(One of) The Most Dangerous Games
I feel like this book has haunted me throughout my formative years. Published in 1999, it has been prevalent in bookstores ever since due to the rave reviews it garnered. Less a novel than a collection of short stories centered around one protagonist, this book stretches the boundaries of "chick lit" and plain ol' "fiction."
As a young teen, Jane Rosenal doesn't know much about relationships or boys. As her life progresses, she observes how those around her act in relationships while also learning from the mistakes she makes in hers. From her brother's older girlfriend Julia to her glamorous boss Mimi, she learns what she wants and the role she needs to play in her own life. From her boyfriends - flaky Jamie, sophisticated Archie, and one that's simply too good to be true - she learns how she wants to be treated and how to treat others. Jane has plenty of other concerns - she's dissatisfied with her job, her father has leukemia, and she herself struggles with breast cancer. But relationships are what we lean on during these stressful times, and for better or worse we have a tendency to look for guidance or assurance from our better halves. As her relationships come to an end (disastrous or otherwise), Jane can't help but doubt herself. Can she find love on her own? Or must she seek help from the least likely of likely sources: a guide to dating?
I struggled to come up with things to say about this book. I wasn't prepared for a short story collection, expecting more of a cohesive narrative. The main character is quite passive and not terribly well-defined, which, depending on the kind of reader you are, can either be perfectly acceptable or a matter of contention. Jane's vaguely defined personality makes it easier for the reader to slip into the story. This allows Bank to make observations about life and relationships that are funny and insightful and universal - this is where the obvious appeal of the book lies. And it works so well in a way I can't explain. The juxtaposition of love and death - or at least love and mortality - really sets the tone of the book, keeping it grounded and far from seeming obsessed with all this relationship talk. Bank has an efficient, matter-of-fact style that complements that tone and makes this an easy, free-falling read.
It's hard to say which story in particular stood out for me, but I will say that I enjoyed the first bunch more than later ones. These two groups are separated by "The Best Possible Light," the one non-Jane short that centers around a family dinner where the son shares some arresting news. I'm not sure as to why Bank included it in this collection, as its theme of familial responsibility doesn't jive with Jane's stories. It offers an almost whimsical reprieve from Jane's trials, and maybe a sign that we can all learn to accept our mistakes and rise to meet our future as it comes. I hope that is true for Jane, just as I hope that is true for myself.
Rating: 4 irrelevant tips on dating out of 5.
I struggled to come up with things to say about this book. I wasn't prepared for a short story collection, expecting more of a cohesive narrative. The main character is quite passive and not terribly well-defined, which, depending on the kind of reader you are, can either be perfectly acceptable or a matter of contention. Jane's vaguely defined personality makes it easier for the reader to slip into the story. This allows Bank to make observations about life and relationships that are funny and insightful and universal - this is where the obvious appeal of the book lies. And it works so well in a way I can't explain. The juxtaposition of love and death - or at least love and mortality - really sets the tone of the book, keeping it grounded and far from seeming obsessed with all this relationship talk. Bank has an efficient, matter-of-fact style that complements that tone and makes this an easy, free-falling read.
It's hard to say which story in particular stood out for me, but I will say that I enjoyed the first bunch more than later ones. These two groups are separated by "The Best Possible Light," the one non-Jane short that centers around a family dinner where the son shares some arresting news. I'm not sure as to why Bank included it in this collection, as its theme of familial responsibility doesn't jive with Jane's stories. It offers an almost whimsical reprieve from Jane's trials, and maybe a sign that we can all learn to accept our mistakes and rise to meet our future as it comes. I hope that is true for Jane, just as I hope that is true for myself.
Rating: 4 irrelevant tips on dating out of 5.
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