This is brief excerpt from a book called Kids in AMERICA: a Gen X Reckoning. In a 1000-word introduction, which this is, she is not going to cover everything that happened to our generation, in every corner of the globe! Nor does she in her book. But she covers a lot of common American Gen X experiences in the book, and I highly recommend it.
I say yes to all this but remember the gen x kids in Ireland and the terrorism they lived with. I hope we’re the last to think all the generations only exist in our own little North American part of the world.
I love the use of the collective voice. It reminds of Julie Otsuka's novel, Swimmers. I have always been intrigued how generations take on identities and characteristics. That's what makes the use of "we" so powerful. That doesn't mean every individual had the same experience or had the same attitude but that, taken as whole, certain qualities are true.
I'm a sucker for anything titled GEN-X, and this one didn't disappoint. I have a section on my Substack called Open Letter to Gen-X exploring the themes you touch upon here. The circumstances of our upbringing is an endless source of fascination to me. Can't wait to read the book, considering signing up for the Zoom chat.
Yes--I love the combined tone of nostalgia, wisdom, and sheepishness here. The use of "we" is a reminder that we are all at least partially subject to the collective consciousness of our day. Lovely!
Love this. The listing technique works so well. Evocative content. I am from a slightly older generation, now dubbed Generation Jones, but much of what is said here resonates. I might try my hand at it someday but Wikipedia does an okay job of already. 😂 Gen Jones: the cohort born from 1954 to 1965 in the U.S.,[7] who were children during Watergate, the oil crisis, and stagflation rather than during the 1960s.
This is brief excerpt from a book called Kids in AMERICA: a Gen X Reckoning. In a 1000-word introduction, which this is, she is not going to cover everything that happened to our generation, in every corner of the globe! Nor does she in her book. But she covers a lot of common American Gen X experiences in the book, and I highly recommend it.
I say yes to all this but remember the gen x kids in Ireland and the terrorism they lived with. I hope we’re the last to think all the generations only exist in our own little North American part of the world.
I love the use of the collective voice. It reminds of Julie Otsuka's novel, Swimmers. I have always been intrigued how generations take on identities and characteristics. That's what makes the use of "we" so powerful. That doesn't mean every individual had the same experience or had the same attitude but that, taken as whole, certain qualities are true.
Wow. Just wow. Amazing language and storytelling!
Wow. This litany brought me right back to so many visceral moments.
I'm a sucker for anything titled GEN-X, and this one didn't disappoint. I have a section on my Substack called Open Letter to Gen-X exploring the themes you touch upon here. The circumstances of our upbringing is an endless source of fascination to me. Can't wait to read the book, considering signing up for the Zoom chat.
thanks
Ric
Yes--I love the combined tone of nostalgia, wisdom, and sheepishness here. The use of "we" is a reminder that we are all at least partially subject to the collective consciousness of our day. Lovely!
Love this. The listing technique works so well. Evocative content. I am from a slightly older generation, now dubbed Generation Jones, but much of what is said here resonates. I might try my hand at it someday but Wikipedia does an okay job of already. 😂 Gen Jones: the cohort born from 1954 to 1965 in the U.S.,[7] who were children during Watergate, the oil crisis, and stagflation rather than during the 1960s.
This speaks directly to my soul. Thank you.
Yes, after all these years it all seems like a stream of thought now, a dream we were born into that keeps repeating.
Bravo.