The Interestings: A Tale of Friendship, Success, and the Complexity of Life

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer is a captivating novel that explores the lives of a group of friends who meet at a summer camp in the 1970s and follow their intertwined journeys over the next four decades. This coming-of-age story delves into themes of friendship, talent, envy, and the pursuit of happiness, ultimately questioning the nature of success and the impact it has on our relationships and sense of self.

The Formation of the Interestings

The novel begins in the summer of 1974 when six teenagers, Jules, Ash, Ethan, Jonah, Cathy, and Goodman, meet at Spirit-in-the-Woods, a creative arts summer camp. They quickly form a tight-knit group known as “The Interestings,” a name that both reflects their aspirations and acknowledges their self-awareness of their own uniqueness. Despite their different backgrounds and talents, the group becomes inseparable, bound by their shared dreams and ambitions.

The Complexity of Friendship and Envy

As the years go by, the members of The Interestings navigate the challenges and complexities of adulthood. Jules, the protagonist, struggles with feelings of envy towards her more successful friends, particularly Ash, a talented actress who achieves fame and fortune. Jules grapples with her own sense of mediocrity and the resentment that festers within her. The novel explores the destructive power of envy and the toll it takes on friendships, as well as the difficulty of maintaining genuine connections in the face of success and failure.

The Pursuit of Happiness and the Illusion of Success

The Interestings raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of happiness and the pursuit of success. Through the characters’ experiences, Wolitzer challenges the conventional notions of what it means to be successful and happy. The novel highlights the disillusionment that can come with achieving one’s dreams and the realization that external accomplishments do not necessarily equate to fulfillment. It delves into the sacrifices and compromises individuals make in their pursuit of success and the impact these choices have on their personal relationships.

Throughout The Interestings, Wolitzer skillfully explores the themes of friendship, talent, envy, and the complexities of life. The characters are richly developed, each with their own flaws and struggles, making them relatable and human. The narrative spans several decades, allowing readers to witness the characters’ growth and evolution as they navigate the challenges and joys of adulthood.

Key takeaways from The Interestings include:

• The pursuit of success can lead to feelings of envy and resentment, potentially straining friendships.
• External accomplishments do not guarantee happiness or fulfillment.
• Authentic connections and genuine relationships are essential for a fulfilling life.
• Success often comes with sacrifices and compromises.
• Self-acceptance and embracing one’s own uniqueness are crucial for personal growth.

As the novel unfolds, Wolitzer’s prose is both insightful and witty, capturing the essence of each character’s journey with depth and nuance. The Interestings is a poignant exploration of friendship, talent, and the complexities of life, reminding readers that success is not always what it seems and that true happiness lies in the connections we forge along the way.

In the words of Meg Wolitzer, “It was all so interesting, and so sad—the way that life kept going on, and people kept having these experiences, even though they didn’t know what they meant, and they couldn’t seem to make them mean anything.”