Such a Fun Age

Alix Chamberlain is the real deal. She empowers other women, guiding them into colleges and jobs. She publicly breastfeeds, sometimes mid speaking panel. She surrounds herself with a diverse group of other working moms, all quick to offer advice and criticism. The Clinton campaign keeps calling. All signs point to 1) progressive 2) feminist 3) who gets it.Sure, Mrs. Chamberlain has a babysitter who watches her kid 20+ hours every week. It takes a village. In this case, a village of one young Black woman who would really love vacation days and health insurance. Emira quite likes looking after this weird, talkative Chamberlain toddler. But she's only covered by her parents' insurance until her next birthday, and the job offers zero benefits. But make no mistake, Emira is part of the family. They'd be lost without her. This is my exact type of contemporary, and it met my high expectations. It reminds me of [b:Little Fires Everywhere 34273236 Little Fires Everywhere Celeste Ng https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522684533l/34273236.SY75.jpg 52959357]: the exploration of classism, the characters whose lives overlap in ways they don't first realize, the slowly building tension. It's sad, funny, infuriating. I loved the dialogue. It reads like people actually talking, including the constantly interrupting children. The social commentary is direct without soapboxing or spoonfeeding. Reid has us consider big questions. Why is defining racism as a conscious individual choice to be evil insufficient? Are the rich white women pummeling the glass ceiling only able to reach because they outsourced diapers, dishes, and tantrums to poor women of color? What happens when quitting your job means there will be no one left to listen to a child desperate for attention? I can't say enough good things about this book. Such a Fun Read.