Modern Lovers by Emma Straub – Audio Version
Book Blurb:
Friends and former college bandmates Elizabeth and Andrew and Zoe have watched one another marry, buy real estate, and start businesses and families, all while trying to hold on to the identities of their youth. But nothing ages them like having to suddenly pass the torch (of sexuality, independence, and the ineffable alchemy of cool) to their own offspring. But the summer that their children reach maturity (and start sleeping together), the fabric of the adults’ lives suddenly begins to unravel, and the secrets and revelations that are finally let loose—about themselves, and about the famous fourth band member who soared and fell without them—can never be reclaimed.
My Review: 3 stars
Modern Lovers, an incredibly hyped book, was a mediocre look into the muddles of midlife for a group of longtime friends. I listened to this book on audio and had a hard time with the narrator. Her ability to do men’s voices was completely subpar. Almost cringe worthy. Perhaps if I’d read the book it would have been a better story however I don’t think so. Straub’s earlier book The Vacationers which I also listened to, was a much better experience.
I’m in the same age bracket of these characters and with kids in the same age group as well. I felt they all had the potential to be interesting and relatable, but they fell flat for me. Andrew, the one male adult, was probably the most fleshed out. Each character had a “thing” but the reader never got to the bones or the why of their “thing” and with six POVs, that became annoying. For example (with out spoilers), it would’ve been nice for the author to share the lyrics to the ever popular song that was alluded to throughout the book.
I did enjoy most of the author’s use of simile and metaphor. You can tell she’s smart and quick-witted which was evident in certain writing segments. Some of her similes were a little over the top such as one where she referred to cracking her knuckles sounding like fireworks. Really?
Although many book groups are enjoying this novel immensely, I’d call it a ‘fine’ novel. As in when you ask your kids how their day was and they say, ‘fine’.
Quotes I liked:
Choices were easy to make until you realized how long life could be.”
-“Dogs were gloriously uncomplicated creatures—food and play and sleep and love, that was all they needed.”
-“Happy” was a word for sorority girls and clowns, and those were two distinctly fucked-up groups of people.”
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