Art Vent

Letting the Fresh Air In

An Object of Beauty

December 2, 2010 - 3:23pm -- Carol Diehl

The reason I’ve been reading so much lately is because I’ve been laid up with a cold. However yesterday I read a book that was guaranteed to make me sicker: Steve Martin’s novel about the art world entitled, Times article describing how Steve Martin and Deborah Solomon's talk at the 92nd Street Y bombed to the point that attendees were monetarily compensated. The reason given was that they talked too much about art, but given how little understanding of art both have demonstrated in their writing, methinks it was the content rather than the subject that sank them.

Another concurring review.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Thanks for posting the rant about Steve Martin's book. You saved me from having to make an effort to find the book in the public library, put it down in disappointment, and go to the library to return it.

The last time I had to do that was when I read the book written by Nick Leeson about his having brought down Barings Bank. The opening pages had a description of him and a woman in a hotel room. They were the worst two pages I've ever read.

Thanks, also, for calling out Deborah Solomon. A number of years ago, I used to complain so much about her writing at work that the phrase, "Deborah Solomon," became a code word for bad writing.

During the past two or three years, I was surprised to find that some of Solomon's articles/interviews were better or more interesting than her earlier pieces. She's very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have dozens of substandard pieces published in the Times before showing any sign of improvement. Most writers don't get such a chance to "practice on stage," as they say in rock and roll.

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