(Photo: fantasticfiction.co.uk)
Going into Private by Kate Brian, I
did not have very high expectations. Despite negative reviews, I still hoped
that the Private series would be a guilty pleasure like reality TV shows on
MTV. However, after reading Private, I can say that I will most likely not
continue with the series as I despise almost every single character in the
novel.
Private
follows sophomore Reed Brennan as she transfers from boring Pennsylvania to the super
exclusive and elite Easton
Academy
There
is not much that I liked about this book, but the worst part is Reed. She is
absolutely pathetic. No matter how nasty the Billings Girls treat her, she
follows them around like a little lost puppy and does anything to please them,
no matter what the cost. Even though they completely humiliate her, she thinks
the torture is worth it. Why? She’ll have “friends.” She thinks that the
Billings Girls are her only way to
make friends. Um, hello? What about her nice (although somewhat superficial)
roommate, Constance? Yeah, Constance has her
flaws, but at least she does not force Reed to steal a physics test!
Now,
I have never read the Clique series, but I have seen the movie. Those girls
have nothing on the Billings Girls. Massie Block (at least in the movie
version) is no where near as manipulative and cruel as Noelle, who continuously
demeans everyone around her and is just plain nasty. Noelle is truly an ugly
person and her friends aren’t much better. They will do literally anything to
please her, and it’s disgusting. I could not even muster an ounce of sympathy
for the ones that I was suppose to like. Their behavior is so ridiculously mean
that it actually made me dislike Reed even more because she wanted to be just
like them (and, at times, truly does behave just like them).
I
hated, hated, HATED Thomas. Cute “I Knew You Were Trouble” by Taylor Swift
right now, please. His relationship with Reed is downright disturbing. Not only
is he an alcoholic and drug dealer, but I am convinced he is a complete PSYCHO
as well. He manipulates Reed. One minute he “loves” her and the next he is
bashing his fist into a wall than he is begging for her forgiveness. Multiple
times he says, “You can’t do this. You love me.” At one point, he even says,
“You have to love ALL of me” (when they are discussing his drug dealing
habits). THIS BEHAVIOR IS NOT HEALTHY. Yeah, you should like your partner,
flaws and all. But, if these flaws consistent of serious creep-o behavior, then
RUN AWAY. However, little clueless Reed doesn’t do this. She falls for his
act... EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
To
me, the most disturbing part of this book is when Thomas literally makes Reed
fall and hurt herself. But, get this—Reed is perfectly OKAY with this. WHAT?
WHY? Oh, wait, it’s because the Billings Girls finally accept her. No, just no.
This is not OKAY. This is abusive and just plain wrong. This justifies abuse as
a way to gain a friendship and that just does not sit well with me.
The
only “positive” about Private is that the ending sets up a mystery for the next
novel. But, that’s only a plus if (SPOILER) you care about Thomas’ mysterious
disappearance.
Which
I did not. I actually cheered.
Disclaimer: I borrowed Private from the library. I am not being compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
No comments:
Post a Comment