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Gentlemen and Players: A Novel (P.S.) By Joanne Harris ( Harper Perennial )
Release Date: 2007-01-01
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $14.95
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Product Description
For generations, privileged young men have attended St. Oswald's Grammar School for Boys, groomed for success by the likes of Roy Straitley, the eccentric Classics teacher who has been a fixture there for more than thirty years. This year, however, the wind of unwelcome change is blowing, and Straitley is finally, reluctantly, contemplating retirement. As the new term gets under way, a number of incidents befall students and faculty alike, beginning as small annoyances but soon escalating in both number and consequence. St. Oswald's is unraveling, and only Straitley stands in the way of its ruin. But he faces a formidable opponent with a bitter grudge and a master strategy that has been meticulously planned to the final, deadly move.
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 Great twist ending, medicore plot
This book was recommended to me in my discussion forum about books with twist or surprise endings. I thought that the end was great, I didn't see it coming at all. However, the book reminded me of Seinfeld, it just wasn't about anything. It's very narrative and descriptive where I would have preferred more action less talk. However, if you like books like that this one would be perfect.
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 Great story ( lvpnr )
This is a great book. I thought the writing was superb The ending had a nice little twist, not too predictable.
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 Smart, British Grammar School Mystery
"Gentlemen and Players" may not be the best known of Joanne Harris's works, "Chocolat" undoubtedly holds that title, but this novel is a riveting story worthy of praise for its intelligence and ingenuity. Centered around the public (private for those of us in the US) St. Oswald's grammar school for boys where things begin to go terribly wrong - and we are not talking paper airplanes and spit balls disorder, more like school for scandal.
As the school, and surrounding town, attempt to come to grips with the institution's unraveling, Harris weaves a set of plot twists that will have you flipping through the novel's pages trying to understand what you missed. This is a story of strategy and cunning shrouded in mystery and secrecy, which makes up for the fact that several rather repetitive descriptions.
Although satisfying, this novel is also disconcerting not only because of its subject matter, but also because Harris challenges readers to accept that not everything in life works out neatly according to the rules (no matter how badly we desire it). This novel will make you think and feel, which is truly something wonderful. Harris herself dedicated over a decade to teaching in the British school system and her devotion comes through clearly in every chapter, not to mention a lovely essay reflecting on her teaching career in the P.S. edition.
One word of caution to readers before diving unreserved into this novel piece of literature - this is a story involving children and not everything that happens is good. If you are bothered by this type of thing, it might not be the choice for you. Do not let this caution put you off entirely, but it was not something I was prepared for when I began reading.
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A labryinth of unexpected twists and turns ( john27 )
One knows either a very good book or a very poor book has been found if the reading time is short. This book certainly falls into the former camp.
Harris leads the reader through a winding maze of suspicions and hypotheses. Just when you think you've found the path, one can almost hear Harris' quiet snicker as you have reached a dead end. The chess metaphor between the school and the "mole" is aptly portrayed as each side is consistently trying to guess the other's move.
To summarize, Gentlemen and Players is a novel about a private boys school which quickly becomes overwrought with scandal-with one key player at the helm. One can see the innerworkings of the mind of "the mole" (black) and Straitley, the gruff but well-intentioned seasoned teacher (white).
Harris will keep the reader guessing until the very end. Not since my viewing of "The Sixth Sense" have I left with my jaw agape when all is revealed. Savor this well written work.
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Excellent addition to the British Grammar School drama. ( nan0000 )
I enjoyed almost everything about this novel. I was fascinated by, and, for the most part, believed in psychological development of the characters...a plus for any mystery. Set in a semi-tony British Boy's school, always a treat, this fun psychological thriller kept me guessing until the end. As my only previous experience with this writer was the somewhat tiresome movie Chocolat, I was very pleasantly surprised. I look forward to reading her next effort!
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