What a Time to Be Alive by Jenny Mustard: A Journey Through Youthful Yearning
It’s not often that a book feels like it’s reaching directly into your soul, yet What a Time to Be Alive by Jenny Mustard managed to do just that. As I turned the pages, I was struck by the beauty of her prose and the delicate balance of humor and melancholy in her storytelling. Mustard’s voice is fresh, inviting, and yet gently piercing, making it impossible to look away from the world she crafts within her pages.
At the heart of this novel is Sickan, a 21-year-old navigating the chaos of her first years at Stockholm University. Emotionally adrift and friendless after a lonely childhood, she embodies the struggles many face when transforming from the isolated self of adolescence into the social being expected in adulthood. I found myself immediately empathizing with her predicament as she yearns for connection, intimacy, and a taste of normalcy. In exploring themes like class, loneliness, and the trials of young womanhood, Mustard captures something universally relatable—what it feels like to yearn for belonging while grappling with the sacrifices we often make for it.
The relationship between Sickan and Abbe, a charming and self-assured figure, serves as an exploration of first love and the complexities that come with it. Just as Sickan begins to taste friendship and love, the harsh realities of betrayal and insecurity threaten to pull her under. Mustard paints this relationship with a painterly touch, evoking both the thrill and fear that often accompany those first real connections in life. R. O. Kwon’s words resonate here—“a fresh, tender, and resonant bildungsroman” that deftly portrays the art of growing up, often stumbling along the way.
The writing style is truly striking; Mustard’s clarity and sharpness bring each moment to life. From parties where Sickan feels both joy and anxiety to navigating her fraught relationships, every scene is infused with an honesty that simply flows off the page. I particularly loved how Mustard blends the mundane with the wondrous, creating a tapestry of experiences that are reminiscent of my own youthful escapades. As Ayşegül Savaş beautifully puts it, Mustard writes with “honesty and wit about the strange, mundane, and wondrous aspects of youth.”
One of my favorite moments in the book is when Sickan asks herself, “How much of myself am I willing to sacrifice, to finally fit in?” It encapsulates the struggle of so many young adults—how far will we go in our quest for acceptance? This poignant question lingers long after the last page, a reminder of the fragility of youth.
In conclusion, What a Time to Be Alive is not just a coming-of-age story; it’s a celebration of resilience and authenticity in our journey toward self-discovery. I believe it will resonate with anyone who has navigated the intricacies of young adulthood, be it through friendships, heartbreaks, or the existential crises we face when seeking our place in the world. If you’ve ever felt like an outsider trying to find your way, or if you simply enjoy beautifully crafted prose with layers of depth, this book deserves a spot on your shelf.
This reading experience left me filled with nostalgia and introspection, reminding me that even in our loneliness, we are never truly alone.