543. Absolute Beginners

Absolute Beginners
Colin MacInnes 
1959
Around 210 pages

Okay, I'm starting to suspect we are entering a rough patch. I mean, another teenager who kind of sucks (as most teenagers do), growing up in a city? And the main character isn't given a name? Did we really need another one of these?

The structure is somewhat fresh, as we get one day in the life of our teenage protagonist from each summer month in 1958. His girlfriend is getting married to her gay boss and his father is sick, so it's a pretty pivotal year. Being 19 is definitely a weird time, since you're sorta an adult but sorta not. 

And I guess this novel does a good job of capturing that confusion, but I found the ending very cheesy. I was immediately turned off by the main character's behavior toward Suzette, who I guess let him speak to her like that because she is also a teenager.

Another sort of forgettable novel, and hopefully Romain Gary will end this streak with his handsomeness and prose.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a musical film in 1986 that featured David Bowie.

UP NEXT: Promise at Dawn by Romain Gary