Who are the core members of the 'Interestings' group, and what were their initial artistic aspirations?

The core group includes Jules Jacobson (aspiring comic actress), Ethan and Ash Wolitzer (Ethan, an animation prodigy; Ash, a writer/poet), Jonah Boyce (gifted musician), Goodman Wolf (aspiring playwright/director), and Cathy Kiplinger (dancer). Each initially pursued a path in the arts, hoping for creative fulfillment.

How do Jules Jacobson's adult life and career compare to her teenage aspirations?

As a teenager, Jules dreamed of being a comic actress, often performing skits for her friends. In adulthood, she works as a physical therapist, a more practical and less glamorous profession, which stands in stark contrast to the artistic success of some of her friends and fuels her feelings of envy.

What kind of success do Ethan and Ash Wolitzer achieve, and how does it affect their friendships?

Ethan becomes a highly successful animator, creating a beloved, long-running cartoon show, while Ash becomes a celebrated writer. Their immense wealth and fame allow them to live an extravagant life, which both sustains their friendships by providing opportunities for the group to gather, but also highlights the widening gap in fortunes and fuels resentment, particularly in Jules.

What role does the fictional summer camp, Spirit-in-the-Woods, play in the narrative?

Spirit-in-the-Woods is the crucible where the six teenagers, initially strangers, forge their unbreakable bond in 1974. It represents a time of pure artistic potential and youthful idealism, serving as a nostalgic touchstone and a stark contrast to the compromises and realities of their adult lives.

What is the significance of the 'Goodman Wolf incident' and its impact on the group dynamics?

The 'Goodman Wolf incident' refers to the sexual assault of Cathy Kiplinger by Goodman Wolf at Spirit-in-the-Woods. This traumatic event, which the group initially covers up, casts a long shadow over their lives, creating a shared secret that binds them but also reveals their moral compromises and the fragility of their youthful idealism.

How does Jonah Boyce's career trajectory differ from his early musical talent?

Jonah, a prodigiously talented guitarist at camp, eventually abandons music to become a successful engineer. This shift represents a common theme in the book: the divergence between youthful passion and adult practicality, and the quiet sacrifices made in pursuit of a stable life.

Are there any subtle clues about the future success or struggles of the characters early in the book?

Yes, Ethan's animation skills are immediately recognized as exceptional, hinting at his future success, while Jules's comedic talent, though appreciated by her friends, is often more about impersonation than original creation, subtly foreshadowing her eventual artistic plateau. Ash's quiet observational nature also hints at her future as a writer.

How does the author use the changing landscape of New York City to reflect the characters' lives?

New York City serves as a dynamic backdrop, evolving from the gritty, artist-friendly city of the 70s and 80s to the more gentrified, expensive metropolis of later decades. This mirrors the characters' own transformations, from struggling artists to established professionals, and highlights the changing opportunities and challenges they face.

How does envy manifest in Jules Jacobson, and what are its psychological roots?

Jules's envy, primarily directed at Ethan and Ash's success, stems from her own unfulfilled artistic dreams and her perception of their effortless ascent. Psychologically, it's rooted in a deep sense of inadequacy and a feeling that she was equally deserving, leading to a complex mix of admiration and resentment.

Discuss the psychological impact of the 'Goodman Wolf incident' on Cathy Kiplinger and the rest of the group.

Cathy suffers deep psychological trauma from the assault, leading to a withdrawn and quieter adult life, marked by a sense of injustice and isolation. The others, by covering it up, carry a burden of guilt and complicity, which subtly shapes their interactions and moral compasses for decades, revealing the lasting scars of shared secrets.

How does the concept of 'talent' evolve in the novel, psychologically speaking?

Initially, talent is seen as raw, inherent ability and passion. As the characters age, the novel explores how talent also requires discipline, luck, and privilege to flourish, and how the psychological burden of unfulfilled talent can lead to resentment or quiet resignation, challenging the simplistic notion of innate genius.

What psychological defense mechanisms do the characters employ to cope with their diverging fates?

Jules uses self-deprecation and a cynical wit to mask her envy and disappointment, while Jonah retreats into a practical, less emotionally exposed career. Ethan and Ash, despite their success, exhibit a form of survivor's guilt or a need to 'give back' to their less fortunate friends, perhaps as a way to alleviate discomfort or justify their privilege.

Is 'The Interestings' ultimately a cynical or hopeful portrayal of friendship and life?

