Spring Break
Book's secret society entertains readers
By: Christina Ashie
Issue date: 7/30/07 Section: Aggielife
Yet another book aimed at college girls has hit the shelves. Diana Peterfreund has just published a new book, "Under the Rose" about a super-secret society, "Rose & Grave," at the fictional Eli University.
Peterfreund's book is cleverly arranged. Each chapter is prefaced by a confession from the protagonist, Amy Haskel, to the reader. For example, chapter one: "I hereby confess: we aren't like other college students." Not surprisingly, each one of these is oriented around the protagonist and her small group of Rose & Grave members.
Amy, a flawed but loyal figure, is a member of the elite Rose & Grave secret society. However, she doesn't quite fit into the group. She's not rich enough - she's at Eli on scholarship - she's far too feisty and she's a little too paranoid. However, Peterfreund's development of Amy's character makes her highly likable.
The novel begins with planning and implementation of the induction ceremony for new members.
Something is horribly amiss in one of Eli's oldest secret societies, and someone must keep the organization from rotting from the inside out. From leaked computer messages and missing finances and records to an all-out battle of the sexes, Amy races to discover the truth behind what is going on in her beloved Rose & Grave before it falls apart entirely. With the weight of hundreds of years of tradition on her back, something all Aggies understand, will she fail or succeed?
The novel is not all about the dire straits of Rose & Grave, however. Roommate relations, parties, cafeteria food and sex are also mainstays in Peterfreund's book. These activities do not differ substantially from other books aimed at the college audience, except for the fact that many of them occur within the context of a secret society.
"Under the Rose" steers away from any kind of political examinations or humanitarian efforts in order to remain fully focused upon itself. These college students are loath, or merely incapable, of looking beyond their own group of friends to the rest of the world. Peterfreund's only attempt to reach outside of the Rose & Grave group is through an alienated Rose & Grave member's uncertain Christianity and through the fact that Amy's roommate and good friend is not a Rose & Grave member.
While Peterfreund's narrative is entertaining and her characters are often enjoyable, the book seems painfully limited. This reader, for one, would like to read a few books in which college students are depicted as looking beyond their own painfully self-oriented lives to a greater awareness of the outside world and a drive to influence it.
In short, Peterfreund's book hits the mark on entertainment, but falls short of any kind of long-term value.
Peterfreund's book is cleverly arranged. Each chapter is prefaced by a confession from the protagonist, Amy Haskel, to the reader. For example, chapter one: "I hereby confess: we aren't like other college students." Not surprisingly, each one of these is oriented around the protagonist and her small group of Rose & Grave members.
Amy, a flawed but loyal figure, is a member of the elite Rose & Grave secret society. However, she doesn't quite fit into the group. She's not rich enough - she's at Eli on scholarship - she's far too feisty and she's a little too paranoid. However, Peterfreund's development of Amy's character makes her highly likable.
The novel begins with planning and implementation of the induction ceremony for new members.
Something is horribly amiss in one of Eli's oldest secret societies, and someone must keep the organization from rotting from the inside out. From leaked computer messages and missing finances and records to an all-out battle of the sexes, Amy races to discover the truth behind what is going on in her beloved Rose & Grave before it falls apart entirely. With the weight of hundreds of years of tradition on her back, something all Aggies understand, will she fail or succeed?
The novel is not all about the dire straits of Rose & Grave, however. Roommate relations, parties, cafeteria food and sex are also mainstays in Peterfreund's book. These activities do not differ substantially from other books aimed at the college audience, except for the fact that many of them occur within the context of a secret society.
"Under the Rose" steers away from any kind of political examinations or humanitarian efforts in order to remain fully focused upon itself. These college students are loath, or merely incapable, of looking beyond their own group of friends to the rest of the world. Peterfreund's only attempt to reach outside of the Rose & Grave group is through an alienated Rose & Grave member's uncertain Christianity and through the fact that Amy's roommate and good friend is not a Rose & Grave member.
While Peterfreund's narrative is entertaining and her characters are often enjoyable, the book seems painfully limited. This reader, for one, would like to read a few books in which college students are depicted as looking beyond their own painfully self-oriented lives to a greater awareness of the outside world and a drive to influence it.
In short, Peterfreund's book hits the mark on entertainment, but falls short of any kind of long-term value.
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