What is it like to feel like an outsider while being an insider? That is Julie “Jules” Jacobson’ story and the prevailing point of view in Meg Wolitzer’s latest offering.
A chance scholarship to Spirit-in-the-Woods summer camp introduces Julie to a new group of people, people who refer to themselves as “The Interestings.” The group consists of:
• Ash, the beautiful and wealthy leader of the pack;
• Goodman, Ash’s older, handsome slacker of a brother;
• Ethan, the aspiring
• Jonah, the son of a famous folk-singer and a musician in his own right, and
• Cathy, the dancer, who doesn’t have the body of a dancer.
With them, Julie becomes Jules, an aspiring comedic actor. And, a pretty envious individual. From a Long Island suburb, Jules feels the geographical and socioeconomic distance between her and her
As the group ages, some members fall away or go away, but Jules, Ash, and Ethan stay close to each other. The struggle for Jules remains in her envy of this elite Manhattan set and all that they possess. As the plot unfolds, the cost of her envy, as well as the cost of being “interesting” is revealed. Of course, the prices are high!
Really absorbing. And sad.
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