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3.37 AVERAGE
3.37 AVERAGE
I don't have much to say, I know I liked the book, the set up, the stories, I enjoyed it. I didn't feel it was chik-lit, these stories were touching with humor but mostly serious. I don't think I'm explaining myself well, but that's how it felt.
If the chapters are meant to be stand-alone short stories, then it might have made more sense. But as a book, it is not cohesive at all. There are a couple of chapters that don't have anything to do with anything else and are not referenced again. What the?
Reread 2022 after her death of breast cancer. This book was a revelation to me when I read it when it was published. But I didn't reread it, and it sat on my shelf till I was reminded of it by Bank's too early death at 61.
Smart, funny, sad, and true, like one of the characters says they want their art to be. That this book gets dismissed by the insulting and reductive label chick lit says more about readers than it does about this book. A coming-of-age novel in stories, it follows Jane from 14 to her 30s, through various jobs and boyfriends. It's written in brief, devour- able segments that kept me turning the pages. Along the way, she has the good fortune to be supported by a fascinating crew of women: her brother's girlfriend, a handful of good true friends, her mom, an enigmatic boss, and in the last, titular story by 2 imaginary women authors of a The Rules-sorta book. These latter two are not to be trusted, just as Jane isn't always. What she says and does often disagree, and there are times when she makes frustrating choices. The guys in this book aren't so reliable, and they disappear and reappear throughout. Ultimately, Jane (and we) figure out that no one is simple and reductive and that being our own goofy selves, unguardedly, is the only way to connect.
Don't read this looking for romance or to feel good, though there are moments of that. There's a lot of dark shit and bad choices too. But read it to be reminded of how good it is to get older and figure stuff out on your own, and to embrace the bad choices of a younger self, the ones that made you as wise as you are. If you liked Jenny Offill's Dept of Speculation, this has a similar vibe.
Smart, funny, sad, and true, like one of the characters says they want their art to be. That this book gets dismissed by the insulting and reductive label chick lit says more about readers than it does about this book. A coming-of-age novel in stories, it follows Jane from 14 to her 30s, through various jobs and boyfriends. It's written in brief, devour- able segments that kept me turning the pages. Along the way, she has the good fortune to be supported by a fascinating crew of women: her brother's girlfriend, a handful of good true friends, her mom, an enigmatic boss, and in the last, titular story by 2 imaginary women authors of a The Rules-sorta book. These latter two are not to be trusted, just as Jane isn't always. What she says and does often disagree, and there are times when she makes frustrating choices. The guys in this book aren't so reliable, and they disappear and reappear throughout. Ultimately, Jane (and we) figure out that no one is simple and reductive and that being our own goofy selves, unguardedly, is the only way to connect.
Don't read this looking for romance or to feel good, though there are moments of that. There's a lot of dark shit and bad choices too. But read it to be reminded of how good it is to get older and figure stuff out on your own, and to embrace the bad choices of a younger self, the ones that made you as wise as you are. If you liked Jenny Offill's Dept of Speculation, this has a similar vibe.
3.5 stars - This book started out amazing, dragged in the middle, and then got a bit better towards the end.
The author split the story into what could only be called periods or “sections” of Jane's life (the main character). While the idea of splitting a book up in such a way sounds appealing, I actually found it quite jarring at times. You are just getting into a “section” when it ends, only to leave you reading several pages of the next section before you figure out where you’re at in the timeline. There was also one portion of the book that had no relevance to Jane at all except when it mentioned that she had moved into her aunt’s apartment upstairs. While I appreciated the undertones of the relationships going on in this section, it didn’t mesh well with the rest of the book and felt like an outlier to the rest of the story.
I wasn’t exactly enamored with this book. I really liked the first segment of Jane’s timeline, but as I continued reading on, the story just wasn’t grabbing my attention. It wasn’t until the end, where the author FINALLY explained the idea of the title, that I got interested again. But really, what’s a sandwich with just two pieces of bread and no yummy insides??
I also greatly disagree with the description of the book, particularly the “captures in perfect pitch what it’s like to be a young woman coming of age in America today.” I don’t think this book captured that at all. Jane has very unusual relationships with the people in her life, and it’s my belief that the average “young woman” just isn’t living in such a way. Alas, perhaps that’s my narrow-minded I’m-from-Pennsylvania viewpoint bias, but I had a hard time relating to Jane, and at 25 I completely consider myself a “young woman.”
I wasn’t exactly enamored with this book. I really liked the first segment of Jane’s timeline, but as I continued reading on, the story just wasn’t grabbing my attention. It wasn’t until the end, where the author FINALLY explained the idea of the title, that I got interested again. But really, what’s a sandwich with just two pieces of bread and no yummy insides??
I also greatly disagree with the description of the book, particularly the “captures in perfect pitch what it’s like to be a young woman coming of age in America today.” I don’t think this book captured that at all. Jane has very unusual relationships with the people in her life, and it’s my belief that the average “young woman” just isn’t living in such a way. Alas, perhaps that’s my narrow-minded I’m-from-Pennsylvania viewpoint bias, but I had a hard time relating to Jane, and at 25 I completely consider myself a “young woman.”
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Made it to page 25 before I couldn't take it any more.
I love this book. Always have and always will. Where did you go, Melissa Bank?