A review by emilyinherhead
Self-Portrait with Boy by Rachel Lyon

5.0

Self-Portrait With Boy is structured around a photograph taken by the main character, Lu Rile, in which she accidentally captures something tragic (this is described on the book's cover, but I won't spoil it here) and has to decide whether or not to keep the image and use it to further her struggling art career. The decision is complicated by several things: the controversial content of the photo; her developing friendship with her upstairs neighbor, Kate; the artistic quality of the image (it's by far the best Lu has ever made); and Lu's dire financial situation. Within the plot framework of this prolonged decision are descriptions of the 1990's Brooklyn art world, explorations of development and gentrification during that time period, a beautiful character study of Lu as she "begins to become herself" and awakens romantically, and peeks into several fraught family relationships. Although it isn't hard to guess what will happen with the photograph, there was enough sense of foreboding around that, and enough side plot to keep me interested. And the writing! The writing was the cherry on top. Spare at times, beautifully descriptive at others, but never pretentious or unnecessary. I loved this book.