Thinking About Charlotte Simmons

11 CommentsTuesday • January 9, 2007 • by michelle

I’ve gone this far without mentioning what I’m currently reading, which is surprising since I’m usually working on at least two books at a time. What can I say? I bore easily so I need variety. In books. Don’t go reading into things please. Unless they are books. Sheesh.

I picked up I am Charlotte Simmons after reading that the main character is a small town girl who goes off to a prestigious university and is shocked by what she finds. At that point, I wondered if I had been Charlotte Simmons 10+ years ago.

I’ve also liked Tom Wolfe ever since a “Modern Southern Writers” seminar I had in college where we also tackled William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and some works of our own humble professor. I have kind of a love-hate relationship with southern literature though. I have to admit that sometimes I feel (a lot) left out of southern fiction, but I mostly enjoy it. And Tom Wolfe is a master–so much so that he doesn’t even need the name of his book on its cover. That’s big people. So I gave this one a go.

Now I’ve read the first 100 pages or so of Charlotte, and I’m pretty sure that the answer is no, I am not nor ever was Charlotte Simmons. I do recognize some of her acquaintances, though, and Wolfe makes observations of prestigious university life that are worth examining. So I’ll continue. Well, plus I never abandon a book. Can someone help me with this disease?

Overall, I’m not sure if I love or hate this one yet, but I have another 500 pages to figure it out. For those who have read it, what do you think? And what did you think after 100 pages?

Eventually I’ll do up one of those Book List thingees, if for nothing else to keep track of what I’ve read, but for right now, I’m also looking for suggestions.

So hook me up. What are you reading?

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[tags]books, i am charlotte simmons, tom wolfe[/tags]