Patricia Weitz delivers a candid and simple account about the day-to-day life of a student in her novel, College Girl. The novel is the journey of an insecure girl named Natalie Bloom and it describes her social and intimate struggles towards the end of her college career. Weitz’s diction in the book was blunt, simplistic, and sporadic. Weitz’s writing style enlivens the story, allowing the reader to feel as if they personally know the thoughts and the mind of the main character; this effect empowers the reader to relate to the struggles in one way or another. The plot was not very well-developed because it did not have room for complexities; it was basic because Weitz wanted to focus on the details of daily college life. This elicited a sense of repetition, but it does not bore the reader because Natalie Bloom’s mentality is perpetual. In about one college semester, Natalie is a shy, self-conscious girl and she grows to be a confident and ambitious woman through the emotional happenings she encounters.
Natalie Bloom was born into a slightly dysfunctional family; she was the only female out of three brothers. As Natalie went through high school, she was underestimated by all her teachers because they were predisposed to the fact that her brothers were academic failures. She was a straight C student; she crowned herself average and dull until one of her teachers inspired her not to be so apathetic towards her academics. Natalie did not have the required grades to become an alumnus at a big-time university, so she began her unforgettable college trek at a community college. From day one of Natalie’s college life, she aspired to break the meaningless mold her brothers had made. She excelled in school and eventually was enrolled as a junior at the University of Connecticut, her “dream” school. Once Natalie began attending her big-time university she developed an obstinate demeanor, nothing would interfere with her studies and test scores. Natalie was a 20-year-old sober virgin and towards the end of her college year she began to feel the pressure of tasting what a reckless college life feels like.
After Natalie’s normal routine of endless studying at the university’s library, she meets an awkwardly tall, yet handsome, boy named Patrick. Natalie unfortunately falls in love with Patrick and she is tempted to drink, have sex, and put her studies on the back burner. The author exaggerates this particular college aspect to the point where Natalie’s stupidity becomes annoying. Natalie’s submissiveness to the commands of selfish Patrick is endless and psychotic. Although some young ladies are reckless and idiotic when it comes to their “love” lives, it is important that the author doesn’t imply the view that all college romances are helpless. The romantic mentality the main character possessed in this novel is something a reader would expect from a book about high school lamentations, not a novel about college life.
Eventually Natalie slumps into a temporary pit of test-score failure because she has taken up “partying” as her first priority. She soon develops an obsessive mind-set for Patrick, which leaves her suicidal and unpredictable. Natalie has to make a strong and conscious effort in order to steer her life in the right direction. She slowly starts to realize the ugly truth about Patrick, and when she does, she becomes a more beautiful and intelligent woman.
The theme of the book is comforting to any student: no matter how far you stray from the right path, if you try hard, you can lead yourself back to it. College is overwhelming and it can be an emotional burden on anyone and occasional failure is inevitable and natural. The book provides a perfect, sample insight into college life and depicts the social awkwardness, academic struggles, and emotional highs. The novel College Girl is honest and realistic, a great read for any student seeking to relate to a character who shares similar, social struggles.