Name: Gacy's review of The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
Item: The Queen's Gambit
Rating: 5
Author: Gacy

Walter Tevis

SOON TO BE A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES starring Anya Taylor-Joy (Emma, The Miniaturist, Peaky Blinders) from Academy-Award nominee Scott Frank (Out of Sight, Minority Report, Marley & Me) and BAFTA nominee Allan Scott 'Superb' Time Out 'Sheer entertainment. It is a book I reread every few years - for the pure pleasure and skill of it' Michael Ondaatje 'Don't pick this up if you want a night's sleep' Scotsman 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.

Now a Major Netflix Drama

The Queen's Gambit

Walter S. Tevis

Orphan Beth Harmon overcomes her fears and shyness by learning to play chess and, over the years, improves her game to become a national champion and to play the world grandmasters. Reprint. 12,500 first printing.

avarni

He was about twenty-five and looked like a pirate. He wore dirty jeans, a black turtleneck and a black wool cap pulled down to his heavy eyebrows

"On Friday, everybody ate fish, Catholic or not"

NOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIES starring Anya Taylor-Joy from Academy-Award nominee Scott Frank and BAFTA nominee Allan Scott 'Superb' Time Out 'Mesmerizing' Newsweek 'Gripping' Financial Times 'Sheer entertainment. It is a book I reread every few years - for the pure pleasure and skill of it' Michael Ondaatje 'Don't pick this up if you want a night's sleep' Scotsman 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. 'Few novelists have written about genius - and addiction - as acutely as Walter Tevis' The Telegraph

Sarah Christine Gill

Eve F

I wish I had read this before watching the show because my imagination of the characters and scenery were ultimately limited to what I had seen on the series. Regardless, I enjoyed reading the book and I think that its adaptation may be my favorite work by Netflix. 

I loved the ending of the novel where Beth decides to leave the party to play chess at a park where the chess players were simply playing for the love of the game.

Gacy

I wish I had read this before watching the show because my imagination of the characters and scenery were ultimately limited to what I had seen on the series. Regardless, I enjoyed reading the book and I think that its adaptation may be my favorite work by Netflix. 

I loved the ending of the novel where Beth decides to leave the party to play chess at a park where the chess players were simply playing for the love of the game.

Camilla

Bria

i'm not a fan of the writing at all but it looks like i'm in the minority on that one

as someone who didn’t know anything about chess, the writing is actually very compelling. it is a gripping story about one’s success and self-discipline. throughout the story, we witness how beth struggle with different kinds of addictions such as drugs and alcohol abuse. because of that, we’ve seen how it puts a strain on her friendships and relationships with men and the effect it has on her mental well-being. in line with this, i wish that beth’s mental health problems were explored and tackled more in the book.

overall i thoroughly enjoyed reading this and wished i’ve read the book first before watching the show. i am not lying when i say that this is one of the best book to series adaptations ever.

beth harmon the queen that you are!!! 

as someone who didn’t know anything about chess, the writing is actually very compelling. it is a gripping story about one’s success and self-discipline. throughout the story, we witness how beth struggle with different kinds of addictions such as drugs and alcohol abuse. because of that, we’ve seen how it puts a strain on her friendships and relationships with men and the effect it has on her mental well-being. in line with this, i wish that beth’s mental health problems were explored and tackled more in the book.

overall i thoroughly enjoyed reading this and wished i’ve read the book first before watching the show. i am not lying when i say that this is one of the best book to series adaptations ever.

esperanza 

Biggest regret will forever be watching the show before reading the book. This is not to say I disliked the show, more so I applaud it, for it is the best book-to-“movie” adaptations I’ve ever seen.

Sierra

Bilge Ince

It's an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it; I can dominate it. And it's predictable. So, if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame.

Beth Harmon is an orphan with no remarkable out looking. But things about her is changing at the moment she met with chess. She fell in love with the game and became a female chess prodigy, and this is her story.
I stumbled into the story and couldn’t stop until I finished the book. The whole story is “too cerebral” yet terrific. It can be your favorite book if you’re a genuine nerd for such stories.

Ed Kay

Really enjoyed the Netflix series so bought this on a whim, and very much enjoyed the story all over again. There are only a few changes to the plot that I could tell, but the main thrust of Elizabeth Harmon's rise through the patriarchal world of chess is still a very thrilling journey to witness.

I was mainly surprised after I finished the book to realise that Walter Tevis also wrote The Hustler and Color of Money - as well as sci-fi classics such as The Man Who Fell To Earth. Will definitely be reading more of his stuff this year.

