I Have Some Questions for You

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I Have Some Questions for You
I Have Some Questions for You book cover.png
Hardcover First Edition
Author Rebecca Makkai
LanguageEnglish
Subjects Murder investigation, cold case, bias, truthiness, wrongful conviction, homicide, false confession, collective memory
Genre Mystery, thriller
Publisher Viking
Publication date
February 21, 2023
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint, ebook
Pages448 pp
ISBN 9780593490143
Hardcover First Edition
OCLC 1335121742
LC Class PS3613.A36 I33 2023 lccn.loc.gov/2022032713

I Have Some Questions for You is a 2023 literary mystery novel by American writer Rebecca Makkai, published by Viking Press. The novel received universal acclaim from critics upon release, and spent six weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.

Contents

It was popular among the general public, and placed ninth in the Goodreads Choice Award's Mystery & Thriller category. Its audiobook went on to win an inaugural Libby Book Award, and it was longlisted for prestigious prizes like the Aspen Words Literary Prize and Carol Shields Prize for Fiction.

Plot

Bodie Kane, a film professor and podcaster, is forced to confront a series of violent events in her past when she is invited to teach a class at the New Hampshire boarding school she graduated from.

Publication history

I Have Some Questions for You was published on February 21, 2023 by Viking Press.

Reception

Reviews

The Associated Press praised the novel's plot but criticized the characters and their development. [1] The Star Tribune and The Wall Street Journal both published positive reviews, with the former praising the novel's "nuance" and the latter positively describing the "expressive imagery" of Makkai's writing. [2] [3] Ron Charles, writing in The Washington Post , characterized the novel as standing apart from other "prep-school novels" by situating much of the novel's drama within the world outside the school. [4] Positive reviews were also published in The New York Times , The New Yorker , The Boston Globe , The Atlantic , and NPR . [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Publishers Weekly praised the book, drawing a positive comparison to Makkai's previous novel, The Great Believers (2019), writing that "this is sure to be a hit." [11] Kirkus Reviews , while positive overall, negatively compared the book to The Great Believers, noting that "this book does not have the profound impact of its predecessor." [12] Booklist and Bookpage both published starred reviews, praising the novel's prose, Bodie's characterization, and what they felt was a subtle message about racism and misogyny. [13] [14]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryResultRef
2023 Goodreads Choice Awards Mystery & ThrillerNominated–9th [15]
Heartland Booksellers AwardFictionShortlisted [16]
Libby Book AwardAudiobookWon [17]
2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize —Longlisted [18]
Carol Shields Prize for Fiction —Longlisted [19]

References

  1. ↑ Levin, Ann (February 21, 2023). "Review: A boarding school whodunit fueled by feminist rage". Associated Press . Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Akins, Ellen (February 17, 2023). "Review: 'I Have Some Questions for You,' by Rebecca Makkai". The Star Tribune . Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ Nolan, Tom (February 17, 2023). "Mysteries: Rebecca Makkai's 'I Have Some Questions for You'". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ Charles, Ron (February 24, 2023). "'I Have Some Questions for You' is more than a murder mystery" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Cain, Hamilton (February 20, 2023). "A Podcaster Goes Back to School, Ready to Listen". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Waldman, Katy (February 20, 2023). "A Novel That Confronts Our True-Crime Obsession". The New Yorker . Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Gilman, Priscilla (February 16, 2023). "Rebecca Makkai's 'I Have Some Questions for You' spotlights the power of storytelling in an age of true crime and #MeToo". The Boston Globe . Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ Hayes, Stephanie (March 11, 2023). "A Novel That Probes the Line Between Justice and Revenge". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ Iglesias, Gabino (February 27, 2023). "'I Have Some Questions For You' is a dark, uncomfortable story that feels universal". NPR. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ Corrigan, Maureen (March 1, 2023). "Rebecca Makkai's smart, prep school murder novel is self-aware about the 'ick' factor". NPR. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "I Have Some Questions for You". Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  12. ↑ "I Have Some Questions for You". Kirkus Reviews . November 16, 2022. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Bostrom, Annie (December 1, 2022). "I Have Some Questions for You" . Booklist . Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ Bufferd, Lauren (February 20, 2023). "I Have Some Questions for You". BookPage. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Mystery & Thriller!". Goodreads. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  16. ↑ "2023 Heartland Booksellers Award". HEARTLAND FALL FORUM. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  17. ↑ "And the award goes to...The winners of the first Libby Book Awards". Libby Life blog. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  18. ↑ Anderson, Porter (November 8, 2023). "The Aspen Words Literary Prize Names Its 2024 Longlist". Publishing Perspectives. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ Drudi, Cassandra (March 8, 2024). "Longlist announced for $150K Carol Shields Prize for Fiction". Quill & Quire.
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