactly likeable, I found myself falling for them anyway in all their messy glory. Those who release their expectations of what a novel should be and just experience each chapter as though peering into a different dorm room each time will be rewarded with some great writing.

[Michael Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a book I'd usually read, so I am pleasantly surprised. Definitely not meant to be a novel, but sort of a collection of short stories about different characters. They are tied together, but very loosely. I knew this going in, so was not disappointed. Very dark, which I liked. Realistic. Doesn't "come together" like a traditional novel would, but I tend to like books that are more edgy and experimental. Worth reading, especially if you can appreciate abstract, artful, cunning, authors.

[Bryant Loney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A phenomenal examination of the cruelty and complexities of college sisterhood.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not my usual hang and to be honest I thought it was going to be a trashy beach read sort of book. And yet there is a LOT of good stuff here. It's a pretty deft exploration of what it's like to be a self aware, self loathing, self harming but still self assured young woman. I'm not sure that there's a purely likable character to be found in this book - and yet that's where a lot of its charm can be found.

[Madi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not stand the way this was written. Don't really get the point of the book. Liked the presence of so many different women's stories but just felt like none of them were done any justice. Narration and dialogue was so choppy ugh just not good.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written weird. Too many povs. Sad but didn’t care for anyone. Wouldn’t join a sorority if you paid me.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Gallery Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.

So I might be one of the few reading this book that was never a part of a sorority or had anything to do with Greek life in college. I had friends in fraternities and sororities, but that was the extent of my involvement. When I read the synopsis for SORORITY by Genevieve Sly Crane, my curiosity (and the cover) piqued my interest. This is another one I've seen some mixed reviews on, but I'm happy I gave it a chance!

From the beginning, we get to meet all of the girls in the sorority. I loved that intro chapter where we basically got a tour of the rooms and a brief introduction to each girl living in the house. All of the girls are unique in their strengths and their flaws, but this story is about Margot.

Margot was found dead, and now we are seeing the events that led up to that moment. We bounce through different timelines and perspectives throughout the book and there is the building suspense of, "how are these all connected, and why are we going back into the past of specific girls?". Everything tied together and we slowly uncover what truly happened. If you're looking for a thriller that goes at a crazy fast pace, then this won't be the one for you. This falls more into the slow burn category when it comes to suspense novels. I loved the character development, and despite there being a large cast of girls, Crane was able to flesh them out without it feeling rushed or anyone getting lost in the mix.

I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

I give this 4/5 stars

[Stay Fetters · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Men will kill you with their idiocy but women will kill you with their brilliance."

DNF @ 73%

The synopsis of this book made this sound amazing. It made it sound like something more than it actually was. I was so close to finishing this but I couldn’t torture myself anymore. I’m shocked that I made it that far in this snoozefest.

With this, we’re promised a sorority sister's death and an intimate look at the highs and lows of being in a sorority. What we got was a very boring and non-shocking look at the boring lives of valley girls with issues.

It started off slow and got even slower. I didn’t even know that was possible but this broke all the rules of mediocrity. What I wanted was a drama-filled dumpster fire while being surprised by the recklessness of joining a sorority because my life is an inferno in a dumpster. I’m not sure what this is but I know it needs to be erased from my memory.

Sorority wasn’t worth my time and I’ll probably never read anything else this author writes. My dog, Louie, could bark a better book than this.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told in a nonlinear narrative by multiple characters. This made it a little hard to follow, but also made me want to re-read it when I finished the last page.

I never wanted to be in a sorority and that's because I imagined they were all like the one in this book. Catty girls who are caught up in appearances. Frenemies, more than friends, all looking for others who can help them achieve whatever they think of as success. So, maybe I'm wrong, but this book painted that picture and more, with just a few glimpses into something deeper in some of the women.

I liked the disjointed feeling of the book. I wanted to know more about the characters, because I cared about them. I'm going to re-read it now, because I liked it that much.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana Fontaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters in sorority are very well developed. I can see the sarcastic, sad, troubled college girls trying to find their way in the world. They are trying to discover who they are while trying to remain unjaded. I feel that the characters in this book were in survival mode of the sorority. This novel kind of reminded me of Requiem for Dream. Although there was little to no plot in this book, the characters drove each chapter around the death of one of their sisters. This interconnected set of stories, centered around the comings and goings of a sorority, is a sort of cautionary tale to the young people traveling to college about what the joys of adulthood brings.

