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mikeerrico's review against another edition
4.0
Incredible collage of rock music, memory and mortality.
tgwood505's review against another edition
5.0
Stone Arabia is the story of Nik Worth, a musician and obsessive chronicler of an imagined life. For twenty-five years, Nik has compulsively manufactured and documented the artifacts (including the music -- bootlegs, liner notes, album covers, etc...)of a fictional music career. The reality of his life, however, is that he is a recluse who has not performed his music in public for decades. The narrative of Nik's life is given to us through his sister, Denise's, own first person "Chronicles" (which are the purported "truth"). We also see Denise through the more objective lens of a third person narrator. I've been reading a lot of this (post?) post-modern stuff lately (Girl ChildA Visit from the Goon Squad)...and while its narrative form certainly adds layers to the story, I was actually more entranced by the ruminations on memory and art.
Denise is losing her memory (or fears she is anyway), and so her recollections are both precious and faulty. Conversely, Nik has spent his entire life documenting an imagined life...creating an alternate history out of thin air. Lastly, Denise's daughter, Ada, a film maker, becomes obsessed with documenting her eccentric uncle's actual life.
During an interview between Ada and Nik, Ada asks Nik, "Who is your audience?" The assumption here is that art requires an intended audience. That without an audience, there is no such thing as art (the whole tree falling in the forest business). Nik answers, "Myself. Other than that, I don't have one, I suppose. Some family and friends." Yet Nik is an artist: he creates, he is passionate, he is consumed. And he is talented. And the most riveting aspect of his character is the absence of resentment or regret. Even without an audience, he has led an artful life.
Initially I resisted Denise as narrator. I didn't care enough about her; she was dull in comparison to Nik. However, I think this was a conscious and critical decision on Spiotta's part. It serves to elevate Nik's character and his work.
I highly recommend this novel. Really, really brilliant work.
Denise is losing her memory (or fears she is anyway), and so her recollections are both precious and faulty. Conversely, Nik has spent his entire life documenting an imagined life...creating an alternate history out of thin air. Lastly, Denise's daughter, Ada, a film maker, becomes obsessed with documenting her eccentric uncle's actual life.
During an interview between Ada and Nik, Ada asks Nik, "Who is your audience?" The assumption here is that art requires an intended audience. That without an audience, there is no such thing as art (the whole tree falling in the forest business). Nik answers, "Myself. Other than that, I don't have one, I suppose. Some family and friends." Yet Nik is an artist: he creates, he is passionate, he is consumed. And he is talented. And the most riveting aspect of his character is the absence of resentment or regret. Even without an audience, he has led an artful life.
Initially I resisted Denise as narrator. I didn't care enough about her; she was dull in comparison to Nik. However, I think this was a conscious and critical decision on Spiotta's part. It serves to elevate Nik's character and his work.
I highly recommend this novel. Really, really brilliant work.
meadowbat's review against another edition
4.0
I think most non-famous artists have asked themselves whether their work will make noise in a forest if no one is around to hear/read/view it. The sparsely populated forest in the book is inhabited by Denise and Nik, a brother and sister who grew up as semi-feral rock 'n' roll kids in L.A. Nik is a talented and prolific songwriter, but he only shares his work with a few people and in his "Chronicles," a meticulous documentation of a parallel universe in which he is the (not infallible) king of rock.
But despite the novel's Jonathan Lethem-worthy pomo pop culture savvy, Stone Arabia is first and foremost a book about memory--Denise's narration is intercut with Nik's Chronicles and her daughter's blog, among other sources. And memory is always about the inevitability of loss. Loss comes into play in more immediate and suspenseful forms as well, which made this book a page-turner. I liked its kindness and I empathized with Denise's neuroses (which include a tendency to over-empathize) and her conclusion that people can't be anyone but themselves. But something about the ending left me feeling drifty. I feel like it bears a reread, but until then I'll hold off on that fifth star.
But despite the novel's Jonathan Lethem-worthy pomo pop culture savvy, Stone Arabia is first and foremost a book about memory--Denise's narration is intercut with Nik's Chronicles and her daughter's blog, among other sources. And memory is always about the inevitability of loss. Loss comes into play in more immediate and suspenseful forms as well, which made this book a page-turner. I liked its kindness and I empathized with Denise's neuroses (which include a tendency to over-empathize) and her conclusion that people can't be anyone but themselves. But something about the ending left me feeling drifty. I feel like it bears a reread, but until then I'll hold off on that fifth star.
drossg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This one is difficult. I’d compare it to The Great Gatsby in that, while it’s far from my favorite novel, I would call it a perfect novel (I don’t actually know if this novel will, in the end, be judged as perfect, I’m more just commenting on the craft). Unlike F. Scott. Fitzgerald, though, Dana Spiotta has made me care about, and even like(!) unlikable characters (I also imagined Nik as Kyle MacLachlan, which helped)
As an aside I would recommend everyone watch The Devil and Daniel Johnston. The truth is stranger than fiction!
As an aside I would recommend everyone watch The Devil and Daniel Johnston. The truth is stranger than fiction!
rickwren's review against another edition
2.0
Nick Worth is a fascinating character study. He prolifically writes, creates, performs - for himself, for his own memories. Told from the point of view of Denise, Nick's younger sister we learn about Nick in a nonlinear, troubled narrative. We learn about his failures, his lovers, his life and his successes, mostly internal. Ada, Denise's daughter provides the transition from chronicle to documentary, from aspiration to legitimacy. All of this book delves into what makes Nick who he is. However, there is no plot. Nick Worth is a character study and Stone Arabia is a vehicle and the entire exercise is a study, but there is no plot. I need a plot or I'm just looking at a photo on a wall without context or purpose.
inphemeral's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
raymond_murphy's review against another edition
3.0
If Stephen Merritt and Claudia were actually brother and sister, this would be their story. Kind of a downer. Not sure what it meant.
loujoseph's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the premise, and maybe because I read this in between books 2 and 3 of 1Q84, but I enjoyed it as a quick read.. will look for more books by Dana Spiotta.