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A review by sarahholliday
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
The short version: an entertaining novel that made me smile, but also left me disappointed.
I think Mary Jane is an excellent beach read, if you're looking for something that prods deeper issues without pushing too hard. Mary Jane makes for a delightful protagonist, and as someone who grew up in conservative Christian culture, I related to her instantly. The 70s nostalgia is palpable, and though Mary Jane's idyllic summer is predicated on her immense privilege, it's easy to get swept away by the music references and sweet details of the time.
My biggest issue is with the story's inability to stick to one approach...instead of being a piece of purely escapist nostalgia or a thoughtful examination of the complexity of the 1970s, the novel stops short of becoming either. I've seen reviewers dismiss Mary Jane's parents as caricatures, but unfortunately they read as all too familiar to me. But instead of there being some sort of reckoning between MJ and her parents over issues of racism, snobbery, and control, Mary Jane ends up being...sort of okay with accepting her parents for who they are.
In the end, I think it's the book's final 20% that let the rest of the story down, making this novel one of unfulfilled potential.
I think Mary Jane is an excellent beach read, if you're looking for something that prods deeper issues without pushing too hard. Mary Jane makes for a delightful protagonist, and as someone who grew up in conservative Christian culture, I related to her instantly. The 70s nostalgia is palpable, and though Mary Jane's idyllic summer is predicated on her immense privilege, it's easy to get swept away by the music references and sweet details of the time.
My biggest issue is with the story's inability to stick to one approach...instead of being a piece of purely escapist nostalgia or a thoughtful examination of the complexity of the 1970s, the novel stops short of becoming either. I've seen reviewers dismiss Mary Jane's parents as caricatures, but unfortunately they read as all too familiar to me. But instead of there being some sort of reckoning between MJ and her parents over issues of racism, snobbery, and control, Mary Jane ends up being...sort of okay with accepting her parents for who they are.
In the end, I think it's the book's final 20% that let the rest of the story down, making this novel one of unfulfilled potential.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Antisemitism, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content