Book: Such a Fun Age
Author: Kiley Reid
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s sons
Release Date: 31st December, 2019
Blurb
Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living showing other women how to do the same. A mother to two small girls, she started out as a blogger and has quickly built herself into a confidence-driven brand. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains’ toddler one night. Seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, a security guard at their local high-end supermarket accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make it right.
But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix’s desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix’s past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.
With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone “family,” the complicated reality of being a grown up, and the consequences of doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
Review
We are so engrossed in social media that somebody had to write about it – about how our virtual life affects our real life; how we often mix up the virtual and the real. It is a simple story that speaks to the masses. An encouragement to all the upcoming blogger turned entrepreneur. A reminder how often earning degrees is not always a guarantee for a stable career. How having a medical insurance is essential but difficult to fetch one. At the same time the author manages beautifully to weave in common human mindset that is, in reality, not very healthy to nurture. Often a person’s zeal to become the ideal person turns him/her into overtly self-righteous.
Alix and Kelly, in their aim to prove themselves anti-racist, overdo it to such an extent, they unknowingly and indirectly become racists. This book also highlights the universal fact that parents with multiple children have their favourites among them. It’s unintentional but the bias is there.
It is a fiction that explores human behavior with the help of a simple modern story. It is very much ideal as a book club selection. So much to talk about, so much discover and learn which we often miss out from our daily life experiences.
It is an eye-opener which I think everyone should attempt to read once in their life. The concept is common but not much scrutinized. The writing is very smooth to read. It leaves a mark in your psyche without the help of fancy words and phrases.
I have only one problem, the part of the story which I assumed to be the central premise of the story after reading the blurb, was introduced only in the last part, i.e. Part IV, of the book.
Rating: 4/5 🌟
P.S. I received the digital review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Putnam.
