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A review by rachel_here
Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Such a Fun Age was such a good read! The story of Emira Tucker, a 25 years old black babysitter, and her white employer Alix Chamberlain, provided a really interesting insight into the topics of race, class, and identity in 2015 and present-day USA. But it isn't just an "issue book": beyond its themes, it is also a surprisingly touching story about growing up and choosing what is best for oneself.
The main characters were probably the best part of the novel in my eyes. Emira is at time quiet, distant and cool; at time outspoken and straight to the point; and even though she is lost in her career, she always has an opinion on things- whether she voices them or not is another matter entirely. Alix, on the other hand, is your typical progressive girlboss who tries to do the right thing to varying results; but even though she has good intentions, she lacks self-awareness to an uncomfortable degree. On the surface, it seems the two women have nothing in common: but as the novel progresses, it is clear they parallel and contrast each other in surprising ways. The dual point-of-view makes for extremely fun contradictions between what Alix perceives and what Emira perceives; and as the story goes on, these contradictions allow us to get a deeper understanding on who the characters are, why they do what they do, and how they construct their sense of self through their relationships (be they professional, familial, romantic, friendly... and how sometimes they blur into one another). Nothing is black-and-white: every character is flawed, but we still see where they are coming from, even though things progressively go out of hand.
The side characters were okay for the most part, if a bit unremarkable. However I was surprised to get so attached to little Briar: at 3 years old she is funny, odd, thoughtful, and absolutely adorable. If the relationship between Emira and Alix is the "mind" of the story, then the relationship between Emira and Briar is its heart.Their part of the story was both heartwarming and incredibly sad, knowing Briar is Alix's least favorite kid and that only Emira truly loved her. In a way, where baby Catherine is a perfect copy of Alix, Briar is shaping up to be her own person, mostly thanks to Emira encouraging her curiosity and answering patiently her questions. When it becomes clear Emira has to leave the Chamberlains to complete her arc, I was really sad that this little girl would lose the one adult who truly cared for her and would perhaps not even remember her- which was suuuuper not helped by the novel's last line, which circled back to the main themes of the novel: that using others to get a good opinion of oneself won't lead to anything, and could even end badly. Let's hope Briar will not become like her mother, hung up on the past and overly reliant on other people's opinion and perception of her; and will instead take Emira's exemple, by becoming self-reliant and finding her own path.
Such a Fun Age is both a topical read and a good story that delivers beyond the timely issues it tackles, even if they take center stage. It is gripping (in a "talking out loud and smiling and grinding your teeth while you read" kind of way), funny, emotional; and it also allows to explore its characters and their actions in a nuanced way that makes you pause and think during your reading. I highly recommend it!
The main characters were probably the best part of the novel in my eyes. Emira is at time quiet, distant and cool; at time outspoken and straight to the point; and even though she is lost in her career, she always has an opinion on things- whether she voices them or not is another matter entirely. Alix, on the other hand, is your typical progressive girlboss who tries to do the right thing to varying results; but even though she has good intentions, she lacks self-awareness to an uncomfortable degree. On the surface, it seems the two women have nothing in common: but as the novel progresses, it is clear they parallel and contrast each other in surprising ways. The dual point-of-view makes for extremely fun contradictions between what Alix perceives and what Emira perceives; and as the story goes on, these contradictions allow us to get a deeper understanding on who the characters are, why they do what they do, and how they construct their sense of self through their relationships (be they professional, familial, romantic, friendly... and how sometimes they blur into one another). Nothing is black-and-white: every character is flawed, but we still see where they are coming from, even though things progressively go out of hand.
The side characters were okay for the most part, if a bit unremarkable. However I was surprised to get so attached to little Briar: at 3 years old she is funny, odd, thoughtful, and absolutely adorable. If the relationship between Emira and Alix is the "mind" of the story, then the relationship between Emira and Briar is its heart.
Such a Fun Age is both a topical read and a good story that delivers beyond the timely issues it tackles, even if they take center stage. It is gripping (in a "talking out loud and smiling and grinding your teeth while you read" kind of way), funny, emotional; and it also allows to explore its characters and their actions in a nuanced way that makes you pause and think during your reading. I highly recommend it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Toxic relationship