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'CONVERSION, THE'
'The Conversion' follows American translator and author Russell Todaro, a Jewish gay man who becomes embroiled in the death and ensuing scandal of a former lover.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 19, 2020
5 "moving, melancholy, resplendent" stars !!!
9th Favorite Read of 2016
I am so happy to discover another author whose work I so admire. This is Mr. Olshan's seventh novel and I look forward to reading more of his lovely work.
This book talks about all types of conversions; religious, romantic, sexual and medical. The book grapples with so much content and leaves one feeling wistful, melancholy and yet full of awe around the beauty of architecture, literature, geography, friendship, gastronomy and most importantly love.
The book is a romance, a mystery, a meditation and a tribute to gradations of truth and the dangers of envy, self-delusion, unrequited love and creative blockage.
The writing is mostly eloquent, simple with splashes of sumptuousness that takes one's breath away. We are in New York, Paris and Tuscany and we reside in the hearts of writers that are grappling with all of life's large questions but of course do it with much more depth and sensitivity than most of us.
It is very a propos to have finished this novel on Thanksgiving Day as it was a wonderful end to a lovely day with family, my beloved and one of my most treasured pastimes, reading.
My belly is full, my heart is sated and my soul is serene.
Quietly I will go back to my armchair and read a little more.
9th Favorite Read of 2016
I am so happy to discover another author whose work I so admire. This is Mr. Olshan's seventh novel and I look forward to reading more of his lovely work.
This book talks about all types of conversions; religious, romantic, sexual and medical. The book grapples with so much content and leaves one feeling wistful, melancholy and yet full of awe around the beauty of architecture, literature, geography, friendship, gastronomy and most importantly love.
The book is a romance, a mystery, a meditation and a tribute to gradations of truth and the dangers of envy, self-delusion, unrequited love and creative blockage.
The writing is mostly eloquent, simple with splashes of sumptuousness that takes one's breath away. We are in New York, Paris and Tuscany and we reside in the hearts of writers that are grappling with all of life's large questions but of course do it with much more depth and sensitivity than most of us.
It is very a propos to have finished this novel on Thanksgiving Day as it was a wonderful end to a lovely day with family, my beloved and one of my most treasured pastimes, reading.
My belly is full, my heart is sated and my soul is serene.
Quietly I will go back to my armchair and read a little more.
November 28, 2008
Let me start off by saying that this book is written in a more literary style, and I don't intend that to denigrate, particularly because of the book's self-reflective quality. At one point, the main character Russell (who is a one-time-published author) remarks on another character's (also an author) work's accessibility (he had feared it would be written in an overly literary style), and I wondered if the author was expressing his own concerns about the novel, right there within it, out of the mouth of the main character. Speaking of the main character, I found he treads just on the border of likability - he comes across as a defeatist in search of a happiness that he will never let himself have, buffering his ego with affairs with married men and delaying his own realization as an author by his own infatuation with the obfuscation of his own skills by his obsession with the literary world society and the gentrified world of the American seeking some sort of entry into a class they can never truly belong to by immersing themselves in European culture and language. The main character's one relationship with another man who is truly available to him is more about his own relationship with how he perceives his own credibility, as an author, and just adds to his gloomy introspectiveness. The real relationship in the book is between the main character and an Italian woman, Marina (you guessed it, also an author although a wealthy and established one), whose villa Russell is recovering in after an unusual (and somewhat unbelievable) turn of events. Marina is actually for me the best developed and most likable character in the book, and she's the pivot point around which Russell's self-conception evolves. It's really the only genuine relationship Russell has. The book is very well written, and it is accessible despite the "literary" prose, but at the end of the novel I felt that some of Russell's "progress" was just a veneer. Maybe that was what the book was trying to accomplish, was to show that although he had changed during the experiences he was having, that in the end he can't escape his own nature. Still, I was left feeling a little cheated at the end, as if I deserved something more revealing, something that would have left Russell as more empathetic, more a person with something to say to me, not just to himself. In the end, I don't think Russell really sees a way to move on from his own selfishness, just a way to develop it in a different direction.
