Such a Fun Age
Reese's Book Club
By Kiley Reid
Ooof! Finished this one in two days. I knew the other shoe was going to drop, but didn't know how or when, and I couldn't stop reading until I found out.
The book alternates points of view, which is particularly compelling when talking about race (wealthy white woman striving to not be basic, but finds herself to be rather basic; and 25 year old Black woman still trying to figure out her life plan being pursued by a boyfriend who may have questionable motivations).
It also shows how much narrative people can fully imagine in their heads: What is this person thinking of me? Does she like me? Are people judging me by how much sparkly decor I have? Oh, no, is she mad? Did she misconstrue that thing I said?" (not direct quotes) When really that person is hardly giving you a second thought and she's just trying to live her life. The obsession and narcissim really shines through in those inner thoughts.
It's unclear if Alix/Alex has a profound realization about herself at the end about how she treats her relationships with Black people. Hard to tell if this was more descriptive/explantory for the reader or self-reflective. Either way, it's not exactly the conclusion you were hoping for, though it may be the more honest one.
*Note to self - contributing to the Little Free Library down the road.
Tags:
race unreliable narrator page turner320 pages
Published Dec 30, 2019 by G.P. Putnam's Sons
Fiction - Literary
Fiction - Women
Fiction - Coming of Age