University is often portrayed as “the best time of your life” as most students will have been told at least once in their lives. I read three fiction books that are set at University to see how they match up to real life.
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
This novel is actually set in America, so it’s “college” rather than university, but the same question applies. How realistic is it? It follows Wren and Cath who are twins but polar opposites. Cath is timid and struggles with social anxiety whereas Wren is outgoing and popular.
They both go to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It’s a must-read for all introverts who struggle at uni – you’re not alone. Cath grows as a person throughout the book and highlights many struggles such as making friends, family problems, and the transition from being a teenager to a young adult.
A standout quote for me was “In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the one no one bothers to explain to you. (And the ones you can’t Google).” While some parts of the book are a bit cliche, it does encapsulate the university experience well for people who aren’t naturally social.
Starter for 10 by David Nicholls
Starter for Ten by David Nicholls follows the first-person narrative of Brian Jackson in his first year at Bristol University in 1985 as he deals with education, love and identity. It is really relatable to the university experience, including the first awkward conversations with flatmates, struggling with work, and of course there is a classic love triangle. Brian believes knowledge is power and has a remarkable range of general knowledge.
This leads him to audition for a place on the University Challenge Team, a dream he has had since childhood. However, all of Brian’s morals seem to go out of the window within his first week. At the University Challenge trials he gives away his answers to fellow student, Alice Harbinson, leaving him without a place on the team.
The book is comedic and makes light of all the situations Brian throws himself into, which is refreshing and fun. University is often portrayed as a really happy time, and it can be. But what I like about this book is that it shows that you will make mistakes and get things wrong. University is a huge, and sometimes messy, learning curve about finding out what is important to you and who you really are, a message that is central to Starter For Ten.
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Finally, I have to talk about Normal People by Sally Rooney. It is such a deep and intense piece of fiction, following the complex relationship between Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan, as they attend the same secondary school, and later reconnect at university (Trinity College Dublin).
Rooney provides a raw and intense view of university life and how it can differ for everyone. Marianne excels in her classes and becomes a social butterfly, unlike at school where she was lonely and bullied. It’s the opposite scenario for Connell.
He is used to being the popular boy at school, ashamed to admit his relationship with Marianne. At university he struggles with social anxiety and depression, leading him down a dark path that Rooney executes perfectly.
The book tackles mental health at university in a way I have never seen before and could be relatable for so many people.
Overall, I would recommend all three of these books to anyone studying at university. They highlight the highs and lows of the experience, whilst keeping you entertained throughout.