CHESS Delight

Exciting story of great achievement, mixed with the human story of trauma of a poor orphan girl growing up. Very well written and well read.
I now want to start learning Chess once again.😄

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Excellent

even though Slightly different from the TV series, the tempo and theme is maintained

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Excellent story

Even though I don’t play chess the story was gripping and also gave an insight into the depth of the game. It was a new experience for me

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Wonderful story

Queen's Gambit is an inspiring story which should be read as an example to kids for there's always a way to achieve your dreams.

The book talks about determination, understanding, intelligence and kindness. An amalgamation of the traits required for a true sportsman (uni-gender).

Narration of the story was super which made it interesting to continue finishing the book.

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Easy read

It’s easy listening. Queen’s Gambit flows well, you aren’t bored, in fact one wants to finish the book. I listened to it in 4 days flat. In my case I could finish a book without a break so that’s good as I’ve two dozen books in various stages of ‘Currently Reading’!

The narrator has pleasant voice, speaks lucidly, changing her tone to a gruff one, no matter which adult character’s lines she’s speaking, but one doesn’t mind that.

It’s Beth’s story. All the way.

A genius chess player, orphaned at 8. She is portrayed mostly as a friendless, alone, stoic girl, given to excesses, but with enough determination and self control to pull herself up by the shoestrings and go on winning chess titles. When needed, someone appears in order to help her out, but not fully as she goes to solve the problem on her own. And she does reach dizzying heights.

Put in an orphanage where kids were given tranquillisers and sedatives, she doesn’t face any brutal treatment mostly due to her grades. ‘Little Green Pills’ is a habit that keeps recurring and overflowing to liquor in later life.

There are enough tragedies and triumphs in her life, treated with equal equanimity by the author. And, that’s where the book is unable to climb to a higher place. Reader is left to her own devise in figuring out everything on their own.

Secondary characters are sketchy, staying around long enough to push Beth’s story forward. There are no sub plots. The hero is ‘Chess’. It’s heroine ‘Beth’.

The dialogues are ok too. None that one recalls, and I’ve just finished listening to it.

Book is very descriptive of what’s happening, without delving into the inner world of the characters, putting the book in the 3star category. That helps with visualisation, while skimming over anything deeper.

Very little happens, there are numerous chess playing scenes, and perhaps chess players may enjoy those, however only a few moves are described and not the entire game, so...

Are there any moments, yeah, one or two, like, after the death of Beth’s first teacher she discovers that he had followed her career. There are no moments that punch you in the solar plexus, or leave you breathless just by the sheer beauty of it. It’s a competent story ‘narrated’ by the author, that I’m already beginning to forget!

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a good timepass book

Walter has done well to keep the reading/listening interesting all thru. A good chess player would enjoy this book immensely. Narration by Amy complements the story well. overall a good timepass during journey or layover stop.

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Reader makes awful voices of characters

Book is good.. the reader shld stop making those fake talking sound of characters.. its terrible

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A little sad but enjoyable

The characters are well developed , one wants to help out . Definitely a good story , end could have been better

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Brilliant!

Brilliant story. Even someone who knows basics in chess will understand the story. The narration was superb!

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must read for chess enthusiast

awesome story, very well written and narrated. goes through turns and twists. journey is imp not the end.

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1 person found this helpful