I Am Disappointed
He’s over 70 years old. And he is writing from the point-of-view of an 18-year-old girl. That should have raised warning flags. But the premise was irresistible: a naive mountain prodigy enters the storied halls of Dupont University (an Ivy League composite) and must navigate through all the trappings of a modern, prestigious university with her values, virginity, and intellectual curiosity still intact. As a big fan of the man in white, Tom Wolfe, I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. Although I’m not finished with the 674-page refrigerator-sized book, so far I’m agreeing with the critics who panned I Am Charlotte Simmons.
Everyone knows America is a country of subcultures. 
No matter how obscure your interest, there is a Yahoo community feverishly discussing its finer points. I couldn’t wait to find out how such a master of detail would unravel some of Dupont’s campus factions. But so far I am reading about some jocks, frat boys, and a newspaper group. Imagine an activities kiosk at an American university, plastered with colorful flyers promoting every organization imaginable. Why aren’t we learning about the secret worlds of some of these groups? Jocks and frats?
When it comes to pop culture, Wolfe is almost clueless. Take profanity. In an early scene, Wolfe writes “You’re gonna have one totally pissed off–”pissed off” parent storming into that school and raising holy hell.” He actually put “pissed off” in quotes to let us know that this is how the character speaks. I don’t think even an 85-year-old reader would need that kind of hand holding. Another quote incident was “hit on.” As in, the guy “hit on” the girl. Please. And the author is almost prudish when it comes to subjects like hip hop. It’s no secret that a lot of rap lyrics are vulgar and inane but would there ever be a major rapper named “Doctor Dis,” with rhymes like this?
On the “Vos Saluto” page, Wolfe thanks all the citizens of “an eden in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Alleghany County.” Wolfe traveled to this isolated hamlet to help construct the protaganist, Charlotte. If he actually visited this place then he should know they actually have access to a lot of the same media as everyone else. Charlotte had never even seen a Cosmo magazine! Until arriving at Dupont, the poor thing did not know what a blowjob was. Take me to any rural, backwoods, secluded hollow in the country and you will find kids playing Halo 2 and crunking it up to Lil’ John. They know what’s up.
Sarah has interacted with many undergraduate students over the past five years at UT. Most of them seem like pretty good people, she has told me. “I just don’t like how every single student in this book is either despicable or pathetic. They have no redeeming qualities. This is just an unfair, innacurate portrayal of these students.” Still, despite our criticisms, we’re certainly not putting this book down. If you’re looking for something to read for the holidays you might give it a shot.
December 20th, 2004
Brian Noel
Monday, December 20, 2004
I must?ve added and removed I Am Charlotte Simmons to my Christmas list a dozen times this year. Finally, after agonizing for weeks about what to include on my wish list, I scratched it off the list. (Alistair Cooke?s Letters from America took its place) I remember falling in love w/ another one of Tom Wolfe?s refrigerator-sized books; A Man in Full. For a guy who mostly read non-fiction history book A Man in Full introduced me to modern fiction. Billy, do you remember discussing Charlie Croker while out skating around Lexington? How do you think it compares to A Man in Full? I noticed Wolfe?s ability to grasp youth culture was slipping while reading Hooking-Up a couple of years ago. Also, do you recall the references to hip-hop when writing about the African American lawyer Roger White in A Man in Full? We all knew then that Tom Wolfe?s wasn?t writing columns for The Source. I remember getting really excited after hearing he was coming out w/ a new novel. Maybe he should?ve written one about university professors, not students. (although he would?ve never gotten that kind of access to an English dept) Maybe that?s more along the lines of a Saul Bellow novel. (think Ravelstein)