2/3/11

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin (audio)


Description

Lacey Yeager is young, captivating, and ambitious enough to take the NYC art world by storm. Groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders put before her, Lacey charms men and women, old and young, rich and even richer with her magnetic charisma and liveliness. Her ascension to the highest tiers of the city parallel the soaring heights--and, at times, the dark lows--of the art world and the country from the late 1990s through today.

About the Author

Steve Martin is a legendary writer, actor, and performer. His film credits include Father of the Bride, Parenthood, The Spanish Prisoner, and Bringing Down the House, as well as Roxanne, L.A. Story, and Bowfinger, for which he also wrote the screenplays. He's won Emmys for his television writing and two Grammys for comedy albums. In addition to a play, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, he has written a bestselling collection of comic pieces, Pure Drivel, and a bestselling novella, Shopgirl, which was made into a movie. His work appears frequently in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

From AudioFile

This spare, focused book takes us back to the late 1990s, when art was a commodity for the very wealthy and a coin of the realm for admission to the upper class. It's a character study, a light mystery, and an entertaining look at a world that few people see up close. Campbell Scott is an inspired choice as narrator. His measured, understated tone captures the essence of the book, and he only slightly changes his for voice its characters. His leisurely pace draws our attention to the plot details and illuminates the author's asides about the art world. What's even more impressive, though, is that Scott actually sounds like Steve Martin. It's uncanny, and it works beautifully. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

 Details

  • Audio CD
  • Publisher: Hachette Audio; Unabridged edition (November 23, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 160788612X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1607886129
SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

 MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

    I normally tear through Steve Martin's stories, but this one had a lot of information about international art trade and the New York art scene.  I really had to absorb the information to understand all of the plot points. The story revolves around Lacey and I am not really sure if she is good or bad, so I suppose like most people she has a bit of both.  Daniel is more of a narrator than actual character although he does tell the story from an observer's point of view and acts as a voice of reason even when he finds Lacey has used him in one of her schemes. 

    A key point that is when Lacey finds out the biggest new name in art is a former boyfriend using the moniker of Pilot Mouse and of course Lacey uses that to her advantage, playing upon the giant egos that exist when money and objects collide.  Martin lampoons people who buy art for no other reason than to own it.  He explained this syndrome rather well when he appeared on the Colbert Report recently.  This is overall of Martin's more in depth books and it is well worth reading.
    I received this book at no charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

    WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

    Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addresses (no PO Boxes)

    Contest ends on 2.19.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on  2.20.11
    Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
    This giveaway is sponsored by Hachette Book Group and up to 2 audio books will be available.
    Only one winner per household address!

    +1 Complete the below form
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    And now, for those extra entries you can do each day:

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    126 comments:

    1. Put my name in the hat, I'd love to win! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
      theroundfile at live dot com

      ReplyDelete
    2. My uncle would love this. thanks!

      Lauren

      ReplyDelete
    3. It seems like it's been forever since I read Shopgirl! Thanks for the chance to win this newer tale!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    4. I'm a fan of Steve Martin in every way...love his comedy, his movies, his acting, his books....and he's sexy to boot!! Would love to win this one =)

      ReplyDelete
    5. I had no idea Martin was a writer. Interesting. Thanks for the chance to win! theprairielibrary (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    6. I'm a big Steve Martin fan and I would really like to win this.

      ReplyDelete
    7. This sounds like a great book!

      Tony
      rositatony (at) yahoo (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    8. Thanks for the giveaway! (:
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    9. tweeted:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/33402905931284481
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    10. I've been a fan of Steve Martins since the SNL days. Loved him playing the banjo with the arrow on his head wearing the white suit. Would love to read this book.

      susanbillietaylor [at]gmail [dot] com

      ReplyDelete
    11. (Daily entry for Feb. 4)

      We're Steve Martin fans from way back, my son had one of those arrow-through-the-head things that Steve wore when he did standup!

      Tony
      tonyrosita (at) yahoo (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    12. Fingers crossed that I win!
      rosita{dot}p{dot}mariani AT gmail{dot}com

      Daily entry 2/4

      ReplyDelete
    13. Daily entry for 2/4! Fingers crossed....
      theroundfile at live dot com

      ReplyDelete
    14. I'm very interested in the contemporary art world and I think Steve Martin, who's been a savvy and passionate art collector for a long time, would provide a fascinating look into this world.

      patricia (dot) mariani (dot) esq (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    15. 05/02/11
      Daily entry
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    16. 05/02/11
      Daily tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/33877108778340353
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    17. So want to win this! (Daily entry 02/05)

      patricia dot mariani dot esq AT gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    18. 2/5!
      Thanks.
      JHolden955 at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    19. I keep thinking about the range this guy has. He was the "Wild and Crazy Guy" and an accomplished novelist/playwright, just amazing!

