Literary fiction worth reading.

I spent the weekend* reading Kate Christensen's novel The Great Man, and loving it. It's the story of one Oscar Feldman, a well-known American painter, whose only role in this book is to be the man who was loved by a variety of fascinating women. (The book actually opens with Oscar's obituary.)

The women in question are Oscar's wife, Abigail Feldman; his longtime mistress, Claire (Teddy) St. Cloud; his fellow artist and sister Maxine; his daughters (by Teddy) Ruby and Samantha; even his mistress's best friend, Lila. Each of these women relates her own story of her life with Oscar as they take turns speaking to two very different biographers of Oscar's life. It sounds complex; it's not (or it is, but in the best possible way).

I loved this book. What is totally great is that the women in this book could have been caricatures; the "artist's wronged wife with the autistic son," the "selfish mistress who kept her lover away from their own daughters," the "bitter sister." But they weren't. They were all fascinating, strong, interesting women in their own rights, and in their relations with the "great man," the reader (or at least this reader) gets the sense that they paid their moneys, they took their chances, and they lived with their decisions. Oh--and there's a secret too. An art secret that will make the reader wonder (even more) if Oscar truly was a "great man."

Just lovely. As an added benefit, this book made me feel so young. Lately I have been feeling so tired and old (in my thirties; ridiculous, I know) that to read this book about ladies in their seventies, not without their issues and aches and problems, who are still--and this is a phrase that it hurts me to type but it's really the most appropriate one--hungry for life, made me feel very, very good, and perhaps like I should buck up and try to enjoy what's left of my own youth.

I do think this is a novel that will appeal more to women, although I'd be interested to hear when men think of it too.

*I also spent the wekeend going to see the chick flick The Ugly Truth (which was awful, but we were mainly there to see Gerard Butler, so no harm, no foul) and watching the Guy Ritchie movie RockNRolla with Mr. CR (which was really pretty fantastic). Yup, I'm starting to see why I was having some problems hitting my deadlines.

Comments

[Florinda]

I read this about a year ago (and, strangely, yours is the second review of it I've seen today). Like you, it was the characters - Oscar's women, how they were developed, and how they related to each other - that really struck me. Glad you liked the novel!

[Robert Brown]

If you got a job as a movie reviewer, on the other hand, you'd click off on those deadlines lickety-split.

Someone said lickety-split at work the other day, and the rest of us had a collective sighing moment. None of us had heard the word in ages, and it just hit everybody as something groovy and fine.

It's the little things in life that seem to make the difference.

[Citizen Reader]

Florinda,
I'm glad you liked it too. I thought it was a good example of fiction that could appeal to women without being ridiculously simple or stereotypical--the polar opposite of Jodi Picoult, if you will.

I know, I'm mean. But I haven't picked on her for so long, I couldn't help myself.

May I ask where you saw the other review of this book? I'd like to see that.

[Citizen Reader]

Bert,
You like those in-depth reviews of chick flicks? I should have written a Gerard Butler-themed review of both, as he was also in RockNRolla. Mr. CR and I have found ourselves thinking of and quoting RockNRolla all week, which is often how we know we've enjoyed a movie.

Ah, "lickety split." Thank you for sharing--I haven't heard that in ages either. Like when my co-worker from a job a million years ago said, "Oh, fooey." Perfect. It's the little things indeed.

[Venta]

Hi, CR! Off topic, but have you read the review (I can find it if you want) criticizing Richard Russo and his female characters? Just curious about your thoughts.

I'll also read this book!!

[katharine]

I have another book suggestion for you when you are trying to put off a deadline. I just finished "How I became a famous novelist" by Steve Hely. The most sarcastic, funny book about the publishing industry ever. You MUST read this. I have a good feeling you'd enjoy it. Back to my reference desk...

[Florinda]

Here's the other review: http://amyreads.com/?p=441

She liked it too :-).

[Citizen Reader]

Hi Venta!
I've got to go read the Russo article yet (I've seen others talking about it and have wanted to read it), but just off the top of my head I would say that I really don't think the female characters are the draw of Russo's books. With the exception of the old neighbor lady in his "Nobody's Fool"; she was a great character. But his younger women and wives of his main characters? They seem to me to be pretty, well, caricatures isn't quite the word, but along those lines.

I like Russo anyway; but it's certainly not for the women he writes, it's for the men. What did YOU think of the article, or Russo's women in general?

Hmm. Now I will spend the day trying to think of authors who write good men and women. The only one who pops immediately to mind is Anne Tyler--which is probably one of the reasons I love her so much. She writes fantastic men and even more interesting women.

[Citizen Reader]

Katharine,
I've put that novel on hold. I can't wait!!

Thank you, Florinda; I didn't hear much about this book when it first came out so I'm tracking down reviews of it now. Very interesting!