Bright Lights, Big City

I read Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney. The book is a narrative, but an unconventional one at that. He writes in second person format, which adds an interesting depth to the story. The story would naturally be a story about a young man who made it big in the city with a beautiful wife, and his world suddenly comes crashing down before him when he realizes that his wife has left him and he is now all alone. He assuages his pain with the love of parties and drugs and soon loses his job. Through the story he tries to figure out his life. At first glance all of these components may seem a little predicable for a city man crashing, but when you have to read it in second person it adds a depth that would not have been there had it been written in the third or first person. At some points I would start to revert into the third person while reading and then the author would place a subtle reminder telling you this story is in your eyes. Those subtle but necessary reminders constantly pull you into the story a little further. He is not at the bar. You are at the bar. That depth makes it so much more interesting when reading the story.
The writing was pretty moderate not too simplistic but not difficult. It was written in a way that you had to be quick and follow with intelligence. Another important component incorporated into the story was the energy. McInerary did a fantastic job describing a situation but still providing energy. At one point you would be at the bar, then in the bathroom doing a line, then waking up late for work. But you felt the lateness, but there was still high energy. Also within that energy was tension. There were times when you were reflecting on your walk to work, and then you were stressed about getting fired. All of those different rises in tension kept me going. All of these different incorporations by McInerney added great depth to his story and kept me very interested. He didn’t just follow the text book which is another appreciation I had. He incorporated many different aspects of good writing but he had a wonderful balance of all parts and utilized them in a way that kept the reader in tune. I realize right now I am talking about this book as if it were the best book ever written, and by no means is that what I am saying. It is a great book, but what I am saying is that this is an author who took a risk and succeeded by adding all elements but still grabbing the reader.
I am very happy that Professor Hummer suggested this book for I had written a story similar in the sense of a big city man. If I could ask one question to the author, it would be how much experience he had in the city life. It was so vivid. I just wonder how authors can write so well, and if it is necessary to life the life before writing a fantastic story. For with so much depth and so many elements I feel like to incorporate everything, you need to live through everything.