An Object of Beauty: A Novel by Steve Martin

From book flap:

"I am tired, so very tired of thinking about Lacey Yeager, yet I worry that unless I write her story down, and see it bound and tidy on my bookshelf, I will be unable to ever write about anything else"

So writes Daniel Franks, the narrator of a story about the woman he's been unable to let go of for years...Lacey Yeager is young, captivating, and ambitious enough to take on the notoriously demanding art world of New York City.  Groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders put before her, Lacey charms men and women, old and young, rich and even richer with her charisma and liveliness.  Her career sends her zipping all over Manhattan, the east coast, and even St. Petersburg, and her self-manufactured allure makes the reader wonder if it is not she who is the object of beauty.  Her ascension to the highest tiers of New York parallels the soaring heights - and, at times, the darkest lows - of the art world and the country from the late 1990s through today. 

My thoughts:

I loved this book!  It was intelligent, informative, interesting and extremely well written.  Truthfully, it made me aware of what a talented author Martin is.  The ease and flow of the story, coupled with the fascinating characters who are real and flawed, made for quite a captivating read.  I was spellbound from the first page.  What Martin has done is create a book that not only tells us the story of the rise and fall of Lacey Yeager, but also teaches us about a world filled with hiearchy, duplicity and money.   He also includes pictures of the very paintings being held at auction or adorning the walls of someone's NYC apartment - which I loved looking at!  And, he teaches us how to discern an authentic from a knock-off, the reasons why an artist suddenly becomes so popular and how much money it  takes to run a gallery.  In fact, you are left wondering why you hadn't ever wanted to learn about the NYC art scene before (or at least I was). 

Steve Martin has written a brilliant book about a woman determined to succeed in a world that runs on riches, art and reputation; a woman who is an object of beauty and so much more.  Read it!

Happy reading!!

2011 Reading Challenges

Alright, so I said that I just wanted to read whatever struck my fancy, and that is still true, except that there are some pretty good reading challenges out there that I really want to participate in.  So, I figured that as long as I am not required to do a massive amount of reading and all of the books are actually ones that I own and have been wanting to read - why not?  So here are the few challenges/shared reads that I will be joining:

I couldn't resist a Murakami challenge, now could I?  Considering that I'm joining in at the Hajime level (means I only have to read one book - although I'm pretty sure I'll read more than one), I'm positive this challenge will not stress me out. 

Austen! I've been wanting to read more Austen, especially since I own all of her books and they are getting rather dusty.  And what a great way to start, with Sense and Sensibility.  Plus, I'll be joining at the neophyte level (which means I only need to read 1-4 books), so that will make for an easy going experience with this challenge.

And this final one is more of a read-along, than a challenge.  Wallace over at Unputdownables will be hosting this shared read of Villete and I figured I'd join in. I've aways wanted to read more of the Bronte sisters' works, and well this might just help me to do that (especially since I own all of their works, too). 

Anyhow, that is it for now.  Just a few reading challenges to inspire me to pick up some of the books I already have sitting on my shelves.  Nothing too taxing and all requiring me to read some pretty terrific authors.  I suppose I better get started. 

Happy reading!!

The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters by Lorraine Lopez

From back of book:

When the four young Gabaldon sisters lost their mother, it was Fermina, the old Pueblo caretaker living in their house, who held them together with her love and protection.  Upon her death, she promised the girls they would each receive a special gift, selected just for them.  And as time passed, what she bestowed - hands that can heal, a skill for spinning stories, the ability to incite laughter, and the power to curse others - emerged, bringing both blessings and tragedy.  Now, twenty years later, unsure of whether the woman who had loved them so was a fairy godmother or a witch, the sisters delve into the patched and woven history of their family.  Here shadowed secrets wait patiently to be released into the light...to show the gifted Gabaldon sisters not only who their guardian really was, but the truth about themselves. 

My thoughts:

My first read in 2011 is Lorraine Lopez', The Gifted Gabaldon Sisters, and I don't know what to write about it.  I suppose it has to do with the fact that it reminds me of my dissertation (Chicana lit was the focus).  For some reason after I completed my degree I never really picked up another Chicana lit book again.  I suppose its because for those few years I was so immersed in Chicana literature and feminist writings that I just needed to disconnect myself from them for a bit.  Well, its a new year and I figured it was time to delve back into my past and reconnect with these genres that once upon time were a huge part of my reading life.  Plus, after reading this book I realized how much fun it was to read about my own personal culture, something which always put a smile on my face.  Its nice to read a book that is sprinkled with a bit of Spanish (reminds me of my grandmother) and descriptions of the foods I grew up eating, along with the mention of the practice of curanderia, something that I still believe in. 

In the book, Lopez writes about four sisters who are each struggling to come to terms with the loss of their mother and the fragmented relationships they have with each other and their remaining family.  We learn about their filthy uncle who sexually abuses them; the aunt who gives them records about the facts of life; a father who defends them; a little brother who supports them in all their craziness; and a family friend named Fermina, who passes on four special gifts (one to each girl).  Each chapter is devoted to a specific year and sister and helps to show us the ways in which each girl deals with their growing pains - first loves, school bullies, careers, babies, etc.  We also learn about Fermina, the family friend, who was much more family than friend.  Its a journey of sorts - reading about each young girl coming into her own, along with her realization of what Fermina's gift truly means.  This is a well written book that captures your attention with its vivid descriptions of the characters, the foods, the city, the experiences and everything that makes up the Gabaldon household.  Its also a book that is both delightful and at times difficult to read, because of the fact that your attachment to these four young women grows so much that you want to protect them from their twisted uncle's molestations, the unfair reality that wealth does buy freedom for the guilty, and that sometimes the sister you thought you knew turns out to be a complete stranger.  Its a book that leaves a lasting impression, because of the fact that it was able to make you feel so many things (anger, sadness, relief, happiness, etc.).  And in my opinion, a book that makes you feel, is a book worth reading. 

I'm happy I decided to kick off my reading year with Lopez, because not only has her writing whet my appetite for some more Latina/o literature, its also provided me with very memorable read. 

Happy reading!!!

Favorite Reads in 2010

In 2010 I read several good books, but only a few actually stood out as memorable reads and they are:

Bram Stoker's, Dracula

Ninni Holmqvist's, The Unit

Markus Zusak's, The Book Thief

and Audrey Niffengger's, Her Fearful Symmetry.

As for what this new reading year will bring, well, truth be told, I'm not so sure.  All I know is that I want to read whatever catches my fancy and try new genres. Basically, I want to have a fun reading year. And that is what I wish for everyone - a fantastic reading year filled with lots and lots of good reads. Cheers!