New York high school junior Norah Bloom is looking forward to college (hopefully Vassar), but hasn’t any extra-curriculars to add to her transcript, until she and best friend Audre start up a book club at their favourite hang out, the Book Nook. Can she bring together a disparate group of would-be members, round out her application, get over her disdain for too-perfect Plum Anderson and her mini-Plums, meet reclusive poet Philippa Askance, and find love with hunky Book Nook employee and college man Griffin?
A Novel Idea is a sweet and amusing teen romance with well-drawn, interesting characters and an original plot (within the confines of the genre, at least). At the beginning we are hit over the head with the location (references to Manhattan, Brooklyn, the F train, West 4th subway station, Manhattan bridge, Brooklyn again and MetroCard, on just one page alone), but this settles down later in the novel.
There are more central characters than usual for this kind of story – perfectly poised college counsellor Ms Bliss; chef-to-be and ultra-cool best friend Audre; go-getter gay best friend Scott; cute NYU freshman Griffin; socially advanced younger sister Stacey and her boyfriend Dylan; physics professor dad and research biologist mom; enigmatic poet Philippa Askance; and book club members Neil (the SF geek), James (Neil’s friend and aspiring poet), and Plum-esque Francesca – and it is to Friedman’s credit that they retain charm and individuality. Norah herself is particularly well crafted, and there were enough book references to satisfy the hungriest bibliophile.
I found much that recalled my own adolescence, and even chuckled a couple of times. I can’t remember what drew me to pick this up in the first place – it’s from Borders, so I suspect it was part of a book rampage, where I start out being discerning and budget-conscious, and devolve into book hunger – but I certainly enjoyed it for what it is. I may even try another of Friedman’s works. – Alex
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