LULU MEETS GOD AND DOUBTS HIM

Author: Danielle Ganek ISBN: 9780452289543 5/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: PLUME

As The Devil Wears Prada demystified the world of high fashion, this funny and insightful debut novel dishes the crazy and captivating Manhattan art scene. When painter Jeffrey Finelli is run over by a cab, the art world clamors for the instantly in-demand work by the late "emerging artist"—especially an enormous painting called Lulu Meets God and Doubts Him. Gallery receptionist and aspiring artist Mia McMurray finds herself at the center of the hype. She is an amused witness as a Birkin-toting collector, a well-muscled Irish artist, a real estate baron, and Lulu herself, the artist's niece and muse, battle over the brand-new masterpiece. In the midst of the madness, Mia finds her own creative expression and artistic identity, not to mention love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I was drawn to LULU MEETS GOD AND DOUBTS HIM because it was characterized as the art world’s The Devil Wears Prada and I really enjoy a good roman à clef. That said however, I think the success in a roman à clef lays in the author’s ability to submerge the reader in a world that she may not already be familiar with. I’m not sure Danielle Ganek succeeded in this. I think those who are already versed in the art world will probably like LULU MEETS GOD AND DOUBTS HIM—I suspect they will see the truth in the caricatures Ganek has painted. For this reader however, I found myself underwhelmed by the characters and rapidly lost interest in Mia, Simon and the rest of the cast. I also wasn't entirely convinced by the secondary love story. I did think overall, LULU MEETS GOD AND DOUBTS HIM was well written, if slow paced, and would consider whatever Ms. Ganek offers up next.

Jilian Vallade