<p>Thanks Harvey33. I'll definitely check it out the next time I'm at the library.</p>
<p>For the moms on this thread, I also recommend She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb. It's a true coming-of-age story about someone my age (born in the early 1950's). It follows the protagonist from pre-school through adulthood, so only a part of it is devoted to college. But some of the college part did hark back to my own memories of that era (other parts definitely did not, but no spoilers from me!)</p>
<p>The Secret History will just turn you off of Bennington, not colleges in general :)</p>
<p>triforces,</p>
<p>Where do you get that? They were not lovers just roomates/friends.</p>
<p>Charlotte Simmons -- didn't you find it quite unbelievable, given this girl's background growing up as a level headed academic that when offered an opportunity to do serious research; she chose to wallow in depression INSTEAD of latching onto the research project and subsequent intellectual stimulation to bring herself to a healthy mental state?<br>
This story projects a dysfunctional reaction which I don't think is the healthy norm -- is this truly a good book to offer to someone who is about to embark upon college and new found independence?</p>
<p>This Side of Paradise - F. Scott Fritzgerald
But it is not humorous.</p>
<p>I thought Charlotte Simmons was a very well-written astute social commentary as all of Tom Wolfe's books are. The "f" - patois and "s" patois sections were hilarious if anyone remembers them. And why do college boys have to be so muscular? I also thought the Da Vinci Code was dreadful. But that's not relevant.</p>
<p>I read Charlotte Simmons before my daughter went off to college and liked the book but prayed that college wouldn't be like that for her sake. Hopefully not all schools are or there are social niches that kids can find which are not as horrible as those portrayed in the book.</p>
<p>Definitely read ``This Side of Paradise'' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, as curious77 recommended. It's an amazing novel (as is the rest of Fitzgerald's work :D).</p>
<p>I second This Side of Paradise and Less Than Zero.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Charlotte Simmons -- didn't you find it quite unbelievable, given this girl's background growing up as a level headed academic that when offered an opportunity to do serious research; she chose to wallow in depression INSTEAD of latching onto the research project and subsequent intellectual stimulation to bring herself to a healthy mental state?
This story projects a dysfunctional reaction which I don't think is the healthy norm -- is this truly a good book to offer to someone who is about to embark upon college and new found independence?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Achieving intellectual stimulation would have been the logical thing for Charlotte to do, whom I remember was characterized as an extremely bright, hard-working, eager student. But sometimes when you're feeling down, you inexplicably don't even want to do the logical thing that might eventually help you. You just don't want to do anything. People who are depressed often lose joy in doing even their favorite things.</p>
<p>Some people might find the sort of college lifestyle represented in the book to be realistic. In that respect, I don't think it's a bad thing for freshmen to read it. I doubt they'd get especially discouraged because, face it, the sort of behavior and dysfunction in the book reflects how a lot of college students actually are. As unpleasant as the book is, it's a bunch of pages glued together; that sort of environment can be found once you step out of your own dorm room.</p>
<p>My beef with the book was how excruciatingly awful it was to read. The review from the London Review of Books hit the nail on the head with their quotations from the book: LRB</a> · Theo Tait: Rutrutrutrutrutrutrutrut</p>
<p>
[quote]
Hoyts smile, for instance, is described as so warm, warm, warm, loving, loving, loving, so warm and loving and commanding, all commanding that Charlotte couldnt move. But later, when he deserts her, she gives way to sobs sobs sobs sobs sobs sobs racking racking racking racking racking racking convulsive sobs sobs sobs sobs sobs. A description of a basketball match begins: Static::::::::::: Static::::::::::: Static::::::::::: Static::::::::::: [repeat 12 further times] choked the Buster Bowl.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's not good writing. Emphasis through endless repetition is a stylistic conceit that is so simplistic it's meant to be considered unique and paradoxically profound, and thus impressive. It's not. It really is what it is: just bad writing.</p>
<p>"Size 12 is Not Fat" is a cute, fun, very light read, including a bit of getting used to being at college and a lot of dorm life. By Meg Cabot. If you are feeling a bit stressed, read this, not Less Than Zero. Less Than Zero is way too depressing. Size 12 is not Fat is funny.</p>
