Apartment

Teddy Wayne wrote a book called Apartment. The story is about a grad student at Columbia studying for a MFA in creative writing. He illegally sublets his aunt's apartment for six years now. His first four years in the apartment was his undergraduate study. Living off campus makes him feel apart from the other college students. For two years he works as a copy editor after graduation before entering grad school. In school the students critique each other's work. The narrator's work is given harsh criticism while the other students get gentler treatment. Billy, another student, is the only one who praises the narrator's work. The narrator and Billy become friends and eventually share the apartment. The awkward unbalance of their living situation affects their relationship especially since the writing program at Columbia is very competitive. The narrator's insecurity is brought forth by Billy's writing talent. If you want to read about a young male example of insecurity, this is the book for you.