The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer Summary
Overview of The Interestings
Six artistic teens from 1974 summer camp navigate talent, envy, and divergent paths to middle age in this "genius" New York Times bestseller. Endorsed by Jeffrey Eugenides and compared to Tartt's "The Goldfinch," Wolitzer's masterpiece asks: what happens when youthful promise meets adult reality?
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Key takeaways
The Summer That Changed Everything
In the summer of 1974, six teenagers at an arts camp called Spirit-in-the-Woods dubbed themselves "The Interestings" - a name capturing their youthful conviction they were destined for extraordinary lives. Jules Jacobson arrives as an awkward outsider from the suburbs, carrying the fresh wound of her father's death. The camp represents everything her life in Underhill isn't - artistic, sophisticated, alive with possibility. Her trepidation dissolves when she's welcomed into a circle of talented teens: ethereally beautiful Ash Wolf; her magnetic brother Goodman; Jonah Bay, who inherited his famous folk singer mother's musical talent; Cathy Kiplinger, a dancer whose body seems to exist in a different dimension; and Ethan Figman, whose external awkwardness masks a brilliant mind creating worlds through animation. For Jules, this summer catalyzes profound transformation. She discovers her gift for comedy - not just as talent, but salvation. The laughter she generates becomes a lifeline pulling her from grief's undertow. Their nights stretch endlessly with passionate discussions about art, authenticity, and their destined greatness, fueled by smuggled wine and youth's certainty. When summer ends, her bedroom in Underhill feels like a cell decorated with childish remnants of her pre-camp self. The contrast between her middle-class suburban existence and her friends' privileged Manhattan lives creates a yearning that will shape her choices for decades.
The Rupture That Defined Them
Talent and Trajectory: Diverging Paths
The Complications of Envy
The Price of Success
The Fragility of Time
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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