The Cave Dwellers

The author gives a spot-on portrait of "insider Washington" through the eyes of the children of this privileged group. Engaging, very well written, and thought provoking.

I was psyched to read this with all its hype, but once I put it down (halfway through) I never went back to it. Every bit of the story is stupid cliche that we've been fed a million times about the "elite." Maybe they are this idiotic, sleazy, and self-absorbed, so... we get it.

The Cave Dwellers is easily one of my favorite books this year. The novel chips away at DC’s polished veneer by delving into the lives of characters living on opposite ends of the socioeconomic spectrum. I grew up in DC, and the depiction of privileged [predominantly white] youth culture is spot-on and hilarious. The juxtaposition of this group’s way of life and that of a young, disadvantaged black man behind bars demonstrates the duality of our nation’s capital. Historical anecdotes seeded throughout the book are also fascinating and provide the reader with a deeper understanding of racial disparities, gender discrimination, the wealth gap, etc. Through her work, McDowell poses questions about politics, class, and culture that we should all take the time to reflect on: What roles do we play in society, and how do our lives affect other people in minute and drastic ways? What, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice to implement change? These questions are especially pertinent as DC, the infamous ‘Chocolate City’, faces rapid gentrification and whitewashing of the dynamic black culture on which it was built. I appreciate all of the research and thought that went into creating this provocative novel.

There are so many things I don't like about this book and I only started it this morning. The issue of race was pushed at the beginning. White privilege was brought out almost immediately. Then a long paragraph used the term Old White Man over and over at least 10 or more times. I didn't see the point of that. Then one of the characters didn't make it to the bathroom and did you-know-what in her pants. That wasn't a necessary addition to the story. There was a horrendous murder involving a child and family and it was described in detail. And all this was just beginning. I decided I might not finish the book, so I flipped thru to the back to see if maybe it might be worth my time, and what do you know? The language was such a turn off that I decided to give up. And the parts that didn't include murder, racism, and yes, sex, wasn't interesting.

Many people are comparing this book to Bonfire of the Vanities, which is in that 1) it is about classicism 2) it never resolves, but this modern version is written more approachable (not too long, peppy tone, etc.) Part housewives, part gossip girl it is a reflection on society veiled in fun modern-novel tropes. The story follows a series of families in the changing times after a murder in the neighborhood. They are all people of power and influence, but how they got there and how they finance it is wildly different. I want to write something more insightful, about relations to my life, and key takeaways, but I can't. The novel ends in a total maelstrom without purpose and I guess so does our lives? The charecters really don't go through much personal growth, they just keep churning. 4 stars only because it is set up like a murder mystery, but joke is on us, we never know who kills the Banks family, really.