May 16, 2010
meh. had potential. interesting setting--the italian countryside manor home of a wealthy, successful author and her famous radical husband.... but other than that it just didn't bring much to the table. not bad, just ok.
September 16, 2023
Entertaining and an interesting premise, but too many distractions and unexplored characters
The book group met at The LGBT Center in NYC to discuss "The Conversion" in February 2011. Because of bad weather, illness, and work-related absences, this was a smaller group than usual and a couple of people who did not attend on Tuesday reported that they liked the book more that most of the people at the discussion.
Phillip praised the book as a page-turner and the true portrait of an American in a foreign country. Others were frustrated by the lack of explanation of the terrorists and the police connection that Marina had. Most thought that the descriptions of Italy were clearly written by someone who knew the country, but were unclear about the central character, Russell, and his motivations. We all agreed that Marina was the most interesting character and we wanted to know more about her and her relationship with her reclusive husband, Stefano. We thought that Lorenzo, the policeman, was an enticing character but wound up being just another in the list of men with whom Russell had ultimately unsatisfying relationships (Ed the author, James the priest, and Michel the married motorcyclist). I originally thought that Ed was a cipher, but the other readers very assuredly pointed out that he was a cynical self-involved very minor artist who was willing to lie in an especially horrible way to keep Russell to himself. Everyone thought that there were too many diversions. We were unsure why there were so many "conversions" in the book and to what, exactly, the conversion in the final paragraph refers. Some liked the rather surprising ending but others thought that it was too good to be true. We all agreed that the author showed moments of brilliance and had some very interesting ideas, but overall this was a nice read for a less-than-satisfying book.
The book jacket calls this novel "Jamesian." You might want to read Henry James' "The Aspern Papers," which has a similar central conceit, to see how this sort of applies.
In the book Russell says that Roth is his favorite living American author. When we discussed this in the group, it quickly turned into a discussion of authors with good early books (Leavitt, Cunningham, Bram) but poor later books and why we like British authors so much (Toibin, McEwan, Hollingshurst).
The book group met at The LGBT Center in NYC to discuss "The Conversion" in February 2011. Because of bad weather, illness, and work-related absences, this was a smaller group than usual and a couple of people who did not attend on Tuesday reported that they liked the book more that most of the people at the discussion.
Phillip praised the book as a page-turner and the true portrait of an American in a foreign country. Others were frustrated by the lack of explanation of the terrorists and the police connection that Marina had. Most thought that the descriptions of Italy were clearly written by someone who knew the country, but were unclear about the central character, Russell, and his motivations. We all agreed that Marina was the most interesting character and we wanted to know more about her and her relationship with her reclusive husband, Stefano. We thought that Lorenzo, the policeman, was an enticing character but wound up being just another in the list of men with whom Russell had ultimately unsatisfying relationships (Ed the author, James the priest, and Michel the married motorcyclist). I originally thought that Ed was a cipher, but the other readers very assuredly pointed out that he was a cynical self-involved very minor artist who was willing to lie in an especially horrible way to keep Russell to himself. Everyone thought that there were too many diversions. We were unsure why there were so many "conversions" in the book and to what, exactly, the conversion in the final paragraph refers. Some liked the rather surprising ending but others thought that it was too good to be true. We all agreed that the author showed moments of brilliance and had some very interesting ideas, but overall this was a nice read for a less-than-satisfying book.
The book jacket calls this novel "Jamesian." You might want to read Henry James' "The Aspern Papers," which has a similar central conceit, to see how this sort of applies.
In the book Russell says that Roth is his favorite living American author. When we discussed this in the group, it quickly turned into a discussion of authors with good early books (Leavitt, Cunningham, Bram) but poor later books and why we like British authors so much (Toibin, McEwan, Hollingshurst).
November 22, 2022
“ANOTHER MAN, ANOTHER MOTORCYLE, ANOTHER COUNTRY”
Joseph Olshan’s The Conversion is a sexy, classy spin on Henry James’s conceit of the young American adrift in Europe. Thirtyish Russell Todaro is the engaging narrator. A translator and would-be writer, Russell has only written a novella because he squanders his creative energies on obsessive liaisons with married men. “Another man, another motorcycle, another country” seems to be his motto. Welahty Michel takes Russell around Paris on his BMW motorcycle. Lorenzo, a carabiniere, guides Russell through the Tuscan countryside on hid Ducati. Russell finds that his American straightforwardness—and his vulnerability—is no match for his European lovers’ brutal yet civilized treatment of him.
