Book Review: The Disenchantments

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

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Description: Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev’s band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she’s abandoning their plans—and Colby—to go her own way in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie-Colby struggles to deal with Bev’s already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what’s next?
Morris Award–finalist Nina LaCour draws together the beauty and influences of music and art to brilliantly capture a group of friends on the brink of the rest of their lives.

I'm currently sitting in my school library, and I have two hours to kill, so I might as well review The Disenchantments. It's just been sitting on my bookshelf, finished, all underlined. So here it is.

The Disenchantments tells the tale of Colby, this boy who's been in love with Bev since eighth grade. They're best friends, and he helps her band, and they have this pact to finish up high school and travel Europe together. After high school ends, The Disenchantments go on tour, and from the tour, they're all gonna go their separate ways: Bev and Colby to Europe, Alexa to high school, and Meg to college.

That all changes when Bev tells Colby she can't go, and all chaos ensues. Colby's heartbroken, as he should be. But I didn't really understand why he couldn't go to Europe himself. (Spoiler: he does.) His mother is in Paris, I don't see why he needed Bev there, besides the fact that she's pretty to look at. Because besides that, she's worthless. I'm tired of these young adult female main characters who have no soul to them whatsoever. She wants everyone to pity her, and she wants to be mysterious. SHE'S EXACTLY LIKE ZOOEY DESCHANEL'S CHARACTER IN 500 DAYS OF SUMMER. She knows Colby is in love with her, and yet she still plays around with him and she flirts in front of him. She's a cold-hearted bitch. I don't see how any of the characters like her. I could go on for another six paragraphs about why I didn't like Bev, but I'll just leave this video about manic pixie dream girl.

Anyhow, besides that, the book was a pleasant read. I've been in a college slump lately. Lack of direction, feelings of worthlessness, ya know, the fun things. And I'm not saying this book was enlightening and showed me the way. It was comforting, though. I liked how the characters all went to this ritzy art school, and Bev and Colby were the kids who chose the opposite route, which was interesting. The tone of the book was funny, and there were definitely times that made me smile like a lame fourteen year old.

The setting of the book was gorgeous. The Disenchantments go on tour (I think they're from California?) and the towns they visited were so quaint and lovely. They were described very well. Makes me wish I lived in small towns. Also, this book made me want to start a chick band and drop out of college and tour. That would be nice if I could play an instrument, but I mean, the ladies of Bratmobile literately just picked up guitars and started playing shows, so it could happen! (I really loved the riot grrrl in this book, and I would have written that in caps but I feel like I shouted the Zooey bit, so I don't wanna scare you guys)

Everyone besides Bev was great. I really liked Meg and Alexa, but you could kind of tell they were just put there to have other member of the band. I liked their relationship, but I hated how they were excluded when Bev and Colby got their periods and started bickering. Colby didn't make the smartest decisions (BEV) but he did make the best of it. Although he did drag his feet around and pout like a 13 year old girl, I liked how he called up a bro and traveled with him. The people they meet in the towns were very nice and they allowed the characters to learn something. I could really see this book being an indie flick. 

I also thought it was funny that Colby would always tell people that The Disenchantments sucked. And they did suck, at least according to the book. Bev's voice is described as being "devastating and breathy", Meg produces "terrible static", and Alexa is "too blissed-out to pound a beat." I think that's a big part of who these girls are as people. They were never in it for the fame, they just did it because they wanted to produce music and get their feelings out.

Overall, The Disenchantments is a book about friendship, moving on, being a FRIGGIN ADULT, and annoying girls with indie bangs.

 In just a little while we will forget all the things we used to want and adjust to the lives that we’re given. 

-The Disenchantments//Nina LaCour

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