The vivid flare of this novel comes primarily from its evocation of the intense relationships and feelings of teenage girls, but the setting (1969, in a commune that is obviously meant to bear strong parallels to the Manson Family) brings an additional intensity - in its urgency and consuming nature as well as the darkness that it explicitly plays out. There is some beautiful, sparkling writing in The Girls and the dissection of character (or its lack - this is one of the book's preoccupations) is sharp. I raced through it - yet didn't find it completely satisfying, and I'm not entirely sure why ... perhaps in the end it's a little bit too much on the surface? Overall though, very enjoyable and well laced with insight.
