Early Work

This is the kind of book I used to read more of: a debut novel by a young writer about, well, young writers. They drink too much, sleep with the wrong (or the right?) people, get poorly paid for iffy teaching gigs, read books off of each other's bookshelves, and—maybe—get a little writing done. It's quite enjoyable, especially for the up-to-date cultural banter (H Is for Hawk jokes!), which teeters on the edge between sharp commentary and satire. Does it add up to anything weightier? Your mileage may vary, but the weight, for me, came from a subtle turn in perspective that puts an unexpected twist on the title.