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Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery
Published: 2023
Book # for author: 2
Setting: 1960s in NYC
Genre: Fiction
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery book synopsis
Set in the 60s, Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery tells the story of Mae, a 17 year old who drops out of high-school after losing her only friend, Maud. Mae is all too casual about life, an attitude she gets from her mother, a tired waitress with an alcohol problem. She is searching for something to wake her up, and then she finds it: a typing job she can pour all of what little’s left of her life force into
The job is to type up tapes of interviews in Andy Warhol’s studio, together with a bunch of girls her age. They aren’t just any interviews, they’re people at their most vulnerable, sharing details they seem coerced into sharing. But this is her job, her ticket to a better life and she and her coworker Shelley are committed to the art.
Shelley is strange, and strangely private but the two become friends. They travel the city, dropping into parties at whim, trying to immerse themselves in the artistic culture they witness on the tapes but also to forget it.
Some quotes I liked from the book.
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery’s main theme
The main theme in the novel was friendship. Mae and Shelley’s relationship wasn’t an easy, carefree bond, like her friendship with Maud before Maud turned on her. This one was careful, they were always analyzing each other, comparing their work, their lives. But they shared a few things. They both felt completely alone in the world aside from each other. They were both fiercely dedicated to the work. And both of them grasped onto this work as their only way up in life.
Writing style
Nicole Flattery’s writing style cut through to the essence of Mae’s thoughts, feelings and observations, which I loved. But I needed to be guided through the story and a little better, and given more emphasis on the important parts. Shorter paragraphs and a slightly less causal, whatever-happens-happens tone would have helped. I understand that was Mae’s personality and it was intentional. Still, it left me disconnected.
*Slight spoilers ahead* I also didn’t get a great grip on the context of these interviews. What were people auditioning for exactly? The interviewers’ goals and Andy Warhol’s part in it weren’t so clear. We didn’t get to hear the actual interviews, which I’m sure was intentional as well. This left me wondering…and I’m not sure I love that.
Final thoughts
Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery was brushed with deliberate paint strokes, but we didn’t a complete picture in the end, especially if you were focused on the plot rather than the characters. It’s definitely worth reading though. The writing and characters really stand out, which is why I gave it a high rating despite my critiques.
My rating: 7.5/10.
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