[Elyssa (Elyssa's Editions) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you find out that a member of your sorority wrote a book called sorority, you naturally have to connect with her and read her book! Also, I am so pleased to report that my local alumnae chapter’s book club is going to be reading this in September! :)

This book is written as a collection of interwoven short stories, all surrounding one central incident: one of the sorority sisters is found dead. We are introduced to the inner working of this fictionalized sorority through the people who run it (executive board), the sisters, and the new members (aka pledges). This is not a feel-good story about sorority life and it does not pretend to be. Instead, it basically takes a very raw approach to many of the struggles that women in that age group face and it shows the good, the bad, and mostly the ugly therein. There are stories about drug use, rape, hazing, and various family struggles. Many of the stories were a bit heartbreaking, but the ultimate takeaway for me was that you never really know what other people are going through. A lot of the girls in the book were judging others or not treating others as well as they could have been because they were worried about getting judged themselves. As someone with a degree in organizational leadership, I couldn’t help thinking that I’d love to get my hands on this group of fictitious girls and help them work everything out. Many of the issues were outside the doors of their sorority house and involved how they were treated by other members of their life.

I took a lot of notes while reading this book so I would know when a character was being referenced in a story other than her own. From speaking with Genevieve, this is not necessary at all (remember short stories), but it helps me feel like I was getting the full story. I have included my SPOILER notes in one of the pictures… please don’t look until you’ve read the book!!.

If anyone has read another interwoven collection of short stories, let me know. I found this really fun and interesting to read and I’d love to have a similar experience again… or you know, Genevieve, I’m looking at you, girl!

Thank you to Genevieve and Scout Press for my early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnL3jgpF7...

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4 stars
This was a solid read for me, definitely won’t be a favorite but it’s one I’m sure could possess the ability to leave a dirty, haunting, and bewildered feeling after reading.
The plot was rather shaken but I personally LOVED how it was structured, you could easily set the book down between chapters and feel almost like it had a sense of a new read each time. It flowed kinda choppy since each chapter is that of a new girl which in a sense drove me mad...out of all the characters I felt like twang was my favorite and wanted honestly her own story like her before and after stages in one whole book. Seeing how the girls in a sorority treat each other was a viscous cycle of never ending drama, resentment, sisterhood with a bond I think I’ll never fully understand. They go through many real life situations in life that just about anyone could honestly relate to whether you claim up your shitty experiences or not. I had some of those things happen in my life that I’m not proud of nor do I wish them on anyone so it was nice to see hey these bitches had shitty lives too technically so it could and will happen to anyone!
It was a really fun read and I hope to find more just like it or for the author to delve more into this crazy scene.

[Dianna]

Difficult to rate a book when you can't finish it. I did try. The writing style was annoying and I couldn't get into the story. (Maybe because of the writing style)
Regardless, I am sad to say there was nothing to like about this debut except for the author to keep trying.
I won this from GoodReads Giveaway for an honest review.

[Arrington (agirlandher_books) Brafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Gallery Books for my review copy of Sorority.

It has taken me a couple of days to think about what I have wanted to say in my review of this book. I want to start it by saying that I was a member of a sorority my whole collegiate career and this book is in no way representative of the sorority experience I had in college or any of my other friends at different college's experiences.

With that being said, I did feel that this book touched on a lot of the struggles that college students face whether in the Greek system or not. This was a quick read but it did jump around a lot which made it a little difficult to keep up with which character you were reading about. It was not my favorite read but also not my least favorite. A solid three star read from me.

It is definitely not a book that I would recommend to everyone. I would also give a disclaimer to those reading it who were not involved in Greek life that this not a true representation of sorority life.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure which sorority this was based on, but it surely wasn’t mine!!! I’m sure each sorority has its share of boy-crazy girls, drug-dabblers, food-issues, etc., but man! Every. Single. Chick. in this book has issues. Not tiny issues, either. MEGA issues. Like - what kind of sorority attracts all of this craziness? But oh WOW, it was SUPER interesting!!!! I could relate to some of the stuff (ritual, meetings, pledging), but the rest - pure entertainment!!! Definitely a must read - especially for sorority girls!!!!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking and felt very much like the Greek tragedies and biblical sufferings it frequently referenced. It was also very difficult to put down. Passing through time and narrators, its central meditation is grief expressed in and out of life. These women - unfinished ghosts - experience their sisterhood as a series of rites, self-denials, and otherings. Who can they be at the end of it all, other than the products of their shared experiences?

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this very well written story from Goodreads. It is really a series of rather fascinating vignettes about a fictional New England college sorority. Humorous, melancholy, and occasionally shocking, you will remember reading about the sorority sisters for quite some time.