I Have Some Questions for You explained

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.

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.^[1]

Reception

Reviews

I Have Some Questions for You drew praise from critics upon its release. According to Book Marks, an online aggregator of book assessments by mainstream critics, the novel received 14 "rave" reviews and six "positive" reviews and didn't receive neutral or negative ones.

The Associated Press praised the novel's plot but criticized the characters and their development.^[2] 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.^{[3] [4]} 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.^[5] Positive reviews were also published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, and NPR.^{[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]}

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."^[12] 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."^[13] 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.^{[14] [15]}

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2023		Mystery & Thriller		[16]
	Heartland Booksellers Award	Fiction		[17]
	Libby Book Award	Audiobook		[18]
2024		—		[19]
		—		[20]

External links

• I Have Some Questions for You at BookMarks

Notes and References

1. Web site: I Have Some Questions for You . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226030509/https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/i-have-some-questions-for-you/ . 2023-02-26 . 2023-02-25 . BookMarks.
2. Web site: Levin . Ann . 2023-02-21 . Review: A boarding school whodunit fueled by feminist rage . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190626/https://apnews.com/article/i-have-some-questions-for-you-book-reviews-a67a2d76e456069e67b4b5a1d3698e72 . live .
3. Web site: Akins . Ellen . 2023-02-17 . Review: 'I Have Some Questions for You,' by Rebecca Makkai . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226050823/https://www.startribune.com/review-i-have-some-questions-for-you-by-rebecca-makkai/600252412/ . live .
4. Web site: Nolan . Tom . 2023-02-17 . Mysteries: Rebecca Makkai's 'I Have Some Questions for You' . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190621/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/mysteries-book-rebecca-makkais-i-have-some-questions-for-you-5377223b . live .
5. News: Charles . Ron . Ron Charles (critic) . 2023-02-24 . 'I Have Some Questions for You' is more than a murder mystery . limited . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226065528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2023/02/24/rebecca-makkai-murder-mystery-review/ . live .
6. News: Cain . Hamilton . 2023-02-20 . A Podcaster Goes Back to School, Ready to Listen . en-US . . 2023-02-27 . 0362-4331 . 2023-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224010757/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/20/books/review/i-have-some-questions-for-you-rebecca-makkai.html . live .
7. Waldman . Katy . 2023-02-20 . A Novel That Confronts Our True-Crime Obsession . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190626/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/02/27/i-have-some-questions-for-you-review-rebecca-makkai . live .
8. Web site: Gilman . Priscilla . 2023-02-16 . Rebecca Makkai's 'I Have Some Questions for You' spotlights the power of storytelling in an age of true crime and #MeToo . 2023-02-27 . . 2023-02-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190626/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/02/16/arts/rebecca-makkais-i-have-some-questions-you-spotlights-power-storytelling-an-age-true-crime-metoo/ . live .
9. Web site: Hayes . Stephanie . 2023-03-11 . A Novel That Probes the Line Between Justice and Revenge . 2023-04-04 . The Atlantic . en . 2023-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404163928/https://www.theatlantic.com/books/archive/2023/03/i-have-some-questions-for-you-rebecca-makkai-book-review/673344/ . live .
10. Web site: Iglesias . Gabino . 2023-02-27 . 'I Have Some Questions For You' is a dark, uncomfortable story that feels universal . 2023-04-04 . NPR . 2023-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403084649/https://www.npr.org/2023/02/27/1158940771/rebecca-makkai-i-have-some-questions-for-you-book-review . live .
11. Web site: Corrigan . Maureen . 2023-03-01 . Rebecca Makkai's smart, prep school murder novel is self-aware about the 'ick' factor . 2023-04-04 . NPR . 2023-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230403084551/https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160051405/i-have-some-questions-for-you-rebecca-makkai-review . live .
12. Web site: I Have Some Questions for You . 2023-02-25 . . 2023-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226030500/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593490143 . live .
13. Web site: 2022-11-16 . I Have Some Questions for You . 2023-02-25 . . 2022-12-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226104343/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rebecca-makkai/i-have-some-questions-for-you/ . live .
14. Web site: Bostrom . Annie . 2022-12-01 . I Have Some Questions for You . limited . 2023-02-25 . . 2023-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226030502/https://www.booklistonline.com/I-Have-Some-Questions-for-You/pid=9769660 . live .
15. Web site: Bufferd . Lauren . I Have Some Questions for You . 2023-02-25 . BookPage . 20 February 2023 . 2023-02-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226030459/https://www.bookpage.com/reviews/i-have-some-questions-for-you-rebecca-makkai-book-review/ . live .
16. Web site: Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Mystery & Thriller! . 2024-10-05 . Goodreads.
17. Web site: 2023 Heartland Booksellers Award . 2024-10-05 . HEARTLAND FALL FORUM . en.
18. Web site: And the award goes to...The winners of the first Libby Book Awards . 2024-10-05 . Libby Life blog . en-us.
19. Web site: Anderson . Porter . 2023-11-08 . The Aspen Words Literary Prize Names Its 2024 Longlist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129044459/https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/11/the-35000-aspen-words-literary-prize-names-its-2024-longlist/ . 2023-11-29 . 2024-04-28 . Publishing Perspectives . en-US.
20. Web site: Drudi . Cassandra . March 8, 2024 . Longlist announced for $150K Carol Shields Prize for Fiction . Quill & Quire.