It presents a nuanced, rather than strictly cynical or hopeful, view. While it acknowledges the corrosive effects of envy and unfulfilled potential, and the compromises of adulthood, the enduring nature of the friendships, despite their complexities and flaws, suggests a persistent human need for connection and shared history, offering a bittersweet hope.

What is the novel's stance on the role of class and money in artistic success?

The novel strongly suggests that class and money play a significant role. Ethan and Ash, from more privileged backgrounds, have the financial cushion and connections that allow them to pursue and sustain their artistic dreams. Jules, from a more modest background, faces greater pressure to choose a practical career, highlighting how socio-economic factors can dictate artistic viability.

How does the novel challenge or affirm the idea of 'chosen family'?

The 'Interestings' exemplify a chosen family, formed in the intense environment of summer camp. The novel affirms its power and endurance, showing how these bonds can be as strong, if not stronger, than biological ties. However, it also challenges the idealized notion, revealing how even chosen families are susceptible to jealousy, secrets, and the strains of differing life paths.

What does the ending of the novel imply about the characters' ultimate satisfaction or regret?

The ending suggests a complex mix. While some characters, like Jules, have made peace with their choices, there's a lingering sense of 'what if' and the quiet understanding that not all dreams are realized. Ethan and Ash, despite their success, also carry burdens. It implies that complete satisfaction is elusive, and life is a continuous negotiation of acceptance and longing.

Could the title 'The Interestings' be interpreted ironically?

Yes, the title can be seen ironically. While the group initially labels themselves 'the Interestings' with youthful confidence, the novel reveals that their lives, like most, are a blend of fascinating moments and mundane realities. It questions whether being 'interesting' in youth guarantees an interesting or successful adult life, and highlights the subjective nature of what truly constitutes an 'interesting' existence.

Archivist's Choice

The Interestings

Name: The Interestings
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.58 (108869 reviews)
ISBN: 9781594488399

Meg Wolitzer (2013)

Genre

Literary Fiction

Reading Time

156 min

Key Themes

See below

Track Your Reading

Six artistic teenagers become close friends at summer camp. Over decades, their talents, fortunes, and envies diverge as shared dreams become different realities.

Synopsis

In the summer of 1974, six teenagers—Jules, Ethan, Ash, Jonah, Goodman, and Cathy—become close friends at Spirit-in-the-Woods, an arts summer camp. They call themselves "The Interestings," believing they will achieve great things. The story spans several decades, following these friends as their lives change. Jules Jacobson, who wanted to be a comic, becomes a therapist and often feels envious of her more successful friends. Ethan and Ash, who fall in love at camp, become very successful: Ethan as an animator and Ash as a performance artist. They gain wealth and influence. Jonah, a musician, stops playing to become an engineer. Goodman struggles with his art, leading to problems and a secret that threatens the group. The main conflict is how their friendships change as their talent, money, and happiness become unequal. Jules feels inadequate and resentful, especially towards Ethan and Ash, even as their friendship continues. The friends face the results of past choices, the effect of class and privilege, and the compromises made in adulthood. The story shows how the hopes of youth turn into the complex realities of middle age. It examines how friendship lasts through personal and professional changes, ending with Goodman's past actions coming to light and the friends re-evaluating their loyalties.

Reading time

156 min

Difficulty

Medium

Pacing

Moderate

Mood

Reflective, Observational, Poignant, Introspective

✓ Read this if...

You enjoy character-driven literary fiction that explores the long-term evolution of friendships, the complexities of talent, envy, and class over several decades.

✗ Skip this if...

You prefer fast-paced plots with clear resolutions, or are looking for lighthearted reads without deep psychological introspection.

Plot Summary

Spirit-in-the-Woods: The Summer of 1974

Fifteen-year-old Jules Jacobson, from a modest background, arrives at Spirit-in-the-Woods, an arts camp in Massachusetts, on scholarship. She feels out of place at first but soon connects with a group of campers: Ash Wolf, a confident aspiring theater director; her brother Ethan, a quiet animator; Jonah Boris, a musician; Cathy Kiplinger, a dancer; and Goodman Wolf, Ash and Ethan's older cousin. They bond over their shared artistic goals and youthful ideals, calling themselves "The Interestings." Jules, who wants to be a comic, feels a sense of belonging she has not known before, drawn to Ash and Ethan's privileged world.

Post-Camp Realities and Diverging Paths

After that summer, the friends go their separate ways. Jules attends college, struggling to keep the confidence she found at camp. Ash and Ethan, going to Yale, continue their artistic work easily. Jonah pursues music, while Cathy, a dancer, faces the physical demands of her art. Goodman, the most mysterious of the group, drifts and deals with personal problems. Jules, despite her comedic talent, finds the professional world less supportive than Spirit-in-the-Woods. The initial excitement of their shared artistic passion fades for some as life's practicalities and competition begin.

