UB Libraries Book Group discussion

What did everyone think of this book?

By the way, this month, we will also be meeting in-person on Thursday, July 24, at 12:00 noon, in the Academy Room, Abbott Hall (HSL).

A couple of links that may be of interest:
NPR interview (audio): http://www.npr.org/2014/02/18/2790435...
NYT intereview (text): http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

I didn't finish the book. I was listening to it on audio, and got through the first part. When it announced Part 2 and I realized I wasn't half way through, I gave up. I couldn't take any more of these characters. They were so self-involved and self-important, and I ended up really not liking any of them. I'm looking forward to seeing what others think.

I liked this book quite a bit. I wasn't sure at first, but once I got through the first part, I liked the way it addresses larger issues of aging, friendship, self-image and just life expectations. The whole idea of keeping secrets from those in which we're in our closest relationships, and the things that linger from our adolescent selves into adulthood I find intriguing. For me, the book improved as it went along. I do like the author's writing style. I enjoyed how she intertwined the past and the present.

I'm not finished yet, but hoping to do so by Thursday's in-person lunch meeting. It's a tough slog for me so far ...

I respect the author's writing style, but I didn't love this book, primarily because I just couldn't (and found I didn't really want to!) engage with the characters. I don't necessarily mind unlikeable characters (indeed, I enjoy a lot of books with characters I hate), but I just didn't want to spend time with these folks. That's my negative take on the novel. I did think, however, that in 50-100 years from now I might really appreciate it much more, much as I can appreciate studies of class and manners from 50-100 (or more) years ago now. Distance can be a lovely thing! So my positive take on this novel is that I might regrettably know characters like these too well, and as I wish to avoid them in real life :) I would rather avoid them in fiction, too.

I have a hard time reading books where I don't like the characters; strangely, I really liked this book in spite of most of the characters. Wolitzer's story reminded me of some of Michael Chabon's work with the interesting language, colorful descriptions (of people and events, more of people) and kind of taking the reader on a ramble. I felt like Wolitzer is Jules with her not-quite-funny sense of humor and inferiority complex. The writing had such an off-putting, snobbish perspective, as Wolitzer/Jules looked disdainfully (or maybe more self-consciously) at all that surrounds her, including her solid husband Dennis, but somehow I couldn't put this book down.

I'm not sure why any of them wanted to hang out with Jules and have no idea why Ethan loved Jules above all.

Ellen, I like how you phrased it about the things that linger from our adolescent selves into adulthood -- I also find that interesting and was intrigued by how each character handled that and changed as they grew older. I feel like the friendships I have from those teenage years are somehow different -- I still see those people through that lens/from that time and it is mainly comforting but the history can occasionally rear its head in negative ways as well.

Looking forward to seeing people in person tomorrow!

I agree, Kath, that it isn't clear why they decided to hang out with Jules and why Ethan loves her so much. Maybe the "why" doesn't matter as much as the fact that it happened and how that affects everyone. My take is that Jules' father's death had a much more profound effect on her than she ever comes to grips with, and that influences her perception of herself and her family, which she does come to appreciate later on. To me, she really wants to be part of a different family, one that she sees as happy and successful. I think she and Ash click because they both find what they're not getting from their own families. It's ironic to me that Jules becomes a therapist when I kept thinking as I read the book that she needs to go to therapy!

I'm a little worried that I really didn't find these characters that off-putting! :-)

It was Lori who talked about our lingering adolescent selves, not me :-)

Did anyone else notice the way the author always said "State University of New York at Buffalo" rather than UB? It struck me as odd that she'd choose a real college and then not refer to it in shorthand as all the students there would have done. Plus I think the bars she mentions are not real from that time. Not a big deal, but once again, if you choose to write about a real place, carry it through ...

Yes, I did notice that, Ellen, and it bugged me too. I wonder if Wolitzer went here or if she just picked a school at random.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Woli...

It appears that Wolitzer went to Smith and then Brown and now teaches at Stony Brook Southhampton. I bet she never got the hang of the SUNY Buffalo or UB monikers. I tried to read this book but couldn't get into it. I didn't like the characters in the beginning of the book and found myself skimming so many pages that I gave up about halfway through. However, all these comments make me think that it might be an "interesting" read.

Thank you to all who attended our in-person meeting at HSL! We had a great discussion of this book, which nobody liked very much. But it made for an "interesting" conversation ...