FICTION

The Interestings

Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Apr. 2013. 464p. ISBN 9781594488399. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781101602034. F
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Wolitzer's (The Uncoupling) latest novel follows a group of creative types from the beginning of their friendship as teenagers through middle age. Hipsters before their time, they dub themselves The Interestings, in an effort at pretentious irony, with only group member Julie Jacobson truly believing that they are quite interesting. While two members of the group go on to find success in their artistic pursuits, others like Julie give up the dream and resign themselves to raising families and nine-to-five careers.
VERDICT The novel skips back and forth, revealing information about each member of the group and covering their triumphs and tragedies over the course of the years. Ultimately, the work hits its own ironic note: Julie's successful and creative friends are far more normal than she'd ever realized. This is certain to attract readers of literary and smart women's fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 10/22/12.]
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