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An Object of Beauty, and a birthday
Have been slamming away on a quilt, so not too much to report or share. I did manage to read a novel by Steve Martin, An Object of Beauty.
The book is well written, and is about the art and gallery scene in New York City. It makes me very glad I have nothing to do with it! I learned a good bit, including that the main character, Lacey Yeager, is utterly unsympathetic. As a result, I can’t say I’d recommend reading this book, mostly because I can’t imagine writing an entire book about such a “yuck” person.
On the other hand, the writing was quite good—Steve Martin is turning into one of my heroes: funny, good actor, musician, author, multi-talented, hard working, always exploring…these are things that bump people up in my estimation! (think Paul Simon and Paul McCartney!). Anyway, I’d gladly read another book my Martin–hopefully one with a nicer main character.
However, one quote made the entire book worth it. At the end of chapter 61, on p. 271, is this exchange between Lacey and her sort-of-beau, an FBI agent specializing in art fraud, about a painting by a Russian of a moonlit night, with the light reflecting on the water of the harbor:
“Tell me why you like it.”
“Well, it’s pretty. Kind of lonely looking. And it’s symbolic don’t you think?”
“Symbolic?”
“That’s where something in the picture stands for something else. Like truth or something.”
“Thank you. So what’s symbolic about it?”
“Remember, this is not my best subject.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Well, the water, to me, represents the earth and all the things that happen on the earth, reality. And the moonlight represents our dreams and our minds.”
“And…”
“And the reflection…well, I guess the reflection represents art. It’s what lies between our dreams and reality.”
WOW…. “art…it’s what lies between our dreams and reality”…how amazing is that? That is SO IT! Thank you, Mr. Martin!
And the birthday: today is the 112th anniversary of my dear old Daddio-o-o-o-o’s birth in 1899. He lived until 1995, and died two days before I was scheduled to arrive for a visit. He hadn’t been in the nursing home for four weeks. Mama said he asked every time she went to visit when he would come home. After about two weeks, he stopped asking. I think he realized he wasn’t going home, and he just gave up. He lived an amazing, generous, long and interesting life. Think of it…he was born literally during the reign of Queen Victoria, in the era of gas lights and horse and buggy. When he died, man had landed on the moon and computers were on the rise. Wow. I hope I live long too, then that I get to see him and my brothers (his sons from a first marriage, and both gone) again and we can re-live it all. Happy Birthday, Daddy.
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the review and the quote! It is amazing! My hubby’s dad was born in 1896, and his mom in 1898. Granma lived to be almost 92! Unfortunately, was losing her faculties by the time I met her.
January 23rd, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Also glad you reviewed the quote–and, no, I won’t be reading the book. Think I told you my Dad was born in 1884. He lived to 88. Wish I’d paid more attention to the stories he told of his growing up and his 10 brothers and sisters, only one who outlived him.
January 24th, 2011 at 9:46 am
I once had a friend who claimed that a cookbook with even one good recipe was worth buying. I think the same might be said about a book with one very good idea well stated.
January 31st, 2011 at 12:00 am
I love that quote! I gave the book to Tim for a holiday gift. i don’t think he has read it, yet. Thanks for sharing about your father.
It is difficult to comprehend the sort of changes he experienced during his lifetime.
We never stop missing them, do we?
January 31st, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Happy birthday to your dad! what a life to celebrate!
I loved that quote too, and I really enjoyed the book despite not liking Lacey just one bit…. I just down loaded Steve Martin’s book called Shopgirl. Looking forward to reading it soon.