Ethan and Ash's Ascendancy

As years pass, Ethan and Ash Wolf's careers become very successful. Ethan's animation leads to groundbreaking, popular work, making him a visionary artist and entrepreneur. Ash, after some struggle, becomes a conceptual artist and curator, using Ethan's success and their social connections. They become wealthy and influential in the New York art scene, living in their Greenwich Village townhouse. Their success, while celebrated by their friends, also creates a gap in their lifestyles, which Jules feels especially when she sees their lavish world.

Jules's Practical Life and Lingering Envy

Jules Jacobson, now Jules Bergman, marries Dennis, a kind therapist. She gives up her comedy aspirations, finding stability as a therapist and raising two children. Despite being happy with her family, Jules often feels envious when comparing her life to Ash and Ethan's. Their creativity, financial freedom, and continued relevance in the art world remind her of the artistic path she left behind. Her friendship with Ash stays strong, but the tension of their different fortunes is always present.

Jonah's Disappearance and Reemergence

Jonah Boris, the guitarist from Spirit-in-the-Woods, decides to stop playing music completely, choosing a stable career as an engineer. He moves to California, mostly stepping away from the friends, though he appears for important events. His choice surprises and disappoints his friends, especially Jules, who saw his musical talent. Jonah's quiet nature continues, and his life choices show how "The Interestings'" youthful dreams changed with adulthood, contrasting with Ethan and Ash's artistic commitment.

Goodman's Downward Spiral

Goodman Wolf, Ash and Ethan's cousin, struggles throughout his adult life. He never finds stable work or a clear path, often relying on his family. His behavior and history of substance abuse worry Ash and Ethan. The story reveals a past event at Spirit-in-the-Woods involving Goodman and Cathy Kiplinger, which is unclear at first. This secret surfaces years later when Cathy accuses Goodman of sexual assault from their camp days. This accusation shatters the group's view of their shared past.

The Weight of the Past and Conflicting Loyalties

When Cathy Kiplinger publicly accuses Goodman Wolf of sexual assault from their time at Spirit-in-the-Woods, the group is in turmoil. Jules, despite her friendship with Goodman, feels sympathy for Cathy. Ash and Ethan, however, protect Goodman, believing his story or hoping to shield him. This revelation forces the friends to re-examine their memories of that summer and question their bond. The different reactions to Cathy's accusation create tension and division among "The Interestings," challenging their loyalties and making them face uncomfortable truths.

Jules's Confession and Ash's Reaction

Years after Cathy's accusation, Jules deals with a secret she has kept since Spirit-in-the-Woods: she saw Goodman try to assault Cathy. Overwhelmed by guilt and wanting the truth, Jules finally tells Ash. Ash reacts with anger and betrayal, not at Goodman, but at Jules for hiding this information for so long and possibly hurting her cousin's defense. This confession, meant by Jules as an act of honesty, creates a deep rift between the two best friends, changing their relationship and showing the complex loyalty and truth within their group.

The Aftermath of Revelation and Shifting Bonds

After the truth about Goodman and Jules's confession, the friendships within "The Interestings" are severely tested. Goodman faces legal problems, but the outcome is not fully resolved. Ash, hurt by Jules's perceived betrayal, pulls away from her. Ethan, pragmatic, tries to manage the emotions, often siding with Ash. Jonah, though still distant, quietly supports Jules. The incident makes each member face their own morals and the compromises they made. The idealized vision of their youth at Spirit-in-the-Woods is broken, replaced by a complex and painful understanding of their shared history.

Later Life and Enduring Connections

Years later, as the characters reach middle age, some peace is found, though relationships are changed. Jules and Ash's friendship never fully regains its closeness, becoming more distant. Ethan and Ash continue their successful careers, their wealth and influence lasting. Jonah remains a steady, if minor, presence. The novel ends with the friends, older and wiser, reflecting on their lives, the paths they took, and the talents that grew or faded. They acknowledge the lasting, sometimes painful, power of their initial bond, understanding that while their lives diverged, the mark of "The Interestings" is a part of who they are.

Principal Figures

Jules Jacobson (Bergman)

The Protagonist

Jules transforms from an impressionable teenager into a pragmatic adult who, despite achieving personal contentment, grapples with the unfulfilled artistic potential and the ethical weight of a long-held secret, ultimately choosing honesty over maintaining the status quo.

