The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An incredibly compelling book, even though I'm not a chess play and know very little about the game. I just finished watching the Netflix series and turned to the book. I have to admit that the series and the book are the most closely alike than any other book and movie I've read and viewed. We follow Beth Harmon from age 8 when her mother dies and she is placed in an orphanage. The janitor in the basement teaches her how to play chess, and she quickly becomes obsessed, reading everything she can about the game. Her eidetic memory along with her skills in math soon propel her to master the game and become a child prodigy, competing against all members of the local high school chess team simultaneously...and winning! We follow her to the local, regional and national competitions, then to Paris and Moscow to play against the elite players. I was at the edge of my seat reading this book, and would highly recommend it. Content warnings: alcoholism, prescription drug addiction, suicide.
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