Welcome to another Tuesday celebrating bookish events, from Tuesday/First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea; and Teaser Tuesdays hosted by Should Be Reading.
Today’s featured read is one I won from Gilion, at Rose City Reads. The book, Cleans Up Nicely, by Linda Dahl, is the story of the hard-edged decadent art scene in the 1970s.
Intro: Her destination, that summer of 1977, is a luxury apartment building, upper Fifth Avenue, a slice of New York life completely alien to her. After the doorman confirms she’s expected and nods her toward the elevators, Erica crosses a sumptuous lobby tastefully decorated with white leather couches and stainless steel tables covered with lavish flower arrangements. She is shaking. She awkwardly recites the all-purpose, three-line mantra that Addie McC. has assured her will always help get her through any situation. In the paneled elevator, she rides to the floor below the penthouse, where Addie McC. ushers her into an apartment with yet more expanses of white; it feels like entering a thirties movie set—there’s even a French bulldog to go with the expensive view of Central Park.
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Teaser: Leaving his building stoned only on caffeine, Erica stumbled and reeled as if she were drunk. She caught a bus, transferred to another, sat with her eyes tightly shut and willed herself not to think of him. And to her surprise, she was successful. (p. 125)
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Amazon Blurb: When twenty-something artist Erica Mason moves from laid-back Mexico to Manhattan in the mid-1970s, she finds a hard-edged, decadent, and radically evolving art scene.
Peppered with characters who could only come from the latter days of the turn-on-and-drop-out ’60s in then-crumbling New York (a spaced-out drummer who’s completely given up on using or making money, a radical feminist who glues animal furs to her paintings of vaginas, and icons in the making like Patti Smith), Erica’s New York is fast-moving, funny, and heartrending just like the city itself. Ultimately, her rite of passage is not only a love affair with art, men, alcohol, drugs, and music in the swirl that was the downtown scene in a radically evolving era in New York, but also a resurrection from addiction and self-delusion.
More than the study of a celebrated period of artistic expression, Cleans Up Nicely is the story of one gifted young woman’s path from self-destruction to a hard-won self-knowledge that opens up a whole new world for her and helps her claim the self-respect that has long eluded her.
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I am eagerly anticipating plunging into this book, a tale that spotlights a long-ago time that means youth for some of us. What do you think of the opening? Would you keep reading?
What fascinating excerpts! Love the intro. And that is an awesome cover. Thanks for sharing honey!
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Thanks, Annie…I love it, too. Glad you could stop by.
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This one looks great — capturing an era.
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I like that about it. Thanks for stopping by, Beth, and enjoy your week.
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I enjoyed reading the intro and excerpts. I thought hmmm… (my younger days)…1977..would that be Historical Fiction!
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You know, I think you’re right about that, but doesn’t that make us feel old? lol
I recall seeing my “younger days” featured in my kids’ history books, and feeling ancient, too.
But I do enjoy reading about this time period, Pat. Thanks for stopping by.
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Wow! What an opening! So well described that I felt as though I was there, walking beside Erica through the lobby, into the elevator, and into the next phase of her life. I’d keep reading.
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The true meaning of the concept “show, don’t tell.” I felt the same way. Thanks for stopping by, Catherine, and I downloaded the book you are teasing today. That opener made me think of hoarders. lol
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That was an interesting time. Hope you enjoy the books. Thanks for visiting.
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Definitely, Jo. Thanks for visiting…enjoy!
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This sounds like a good one – enjoy!!
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I am eager to start reading it, JoAnn. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your books.
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the intro is interesting. I’d keep going. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
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Thanks, Kelley…I think it promises to be intriguing.
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Though I was FAR from New York City in the 1960s, this sounds like a book I’d really enjoy. Great Teaser. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment on my Teaser
from SMOKE, WINGS & STONE.
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I was far away from NY, too, Sandra, but not too far philosophically…lol. Thanks for stopping by.
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Hmm…don’t know if I’d keep reading this one, but hope you enjoy it! My teaser: The Lost Hero
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To each her own…I think I’ve said that before…lol. Thanks for stopping by, Heather, and enjoy.
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What a brilliant teaser – teasingly so.
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Good way to put it, Cleopatra…thanks for visiting.
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This book sounds great. I love the setting of NYC in the ’70s and, more specifically, the Park Ave. apartments and the lavish art scene. I also like Erica…nervous yet with the strength to enter an atmosphere and world alien to her. I would definitely continue reading this book to discover her story and whatever else these pages over…Enjoy! I look forward to your review!
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Yes, I agree, Amy….and I do enjoy books that reveal settings and characters right away. Thanks for visiting.
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Sex, drugs and rock-n-roll in 60’s/70’s NY, very cool. I like the intro (even without looking at the cover I was guessing that she had a drinking problem and was repeating the serenity prayer). Looks very interesting, will wait to read your review when up, though.
Point of interest: my husband actually was at Woodstock in ’69 for the duration (he is 8 yrs. older than I). Now he is a quiet guy who doesn’t drink anything stronger than coffee, retired and puttering around the house, and no one would ever peg him as what he was in his teens. We all go through several stages in our life– I love when stories show character growth. Thanks for sharing this.
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Ah, Woodstock…I was only there in spirit, Rita…lol. Thanks for stopping by…and yes, we do change and grow…sometimes.
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Glad I found your blog. Here is my teaser. http://reviewbooksandmore.com/2013/09/17/tuesday-teasers-meme-91713/ or http://andreareadsandreviews.blogspot.com/2013/09/tuesday-teasers-meme-91713.html
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Glad you did, too, Andrea…and enjoy your reading.
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I’d keep reading, sounds to me like there’s going to be some entertaining characters popping up.
Love to hear what you think when you’re done. Enjoy and thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Jennifer…I’m eager to dive into this one.
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Had never heard of this one, BUT love the cover, intro and all else you shared with us –thanks for sharing.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Diane…I think the book is definitely my cup of tea. Thanks for stopping by…and for hosting.
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Sounds interesting. NY in the 70’s…
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I agree, Greg…can’t wait! Thanks for stopping by.
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Sounds like the type of book I wouldn’t pick up on my own but then reading about on book blogs peaks my interest.
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Yes, there are too many book possibilities…that’s why it’s great to see blogs spotlighting individual ones. Thanks for visiting, Angry Grey Cat.
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The intro is attention getting and I like the time frame. Enjoy.
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Me, too, Nise….I guess it’s my favorite time period from the past. Thanks for stopping by.
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Very interesting teaser! Sounds very good.
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Thanks, Yvonne…I am excited about it. Glad you could stop by.
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I loved everything about the 70’s, it’s my favorite decade!! The book sounds interesting!!
Here’s My Tuesday Intro
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It was an idyllic time for me, too, Vicki….thanks for visiting, and enjoy your book.
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