Play Book Tag discussion

Tagged recommended 14 times



5 stars
Taken from the Goodreads synopsis. "When she is sent to an orphanage at the age of eight, Beth Harmon soon discovers two ways to escape her surroundings, albeit fleetingly: playing chess and taking the little green pills given to her and the other children to keep them subdued. Before long, it becomes apparent that hers is a prodigious talent, and as she progresses to the top of the US chess rankings, she is able to forge a new life for herself. But she can never quite overcome her urge to self-destruct. For Beth, there's more at stake than merely winning and losing."

This is one of the few times I liked the movie more than the book. Elizabeth Harmon was sent to an orphanage when her mother died in a car accident. She starts playing Chess with the janitor at the orphanage and slowly becomes very good at the game and the janitor introduces her to someone who helps her develop her Chess skills into a way to make some money which sends her into Champion heights. I am not a huge chess fan, not one to watch the game being played but I did play now and then growing up. I found the Chess parts of the book interesting. The little girl growing up into a woman in a world of users and abusers was a hard read but nothing went over the top in the graphic parts. Overall, the book is a five-star book, but I did like the movie more.

I gave this three stars and was disappointed in it (but still managed to like it.) I can see where the film would be better than the book--I thought the story idea was stronger than the writing.

I did not read this, but I did enjoy the series.

Karin "I thought the story idea was stronger than the writing."

Jason wrote: "I did not read this, but I did enjoy the series."

Yes, the TV series, not movie, was able to articulate her growth from child to adult more than the book was able to plus series shows how she was forced to deal with pressures on her own. Yes, she did make some bad choices on her own but again with little to no guide in her life it was to be expected.

SouthWestZippy wrote: "Karin "I thought the story idea was stronger than the writing."

Jason wrote: "I did not read this, but I did enjoy the series."

Yes, the TV series, not movie, was able to articulate her growth fr..."

Thanks, this is helpful.