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August 25, 2017
Book Notes - Lucy Ives "Impossible Views of the World"
In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Bret Easton Ellis, Kate Christensen, Lauren Groff, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Jesmyn Ward, Heidi Julavits, Hari Kunzru, and many others.
Lucy Ives' novel Impossible Views of the World is a smart and compelling debut.
Kirkus wrote of the book:
"An art historical mystery that will interest fans of Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch, with a narrator equal parts intellectual, ironic, and cool…Scintillating…A diversion and a pleasure, this novel leaves you feeling smarter and hipper than you were before."
In her own words, here is Lucy Ives' Book Notes music playlist for her debut novel Impossible Views of the World:
Impossible Views of the World is narrated by Stella Krakus, a junior curator at the Central Museum of Art, a fictional institution located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Stella has been living through a thing or two, and it is possible that she listens to certain songs on repeat, while furiously googling arcane art objects and/or stomping into and out of the New York City subway. Here, in some sort of order, is a very brief excerpt from her playlist:
“Queen Bitch” — Lil' Kim
Stella was forged in the 1990s, and she knows but one way to express angst and sexual frustration on a lyrical level. Here’s a nice tune for a stroll in Central Park after a particularly annoying staff meeting.
“Dido’s Lament (When I am laid in earth),” from Dido and Aeneas — Henry Purcell
Did I say that Stella comprehends but one register for the expression of ire and distress? What I meant was that she has a fair number of modes. This is a good one for listening to while staring at strangers on the 6 train (or, while staring at email). Maybe she listens to Jessye Norman’s rendition.
“Everything Nice” — Popcaan
Things are looking up! Mystery solved, enemies vanquished. Time to direct the MP3 player to a positive track and go buy some groceries!
Lucy Ives and Impossible Views of the World links:
BookPage review
Kirkus review
New York Times review
Publishers Weekly review
Vogue interview with the author
also at Largehearted Boy:
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Book Notes (2015 - ) (authors create music playlists for their book)
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my 11 favorite Book Notes playlist essays
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