      Tony (rositatony AT yahoo DOT com)

      daily entry 2.5.11

      ReplyDelete
    20. Count me in for today --- Feb. 5 entry.

      rosita dot p dot mariani [at] gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    21. One more try for today ...02/05!
      theroundfile at live dot com

      ReplyDelete
    22. Daily entry
      2/5
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    23. This comment has been removed by the author.

      ReplyDelete
    24. Here's hoping I win!

      daily entry 2.6.11

      patricia dot mariani dot esq AT gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    25. Saw Steve talking with Charlie Rose about this book and their conversation really piqued my interest --- would love to win the audio book!

      Tony
      (rositatony {at} yahoo dot com)

      Daily entry for 02/06

      ReplyDelete
    26. I love Steve Martin. I could watch his movie The Jerk every day.

      (\___/)
      (='.'=)
      (")_(")

      alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
      http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

      ReplyDelete
    27. Just started getting into audio books and I think this would be a great book to listen to ---

      ReplyDelete
    28. Just started getting into audio books and I think this would be a great book to listen to --

      rosita DOT p DOT mariani AT gmail DOT com

      daily entry for 2/6 (Please don't count the comment above, Mary, I forgot to include my email address in that one. Sorry!)

      ReplyDelete
    29. 2/6!
      My dad loved Steve Martin.
      JHolden955 at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    30. Daily entry
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    31. http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/34405742547177472
      ejhtan (at) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    32. Daily entry
      2/6
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    33. Daily entry 2/7.
      Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    34. Daily entry
      ejhtan (At) gmail (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    35. Daily tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/34759661747965952
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    36. Another day, another comment! (Daily entry 2/7)


      patricia [dot] mariani [dot] esq [at] gmail [dot] com

      ReplyDelete
    37. Great giveaway!

      Tony

      daily entry 2.7

      rositatony (at) yahoo DOT com

      ReplyDelete
    38. Fingers crossed!
      rosita dot p dot mariani (at) gmail dot com

      my daily entry for Feb. 7

      ReplyDelete
    39. Daily entry 2/8
      Count me in for today.

      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    40. daily tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/35106613354307584
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    41. Hoping to win this. Daily entry 2.8
      patricia dot mariani dot esq AT gmail.com

      ReplyDelete
    42. Terrific giveaway. (my entry for Feb.8)

      Tony
      rositatony (at) yahoo (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    43. Daily entry
      2/8
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    44. Would love the chance to listen to this audio book.

      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

      Daily Entry February 9

      ReplyDelete
    45. Today's entry 2.9

      Tony

      tonyrosita (at) yahoo DOT com

      ReplyDelete
    46. Daily tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/35421232719470593
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    47. Choose me, please!

      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      Daily Entry 2/09

      ReplyDelete
    48. Daily entry
      2/9
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    49. Saw Steve Martin's Picasso ply years ago and really enjoyed it.

      Tony
      daily entry for Feb. 10
      rositatony (at) yahoo (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    50. patricia dot mariani dot esq AT gmail dot com

      Today's entry 2/10

      Hope I win.

      ReplyDelete
    51. http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/35848665281077248
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    52. Daily entry 2/10. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    53. Daily entry Feb. 10th
      Pick me please. ;)
      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    54. Daily entry
      2/10
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    55. Daily entry 2/11. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    56. Thanks for the great giveaway.

      Tony
      (rositatony(AT)yahoo(DOT)com)
      Daily entry: 2.11.11

      ReplyDelete
    57. Would love to win!

      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

      Feb. 11, daily entry

      ReplyDelete
    58. Today's entry: Feb. 11.
      Sure want to win this one!

      rosita DOT p DOT mariani (at) gmail DOT com

      ReplyDelete
    59. Daily entry:
      thanks (:
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    60. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/36253743200735232
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    61. Daily entry
      2/11
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    62. daily entry
      thanks! (:
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    63. daily tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/36368431200735232
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    64. Just want to win!
      patricia dot mariani dot esq AT gmail dot com
      Daily Entry/Feb. 12th

      ReplyDelete
    65. I might share this with my son if I win! ;)
      Tony
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    66. 2/12 Entry

      My fingers are still crossed for this one.
      rosita[dot]p[dot]mariani[at]gmail[dot]com

      ReplyDelete
    67. Daily entry
      2/12
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    68. Daily entry
      Thanks! (:
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    69. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/36713828959920128
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    70. Yet another day, yet another daily entry!
      patricia DOT mariani DOT mariani DOT esq AT gmail DOT com
      Daily entry 12/13

      ReplyDelete
    71. Today's entry 12/13 (tonyrosita[at]yahoo[dot]com)
      Sure hope I win this.

