The Interestings

"And didn't it always go like that -- body parts not quite lining up the way you wanted them to, all of it a little bit off, as if the world itself were an animated sequence of longing and envy and self hatred and grandiosity and failure and success, a strange and endless cartoon loop that you couldn't stop watching, because, despite all you knew by now, it was still so interesting."

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I started reading this book and around page 150, I put it down and decided to read another book. I am very happy that I picked this book back up. This book left me with no questions. It was all answered throughout the book, except did any of the friends receive any money. However, I think that was more of my psychology that I was bringing to the book. This book is going down as one of my favorites.

This showed up on several best of 2013 lists, and it especially caught my eye because the titular group of protagonists all meet at a summer camp, and I'm a sucker for a camp story, and also for stories about pretentious young people. I could def see where another person could hate this book for all the reasons I loved it, but, I loved it. I loved how richly developed the characters were, and how honest & flawed & interesting they all were. It was also a bit of a page-turner for me–some of the ups & downs for the characters' lives were shocking and compelling, but even the more mundane moments captivated me for how honestly portrayed they were.

Oh the privileged and their artsy and enigmatic friends. The book follows a group of friends from summercamp to middle-age, through crushes, heartbreaks, career choices, health crisis and wealth envies. The storytelling pulled me in, it was an easy listen, but all in all its not good enough to make up for the fact that the story and setting felt formulaic and familiar. It feels like The Secret History, spanning also the lives after they left college. The outsider (here Jules, there Richard) that joins a group of oh-such-interesting and dazzling young people, all well-read and talented, full of vigor and beauty. I think I am past my quota on such books.

3.5

The Interestings follows a group of friends from a fateful summer camp meeting through the courses of their lives. Some become famous and wealthy, some struggle with relationships, making a living, and making something of their life. I enjoyed following these characters, although none are entirely likable. Meg Wolitzer has an easy and engaging style. However, by the end, the book didn't add up to much more than time spent with the characters. Though the book spans 30+ years it felt shallow in more than several places where I wish the author would have delved deeper.