In 'His Favorites' by Kate Walbert, a gripping tale unfolds in a New England boarding school as a group of young women navigate the complexities of power, obsession, and betrayal. The arrival of a charismatic teacher shifts the dynamics, igniting fierce rivalries and deep-rooted secrets among the students. As they vie for his attention, the lines between admiration and manipulation blur, leading to unforeseen consequences. With sharp prose and a keen eye for the nuances of human relationships, Walbert explores themes of femininity and social hierarchy. This haunting novel leaves readers questioning the true cost of desire and the lengths to which one might go to be chosen.
By Kate Walbert
Published: 2019
""We are all defined by the moments we choose to remember, or choose to forget.""
A “tense, taut, and thrilling” (Marie Claire) novel about a teenage girl, a predatory teacher, and a school’s complicity from the highly acclaimed, bestselling National Book Award finalist and author of A Short History of Women—“riveting, terrifying, exactly the book for our times” (Ann Patchett). They were on a lark, three teenaged girls speeding across the greens at night on a “borrowed” golf cart, drunk. The cart crashes and one of the girls lands violently in the rough, killed instantly. The driver, Jo, flees the hometown that has turned against her and enrolls at a prestigious boarding school. Her past weighs on her. She is responsible for the death of her best friend. She has tipped her parents’ rocky marriage into demise. She is ready to begin again, far away from the accident. “Devastatingly relevant” (Vogue) and “fueled by gorgeous writing” (NPR), His Favorites reveals the interior life of a young woman determined to navigate the treachery in a new world. Told from her perspective many years later, the story coolly describes a series of shattering events and a school that failed to protect her. “Before things turn treacherous, there’s a moment when predation can feel dangerously like kindness…Walbert understands this…His Favorites begs to be read” (Time).
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“"We are all defined by the moments we choose to remember, or choose to forget."”
His Favorites
By Kate Walbert
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Kate Walbert is an acclaimed American author known for her insightful exploration of the complexities of women's lives. Her notable works include 'Our Kind', which was shortlisted for the National Book Award, and 'The Gardens of Kyoto', a poignant reflection on loss and memory. Walbert's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose and profound emotional depth, often blending elements of fiction and memoir to examine the nuances of human relationships. She has received critical acclaim for her ability to craft rich, multi-dimensional characters and for her unique voice that resonates with readers.
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