The Portrait of a Mirror

I wasn't sure what exactly to expect from this book, but I was intrigued to see how it spun the story of Narcissus from the get go.

If you like reading books with likeable characters, then this probably isn't the book for you. I rather enjoyed following these characters and getting peeks into their inner workings and how they thought. It may seem like at first this book is just about a bunch of rich people doing rich people things, but I assure you it is much more than that. I found this a well thought out, character driven book. And the story of Narcissus was an apt choice to have in the background of their stories.

I was afraid it would maybe be implemented a little too literally (though at times it did feel like it was being a little show more bit cheeky with the subject matter), but in the end I think it blended well. Especially in regards to the main cast. No one person seems meant to be Narcissus, but the whole of the main cast (and arguably simultaneously Echo). Forever thinking highly of themselves and their own intelligence. Enamored by their own reflection (whether that is themselves or someone else), but forever unable to obtain it, and thus doomed to pine over what they can never have despite it being right in front of them.

I really enjoyed this book, and will be thinking about it for some time after completing it. I look forward to reading more from this author! show less

This novel centers on two beautiful, expensively educated couples and what happens when they fall for each other's partners. Gorgeous Wes Range, whose ownership of an of-the-moment tech company befits his upbringing, is married to Diana, an equally beautiful and high-powered management consultant. Things are stale, they tend to annoy each other more than they delight each other, but there's no question they look good together and share the same values, which is to say, they know the right place to be seen skiing or own a third home. While on an exclusive tour of a new exhibition at the Met, Wes sees Vivien, who attended the same expensive school he did, and parlayed her money and connections into an enviable position as a curator. He show more had had a crush on her in school, and now she's even more gorgeous than before. Meanwhile, his wife is sent to Philadelphia, where she is partnered with Dale on a high-profile project. Dale is engaged to Vivien, but it doesn't take long before he is smitten with Diana.

It is, of course, perfectly fine to write about rich, beautiful, successful people who have everything. It is, however, a lot more difficult to make the reader care about their tender feelings and inner pain. But the author isn't asking us to empathize, or even get to know her characters. She's mocking them even as she's lovingly describing their every meal, their every shopping trip, their every perfectly insouciant outfit, painstakingly put together to imply carelessness. With the exception of far too many Linked In profiles, emails and text messages, this novel was well-written, but the humor often felt forced. Still, this will be fun for those who like to watch rich people being made fun of as they blithely continue with their lives as wealthy, beautiful, expensively educated people with connections and easy success. show less

Well, it seems pretentious & tedious, which is probably *exactly* what it should be since it's a reworking of the story of Narcissus. I can see the appeal for certain readers, but I don't want to wade through it.