In Twenty-Something, the narrator/protagonist has all the fixin’s of a posh, urban London existence. He’s a well-paid investment banker, he’s got a beautiful girlfriend; he’s got the artsy-fartsy roommate (who happens to be a bit of a slacker, but his wealthy father got them the great flat that they live in, so there); and he’s got the cool group of co-ed friends who are all familiar enough to be comfortable yet attractive enough to stir that sexual tension that makes any gathering fun. Despite the glamorous, glamorous life (thanks, Fergie), Jack finds himself on New Years day no longer in love with his girlfriend, pudgy and unhealthy, and desiring a job where he actually knows why he gets paid. The novel is the journal Jack keeps for an entire year as he gets himself out of this proverbial rut. There’s poignant introspection, romantic pining, and many a hilarious drunken scene. (Quoting Braveheart as your being “escorted” from your former place of employment – contemporary classic.) It’s a man’s perspective, and it’s Brit wit – a bloody good read.
It’s a Wonderful Lie is a collection of commiserating essays all from women who have made it out of their twenties alive (promising already, it’s it?) The book is separated into sections that debunk the prevailing fairytales so many have about this coveted decade, from the material “I’ll have an amazing apartment and love my job” to the far more complex “I’ll know myself and what I want.” The writing is highly informal, but sparing no detail – with occasional swearing for authenticity. Some of the more memorable essays included one woman who was an indentured servant to major universities (i. e. an RD) because the apartments were beautiful, prime real estate and she lived rent/ utilities free. Another woman addressed the difficulty of making friends at the age of twenty-four; she attests to the importance of shared experience, and admits that without the sandbox or dormitory, it’s a lot tougher. Still another recounted the few years she spent searching for meaning after graduation, just to find that where she belonged was back in a classroom at graduate school. My only beefs with this book are that most of these stories take place in NYC (which I guess is accurate because what twenty-something doesn’t want to be there at least for a time?) Also, I would have liked a few more mahogany moments mixed into all of these alabaster encounters. Lastly, I wonder if there isn’t a bit of cowardice in only writing about something after it’s over? Isn’t hindsight always a prettier view? Still, a pretty good read; I recommend it.
Before I started picking up books again lately, I was reading a lot of magazines. Among my repeat offenses were MORE and O. Both of these are good mags, in my opinion, but they are geared toward older women. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I was reading them and becoming eager about being that 30+ or 40+ woman that these magazines celebrated (you know, the Angela Bassetts and Rachael Rays of the world). In the meantime, I’m kind of living over my twenties, which is a bonehead move because I’ll never get them back. So while I’ve never been and never will be all sex-drugs-and-rock and roll, I still am curious and resilient and (relatively) adventurous. In addition to all of the “I know, right?!” moments that Twenty-Something and It’s a Wonderful Lie gave me, those books reinforced for me this very important point – none of their stories are mine. So while I have half of this decadent decade left, I’ve got some serious living to do.
2 comments:
1. sigh** alllll this testimonial text...twenties are great!
...we just have to make them that way.
2. this is such good writing. gee whiz.
ooo ooo you HAVE to join www.goodreads.com. Its not quite as addictive as myspace but its wonderful to be up on what your homies are reading. Now I have to jot this down!!
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