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rollforlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Great food for thought. I feel quite similarly (also having not ticked many of the adult milestones and lacking intent to do so). This helped me consolidate ideas - especially when generationism came up.
clarice629's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Most societies use marriage, career, children, finances, and property as markers for adulthood. If I understand it correctly (which is sad because i have read the whole book but still unsure of) Briohny wanted to explore if there are other ways to define the moment when we entered adulthood, if there are other markers to see how successful our adult lives are.
She used her own life experiences and books to brainstorm these two questions. And so we end up reading a memoir that’s written very academically, as though she’s analysing her own life or trying to find parts of her life to fit what she wants to write about.
I don’t think Briohny has answered her own questions by coming up with her own hypothesis and testing it. She wrote a book of mainly observations. But but but she made me think. She described phenomenons regarding the 5 traditional markers and I thought “do we really want to use these 5 markers to assess if I’m an adult, if my adult life is successful?” As the book progressed Briohny reminded us that there are other things in life like relationships, social commitment, embracing oneself that’s equally important in helping us form our definition of being an adult, of being an acceptable adult. It’s these soul searching paragraphs that made me give this book 4 stars.
Towards the end of the book I think what she really wanted to explore wasn’t about reaching adulthood. She wanted to write about maturing. How do we mature positively. How to keep living and be happy about it.
She used her own life experiences and books to brainstorm these two questions. And so we end up reading a memoir that’s written very academically, as though she’s analysing her own life or trying to find parts of her life to fit what she wants to write about.
I don’t think Briohny has answered her own questions by coming up with her own hypothesis and testing it. She wrote a book of mainly observations. But but but she made me think. She described phenomenons regarding the 5 traditional markers and I thought “do we really want to use these 5 markers to assess if I’m an adult, if my adult life is successful?” As the book progressed Briohny reminded us that there are other things in life like relationships, social commitment, embracing oneself that’s equally important in helping us form our definition of being an adult, of being an acceptable adult. It’s these soul searching paragraphs that made me give this book 4 stars.
Towards the end of the book I think what she really wanted to explore wasn’t about reaching adulthood. She wanted to write about maturing. How do we mature positively. How to keep living and be happy about it.
romcm's review against another edition
5.0
This book felt similar to another recent book from an Australian woman, "Things that helped" by Jessica Friedmann. Both books were combinations of biography and research. "Adult Fantasy" definitely felt closer to my own set of anxieties than Friedmann's title. I think this is a strange time to be a woman in your 30s.
sanmeow's review
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
sort of neutral on this one i guess? the author makes some really good points that i do agree with, but then there were chapters i related to way less or just thought they didn't make much sense. i'm not saying a book has to be defined, i don't think it does, however i think if this specific book was more defined it'd make it better. while i was reading i struggled to figure out what the author wants to achieve with this. a typical memoir, an autobiography of a person struggling with adulthood, an analysis of the society we live in, or something else.
katarinabee's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
People often roll their eyes at Millennials' obsession with "adulting" - as if we're just in denial that the 90s were decades ago, and we need to finally just grow up. Doyle's "Adult Fantasy" examines various ways that this generation has been told a story about what it means to be an adult; how we've been setup to fail against those standards; and how difficult it can be if you want to live in a different way.
This book was written in 2017 however it feels just as (or even more?) relevant 6 years later.
This book was written in 2017 however it feels just as (or even more?) relevant 6 years later.
ellelouisea's review against another edition
5.0
This is so well written and researched, with the author’s personal journey woven in seamlessly and effectively. Doyle speaks very specifically to my own anxieties and preoccupations at this point in my life (approaching 30 - the milestone she’s facing at the book’s outset), but she also makes powerful observations about broader societal understandings of adulthood and how these impact people across all stages of life. I really loved this and highly recommend.
daniellehelen's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
sofiazee's review against another edition
3.0
Briohny explored the notion of adulthood in our modern world, from the "cut-off" age of 30, to education, career, marriage, friendships, homes, and eventually ageing/post-adulthood. In these essays, she wove in her personal journey of finding peace amidst the chaos of "catching up". I don't relate to some of the chapters (e.g., career and buying a home) due to my background, but many other sentiments are, I believe, quite universal. Her analyses were in-depth, and I enjoyed how she placed the millenial generation and the Boomers (her parents) side by side, and we see how we are all very similar after all.