Generation X

Ernestine Brown

December 2, 2010

The three main characters in this novel are overeducated and young so they flee to the California desert to capture some type of concept of life in their bungalows. They give up their unsatisfying careers to live in a desert retirement community while working McJobs (jobs that have little responsibility and meaning as possible) and exchanging stories. While searching, they create a unique and intriguing lifestyle that is different in its own way. They drink like there is no tomorrow and they love to tell stories. They tell stories on road trips. They tell stories at home. The even make up stories, because they feel their lives lack meaning and the only way to discover the “why me” is to use others as an example. A hot story topic for them is the end of the world, usually with a nuclear weapon or an atomic bomb.

I read this book as a requirement, so I read it as I would read any other novel. The novel is filled with side-panel cartoons and definitions of new terms that may throw the non-generation x-er for a loop. Even though I got lost reading because I could not understand how each chapter was supposed to relate to the previous. About half way the book, I realized that each chapter was a story in itself. It was then, I started to enjoy and absorb the meaning of the book as I read.

In my grandparents’ generation, all you had to do was go to college. In my parents’ generation, you needed to go to college and become a successful professional. In my generation, you need to go to college and hit the lottery because it’s becoming more and more difficult to be successful in America.

In my opinion, the ending leaves a bit to be desired, but you don’t mind because the journey to get there was so pleasant. Filled with very funny passages and pleasantly tender moments, this is an easy read to be knocked out during a lazy afternoon.