Mona at sea

Author

Elizabeth Gonzalez James

Call Number

• FICTION GONZ (CEN)

Publication Information

Santa Fe, NM : SFWP, [2021]

Physical Description

260 pages ; 22 cm

Summary

"In this sharp, witty debut, Elizabeth Gonzalez James introduces us to Mona Mireles - observant to a fault, unflinching in her opinions, and uncompromisingly confident in her professional abilities. Mona is a Millennial perfectionist who fails upwards in the midst of the 2008 economic crisis. Despite her potential, and her top- of-her-class college degree, Mona finds herself unemployed, living with her parents, and adrift in life and love. Mona's the sort who says exactly the right thing at absolutely the wrong moments, seeing the world through a cynic's eyes. In the financial and social malaise of the early 2000s, Mona walks a knife's edge as she faces down unemployment, underemployment, the complexities of adult relationships, and the downward spiral of her parents' shattering marriage. The more Mona craves perfection and order, the more she is forced to see that it is never attainable. Mona's journey asks the question: When we find what gives our life meaning, will we be ready for it?"--

Contents

• Intro
• Sad Millennial
• You'll know when you know
• Conquering Fears, Capturing Wealth
• We had layoffs. Big time.
• The terminal point of freedom
• One of those salad girls
• Don't flush your life away
• Rocky Point
• Here's to you, here's to me
• Sunk costs
• Do you believe in soulmates?
• Rule 34
• You earned it
• Waving and drowning
• Breaking cycles
• Cultural anthropology
• Being pushed
• The right choice
• Epilogue or, A reason to keep showing up
• Acknowledgments