Ash Wolf

The Supporting/Secondary Protagonist

Ash remains largely true to her artistic ambitions, achieving significant success. Her arc involves confronting the darker aspects of her family's past and her own unwavering, sometimes misguided, loyalty.

Ethan Wolf

The Supporting/Secondary Protagonist

Ethan fulfills his artistic potential completely, becoming a globally recognized artist and innovator. His arc is about navigating the responsibilities and complexities that come with immense success and family loyalty.

Jonah Boris

The Supporting

Jonah's arc is defined by his decision to abandon his initial artistic calling, finding a quieter satisfaction outside the spotlight, and remaining a loyal, albeit distant, friend.

Goodman Wolf

The Antagonist/Supporting

Goodman's arc is one of sustained struggle and moral failure, ultimately leading to accusations that expose the dark underbelly of the group's past and force his family to confront difficult truths.

Cathy Kiplinger

The Supporting/Mentioned

Cathy's arc is defined by her survival of a traumatic event and her eventual courage to seek justice, forcing the group to face uncomfortable truths.

Dennis Bergman

The Supporting

Dennis's arc remains consistent as a supportive and loving partner to Jules, embodying a stable, non-artistic path that offers its own rewards.

Themes & Insights

The Nature of Talent and Success

The novel explores how talent appears, whether it is used, wasted, or changed. It asks if youthful brilliance guarantees adult success, comparing Ethan and Ash's rise with Jules's artistic compromises and Jonah's decision to stop playing music. The book suggests that talent alone is not enough; privilege, luck, resilience, and business skills also play roles. This idea is central to Jules's internal struggle, as she compares her life to Ash and Ethan's, showing the arbitrary nature of success in the arts. The different fates of the friends show that the creativity rewarded at age fifteen does not always lead to a lasting adult career, and success can mean many things beyond fame and money.

“What was the point of having a talent if you didn't use it? But what was the point of using it if it didn't come to anything?”

Envy and Resentment

Envy is always present, especially for Jules, who deals with her feelings towards Ash and Ethan's success and seemingly easy lives. This is not a mean envy, but a deep desire for the artistic fulfillment and freedom they have, which Jules feels she gave up. The novel shows envy as a complex emotion that can exist with love and friendship, slowly damaging bonds. Scenes of Jules watching Ash and Ethan's lavish life, or thinking about her own less glamorous choices, illustrate this theme. It explores how financial and artistic differences can strain friendships, making characters question their choices and worth.

“Envy was a pure emotion, and for that reason it was simple. But it was also a kind of love, because it meant you admired what you coveted.”

The Enduring Power of Friendship

Despite different paths, class differences, envy, and a devastating secret, the bond formed by "The Interestings" in their youth lasts throughout their lives. The novel examines the effect of adolescent friendships, how they shape identity, and how they change under adult responsibilities and revelations. While the friendships are tested and sometimes broken, the characters remain connected, drawn by shared history and deep affection. This lasting connection, even in its changed state, shows the mark that intense youthful relationships leave, suggesting these foundational bonds can withstand significant strain. The group's loyalty, both good and bad, shows this theme.

“They were The Interestings. They were the ones who knew.”

Memory, Truth, and Betrayal

The novel explores how memory is subjective and how personal stories are made, especially about a shared past. Cathy's accusation against Goodman makes the characters re-examine their memories of Spirit-in-the-Woods and face uncomfortable truths. Jules's secret of seeing the event shows the burden of knowledge and the results of silence. The different reactions to the accusation reveal the complexities of loyalty and the difficulty of finding truth when it challenges beliefs about friends and family. This theme explores how one event can be remembered, hidden, or explained differently by each person, leading to betrayals and a re-evaluation of their collective history.

“The past was a story you told yourself. And sometimes, if you were lucky, it was a story you could change.”

Class and Privilege

The differences in social and economic backgrounds among the friends—Jules's modest upbringing versus the Wolfs' wealth—are a constant, subtle force shaping their lives. Privilege gives Ash and Ethan not just money but also access, connections, and the ability to pursue art without the same pressures as their less privileged friends. The novel shows how class affects opportunity, career paths, and the ability to take risks. Jules's awareness of this difference fuels her envy but also her practical choices. The Wolfs' ability to protect Goodman, partly due to their resources, further shows how class affects justice and consequences.

“Money was the great eraser, the great smooth-over.”

Plot Devices & Literary Techniques

Flashbacks and Non-Linear Narrative

The story jumps between the friends' youth at Spirit-in-the-Woods and their adult lives.