Left alone after a tragic incident in Paris (I won’t reveal spoilers), Russell accepts a mysterious invitation from the novelist Marina Vezzoli to stay at her villa. He brings with him the manuscript of an unpublished memoir by deceased poet Edward Cannon. Edward believed that living for love had kept Russell from writing anything good. Spurred by Edward’s censure, manipulated by Marina, and inspired by his love for language, especially Italian, Russell finds that he is ripe for the powerful conversion that occurs at the novel’s surprising conclusion.
Told in breathtakingly sensuous prose, Russell Todaro’s story is perfect for fans of Edmund White’s The Married Man and André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name.
Joseph Olshan’s The Conversion is a sexy, classy spin on Henry James’s conceit of the young American adrift in Europe. Thirtyish Russell Todaro is the engaging narrator. A translator and would-be writer, Russell has only written a novella because he squanders his creative energies on obsessive liaisons with married men. “Another man, another motorcycle, another country” seems to be his motto. Welahty Michel takes Russell around Paris on his BMW motorcycle. Lorenzo, a carabiniere, guides Russell through the Tuscan countryside on hid Ducati. Russell finds that his American straightforwardness—and his vulnerability—is no match for his European lovers’ brutal yet civilized treatment of him.
Left alone after a tragic incident in Paris (I won’t reveal spoilers), Russell accepts a mysterious invitation from the novelist Marina Vezzoli to stay at her villa. He brings with him the manuscript of an unpublished memoir by deceased poet Edward Cannon. Edward believed that living for love had kept Russell from writing anything good. Spurred by Edward’s censure, manipulated by Marina, and inspired by his love for language, especially Italian, Russell finds that he is ripe for the powerful conversion that occurs at the novel’s surprising conclusion.
Told in breathtakingly sensuous prose, Russell Todaro’s story is perfect for fans of Edmund White’s The Married Man and André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name.
July 12, 2025
This was a disappointing read. The premise and several events were unbelievable, and the protagonist was just a mooch who stays with whoever will take him in. A main theme was his fear of being used, while at the same time being blind to the fact that he was using everyone around him. In the end it wasn't clear what his "conversion" was, other than he finally got a job and decided to end his relationship with a married man. Maybe that was supposed to illustrate his growth and some sort of transformation, but there was no heart-felt depth to the storyline to really convey that. Instead he just remained aloof.
November 8, 2020
This book had potential, but it didn't really do much with it. Once in a while I would run across a specific phrasing in the book that I thought was beautifully written, but overall it wasn't very interesting. I wanted much more from this.
September 25, 2019
great story, and the characters are very interesting. I think this could make a good film adaptation.
August 8, 2023
Interesting, though a little over thought,
July 6, 2008
Novels about writers are a blatant display of self indulgence. While this may sound like a harsh generalization, a reader can’t help but wonder if an author who is lucky enough to have a book or story published took the easy way out by simply embellishing an episode or time period from his or her own life. In the case of Joseph Olshan’s latest novel, The Conversion, all the major players are writers with varying degrees of success, and each of their life stories turns out to be just as interesting as the books they’ve written, or have attempted to write. If they resemble Olshan’s life in any way, readers will be equally impressed and envious.
Russell Todaro is a 31-year-old, mostly-unknown American novelist with a knack for languages and doomed relationships. His story begins at a Paris hotel, where he and his lover, renowned poet Edward Cannon, have taken up residence temporarily before relocating to the United States. While at the hotel, the two cross paths with bestselling Italian author, Marina Vezzoli, whom Edward had met previously on the literary festival circuit. Russell’s stay is cut short, and his plans to return home are postponed, when Edward suffers a fatal heart attack the morning after the couple is wakened by a pair of supposed thieves. Sympathetic to his predicament, Marina offers to let Russell stay at her villa in Tuscany, where they develop a rapport that is whimsical at best and tempestuous at worst. Nonetheless, his time spent in Tuscany with Marina proves fruitful and allows him to reflect upon his life, his loves and how the decisions of his past will affect the future.
