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The Fundamentals Of Play: A Novel (2001)

The Fundamentals of Play: A Novel (2001)

Book Info

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Rating
3.2 of 5 Votes: 2
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ISBN
0385721129 (ISBN13: 9780385721127)
Language
English
Publisher
anchor

About book The Fundamentals Of Play: A Novel (2001)

This book was recommended to me by a friend who mentioned casually during lunch that I reminded her of one of the main characters who also happens to be named Kate. Obviously, I scooped up the book to figure out what exactly she meant. The book is marketed as a Gatsby-esque tale of post-grads in Manhattan during the 1990s, and it lives up to all of the stereotypes that that description evokes. What makes it stand out, however, is Caitlin Macy’s vibrant rendering of the characters and the way she humanizes them by displaying all of their flaws and quirks. Much of the story revolved around New England locales, which I loved, especially the descriptions of summers spent in Maine, as well as life in Manhattan. It was interesting how Macy’s version of Manhattan is more Mad Men then grunge—her characters work 9-to-5 jobs, hold mixers in their apartments, go to city clubs, and long to be engaged by 25. THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PLAY meanders a little bit too much in the end, but overall it is a great and interesting read that is sure to satisfy readers searching for a modern GATSBY.

This was a smart book - in the writing style as well as the overall conceit - but there were too many things bugging me.This novel centers around one woman, Kate, who has four men panting after her, and the narrator, George, is a sort of wash out who chases her for most of the book. Kate is a spoiled and demanding woman who has no endearing features that I could discern, so the obsession over her made no sense to me. In addition, she seems to leap from man to man with little thought and I found this rather troubling.Overall the story served as a commentary to the rich world of NY as well as an interesting turning point as the world was about to break into the internet (it was funny to read about characters who think having a "mobile phone" is arrogant and dumb), but it was trying to hard to be a modern Gatsby and the characters left me cold.

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This book covers the topic of wealthy young adults in New York City. A review on the book compared it to a modern "Great Gatsby" but I would't go that far. It was an interesting read to learn about the different players in the game, but I didn't find it to be very original. Parts of the book dragged along and I didn't feel any sense of accomplishment or enrichment upon finishing the book. The writing style was okay. I may check out other books by the author but this isn't a book that I would recommend to others.
—Sundai Valcich

just finnished this book, which i enjoyed. it has inspired me to want to re-read "the great gatsby", which i see as kind of an archytipical analysis of the charms of wealth. if that is a genre, i think i'm wierdly drawn to it (a.k.a gossip girl, lots of stuff) . . . would love more maybe lighter-hearted recs on the subject matter, (this book was sort of depressing)just as stuff to get me to stop watching so much t.v!. . . tried to pick up some charles dickens recently, who i'd always had the idea that i wanted to read, it t'was impossible!
—Adina

I read this book about a decade ago. At the time, I was a young twenty-something, and Caitlin Macy's debut novel definitely spoke to me. I don’t remember many specifics, but what I do remember is how well Macy captured post-college disillusionment. As others have stated, the book focuses on a group of privileged New Englanders who attended boarding school together and are now navigating their twenties. Quite simply, it's about four men's obsessions with their former classmate, Kate Goodenow. I distinctly remember my favorite of the four guys, the “Heathcliff” of the novel – Nick Beale. He skipped the college scene to become a sort of Bohemian sailor. (That wasn’t spoiler, I promise). I only mention this for the “Dawson’s Creek” fans. People keep comparing this novel to The Great Gatsby, and while that’s a valid comparison, I also saw a little bit of the Joey/Dawson/Pacey love triangle in this story. So, if you miss Capeside, you might want to read this novel. And, with that, I’ll leave you with this: “I don’t want to wait / for our lives to be over …”
—Heather

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