James is an art critic with synesthesia - a neurological phenomenon that crosses sensory pathways, allowing him to see sounds, hear colours - an ability that allows him to become one of the top art critics for the New York Times. A personal loss on New Years Eve of 1980, temporarily robs him of this ability and his career is sent spiralling downward. Raul is an artist with a connection to a sister left behind in politically unstable Argentina - an artist who, in James' opinion, is 'the next big thing'. Raul, too, suffers a tragic loss in 1980 - a loss that will forever impact his life as an artist. Lucy is a small town Midwest girl who moves to New York to experience life.
Over the course of one year, as the art world faces an unprecedented swell of commercialization, these three people connect and remake each other. James, Raul, and Lucy encounter the depths of fame, humanity, and loss, and are forced to redefine their relationship to art, beauty, and life.
I would assume that this is a reasonably accurate picture of the art world of New York in 1980 - my only experience into this world was taking a bus trip to the Museum of Modern Art to see the Picasso exhibit - hardly enough for me to know for certain. However, the book drew me in and I felt, just for those few hours while I read, that I was part of it.
Over the course of one year, as the art world faces an unprecedented swell of commercialization, these three people connect and remake each other. James, Raul, and Lucy encounter the depths of fame, humanity, and loss, and are forced to redefine their relationship to art, beauty, and life.
I would assume that this is a reasonably accurate picture of the art world of New York in 1980 - my only experience into this world was taking a bus trip to the Museum of Modern Art to see the Picasso exhibit - hardly enough for me to know for certain. However, the book drew me in and I felt, just for those few hours while I read, that I was part of it.
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