The Interestings

A Novel

By: Meg Wolitzer

Narrated by: Jen Tullock

Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

“Remarkable.... With this book [Wolitzer] has surpassed herself.” (The New York Times Book Review)

"A victory.... The Interestings secures Wolitzer's place among the best novelists of her generation.... She's every bit as literary as Franzen or Eugenides. But the very human moments in her work hit you harder than the big ideas. This isn't women's fiction. It's everyone's." (Entertainment Weekly)

A New York Times best-selling novel by Meg Wolitzer that has been called "genius" (Chicago Tribune), “wonderful” (Vanity Fair), "ambitious" (San Francisco Chronicle), and a “page-turner” (Cosmopolitan), which The New York Times Book Review says is "among the ranks of books like Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom and Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot."

The summer that Nixon resigns, six teenagers at a summer camp for the arts become inseparable. Decades later the bond remains powerful, but so much else has changed. In The Interestings, Wolitzer follows these characters from the height of youth through middle age, as their talents, fortunes, and degrees of satisfaction diverge.

The kind of creativity that is rewarded at age 15 is not always enough to propel someone through life at age 30; not everyone can sustain, in adulthood, what seemed so special in adolescence. Jules Jacobson, an aspiring comic actress, eventually resigns herself to a more practical occupation and lifestyle. Her friend Jonah, a gifted musician, stops playing the guitar and becomes an engineer. But Ethan and Ash, Jules’s now-married best friends, become shockingly successful - true to their initial artistic dreams, with the wealth and access that allow those dreams to keep expanding. The friendships endure and even prosper, but also underscore the differences in their fates, in what their talents have become and the shapes their lives have taken.

Wide in scope, ambitious, and populated by complex characters who come together and apart in a changing New York City, The Interestings explores the meaning of talent; the nature of envy; the roles of class, art, money, and power; and how all of it can shift and tilt precipitously over the course of a friendship and a life.

©2013 Megan Wolitzer (P)2013 Penguin Audio

4.41 stars

While this audiobook might not blow you away, it’s quite good. The story focuses on characters and relationships. The plot is not a fast moving one, if that's what you're into, but it’s interesting and should keep your attention. Plus, the narrator is really good. Judging by this novel and her latest release, The Female Persuasion, listeners can expect consistent, high quality work from Meg Wolitzer.

Overall rating: 4,41 stars

For every nerdy art kid.

Would you listen to The Interestings again? Why?

Yes.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jules and Ethan. Their story touched me and made my heart ache. I found the description of their lives (minus the star status and fame) to be actually quite realistic.

What about Jen Tullock’s performance did you like?

She did a great job making each character distinct and an individual.

If you could rename The Interestings, what would you call it?

Art school.

Any additional comments?

Loved it. I listened to the entire book in two days.

Not for everyone

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. Just not a book that will interest the typical reader. Think the professional reviewers got a bit carried away with their asessments.

Would you be willing to try another book from Meg Wolitzer? Why or why not?

Maybe. Not a horriible book, just way under achieved expectations based on gushing reviews.

Which scene was your favorite?

The End

Did The Interestings inspire you to do anything?

Be more selective in book selection. Exercise Audible's return guarantee.

Slow starter but worth the extra time

I liked the characters, particularly the lead and her husband, and the story grows far more interesting than the beginning of the book.The narrator offers very subtle voice changes with the characters that was hard to distinguish in the beginning, when the characters are young. But as they age, she fleshes them out nicely and the story flows between them without affectation.

Magnificent

I typically listen to mysteries or thrillers because they engage my attention more than literary fiction, which can be easy to stray from while driving, etc. But The Interestings thoroughly engaged my attention no matter where I was when I listened. In fact, I looked forward to driving, exercising, whatever and whenever I could just to be able to get back into the story.

What I liked:
• The writing. Wolitzer is a master of the meaningful metaphor. Her analogies are pitch perfect.
• The characters. Wonderfully drawn, fully human, the characters come to life, and you feel you really get to know them as people -- sometimes that's good, sometimes not so much.
• The narration. Well paced and engagingly delivered. Jen Tullock reads like she enjoyed what she was doing.
• The story. The tale explores the lives of 8 young people who meet at a summer camp for the arts, and traces their lives into middle age. We discover through them what it means to have dreams dashed and dreams fulfilled -- and that sometimes it is difficult to determine which is best.

This is a great book and a terrific listen.

are indeed interesting.

Would you listen to The Interestings again? Why?

Yes. Knowing the outcome of the main characters would provide a unique perspective listening to their stories from the beginning. Given all that I know, the plot elements and details may be more telling in the characters' development. I've only reread one book more than once (The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo), but I'd have to believe that this book would be worth a second listen.

What other book might you compare The Interestings to and why?

The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach because of the inter-connectedness of the main characters and the themes of jealousy, envy, and the rarity of true talent.

Which character – as performed by Jen Tullock – was your favorite?

Dennis, Jules' husband--because he was written as such a different type of character than the Interestings and Ms. Tullock's performance created such a visual of him that I'm sure I'd be able to pick him out of a line-up. Several times I continued listening to Dennis' parts long after I needed to pause the book because I was transfixed not just by the words, but by the rawness of "his" delivery.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, and from my perspective, that's a good thing! I only listen to long books because if they are good...I never want them to end. For that very reason, I can't read short stories. I hate to become vested in something amazing and wonderful and then have it come to a premature conclusion. I want greatness to last.

Any additional comments?

I learned a lot about myself in the book's discussion of jealousy and envy among friends and within families...and how such emotions cause us to struggle with conflicting thoughts of success, insecurities, happiness, and mediocrity.

One of the story lines never got truly resolved and karma never caught up to one character...karmic retribution would have made the end feel just a smidge more satisfying.

Almost too amazing!

What made the experience of listening to The Interestings the most enjoyable?

The way characters and different era's take you on a journey like few other novels match. The Personalitiea are Amazingly Heartwarming

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ethan: Won't spoil the story , when you listen you will see why.

Which scene was your favorite?

Ethan and Jools at the office.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Life: Things change but remains the same.

Best book of 2013.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was such a beautiful, magical read. I finished it over a month ago and still find myself thinking about the characters. They have truly stuck with me. Rarely do I read a book that weaves such a beautiful tale while still thoroughly developing the characters to the point that they feel like friends. I will listen to this book again, to be certain. It would be a shame not to.

An absolute must-read

This book was recommended by a friend, and honestly I couldn't believe it could possibly be as good as he said. I was wrong. It's a long book, and it spans a lot of time, but it's usually written and the characters are all absolutely wonderful.

Thoroughly enjoyed - and will never forget!

Very well executed character studies of a group of friends who meet up in summer camp and who bond so thoroughly that their friendships endure through their 50s and probably beyond. By the time I finished the book, they were my friends too - I only wish this book could have sequels that would allow me to grow old along with "The Interestings" as they called their little group.

Initially I was very put off by the excessive speed of the narrator - within 10 minutes into the performance, I downgraded the speed to 3/4 timing, and I found it to be the perfect level to thoughtfully listen to this gripping novel.

Bravo to Meg Wolitzer - incredible talent to write a story with such character depth and such richly descriptive vocabulary. Loved it!