<p>
[quote]
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Bag the tiara and get out the gun: Heather Wells, former teen idol, turns detective in the cute debut of a new mystery series from bestseller Cabot (The Princess Project and other titles in her Princess Diaries series). After the 20-something Heather's rocker boyfriend dumps her, and her mother and manager flee with her earnings, she becomes an assistant director of an undergraduate residence hall at Manhattan's New York College (read: NYU) in hopes of free tuition. When students start to die mysteriously while "elevator surfing" in the building, weight-conscious, romance-obsessed Heather goes on a crazed hunt to uncover the truth—with an unwavering sense of style. As Magda, Heather's dorm cashier friend, says: "Even if the rest of your life is going down the toilet... at least your toes can still look pretty." Cabot delivers Heather's amateur sleuthing adventures in a rapid-fire narrative that may leave some readers begging for time-outs to control sudden laughing fits.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I suggest you read One L by Scott Turow. </p>
<p>It's actually about the first year of law school at Harvard, but it does give an indication of what challenging colleges are like. </p>
<p>The OP might also consider reading the book (or watching the movie) called Paper Chase by John Jay Osborn, Jr.</p>
<p>The part of Professor Kingsley, played by John Houseman in the movie, is simply "spot on". John Houseman won the academy award for best supporting actor for his role. Later on, he reprised the role in a TV series also with the same name--don't know if those series episodes are available, since they do discuss all the things people face while in college or law school.</p>
<p>P.S. My son has read/watched both of these and because of them (or more likely, in spite of them) is now at IU-B taking a Business--Legal Studies major and hopes to go on to law school afterwards.</p>
<p>so i've never been to college, but the book "Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood" will definetely scare some people out of binge drinking in college.</p>
<p>How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got A Life.</p>
<p>it's by a harvard student who apparently plagarized a lot of it....but it was funny=)</p>
<p>The Harvard student copied the Princess Diaries. Large chunks of it at least.</p>
<p>Rule of Four is a great Princeton-set novel in the vein of a less-commercial Da Vinci Code. Very authentic feel and all that, but I dunno as to real accuracy or anything.</p>
<p>^oh yeah i loved that book!!</p>
<p>haha what about twilight? after all, edward did graduate from harvard, once....or twice.</p>
<p>lol and he and bella both get into dartmouth. it really annoyed me how edward got bella into dartmouth first of all, and then it was even more annoying how she ended up not going because she was too busy getting married and having a kid and finding ways to stay with her true love "forever", literally, haha.</p>
<p>Everything You Want by Barbara Shoup</p>
<p>Moo, by Jane Smiley, is a wonderful satire of life at a midwestern "cow college."</p>
<p>
[quote]
The Harvard student copied the Princess Diaries. Large chunks of it at least.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Actually, the "Opal Mehta" book contained plagiarized content from two books, "Sloppy Firsts" and "Second Helpings," both by Megan McCafferty.</p>
<p>I went to a private LAC in the midwest, and I am Charlotte Simmons was the first book I read that captured major aspects of the experience. Of course, my perspective was the same as Charlotte's: I was a small town girl with parents who were not savvy to the social/elitist pressures of my LAC. Dealing with class warfare, sexual free-for-all, left propaganding professors, depression, and that not-so-subtle message of "If you go here, you are 'special'" was excessively difficult and no one I talked to (students, professors, parents, etc) either understood the mix or was willing to speak of it frankly. Wolfe's book put a finger on that pulse in his brilliant book. Was my experience exactly like the book? Of course not. But there were so many themes in the book that resonated strongly with me that it was almost a creepy experience reading it - after 20 years, I finally found someone who "understood".</p>
<p>I don't know if the book would resonate with someone who was already a city-person, or on the elite side of the equation already, or attending a more public type university vs. an elite type LAC. </p>
<p>Frankly, a high school junior or senior can handle the book (especially if they are college bound - time to take off the training wheels, parents!). A parent may want to also read the book and discuss the themes with their child.</p>
<p>Annika</p>