The book is incredible. I cannot believe that it took me two years to actually get to read it. I suppose it went rather well with the odd concoction of things in my life: of tutors, of active passivity, of willingness and unwillingness, of competitiveness, of wealth, of society and status, of college. I could never proceed to putting it down for it felt too real. Eliot Schrefer’s words pierced my very core and penetrated through the flaws that I had been hiding. They were cruel, and before I could understand it, I was brought back to life’s rude awakening.
Noah’s students were interesting because they were relatable. There is Cameron Leinzler who would do anything to rise above the ranks of the class. There’s Rafferty Zeigler who can’t get past the ranks. And of course, we also have the Thayers, Dylan and Tuscany who are not exactly the intellects, nor even the pseudo-intellects, the glamorous disasters.
Extracting his partying and drug habits, I actually like Dylan’s character. Because he knows of nobody who has faith in him, he has no desires, nothing to gain. He is what the book says he is:
A dissipated young man. Not happy but not depressed, sheltered from ambition and thus also from discontent. Smooth and intentionless.
I was attuned with him when he refused to listen during math or even bother to pick up the pencil to draw triangles. I felt susceptible towards his disinclination to learn and faithlessness towards himself. It was awfully painful, and I can’t help feeling sorry for him. He is just the epitome of the spoiled damned kid who feeds off his parents’ aspirations. But what really broke my heart was his choice to take the test after all without any cheat, and, as expected, ending up alienated from any university. And, the fact that he had asked Noah to stay until the test was done was proof that he only needed direction, and that had it been there before, he would have done a lot better in his life.
Tuscany is also a favourite. She was simply an attention-whore who could hold a candle when challenged. If it had not been for the spoiling nature of her junkie doctor of a mother and a non-caring absentee man of a father (who is actually smart and sly himself), Tuscany would have had more chances in life. Because, unlike Dylan, it was not too late for her. She had ambitions and goals. All she needed was a little push – and a pull away from men who were twice her age (yes, even Noah better keep his paws off her). And Noah was right: she can make it in this world. And, success story – she actually did, which begs the question: am I a Dylan or a Tuscany?
Noah was the complex one. His love interests would easily alter from one girl to another without consciousness. It would seem that no matter what he does, how he does it, or how much he’s getting paid for it, he always has these debts and loans that just won’t get waged. I believe I now understand the distress of tutors, how frustrating it is to have students of varying personas. There are those who are too competitive and there are those who are too hopeless. Of course, there are also those who are tempting and cunning and will do anything with cash. It is a profession of deceit, and losing your position seems to be the worst thought of a moment. Noah’s own head was usually filled with his observations of the Upper East Side: of the power that he wishes he had, of pride and morals, of the reputation and high status in their society. But, the thought of tutoring the well-off kids, putting off chances for the kids that were once him often leaves him bitter and resentful in his subconscious state of mind.
Eliot Schrefer, who, by the way is a Harvard graduate and was once a tutor himself did not leave us hanging. The ending went rather well with the entire novel, in fact. Did Rob lie when he denied an attraction towards men? Did Noah even touch that $80, 000? Did Noah pay off his debts? What happened to Kent? These are the questions that, I believe, were fine without an ending. I think I would like to make the assumptions to myself. 🙂 Do not be fooled by the many acclamations of this first novel. It is, in actuality, more than just those.
I’m glad that despite my discombobulated thoughts, I chose this novel right off the shelf. Initially, I had thought that a chapter or two would be a good companion while I was sick with the cold. The entire novel actually turned out to be a rather great read for the whole semester break. For the record, I never read The Nanny Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada. Every other reviewer found Glamorous Disasters, in a positive sense, a shade of both novels. Then why isn’t this a movie? I thought it would be great, honestly. I have been imagining a cast list for the novel with Penn Badgely as Noah. In a good way, I think that would be rather fitting as Dan Humphrey is also an “outsider who became a magnificently observant insider”.
I lalalove this novel!
READ IT.
5/5.
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