Memoirs of a Muse

Lara Vapnyar's There Are Jews in My House is a collection of short stories depicting well drawn Russian characters. Her first novel contains a bit of the Russian immigrant experience, quite a bit of satire, and a warning of the perils of attaching yourself to a man of genius. Tanya emigrates to New York in her 20s, and concludes "[t]hough Americans were often criticized for having bad taste in clothes or ignorance of European culture, they were clearly believed to be the superior race. 'I know this American ... ' or 'One American told me' people kept saying, unaware of how proud they sounded." Tanya attaches herself to a "man of genius", but learns "A great writer was supposed to be self-destructive, wasn't he? I could hardly imagine Dostoyevsky jogging, gulping down protein smoothies, or summoning the shrink to relieve him of his sadness or agitation. Sadness and agitation made Dostoyevsky grab his quill and write! Madness was the core of his writing." Tanya eventually realizes that even if genius is authentic, the real relationship can be mundane and boring. The characters came alive for me, and I found the plot twisty and satisfying. I'll look forward to her next novel with real interest. Robert C. Ross 2009

Imagine deciding to become a muse to a famous author when you grow up! That is just what Tatiana (Tanya) Rumer does in this very readable, comic and original novel. The problem is that Tanya craves to become a bad girl muse rather a good girl one. Her model is Apollinaria (Polina) Suslova, Fedor Dostoevsky's muse. She vows to become like Polina and never like the "devoted, calm, domesticated" Anna Grigorievna, Dostoevsky's wife. Unfortunately for Tanya, things do not go as planned with her writer, but there is a wonderful suprise ending for her ambition. This is a charming story with a twist of Russian irony.

Vapnyar is one of those writers who is able to write in a way that transports readers to the scene - I felt, I smelled, I heard, I giggled... I couldn't put the book down. This is a story of a Russian girl with a rich imagination and a longing for a life that is lived "to the utmost degree!". "But now I was fifteen, and that long-anticipated extraordinary talent still hadn't emerged. My many gifts rattled about like cheap jewelry in a sequined bag - there wasn't a single gemstone. Now what kind of fulfilling life could the likes of me lead?" Her language is honest and sincere (with ought being rude or shocking) and puts the story on a very intimate and familiar level.

Growing up in Russia before the collapse, Tanya discovered Dostoyevsky and more significant the great writer's muse. Moving with her mom the professor to Brighton beach Brooklyn, Tanya concluded that Dostoyevsky's muse was his mistress Polina, who became part of The Brothers Karamazov and The Idiot; the second wife Anna was a secretary stenographer, but obviously no inspiration. Tanya decides her goal in life is to be the motivation to a great novelist. She meets writer Mark Schneider at a book gala and decides he is the one. They have an affair, but as she notes in her "Memoirs of a Muse" he seems more preoccupied with physically working out, sex, and partying than in writing. Tanya's begins to reconsider whether she selected the wrong author or perhaps her role as she studies further the influence of Dostoyevsky's muse. This is a terrific character study told mostly by Tanya with an intermingling look at Dostoyevsky's life. Tanya is a delight from her deep understanding about cosmetics in tsarist Russia to her belief that she is somebody's muse. Part amusing satire and part a serious look at roles in interrelationships, fans who enjoy a well written refreshingly unique tale, will want to read MEMOIRS OF A MUSE. Harriet Klausner

Lara Varnyar brings here European and Russian traditions of Great Art of Literature. This book is deep and touching. It is charming, witty and encourages you to think. You'll find the reflection of your own self in Lara's characters and you'll sense the connection between the author and her subject... This book is a test of reader's taste. If you are looking for an easy page-turner packed with Hollywood-style plots, you may be disappointed, but intellectual and demanding person will undoubtly enjoy it.