Lynn

If you loved the series, you’ll be blown away by the book. An intricate level of detail characterises this story of a childhood to adolescence growth within a brilliant young girl who is exquisite at chess. The inner workings of her mind and the way it is put onto paper is truly intriguing and entertaining. I loved this book for its passion, sincerity and irregularity.

Lane Hokanson

I'm a big believer that the book is always better than the show. I prepped to watch the Netflix show by listening to an audio version of this book...and it was difficult. It's not a long book, but it took me forever to get through. I ended up listening to it at 1.5x speed just to get it over with. It was dull, flat, and there was no greater meaning or arc. Save yourself some time and skip this one.

Anum Memon

I read this back in June and I thought it was phenomenal. that's all the words I can use because this book really did leave me speechless. read it in one sitting I have no clue how though.

jack

Ivy X

It's been so long since I read an entire book in one sitting like this. This was absolutely amazing and there's something so beautiful about the text, the people, the stories. There are some differences when compared with the Netflix series but I think it gives them both quirks and I can't decide which I like better. Well written and beautiful--especially for a book of this time. And I love the feminist perspectives it took on.

Such a satisfying story. The series is one of my favorites, and this book was such a delight it gave me a newfound appreciation for the adaptation. Must read. 

Jacque

BOKEN BAKOM VÄRLDSSUCCÉN! »Lysande.« Time Out »Börja inte läsa om du vill sova i natt.« The Scotsman »Trollbindande.« Newsweek När Beth Harmon i mitten av 1950-talet tvingas flytta till ett barnhem i Kentucky upptäcker hon snabbt två sätt att undfly sin omgivning: Att spela schack, och att ta de små grönvita piller som hon och de andra barnen får varje dag för att de ska hålla sig lugna. Det blir snart uppenbart att Beth är ett underbarn med en exceptionell talang. Om hon lyckas klättra i schackvärlden kan hon få en chans att skapa sig ett nytt liv. Samtidigt tvingas hon hela tiden kämpa både med ett intensivt missbruk och mot en mansdominerad verklighet. För Beth är det betydligt mer än bara vinst och förlust vid schackbrädet som står på spel. Boken The Queen’s Gambit har hyllats av kritikerna och gör nu världssuccé som tv-serie på Netflix. I svensk översättning av Nille Lindgren. WALTER TEVIS [1928–1984] var en amerikansk författare. Flera av hans romaner har blivit storfilmer – The Hustler, The Color of Money och The Man Who Fell to Earth – och 2020 adapterades hans The Queen’s Gambit [1983] av Netflix till en serie som blivit en världssuccé. »Ren underhållning. Det här är en bok jag läser om gång på gång.« Michael Ondaatje, författare till Den engelske patienten

Janna Niemi

I’m in awe of this book. When I heard my mom gushing about the Netflix series I wanted to read the book before watching the series just because that’s the way I am. This book did not disappoint and I’m so, so happy that I read it. 

Beth is a very unique character in my opinion. I like her even though she is weird sometimes. It was quite interesting to follow her on her journey and through her addiction and her brilliance. 
The plot is also great. As a sport psychologist I was fascinated (although it is fiction) to see into Beth’s head and to see her thoughts and doubts and everything that she experienced during a game. I also really like that we get to follow her through her whole life and really get to know her, addiction and all. It’s rare in a book I think. 

All in all, this is a great book with a great ending and I sure will go and watch the show next.

Zarah Hussain

Lara

this book really made me feel like i was a professional chess player but realistically i cheat during every chess game i play and use computer-generated hints for every turn

More 

Irene Alegre

It's taken me an embarrassingly long time to finish this book, mostly because I tried to read fiction only at night, and I would get sleepy after reading five pages.

Sometimes this book was boring, and there're too many sections where chess games are narrated. As someone who can play chess but is no expert in the field, those felt dragging and hard to picture. BUT the ending was fantastic, thrilling and exciting. So I'm giving it an extra star just because of that ending.

Enjoy.

audrey

i wanted to give this book a 3.5 because walter tevis is lowkey a creep, but the writing+ ending were just too good for me to not rate it 4 stars 😔

june

mafe

i am blaming this book for my reading slump. it’s not poorly written but it’s boring… look at least the tv show is so good

mighty dragon 

It's one of those rare moments where the TV series adaptation is better than the book.

Eve F &
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

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Eve F &The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis

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Eve F &
The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis