What do You think about The Fundamentals Of Play: A Novel (2001)?
This book covers the topic of wealthy young adults in New York City. A review on the book compared it to a modern "Great Gatsby" but I would't go that far. It was an interesting read to learn about the different players in the game, but I didn't find it to be very original. Parts of the book dragged along and I didn't feel any sense of accomplishment or enrichment upon finishing the book. The writing style was okay. I may check out other books by the author but this isn't a book that I would recommend to others.
—Sundai Valcich
just finnished this book, which i enjoyed. it has inspired me to want to re-read "the great gatsby", which i see as kind of an archytipical analysis of the charms of wealth. if that is a genre, i think i'm wierdly drawn to it (a.k.a gossip girl, lots of stuff) . . . would love more maybe lighter-hearted recs on the subject matter, (this book was sort of depressing)just as stuff to get me to stop watching so much t.v!. . . tried to pick up some charles dickens recently, who i'd always had the idea that i wanted to read, it t'was impossible!
—Adina
I read this book about a decade ago. At the time, I was a young twenty-something, and Caitlin Macy's debut novel definitely spoke to me. I don’t remember many specifics, but what I do remember is how well Macy captured post-college disillusionment. As others have stated, the book focuses on a group of privileged New Englanders who attended boarding school together and are now navigating their twenties. Quite simply, it's about four men's obsessions with their former classmate, Kate Goodenow. I distinctly remember my favorite of the four guys, the “Heathcliff” of the novel – Nick Beale. He skipped the college scene to become a sort of Bohemian sailor. (That wasn’t spoiler, I promise). I only mention this for the “Dawson’s Creek” fans. People keep comparing this novel to The Great Gatsby, and while that’s a valid comparison, I also saw a little bit of the Joey/Dawson/Pacey love triangle in this story. So, if you miss Capeside, you might want to read this novel. And, with that, I’ll leave you with this: “I don’t want to wait / for our lives to be over …”
—Heather
