Our book of the month for September is Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid. We give you our Big Review below.
***Our Big Reviews are written from the point of view that you have read the book. If this is not yet you, bookmark the page and come back once you have***
Such A Fun Age – the blurb
When Emira is apprehended at a supermarket for ‘kidnapping’ the white child she’s actually babysitting, it sets off an explosive chain of events. Her employer Alix, a feminist blogger with the best of intentions, resolves to make things right.
But Emira herself is aimless, broke and wary of Alix’s desire to help. When a surprising connection emerges between the two women, it sends them on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know – about themselves, each other, and the messy dynamics of privilege.
The incident
I was initially surprised that the incident, shocking as it was, wasn’t necessarily central to the book. Of course its aftereffects rippled throughout the pages but it wasn’t the immediate sensation that it could have been. It was a slow burner, the consequences a lot more subtle. And I liked it.
Such A Fun Age has some reeeaaally good character development. I was never entirely sure how honest Alex/Alix and Kelley were being about their backstory. Was it going to twist dramatically into a more Gone Girl fashion? It wasn’t a thriller, but it could have been. So many of the relationships and characters were intriguing. Briar – was she on the spectrum? Alix – was she a good mother? How was she going to cope with that period of time in a woman’s life when career has to give over children? Which links in nicely to what age is ‘such a fun age’? Childhood? Young womanhood when the world is your oyster? Or what about when you are a proper adult and you in theory have it all? Reid demonstrated that none of these ages are exactly fun. They are all hard work!
It’s a very good read about women, race and relationships. It’s modern yet dealing with time old issues. Excellent book club choice. Excellent read in general.
Get Involved
If you would like to get involved with our Book Of The Month try answering our Book Club questions published every month. Just search in our footnotes section for the ‘Get Involved’ articles. We review a new book every month so keep your eyes peeled for the Lowdown on October’s book of the month soon.