The author deserves indelible praise for managing to construct an entire story around a man whose accomplishments pale in comparison to those around him. The fact that Russell is not as ’important’ as his counterparts makes him an invaluable asset to each relationship. All the while Russell was sharing a bed with Edward, his heart truly belonged to his former lover, Michel, a married social climber who had cruelly abandoned him. Edward, who was old enough to be Russell’s father, trusts his young companion enough to share excerpts of his highly-anticipated memoir, yet keeps many other seemingly crucial pieces of information hidden from him. Although she reminds Russell repeatedly of his guest status in her home, Marina’s hospitality is undoubtedly genuine. Whatever her motive, Marina encourages Russell to begin work on another novel and make a career for himself.
"The Conversion" is a splendid, compelling novel that is just the right combination of intrigue, romance and coming-of-age story. The backdrops of Paris and Tuscany lend themselves perfectly to the frequent conversations that are poetic, literary and multilingual. Most importantly, Russell is a man who is strikingly real -- his actions aren’t always commendable, yet he remains likable throughout, and altogether human.
Russell Todaro is a 31-year-old, mostly-unknown American novelist with a knack for languages and doomed relationships. His story begins at a Paris hotel, where he and his lover, renowned poet Edward Cannon, have taken up residence temporarily before relocating to the United States. While at the hotel, the two cross paths with bestselling Italian author, Marina Vezzoli, whom Edward had met previously on the literary festival circuit. Russell’s stay is cut short, and his plans to return home are postponed, when Edward suffers a fatal heart attack the morning after the couple is wakened by a pair of supposed thieves. Sympathetic to his predicament, Marina offers to let Russell stay at her villa in Tuscany, where they develop a rapport that is whimsical at best and tempestuous at worst. Nonetheless, his time spent in Tuscany with Marina proves fruitful and allows him to reflect upon his life, his loves and how the decisions of his past will affect the future.
The author deserves indelible praise for managing to construct an entire story around a man whose accomplishments pale in comparison to those around him. The fact that Russell is not as ’important’ as his counterparts makes him an invaluable asset to each relationship. All the while Russell was sharing a bed with Edward, his heart truly belonged to his former lover, Michel, a married social climber who had cruelly abandoned him. Edward, who was old enough to be Russell’s father, trusts his young companion enough to share excerpts of his highly-anticipated memoir, yet keeps many other seemingly crucial pieces of information hidden from him. Although she reminds Russell repeatedly of his guest status in her home, Marina’s hospitality is undoubtedly genuine. Whatever her motive, Marina encourages Russell to begin work on another novel and make a career for himself.
"The Conversion" is a splendid, compelling novel that is just the right combination of intrigue, romance and coming-of-age story. The backdrops of Paris and Tuscany lend themselves perfectly to the frequent conversations that are poetic, literary and multilingual. Most importantly, Russell is a man who is strikingly real -- his actions aren’t always commendable, yet he remains likable throughout, and altogether human.
May 12, 2014
Late in The Conversion, the author has his protagonist, commenting on a book he is reading, say, "...the novel is written in an open, accessible style....I find the reading tedious." My reaction to that statement was "how true," not only to the character's reaction but also to my own reaction to this book. The books I review most often rate five stars because I choose the titles I read quite carefully, based on my interests and the genres I most enjoy. The Conversion, however, I bought as an impulse. I had stumbled upon a lifestyle blog--one I'd never seen before and had no knowledge of its writer--and found a review of this book. The blogger said he rarely reviewed books but he was blown away by this one. With a cursory look at the review, I ordered a copy from amazon. The Conversion seems to have a lofty theme--that of finding purpose and meaning in life--and it certainly is peopled with interesting characters and gorgeous settings. But I found myself wanting it to be over, and when it was, I wasn't sure that the journey was worth it. I was unsure of what I was supposed to have learned from this man's emotional growth. Perhaps others, like the aforementioned blogger, will connect immediately and find great worth. I can't deny that there is skill in the writing and that the reading went quickly, but as the author himself put it, "I find the reading tedious."
