What I Loved: A NovelWhat I Loved begins in New York in 1975, when art historian Leo Hertzberg discovers an extraordinary painting by an unknown artist in a SoHo gallery. He buys the work; tracks down the artist, Bill Wechsler; and the two men embark on a life-long friendship. Leo's story, which spans twenty-five years, follows the growing involvement between his family and Bill's--an intricate constellation of attachments that includes the two men, their wives, Erica and Violet, and their sons, Matthew and Mark. The families live in the same New York apartment building, rent a house together in the summers and keep up a lively exchange of ideas about life and art, but the bonds between them are tested, first by sudden tragedy, and then by a monstrous duplicity that slowly comes to the surface. A beautifully written novel that combines the intimacy of a family saga with the suspense of a thriller, What I Loved is a deeply moving story about art, love, loss, and betrayal. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afternoon anorexia nervosa artist asked began Bernie beside Bill and Violet Bill's body Bowery breath called canvas chair desk dinner door doughnuts eating disorders Erica eyes face father feel felt fingers floor front gallery Ghosty Giles's girl glass grabbed Greene Street hair hallway hand Hansel and Gretel Hasseborg Hazelden head heard inside Jack Newman kissed knew Lazlo leaned letters lips listened lived looked Lucille Lucille's lying Mark Mark's Matt Matt's Matthew morning mother mouth moved never night nodded opened painting pants paused picture Rafael Hernandez remembered seemed shook shoulders SIRI HUSTVEDT sitting skin sleep smiled sofa stood stopped story Street studio talk Teddy Giles Teenie telephone tell thing thought told took turned Uncle Leo voice walked wanted watched wearing Wechsler week window woman words