Exposure

This has been an interesting journey in reading this book. I recall my own moments into the dark side and I can feel the emotions and upheavals in this story. It's beautifully written and makes it hard to put down. I found Ms. Harrison by accident, but can't wait to read more!

"Exposure" is a magnificent novel about a woman who is headed on a downward spiral of self-destruction. On the outside, Ann Rogers appears to have it all. At the age of 33, she co-owns a successful video production company. She has plenty of money, a wonderful husband, and strikingly good looks. On the inside, however, Ann is a mess. She's a diabetic and frequently fails to follow her strict insulin regimen, causing herself to go into insulin shock. Ann's secret addiction to crystal meth only makes matters worse, causing more severe symptoms of the diabetes and even forcing Ann to undergo several frightening eye surgeries. On top of all that, every time Ann does crystal meth, she has the urge to shoplift. All in all, she's a mess. There's much more to Ann's story than what meets the eye. She is the daughter of Edgar Rogers, a famous photographer who committed suicide 15 years ago. Edgar frequently used Ann as his model, and many of the photographs featured his pre-adolescent daughter in sexually explicit poses. The story behind these photos isn't what the reader might be inclined to assume at first, but the images do have a powerful affect on Ann. As a large exhibit of her father's work prepares to open, Ann becomes overwhelmed with memories of her childhood, and her self-destructive behavior escalates as a result. I absolutely loved this book. Author Kathryn Harrison spares no expense when exposing the dark undercurrents of Ann's fragile existence. In addition to being a brutally honest and detailed account of this character's life and emotions, Harrison's prose are elegant and beautiful to read. "Exposure" chronicles the way Ann's personality was shaped as a result of her being a work of art, but this book is truly an amazing work of art all on its own. It's a must-read.

The reader gets the feeling this author is speaking perhaps too close for comfort. Self destructing woman becomes even more unglued as her famous father's photographs are heading for display at a museum. Her father's camera was his shield against feeling while the daughter was the recipient of only the camera's eye. Psychologists would have a field day with this character. Riveting story.

This was the first book by Kathryn Harrison that I read. It blew me away. She does things with words that most people can only do with paints. Reading her books is like being pulled into someone else's dream. I love the way she writes. I found the novel a little shaky toward the end, but it's definitely something I would recommend.

One of few books I read over and over. Kathryn Harrison wrote a novel that keeps the reader's mind moving as the action unfolds. There's nothing necessarily earthshattering about the plot, but the straightforward style of writing rings true.