Arena

I enjoyed the first part of this book, narrated in the first person plural voice of a group of 13 year old girls, reminiscent of the technique of Eugenides's The Virgin Suicides. But when it switches to the individual voices of the girls, now grown up, I found it far less interesting and, in fact, it dragged for me. I also found the surrealistic aspects unconvincing, and these increase in number as the story progresses. I suppose it's an interesting way to explore both the insecurities and brutality of young adolescents and the dangers which they face from distracted parents and exploitative and dangerous adults, but it didn't work for me.