A review by saro2109
Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin
4.0
Gabrielle Zevin is a genius. In Young Jane Young, she crafts five unique stories - each so thorough that they could constitute their own novel - and pulls them together in a new and creative ways. Every one of the protagonists is indispensable, as they face a range of challenges that results in a range of worldviews. Their story lines interact with each other in both expected and unexpected ways, creating an intricate network of characters and plots. These intertwining narratives are complicated, but never confusing; the leading women are all individuals with distinct, well-defined voices. The themes are plentiful, but ideas around power structures, interpersonal relationships, and culture-wide misogyny serve as central threads throughout the book's numerous points of view.
Despite being packed with important messages and social commentary, Young Jane Young is a fast read. The events of the book are almost like summaries, as it covers so much time and so many perspectives in just over 300 pages. That being said, the novel as a whole is still well paced. Zevin spends minimal time with the event that initiates the plot, instead choosing to analyze the fall out and lasting consequences of that event. Readers will likely be able to predict where the narrative is heading early on, yet will likely still find themselves deeply emotionally invested in the plot as it unfolds through the eyes of the women affected by them the most.
Read the rest of this review at https://www.goldilocksreviews.com
Despite being packed with important messages and social commentary, Young Jane Young is a fast read. The events of the book are almost like summaries, as it covers so much time and so many perspectives in just over 300 pages. That being said, the novel as a whole is still well paced. Zevin spends minimal time with the event that initiates the plot, instead choosing to analyze the fall out and lasting consequences of that event. Readers will likely be able to predict where the narrative is heading early on, yet will likely still find themselves deeply emotionally invested in the plot as it unfolds through the eyes of the women affected by them the most.
Read the rest of this review at https://www.goldilocksreviews.com