An Artful Affair

Rating:
Summary: An Artful Novel
Review: This is a fun read that later leaves you considering issues about art and its recognition by the world. Clendenen is at her best crafting descriptions of anything--masterpieces, street scenes, a handbag, the weather. She has deftly resurrected the '70s milieu and guides us, with sensual detail, through the high and low ends of the New York art scene. She is equally adept describing her characters, whom she creates with clever variety, depth, empathy and humor, weaving their worlds into an entangled but artistic plot--a lot like a great painting!

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Read
Review: An Artful Affair is a fascinating novel about the world of artists, art critics and the auction houses of NYC. The characters are complex and the story line moves very quickly, and I found it hard to put down! The author made the art life of NYC very believable and I loved the ending- it made perfect sense. I learned a lot while enjoying a terrific read!

Rating:
Summary: Artfully Done!
Review: A remarkable novel from an author with extensive experience in the international and NY art scene. Finely drawn characters, extensive details that make you feel like you're in the story and a satisfying plot tied to the fateful decisions made by the characters. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: Artfully Done!
Review: A remarkable novel from an author with extensive experience in the international and NY art scene. Finely drawn characters, extensive details that make you feel like you're in the story and a satisfying plot tied to the fateful decisions made by the characters. A great read!

Rating:
Summary: Terrific view inside the art world
Review: I loved this book. The story was so compelling I stayed up late to finish it-- wonderful characters, great plot. I also loved the website at www.corinnaclendenen.com. It has a whole page of links to paintings referred to in the book, including info about the artists, their other work, the museums that house them, etc. I also really liked the website's readers' discussion questions--they prompted one of the best discussions in my book group ever. Great stuff, all around.

Rating:
Summary: A page turner linking art, love and human folly
Review: I read this fascinating book in three sittings. The author paints an intriguing portrait of the art world for both art aficionados and neophytes. I found myself hoping that all would end well for these affable characters, but Clendenen wisely shows the ultimate frailty of humans when money and its myriad temptations come calling.

Rating:
Summary: This book's next stop should be at the box office
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed An Artful Affair. I found the topic, the descriptions of the City, and the author's knowledge of art and the art world fascinating. It's particularly timely read given the recent art heists and controversy about WWII ownership.

The characters and their lives are varied and interesting. They represesnt the whole continuum from monied collectors, who have no real right to own what they can afford, to talented, but neglected artists who fight against the pre-conceived notions of what's good art and society's hesitancy to break out of it's mold. Yet, there's nothing stereotypical about them.

I found myself able to vividly visualize the characters, their lives and the book's events. A special treat is that New York City comes alive in this book. You can almost feel the grit downtown and smell the doorman's leather shoes in the opulent places on Park Avenue.

The author presents the perspectives of characters who deal, buy, steal, love, cheat, are crushed, and succeed in the world of art. But, she never makes a judgment for the reader on who should win and who shouldn't.

Someone should make a movie from An Artful Affair. It has the right conflict, ethical issues and pace to be successful in film!



Rating:
Summary: fantastic
Review: this book is an excellent portrayal of the art world. fasinating and intriguing read that supplies a great plot with great character development in the interesting setting of the art world. a must read!!

Rating:
Summary: Amazing portrait of the New York art scene
Review: This is the only novel I've ever read that really sounds like the art world. Usually the auction houses are portrayed as no more than props with a lot of rich socialites runing around, but this book really gets you past the lobby. The portrait of the artist's studio is also very accurate. Clendenen's dedication fits the story: "To all the artists out there, poets and painters alike." I also loved the incredible cast of characters, some of whom I swear I've seen myself in the galleries. The story is fast-paced and entertaining with characters you can get attached to. It's one of those books that when I reached the end I wished it weren't over. A great read. Just make sure you have enough free time to read it when you pick up the book - I couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Read
Review: This was a difficult book to put down. I was very anxious to finish reading it and find out what happened to the characters. They became real people to me and I found myself wondering about them after I finished to book!!! I have a much greater appreciation for art now and would recommend this book to anyone. This would make a great movie!!!!!!!