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College Girl

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Submitted By kris10h12
Words 1092
Pages 5
Kristen Harris
Anderson
Reading 100
April 8, 2013
College Girl Summary
Natalie Bloom is a senior Russian history major at the University of Connecticut. She transferred in her junior year from a less prestigious local college, and she feels like a black sheep at her new school. Natalie describes herself as moderately attractive and she knows that guys notice her, but she hates her body, is stressed by guilt related to sexuality, and has never had a boyfriend.
One night in the library, which is where she spends most of her time, Natalie meets Patrick. He is a cute, intelligent, well-to-do boy from a fancy suburb. Things start off all right with Patrick, but as Natalie becomes uncomfortable with their interactions, she detaches emotionally but continues to hang out with him because she has convinced herself that she’s in love with him, and he is doing her a favor by allowing her to be in his presence. What had the potential to be a nice relationship transforms into a series of what are transactions in which Natalie has sex with Patrick in disturbing circumstances despite her misgivings.
Natalie’s constant self-loathing and insecurity only become worse as her “relationship” with Patrick becomes more manipulative and exploitative, and she finds herself losing focus on her studies, taking up smoking, and becoming dangerously depressed. Through the entire novel, Natalie reminisces about her brother Jacob, who committed suicide when she was ten, and at times, it appears that her emotional weakness and instability may be leading her down the same path.
Eventually, things get better for Natalie and she starts coming into her own. She is about to graduate college and has decided to study abroad in Russia for the summer. The story ends with Patrick wanting to rekindle the fire, but Natalie stands strong and turns him down. She has decided to begin a new life for herself, one that has nothing to do with Patrick.

Characters
Natalie Bloom- She is the main character in the novel. Natalie is a plain Jane girl with long brown hair and a slender silhouette. She attends UConn University where she thrives in all of her classes. She doesn’t care much about what kind of clothes she is wearing or how much make-up she has on. The only thing Natalie is worried about is her studies and making the best grades she can. A boy causes her to get off track and her grades start to slip and she changes as a person until she finally realizes that the guy she is so “in love” with doesn’t actually like her at all.

Linda- A college student at UConn that likes everyone even socially awkward people. She takes for granted that people are generally nice. Linda is pretty with a round face, which she glosses with shimmering, pale eyes shadows, and a special powder that leaves glitter on her skin. Her hair is brown and curly; she is short and dumpling shaped. Linda and Natalie are somewhat friends but Linda is so into herself and her own life that she annoys Natalie so she tries to distant herself from her.

Patrick- He is extremely tall and looks like a basketball player. He is attractive, but not conventionally so; his eyes are spaced too far apart and his forehead is never-ending, a sloped that extends far up into the strawberry blond hair on his head. He is very thin and dresses preppy. Patrick begins flirting with Natalie and they start a strange relationship, which leads to Natalie losing her virginity. Patrick wants only one thing from Natalie when they are together and she finally gets fed up and ends the whole thing.

Faith- Faith is Natalie’s roommate. Faith has a boyfriend named Keith whom Natalie cannot stand. Faith is not as good as Natalie in the classroom and essentially hates her life at the moment. The only thing she is worried about is Keith. He had convinced her in High School to have an abortion when she was pregnant with his child and they have still stayed together. Faith smokes and even influences Natalie to smoke. After the first semester, Faith drops out of school and says she is going to community college.

Gwen- Gwen is a beautiful girl that lives at the end of Natalie’s hall. She is a senior and has the kind of healthy, athletic look of a Nike ad. She has light honey-colored hair to her shoulders, ivory complexion, and deep, chocolate-brown eyes. She is tall and thin, but her attractiveness is in her energy, too, bright and infectious. Gwen is rarely alone but doesn’t have a lot of friends. She and Natalie become very close and they become running partners.

Mr. Anderson- He is Natalie’s Russian History teacher. He always expects Natalie to do a good job in class and is surprised when her grades start to slip due to a boy. Mr. Anderson snaps at Natalie a few times which she later finds out is caused by the recent death of his wife. He is a lonely old man. In the second semester of the year, Mr. Anderson offers Natalie a summer job as his assistant but she declines due to her studying abroad.

Words to Know
Bulbous-
Context: “Eyelashes that curl up naturally. Strong legs with defined muscles, especially in the calves, which some might call bulbous”
Definition: Fat, round, or bulging

Banter-
Context: “Was it the beer I’d consumed earlier that had allowed me to banter with this guy?”
Definition: The playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.

Review
I enjoyed this read, though I don’t think it captures the college experience as well as it means to. What I think it does do is speak to anyone who has felt left out and confused, unsure of themselves, or been infatuated with the wrong guy for the wrong reasons while knowing it was wrong, deep down. Natalie has never really been taught how to be herself as she grew up in an overbearing family of older, trouble-making brothers and older parents who don’t really understand her themselves. This isn’t a very happy book, but I think that in the end, Natalie makes some decisions that she can live with, and is maybe taking the steps she needs to break away and be her own person. I liked the book but it also made me feel a little uncomfortable at times. I would recommend this book to a girl my age, but no one else.

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