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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?
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<p>clearly you've never been depressed.</p>
<p>and her neglecting academic life represents changes, and that no matter how smart you are, love, and the desire for acceptance, can make you stupid</p>
<p>I second The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Most other college novels I've read have been written from the POV of faculty (Pictures from an Institution, Randall Jarrell) or grad students (Lucky Jim). Of course, there's always Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?</p>
<p>hmm i feel that the college aspect of Mysteries of Pittsburgh is very minor relative to the plot, but it is a good book about the summer of youth</p>
<p>This thread is old, but let me add to it as I just came across a great college novel called SLIGHTLY OUT OF TUNE --it takes place in a fake Ivy League university on Long Island. The portrayal of the university was the best part about the novel. The author seems to be very familiar with university administration and procedures!</p>