Two Great New Jersey Books

At least in my opinion, two of the best books written by New Jersey writers in my lifetime are Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Philip Roth’s The Counterlife.

Philip Roth wrote this passage in his book The Counterlife. Nathan Zuckerman is, Roth’s alter ego in this book and several others.

“If you’re from New Jersey,” Nathan had said, “and you write thirty books, and you win the Nobel Prize, and you live to be white-haired and ninety-five, it’s highly unlikely but not impossible that after your death they’ll decide to name a rest stop for you on the Jersey Turnpike. And so, long after you’re gone, you may indeed be remembered, but mostly by small children, in the backs of cars, when they lean forward and tell their parents, ‘Stop, please, stop at Zuckerman—I have to make a pee.’ For a New Jersey novelist that’s as much immortality as it’s realistic to hope for” (p. 237).

Yesterday, a highway rest area I stopped at was named after the writer Judy Blume. Philip Roth died a couple years ago and was a great writer who apparently was not great enough to be given a rest area.

One of Judy Blume’s most famous books is Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret. It is the story of 12 year old Margaret who occasionally writes letters to God about her desire to move from being a girl to a woman. Here is a short passage from the book that I found touching and tender when I read it two years ago. There is a group of about five girls in Margaret’s class who believe if they stretch their arms and chests and say a chant that soon they will have the breasts they dream of.

“That night I really worked hard. I read the first two chapters in my social studies book four times. Then I sat on my bedroom floor and did my exercise. “I must—I must—I must increase my bust!” I did it thirty-five times and climbed into bed. 

Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. I just did an exercise to help me grow. Have you thought about it God? About my growing, I mean. I’ve got a bra now. It would be nice if I had something to put in it. Of course, if you don’t think I’m ready I’ll understand. I’m having a test in school tomorrow. Please let me get a good grade on it God. I want you to be proud of me. Thank you.”