For some reason I avoided Meg Wolitzer’s bestselling novel. I like her writing a lot, and I’d certainly read wonderful reviews of her latest book. I guess it was the idea of the story – that a group of kids at an artsy summer camp in the 1970s would call themselves “The Interestings,” It felt smug and turned me off.
But as my business trip to Arkansas approached, I realized I didn’t have plane reading for my Kindle so I went on Amazon, found the book and hit “Buy.” I was pleasantly surprised and found myself completely immersed in the story, couldn’t stop reading and finished it this weekend. I don’t know how Wolitzer managed to juggle such a large cast of characters over such a sweeping period of time and make each one so multi-layered, but she did.
I loved reading about these people and their lives – from their teenage years through their 20s and into their 50s. Jules is the awkward one who wants to be an actress/comedienne but doesn’t have the talent, settling for a career as a therapist in New York, married to Dennis, an ultrasound technician, envying her more exceptional summer camp friends. Ash is the beautiful, delicate one, raised by parents to excel. Her brother Goodman is the charismatic screw-up, believing he’s exceptional but acting like a pain in the ass and never getting his act together. Jonah, the son of a famous bohemian folk singer, is the sensitive, unknowable one whose musical talent was suppressed during his youth by an unscrupulous father-figure. And Ethan is the genius cartoonist, unattractive physically but so talented and ethical that people are drawn to him and his wealth and power.
This core group moves through many time periods and passages, and Wolitzer gets all the background details just right. She presents their dramas in a way that allows them to take their turns telling the story but she maintains a third person narrative voice. Not easy to do. When I got to the last page, I was sorry the novel was over: the mark of a very good book.
Hi Jane!
I wish you were in my book club. I read the books you recommend and have yet to have a clunker.
My book club on the other hand….
Thanks for the new title!
Did you see Being:Mariano? I couldn’t get through it with a dry eye.
Go Cardinals!
Peg, I must be the only one on the planet who’s not in a book club! I think I’ll start one even if I’m the only member. Glad my recommendations have been holding up. If you check over on the “Confessions” blog, I was bemoaning the fact that I missed most of the Mo documentary (I did cry at the end), but am planning to see the re-broadcast tomorrow night.
Jane, I am leaving my book club. So the two of us will be the last two not in a club. November is my last meeting.
They poo-poo my ideas and anyone’s who’s titles they consider pedestrian.
They tend to be a bit pretentious for my liking.
Rich women who read is what I call them when speaking with my husband.
I think they may be missing something in their lives and that may be why they behave this way.
I enjoy the wine and the books. Not the women so much…tee hee
And the lozenge….only could tell at the beginning. And Bryant Gumbal I wanted to smack.
When he reference the partner who gets twice her size I wanted to scream – Hello mirror.
He was chubby himself back then.
Look at him interviewing Reggie – 1/2 his size.
ok. must get to work and stop bothering you.
Sorry about your book club, but it’s not the first time I’ve heard the pretentious thing from my friends who are in them. I guess that’s part of why I haven’t joined one. I’m not a book snob. Well, everything’s relative, because there are certainly some types of books I wouldn’t be interested in reading. I just don’t feel the need to read books that are tough to get through. I like being entertained and if I learn along the way, so much the better. I thought Bryant did a good job with the interview. He keeps you on your toes unlike some of the others who just lob softball questions at you. And yes, he was chubby but he’s had cancer so he’s lost a lot of weight. I hope he’s OK now, but it’s kind of startling how much thinner he is in the HBO clip.
okay, I’m going straight to hell. I did not know that Bryant had cancer. Now I feel like @#!*
I just thought he was another man who was overweight complaining about the little woman who put on a few pounds. So many men do this. I do think during the interview he seemed to know your books, your style, as well as the book he was interviewing you for. Very rare.
He did have cancer, Peg, but as far as I know he’s fine and simply decided to take better care of himself. (You’re safe from hell. LOL)