Rosecrans Baldwin

I definitely wanted to like it more than I did. The written dialogue is frequently clunky, almost as if rather than holding a conversation the characters are just throwing words at each other. Maybe that's reflective of Victor's malaise and difficulty relating to other people but it made for a sometimes irksome reading experience.

Cornelia, the young dreadlocked liberated vegan hippy and live-in goddaughter, I thought was a largely unnecessary and weak character. Her provacative presence in his house seems meant to be the impulsive spark that finally, years after his wife's death, helps drive Victor to his emotional breakthrough/breakdown, but besides the character being annoying, I found this dynamic and relationship unconvincing. In addition it forced the inclusion of scenes featuring her father, sadly another annoying pest of a character who even Victor, his childhood best friend, can't wait to be rid of. Better to have struck this part of the novel out and found another means of propelling Victor out of his emotionally deadened rut.

Yet Baldwin clearly has talent and parts of the novel do shine, enough to keep me reading to the end. As others note, the note cards left behind by Sara that provide her view of her and Victor's marriage are particularly strong. Anyway, as a debut novelist Baldwin is certainly entitled to not yet be at the top of his game. I'll not hesitate to read his second novel.

And if you're looking for an excellent novel about a man dealing with the loss of his wife, consider taking a look at A Happy Marriage by Rafael Yglesias...
… (more)

I did this book as a quick read. With some relatives living there, I thought I needed to know about L.A. The author has an interviewing style that more or less tells lots of half stories. Some of it is transitory. Disasters loom bigger (fires, earthquakes, mudslides). New York and L.A. are not easy to compare with each other of with the rest of the U.S. Chicago and Philadelphia, the other two of the four largest American cities actually can be compared with each other. Partially sponsored by GQ Magazine.… (more)

Fieldnotes:
1 International Move to Paris
1 Ex-Pat Couple Trying to Squeak by with Barely Passable French
Several Loud Parties
Several Affectionately Frustrated 'Only In Paris' Moments

The Short Version:
A quick read about a man who (along with his wife) heads off to Paris to write a novel and to work in advertising (particularly luxury brands) on the Champs-Elysees. Neither of them speak much French, there's a ton of red tape and messiness. The book covers all the travails of trying to sort out life in Paris (though it would have been nice to include some sight-seeing), sometimes it's funny, sometimes a bit crass, but always with a clear affection for the city, the lifestyle, as well as the Parisians they meet and befriend.

A more pleasant version of most ex-pats diatribes, but not something that got my armchair traveller wistfully eyeing the calendar for another trip...… (more)