January 23, 2015
Conversions of several kinds are prominent in Olshan's story -- religious, sero-, and dilettante-to-writer among them. Russell Todaro is a (so far) one-shot writer whose French and Italian affairs with men who are unavailable or, in the case of an older poet, whom he cannot love, distract him from becoming the artist he wants to be, but of course also provide him with the kind of experiences that will give him something to write about.
The hidden relationships and motives of these men and an Italian woman author, Marina Vezzoli, are gradually uncovered and Russell, like all good Americans in Europe since Henry James, returns to New York a wiser, if not happier, man.
The hidden relationships and motives of these men and an Italian woman author, Marina Vezzoli, are gradually uncovered and Russell, like all good Americans in Europe since Henry James, returns to New York a wiser, if not happier, man.
May 8, 2015
This book confused me, but I couldn't stop reading it. It's very high brow and the main character, Russell, is really a jerk. He's condescending and naive and he can't seem to keep his mouth shut. (Why he keeps telling virtual strangers everything about himself and his relationships is a mystery to me.) I couldn't, for the life of me, understand what all of these men saw in him. I guess because he was young and attractive, they overlooked his less-appealing personality traits. Olshan is a wonderful writer and I was fascinated with the story of Russell's failed relationships with a succession of married and unmarried men and the descriptions of Italy and France are beautiful.
November 29, 2008
An elegantly written book with descriptive scenes of Paris and Italy. The main character, Russell, experiences a frightening break-in of the hotel room where he and his lover were staying, but the intruders flee upon not finding whom/what they were seeking. The story lines are many, but entwined - who were the mysterious intruders; how does Russell deal with his (married) lovers and why does he choose unavailable men; what is the role of Marina and her mysterious husband Stefano; will Russell ever write again? Highly recommended. Grade: A-
December 29, 2009
December 29 2009
I started this in November but had only reached a bit past page 50 when I had to return it to the library. I just got it back but I'm leaving town in three days for three weeks so I'm debating whether to risk taking it along. If a hold request prevents it from renewing in a couple weeks the fine could add up quick but if I wait to return to it until late January I will probably have to restart it.
I started this in November but had only reached a bit past page 50 when I had to return it to the library. I just got it back but I'm leaving town in three days for three weeks so I'm debating whether to risk taking it along. If a hold request prevents it from renewing in a couple weeks the fine could add up quick but if I wait to return to it until late January I will probably have to restart it.
September 12, 2008
A pretty good murder mystery focusing on a gay young writer involved in a relationship with a poet who dies after a series of confounding circumstances. Richly written and nicely drawn charcters. Olshan's writing really gives you a sense of the Italian setting in which most of the book takes place and the quirky hosts he finds himself involved with.
January 24, 2010
I guess this is about the connection between love and creativity and the fact that they are not always compatible perhaps because clinging to the past and to false hopes prevents creating something new? A young writer, surrounded by more prolific and successful writers, has to see his way clear to his own future as a writer. Beautifully written.
June 20, 2009
This is the most I've enjoyed a first person narrative for some time. His psychology is sensitive and his characters believable. I particularly liked reading about Paris and Italy. I did find the ending a bit abrupt though.
January 15, 2016
An intelligent novel. Though the blurb suggests drama, this is actually a rather more subtle story. Meandering, and at times almost like a flow of conscience, this book deals with finding emotional stability and a purpose in life.
Read
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January 8, 2009
I appreciated the twists and turns the author took the main character through, but I wish it would've ended more strongly. It was an abrupt end, not a terrible end, just abrupt.
July 15, 2012
one star for premise, but it's really only a one-star read. Couldn't get into it....lacks tension
January 5, 2012
Good book. Excellent writing. Enjoyable story.
Want to read
June 25, 2015recd by Bos Guy blog
Want to read
March 21, 2025Back in 2015 I made a note that I thought this novel mediocre - I am uneasy about taking this as my final word so I am not rating until I have a chance to at least look at the novel again.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews