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There are currently 38 member reviews
for Young Jane Young
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Jane H. (Prospect, KY)
Young Jane Young
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing style was unique but not distracting. The characters were just that ... true characters. I could just see this as a first-rate movie in the right hands. I thought the portrayal of the wife was straight-on, having worked in the political arena myself in my younger years.
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Cheri S. (Newburgh, IN)
You Really Don't Need to Know Everything You Think You Do
Do we ever find peace with who we are, where we come from, or the choices we have made? And if we do, are we ever totally honest with anyone – including ourselves – about any of that? In Young Jane Young, Gabrielle Zevin takes on those questions and their answers in a humorous yet haunting manner through the well-crafted characters in her latest adult novel.
Although broken up into five segments, each focusing on one of the primary players at a pivotal time in their part of the story as a whole, and each being written in a different voice/style, Zevin made the book feel as if it was a through-composed piece, seamless and complete. I admit I was a bit put off when I saw the physical structure laid out in the table of contents since I think many contemporary authors use structural gimmicks in the place of creating continuity in their writing. But I was thrilled to learn I was concerned in vain: she didn't use a trick – she used her talent. And she used it well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for many reasons but perhaps the main one is what I see as an underlying premise of the book: forgiveness and fresh starts are possible and in order to achieve both, you must always be true to yourself. I do believe we can always use a reminder about that and Gabrielle Zevin gave us that in Young Jane Young.
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Elizabeth K. (Glenshaw, PA)
Young Jane Young
Never underestimate the power of a mother, or social media! Aviva, a summer intern for a congressman, reveals something to her mother. Is Mother morally responsible to "fix It"? Does Aviva blogging about it on social media make it worse? These dilemmas spin the web for the very enjoyable read, Young Jane Young.
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Mary S. (Springville, AL)
Another Wonderful Read
I loved The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and could not wait to read Young Jane Young. From the very start, Zevin had me laughing out loud with her descriptions of Rachel's online dating experiences. I love a book that puts me in a good mood. The author creates a variety of female characters from young to old and I empathized with them all. The story is one we can all relate to, everyone has a past and everyone makes mistakes. Zevin tells a wonderful story teller. She keeps the reader interested until the final page. This is a truly enjoyable read. I cannot wait to share it with my family and friends.
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Diane D. (Madison, ME)
Fantastic!!!
It's been quite awhile since I've enjoyed a book as much as Young Jane Young! Zevin writes wonderfully witty prose and her characters are incredibly real. I hardly put the book down and laughed aloud several times. From the very first page to the last, it was thoroughly enjoyable!!!
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Debra C. (Vienna, GA)
...and they lived happily ever after.
A HUGE thank you to Gabrielle Zevin for sharing her wonderfully delightful Cinderella story which should be read by anyone who is a daughter, mother, father, grandparent, best friend, or has a chapter in their lives they don't wish to be read. Through a series of magically written narratives with equally resonating voices, Zevin gives anyone who has ever fallen from grace the gift of redemption, a happily ever after.
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Ruthie A. (New York, NY)
Breezy Read with a Message!
At once reminiscent and referencing of the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, Young Jane Young is the story of an intern who has an affair with a Congressman and what happens when the affair becomes public knowledge. The story is told from differing viewpoints, most hilariously that of Jane's mother Rachel. The narratives are from differing points in time– before, during and after the affair, and they are not linear, and yet this telling works surprisingly well.
The tone of the novel is fairly light, reminiscent of "Bridget's Jones' Diary" and "The Rosie Effect", and the fourth wall is breached when the reader is asked "What Would You Do"- type questions, with multiple answers provided. The answer that is the one that the characters choose is, of course, never the correct one, the one that we, the all-knowing reader would have chosen. Choices are a big theme in this novel, and some readers may find themselves exasperated by the poor choices made in the story, but without poor choices/mistakes, there would be no learning, no consequences and definitely, no story! So if you have always made the right choice, never led with your heart instead of your head, never taken a risk, well this novel may frustrate and annoy you. For the rest of us, this is a fun, easy, read with memorable characters, a few surprises, some insights and many laughs.
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