The novel employs a non-linear narrative, frequently shifting between the pivotal summer of 1974 at Spirit-in-the-Woods and various points in the characters' adult lives, spanning decades. This device allows Wolitzer to juxtapose youthful idealism with adult realities, highlighting the evolution (or stagnation) of their dreams, talents, and relationships. It builds suspense around the Goodman/Cathy incident by gradually revealing details from the past and showing its long-term ramifications, forcing the reader to connect the dots between past events and present circumstances. The shifting timelines emphasize the enduring impact of formative experiences.

Third-Person Omniscient Narration with Focus on Jules

The story is told from an omniscient perspective, primarily focusing on Jules's internal world.

While technically omniscient, the narration frequently centers on Jules's thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. This allows the reader deep insight into her envy, her self-doubt, and her moral struggles, making her the primary emotional anchor of the novel. By filtering much of the group's dynamics through Jules's perspective, the narrative effectively explores themes of comparison, belonging, and the subjective experience of friendship, while still providing glimpses into other characters' inner lives to maintain a broader understanding of the group's complexities and secrets.

The Spirit-in-the-Woods Camp as a Microcosm

The summer camp serves as a symbolic crucible for the characters' artistic and personal development.

Spirit-in-the-Woods is more than just a setting; it's a symbolic space where the characters' identities are forged, their talents are discovered, and their defining relationships are formed. It acts as a microcosm for the larger world, where themes of talent, ambition, social dynamics, and even dark secrets first emerge. The camp represents a period of intense idealism and potential, a benchmark against which the characters measure their adult lives. Its memory continues to shape their identities and relationships, becoming a touchstone for their shared past and a source of both nostalgia and unresolved trauma.

The 'Interestings' Group Name

The self-appointed name of the group reflects their youthful ambition and later ironic reality.

The name 'The Interestings,' chosen by the teenagers themselves, acts as a significant symbolic device. In their youth, it embodies their shared artistic aspirations, their belief in their own unique potential, and their sense of belonging to an elite, creative circle. As they age, the name takes on ironic undertones, highlighting how some members truly become 'interesting' and successful in the public eye (Ash and Ethan), while others lead more conventional lives, questioning if they ever truly lived up to the name. It underscores the novel's exploration of what it means to be 'interesting' and who gets to decide.

Critical analysis

Notable Quotes

“How could you explain that the girls in the cabin had been your first real family, the ones who taught you how to live, how to be interesting?”

— Jules reflects on her summer camp experience at Spirit-in-the-Woods.

“The thing about being interesting was that it was a choice, a way of looking at the world. You didn't have to be born with it.”

— A general observation about the nature of being 'interesting' among the group.

“It was one of the things about growing up, that you started to see your parents as people, not just as parents.”

— Jules's evolving perception of her parents.

“They were the kind of people who made you feel like you were part of something, even if you weren't.”

— Jules describes the initial allure of the 'Interestings' group.

“The past was a country, and we were all immigrants.”

— A reflection on how the past shapes present identities.

“Sometimes you just had to be good enough, and good enough was good enough.”

— Jules's pragmatic approach to her career and life.

“The great thing about starting over was that you got to rewrite your own story.”

— Ethan's perspective on new beginnings and reinventing oneself.

“They had all wanted to be artists, but life had a way of intervening.”

— A commentary on the group's youthful aspirations versus adult realities.

“It wasn’t fair, how some people just had it, that invisible sparkle, that thing that drew others to them.”

— Jules's internal comparison of herself to the more charismatic members of the group.

“Friendship was a thing that needed feeding, like a fire. If you didn't tend to it, it went out.”

— A reflection on the effort required to maintain long-term friendships.

“The world was full of interesting people, but it was also full of people who just wanted to be interesting.”

— A nuanced observation about the desire for external validation.

“Adulthood was a series of compromises, a slow narrowing of possibilities.”

— A somewhat melancholic view of the transition from youth to adulthood.

“Sometimes the greatest acts of love were the ones you didn't even know you were performing.”

— A realization about unspoken care and support within relationships.

“We all carry around our own versions of the past, like suitcases full of souvenirs.”

— A metaphor for the subjective nature of memory.

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The novel follows a group of six teenagers who form a close bond at an arts summer camp in 1974. It then tracks their lives over several decades, exploring how their talents, fortunes, and satisfaction diverge, and the enduring yet complex nature of their friendships amidst these changes.

About the author

Meg Wolitzer

Biography coming soon.

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