Other than Studying
by Leena Petrova
Published by Lulu.com
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Reviewed by Andrea Stuckey
Even though not everyone experiences life at a university, first-time author Leena Petrova does a wonderful job writing a chick lit that goes one step above the overkill plot of high school drama.
As a freshman, Tina Sanders has nothing but an incredibly clear-cut future ahead of her, or so she thought. Soon enough she discovers that attending a top-ranking university in Canada isn’t solely academics, but a test of life itself. Roommates, boyfriends and parties are all in the same university package, whether she paid for it or not. Without warning, Tina’s life becomes chaotic, pilling up around her. She has to make decisions that are not only what homework and tests she will prioritize, but everything else that has nothing to do with academics.
Any reader who has experienced university life must agree Petrova’s description of life in the classroom, dorms, and social scene can be quite universal. She puts forth an admirable effort to reach out to her audience as a whole, instead of one specific group of past or present students. The reader switches back and forth between having Tina talk to him/her, and witnessing her life as an invisible audience member. While that can be confusing at times, her use of second person works in unison with her storytelling approach. It is a quick and simple read if searching for light fiction.
Petrova’s portrayal of Tina’s freshman and sophomore years of college are a humorous parallel to situations I’ve experienced through the undergraduate years. The book as a whole is also a fresh reminder that everyone has a difficult time adjusting to life after high school.
Whether you have survived through your college years, or are anticipating them on the horizon, Petrova’s description of university life is fairly accurate. Tina (the protagonist) may have a personality of her own, but the main ideas surrounding her experience are a universal warning or a recollection for all who will at one point in their lives experience college life.
Armchair Interviews says: If college is past, you might look at this story with relief; if it is ahead of you, with concern.