Young Jane Young
Ratings12
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings12
Average rating4.1
"Young Jane Young's heroine is Aviva Grossman, an ambitious Congressional intern in Florida who makes the life-changing mistake of having an affair with her boss who is beloved, admired, successful, and very married and blogging about it. When the affair comes to light, the Congressman doesn't take the fall, but Aviva does, and her life is over before it hardly begins. She becomes a late night talk show punchline; she is slut shamed, labeled as fat and ugly, and considered a blight on politics in general. How does one go on after this? In Aviva's case, she sees no way out but to change her name and move to a remote town in Maine. She tries to start over as a wedding planner, to be smarter about her life, and to raise her daughter to be strong and confident. But when, at the urging of others, she decides to run for public office herself, that long ago mistake trails her via the Internet like a scarlet A. For in our age, Google guarantees that the past is never, ever, truly past, that everything you've done will live on for everyone to know about for all eternity. And it's only a matter of time until Aviva's daughter, Ruby, finds out who her mother was, and is, and must decide whether she can still respect her. Following three generations of women, plus the wife of the Congressman, YOUNG JANE YOUNG is a sympathetic, smart, funny, and very moving novel about what it means to be a woman of any age. Told in varying voices and emails and even a Choose Your Own Adventure section, it captures not just the mood of our recent highly charged political season, but also the double standards alive and well in every aspect of life for women"--
Reviews with the most likes.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked hearing from the different people, and the different views of the same events. Each person could have had a book written about them - I'd actually love to read more about Embeth, much to my surprise. It has definitely left me wanting more!
Disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from NetGallery.
I received a galley of this book from NetGalley. It in no way impacts my thoughts or opinions of this book.
4.5 stars. I started and finished this book in almost one sitting, and this book definitely exceeded any expectation I had. To be honest, I didn't know that much going into it; I loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and I knew this book was going to have a plot inspired by Monica Lewinsky, but that was about it.
There are three, perhaps four, narrators to this book with some switching formats and styles, but it flows very naturally. (I won't tell you who all the narrators are, because that would spoil the fun of discovery.) Everything is told primarily from today, looking back on events past and how Jane Young became Jane Young.
All I have to say is that Zevin did an amazing job with the voices of these strong women. It's a complicated book looking at women and feminism, and I can't wait to talk about this with friends. I wish I could share some of my favorite sections and paragraphs but it'll have to wait until I have a copy of the final book. There were so many great parts to this book, ranging from hilarious dialogue and witty remarks to thoughtful commentary on women and society. Zevin is also wonderful at writing frank, self-possessed young people and I think those who enjoyed The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry will really love this book too.
I do feel like the last 20% of the book seemed to wrap up fast while it started off more slowly and more in-depth, feeling a bit like there were things left unsaid. But perhaps that's the hallmark of a very good read – it leaves you wanting just a little something more.
4.5 (Goodreads, create a half scale, because 4 just won't do!)
Honest + Vulnerable Feminism is told right and proud. Zeplin's brilliant wit in her writing a multi-voice view of Avivagate fortified + humbled me as a reader and a woman. This book is important.
READ :: If you want the woman in you or women around you to learn of genuine strength and softness of feminism.
SKIP :: If you + your ignorance are content and cozy in your misogynistic cave.
A great story well told. I was immediately sucked in, and coming off an Outlander high so I feel like this book had higher hurdles to jump for me than the average person but it totally cleared the hurdles. Finished the book and immediately had to call my mom and tell her to read it. The characters were well-defined and I loved the view into the thought process of the betrayed wife and “slutty” intern. Also a great story about the bonds between moms and daughters.
