Playing Botticelli Liza Nelson Books
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Godiva Blue thinks she controls the world she has created for her daughter Dylan and herself in a neglected corner of North Florida. While her fellow college activists have become Reagan-era yuppies, Godiva—an elementary-school janitor who is also an avant-garde artist and avowed nonconformist—staunchly refuses to compromise her ideals. Then one day she glances at the wanted posters hanging in her local post office and recognizes the face of a man she hasn’t seen since 1969 Dylan’s father. Shaken, Godiva grabs the poster and takes it home. When 15-year-old Dylan, already secretly chafing against her mother’s out-sized personality, finds the photograph, the discovery rocks the very foundation of their relationship. Fueled by simmering adolescent resentment, Dylan sets out across America to look for the father she’s never known. Left behind and powerless to protect her daughter, Godiva must finally confront the choices she made long ago. By turns funny, scary and reflective, Playing Botticelli follows Godiva and Dylan deep into the uncharted territories of their hearts as they seek that elusive balance between autonomy and family love?
Playing Botticelli Liza Nelson Books
Judy Blitch, a/k/a Godiva Blue, is a free-wheeling spirit directly from the 60's. She rebelled against her upbringing, she marched on Washington and had a baby out of wedlock long before it was acceptable in social circles. She and her daughter, Dylan (after Bob, of course) are now living in Esmerelda, Florida, where Godiva works as the elementary school's custodian and makes beautiful boxes that are sold by a local art dealer. Dylan is a bit embarrassed by her eccentric mother, but adjusts to life in a small town.Godiva's life takes a bizarre turn when she is the first person at an accident involving two local boys and their bicycles. Godiva comforts the boys, rides to the hospital with them and develops an affinity with the one who is seriously hurt. She is also attracted to the father of the second boy -- he's married, but she can't resist the seductive pull of his crooked smile.
Dylan's life makes an abrupt turn of its own when she discovers a photograph -- taken from the WANTED posters at the local post office -- of the man she believes to be her father. Being the resourceful child that she is, she implements an elaborate plan to find him and get some questions answered.
Liza Nelson has written a stellar debut novel about responsibility, family and finding our place in the universe. Her language is crisp, concise and rang true when compared with my own experiences from the '60's and with the puzzles of motherhood. Nelson is an author to watch.
Enjoy!
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Tags : Amazon.com: Playing Botticelli (9781619844391): Liza Nelson: Books,Liza Nelson,Playing Botticelli,Gatekeeper Press,1619844397,FICTION Literary,Fiction - General,Fiction : Psychological,FictionPsychological,Literary,Psychological
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Playing Botticelli Liza Nelson Books Reviews
The book is a fast read, and it has interesting, insightful characters. The author captures both perspectives of the mother and daughter realistically. Very well written and you feel like you're right along with these characters on their journey. I would love to see a book that features what Dylan and Godiva Blue are up to 10 or 15 years down the road.
Godiva Blue is one of the most successful "unlikeable narrators" in contemporary fiction. She's strong, funny and full of herself, and she knows it and we know it. Her daughter Dylan is the perfect evocation of a teenage girl. I feel like I know these people. Thank you, Ms. Nelson, for writing such a wise book. I enjoyed it as if it were a birthday gift.
Playing Botticelli is one of the most engaging books I've come across in a long while. The characters are drawn with such grace and insight, you will find yourself living among them, as though you have taken up residence in the fictional town of Esmerelda, or as if you are sitting in that bus going cross-country. As in all enduring works of fiction, it is truth that is revealed and illuminated. Long after you have put it down and loaned it out to your friends, Playing Botticelli will stay with you.
The Mother/Daughter relationship can be quicksand but Nelson avoids all the cliches. Her characters are fresh and believable. The plot is quick and filled with wonderful twists and surprises. You'll find yourself wanting to turn the pages quickly to see what happens next, but also lingering to savor the richly textured narrative. Beautifully conceived and written, Playing Botticelli challenges the reader think -- and gives you plenty to think about.
i couldn't quite get into the book at first but once i did, i was hooked. it's well-written, as lyrical as a poem in places, and moves at a nice pace. there was one jarring place when the writer switched the point-of-view (from first person narrative to third-person), but otherwise i found the book delightful and have recommended it to my friends. (the reviewer who's never played 'b is for botticelli' must not have come of age in the sixties or seventies!)
The main character, Godiva Blue, is an artist, a janitor, and a single mother. She is a woman with mechanical skills. Her daughter's name is Dylan. We are in the Reagan years. It is possible to speak of terrorism in a bright disconnected manner. Godiva says that coping is an acceptance of less than you want.
The heroine sees her daughter's father on a wanted poster in the post office. It seems he is wanted in connection with a bombing. Botticelli is game, a variation of twenty questions. Details of the game are explained at the end of the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for Nelson's use of language alone. Her writing style is rich with imagery and rythmn and her 'voice' comes across as frank and genuine. Nelson's wordcraft isn't the only worthwhile aspect of this novel, however. The characters are colorful and exotic while retaining a sense of realism. Plot here really takes a backseat to its heroines, yet even the twists and turns of the story are interesting and dynamic.
As a mother, daughter, teacher and would-be artist, I identified with so many of the situations and people that I was often at odds with myself during conflicts in the story. This book is rife with spiritual introspection and relational expoloration and a worthwhile read for anyone who questions how they became who they are.
Judy Blitch, a/k/a Godiva Blue, is a free-wheeling spirit directly from the 60's. She rebelled against her upbringing, she marched on Washington and had a baby out of wedlock long before it was acceptable in social circles. She and her daughter, Dylan (after Bob, of course) are now living in Esmerelda, Florida, where Godiva works as the elementary school's custodian and makes beautiful boxes that are sold by a local art dealer. Dylan is a bit embarrassed by her eccentric mother, but adjusts to life in a small town.
Godiva's life takes a bizarre turn when she is the first person at an accident involving two local boys and their bicycles. Godiva comforts the boys, rides to the hospital with them and develops an affinity with the one who is seriously hurt. She is also attracted to the father of the second boy -- he's married, but she can't resist the seductive pull of his crooked smile.
Dylan's life makes an abrupt turn of its own when she discovers a photograph -- taken from the WANTED posters at the local post office -- of the man she believes to be her father. Being the resourceful child that she is, she implements an elaborate plan to find him and get some questions answered.
Liza Nelson has written a stellar debut novel about responsibility, family and finding our place in the universe. Her language is crisp, concise and rang true when compared with my own experiences from the '60's and with the puzzles of motherhood. Nelson is an author to watch.
Enjoy!
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