What does it mean to be a millennial?
Hanna Jameson and the best book talk I have attended in a long time
Reading time: 2 min
When it comes to my writing practice, I love to think that the “Universe” is somehow involved.
Not that I believe a godly muse is positively conspiring to help me achieve my dreams, but I can’t be an engineer 24/7, can I? I enjoy a bit of magic in my routines.
Last Tuesday, the "Universe" made sure I attended Bob's event at Waterstone in Winchester High Street.
I was criminally unfamiliar with Hanna Jameson’s work, a young writer at her fifth book in my genre, but as soon as she read a passage from her last novel; “Are You Happy Now”, I knew I was in the presence of a great author.
Bob is an amazing interviewer, and soon he brought up one of the book's central themes: the generational struggles of millennials.
I was blown away by the conversation. Each one of Hanna’s observations was conveyed with such wit, depth, knowledge, power and honesty that I had no doubt I was listening to a master of her craft.
Before Tuesday, I knew I was a millennial, but I didn’t know how much I was one. I didn’t know how much that generational voice was embedded within me.
Hanna talked about how those born in the 90s were part of the last generation promised everything was going to be alright. Instead, we witnessed 9/11 and the war on terror, the economic crisis (then again, then again, then again), climate change, a global pandemic, the consequent lockdown, and now war in Europe with the threat of nuclear holocaust—all during our formative years.
We're far from the "middle children of history" (to paraphrase Chuck Palahniuk), and we don't have the rebel spirit of Gen Z. Although we all wanted to be rock stars, professional footballers, actors, directors, or authors, most of us had to grapple with reality, live in a shoebox with 4 roommates and secretly acknowledge that our parents' lives (a job, a house, a family) weren't so bad, even if those simple goals are becoming increasingly out of reach.
But we’re also the first ones to speak openly about mental health and suicide, and maybe normalise the fact that it’s ok not to be ok.
After the presentation, I drove home eager to read the book, and I woke up early this morning to devour the first chapters between sips of coffee—watch this space.
Thank you Hanna, thank you Bob, thank you “Universe” for this amazing discovery.
Alla prossima.
Hanna Jameson
