Helpful Score: 4
Reading this book was not a waste of time, by any means. Martin does a great job of opening up the world of art sellers and art collectors and teaching the reader about this universe that very few average people understand. He throws out some great thought-provoking passages about the nature of art collectors and the peculiar mindset that one must have to attach a monetary value to art. The book is best considered as a easily digested history of collecting art in America from 1960 to the present. If that was all, this book would have earned a couple of extra stars from me.
The plot is where Martin gets into trouble. You see where he is going from pretty early on, so the mystery of what Lacey exactly did is fairly obvious,and denouement lacks the imact it should have. He also wanders about a bit, throwing in some subplots (the narrator/Tanya romance)that are just uninteresting.
The other problem is the character of Lacey. Are we meant to like/admire her or detest her? I wasn't clear, and the book is lightweight enough that Martin shouldn't be toying with us on this point. (Let's face facts - this is not "War and Peace.") It did give me pause to consider whether my dislike for Lacey would have turned to respect if she had been a man, but I don't think so. Also, there didn't seem to be anyone in Martin's little world that didn't view every relationship from a "whats-in-it-for-me" vantage. Genuine affection may have resulted in some of these relationships, but that is not how they started. Is that the way the world is? Am I being naive? Hmmmm. Now that I lay it out on paper (screen?) maybe I should give Martin more credit for making me think more carefully about his characters.
The plot is where Martin gets into trouble. You see where he is going from pretty early on, so the mystery of what Lacey exactly did is fairly obvious,and denouement lacks the imact it should have. He also wanders about a bit, throwing in some subplots (the narrator/Tanya romance)that are just uninteresting.
The other problem is the character of Lacey. Are we meant to like/admire her or detest her? I wasn't clear, and the book is lightweight enough that Martin shouldn't be toying with us on this point. (Let's face facts - this is not "War and Peace.") It did give me pause to consider whether my dislike for Lacey would have turned to respect if she had been a man, but I don't think so. Also, there didn't seem to be anyone in Martin's little world that didn't view every relationship from a "whats-in-it-for-me" vantage. Genuine affection may have resulted in some of these relationships, but that is not how they started. Is that the way the world is? Am I being naive? Hmmmm. Now that I lay it out on paper (screen?) maybe I should give Martin more credit for making me think more carefully about his characters.
Helpful Score: 3
Having read and enjoyed both "Shopgirl" and "The Pleasure of My Company" I was looking forward to reading this novel, but it was a huge disappointment. Maybe if I were part of the NYC art scene, or wanted to be, I would have liked it better. I did not like the central character at all, the plot (what there was of one) crawled, and it was just too long and boring. The best part was turning a page and finding an illustration of a work of art.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book. It was an engaging story centering on the world of art. It is obvious that Steve Martin knows his art. I enjoy a book even more when I not only experience a great adventure but gain knowledge while enjoying the story. In this book it was the fascinating trip into art collecting.
Helpful Score: 1
This book wasn't like Steve Martin's other books but I really liked this one because it is different from anything else I've ever read. It's part novel, part art history and contains some beautiful images. Martin obviously knows what he's talking about when it comes to art and he ties it in with the story so nicely you barely know you're learning something. The story itself isn't fast paced or exciting but it's interesting and it kept me wondering what was going to happen to the protagonist. I highly recommend it to anyone who simply enjoys reading and/or is looking for a different reading experience.
Helpful Score: 1
I thoroughly enjoyed Steve Martin's "Shopgirl" and his other books. His writing is usually so humorous and insightful. My, what a disappointment this book was! I despised the main character and the almost non-existent plot was incredibly boring. I didn't care how it turned out and was quite thankful when the whole thing was over!