      Tony

      ReplyDelete
    72. Daily entry 2/13. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    73. Daily entry for Feb. 13:

      I <3 Steve and I know I'll <3 this book!

      rosita [dot] p [dot] mariani{at}gmail [dot] com

      ReplyDelete
    74. Daily entry
      2/13
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    75. Still <3 Steve!
      rosita dot p dot mariani [at] gmail dot com
      Daily entry 2.14

      ReplyDelete
    76. Daily Entry 2/14

      Happy Valentines Day.

      Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

      ReplyDelete
    77. Just reread the blurb about the audio version that said Campbell Scott is the reader. (I guess it just didn't sink in when I first read it!) The AudioFile blurb writer thought that Scott did a wonderful job, even seeming to approximate Steve's voice. It struck me that Campbell Scott appeared with Steve in The Spanish Prisoner --- nice coincidence, kind of a "Six Degrees of Steve Martin"!

      daily entry: Feb. 14.

      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    78. Thanks. Daily entry 2.14
      Tony
      rositatony (at) yahoo (dot) com

      ReplyDelete
    79. Happy Valentine's Day!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    80. Daily entry: Happy Valentines day!
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    81. tweet:
      http://api.twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/37355670764404736
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    82. Daily entry
      2/14
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    83. I'm in this to win this!

      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com
      Daily entry, Feb. 15

      ReplyDelete
    84. Daily entry:
      Thank you! (:
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    85. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/37605426874814464
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    86. Today's entry comment/2.15

      Okay, let's get serious now, I want to win! :)
      Tony
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    87. Another day, another shot at winning this audio book!

      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

      daily entry Feb 15th

      ReplyDelete
    88. Lucky #99!
      Daily entry 2/15. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    89. Daily Entry 2/15

      lizzi0915 at aol dot com

      ReplyDelete
    90. daily entry
      2/15
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    91. Another day, another comment!
      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com
      daily entry 2/16

      ReplyDelete
    92. Here's hoping the Steve prize is mine!
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com
      Tony
      2/16

      ReplyDelete
    93. Daily entry 2/16
      Fingers crossed, still!
      rosita dot p dot mariani dot com

      ReplyDelete
    94. daily entry
      2/16
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    95. daily entry:
      Thanks!
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    96. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/38096572843560960
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    97. So very much want to win this!

      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com

      Daily Entry 2/17

      ReplyDelete
    98. Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!
      Tony
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com
      my daily entry comment for today: Feb. 17.

      ReplyDelete
    99. Daily Entry 2/17

      lizzi0915 at aol dot com

      ReplyDelete
    100. Daily entry
      Feb. 17th
      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    101. Daily entry:
      Thanks! :D
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    102. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/38427851007070208
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    103. daily entry
      2/17
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    104. Coming down to the homestretch for Steve! I want to win!
      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com
      Daily Entry Feb. 18th

      ReplyDelete
    105. Today's comment 02.18
      Tony
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com
      Thanks for the chance to win this great audio book.

      ReplyDelete
    106. Daily entry 2/18. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    107. Steve really is The Man With Two Brains (literary and comic)!

      Daily entry 2/18
      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    108. daily entry
      2/18
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    109. daily entry
      2/19
      nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    110. Daily entry 2/19. Thanks!
      JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

      ReplyDelete
    111. It's the homestretch! Fingers crossed for Steve!
      patricia dot mariani dot esq at gmail dot com
      daily entry Feb. 19th

      ReplyDelete
    112. Today's comment 2/19
      Tony
      rositatony(at)yahoo(dot)com)

      ReplyDelete
    113. Thanks for the giveaway! Steve Martin, the author, hmmm..... I've never read anything by him before but if he's as good an author as he is an actor this book should be a winner. Count me in!

      BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

      ReplyDelete
    114. Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/38981390846398464

      BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

      ReplyDelete
    115. Posted giveaway on FB: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=200733379952296&id=1336711064

      BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

      ReplyDelete
    116. Daily entry 2.19
      No more wild and crazy fooling around! I WANT TO WIN! ;)
      rosita dot p dot mariani at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    117. daily entry!
      Last day O:
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    118. tweet:
      http://twitter.com/#!/tearyeyedstars/status/39163621523206144
      ejhtan at gmail dot com

      ReplyDelete
    119. ROSITA -- rosita.p.mariani


      ELIZABETH -- elizabeth.harkinson


      An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.


      Thanks to all who entered.


      PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

      ReplyDelete

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