I really, really recommend the novel American Studies by Mark Merlis, if you haven't read it. I think it's out of print, but I'm confident you can get a second-hand copy for very few pennies, if you try.

I mention this so that my obligatory first Dreamwidth post has some content other than, you know, hi there, this is mojokid on Dreamwidth; I'm still working stuff out, but will probably/hopefully start to crosspost soon.