Book Talk: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

Publisher: Hyperion
Date: March 2008
Series or Standalone: Standalone
ISBN: 978-0786838189
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Description:

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 14:
Debate Club.
Her father’s “bunny rabbit.”
A mildly geeky girl attending a highly competitive boarding school.

Frankie Landau-Banks at age 15:
A knockout figure.
A sharp tongue.
A chip on her shoulder.
And a gorgeous new senior boyfriend: the supremely goofy, word-obsessed Matthew Livingston.

Frankie Laundau-Banks.
No longer the kind of girl to take “no” for an answer.
Especially when “no” means she’s excluded from her boyfriend’s all-male secret society.
Not when her ex boyfriend shows up in the strangest of places.
Not when she knows she’s smarter than any of them.
When she knows Matthew’s lying to her.
And when there are so many, many pranks to be done.

Frankie Landau-Banks, at age 16:
Possibly a criminal mastermind.

This is the story of how she got that way.

First line: I, Frankie Landau-Banks, hereby confess that I was the sole mastermind behind the mal-doings of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds.

This was a very unique story, which I say because of the narrator. Have you ever seen Pushing Daisies? Part of the reason that show was amazing was because of the narrator. If you clicked that link then you got to hear a snippet of his voice.  Maybe it’s just me, but that was the part of this book that stood out for me. I could imagine it all, see it played out like an episode of Pushing Daisies so that was a win.

I enjoyed reading the book. It was intriguing enough that I was able to read it quickly. Frankie was a strong, smart, fierce main character. They underestimated her and she outsmarted them. She's a good example of strength and a take charge attitude.

I smiled every time Matthew and his friends spoke—not because I was in love with Matthew, but because I could see my own guys friends in them. The playful banter, the remarks, the sarcasm. I liked the dogs a lot.

I didn’t understand her motivation sometimes, which is the purpose of the book. I know that she doesn’t either but as a reader I really wanted her to. I really wanted her to figure it out after 300 pages. I don't think I got that as much as I would've liked to, or as soon as. But all in all, it was a good read.

I liked the way it ended, the realization that she comes to about who she is and why she matters. I like that she doesn’t accept things and go with them just because someone says that’s how it should be. I like that she stands up for herself, even at great costs. That’s the best kind of story.