I am reading The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. I kept hearing a lot of buzz about this novel, and I was especially drawn to it after hearing that it was set at a small liberal arts college (a fictional one, that is, Westish College). I have been pleasantly surprised since picking this book up: not only do the challenges the characters are facing feel particularly relevant to a current liberal arts student, but beyond that the book is just beautifully written. The narration transitions with ease between an array of characters, all of whom are compelling enough to merit a novel of their own, but through this collective narrative the fabric of the school itself comes to life on the page. Despite the parallels between Westish and Bowdoin, and there are certainly some very strong ones structurally speaking, the variety of characters and their respective challenges manage to overcome the setting’s familiarity and have thus far effortlessly engaged me in the story.
I enjoyed that book too. I am glad you thought to share your thoughts on it with everyone.