Don't Make a Scene: A Novel

by Valerie Block

As Diane Kurasik nears the rapids of her fortieth birthday, it seems her world is taking on the bittersweet tones of a life-change comedy from the 1970s, something starring Glenda Jackson or Jill Clayburgh. The director of a Greenwich Village revival house cinema and a single woman who has watched everyone else move on, Diane is reminded daily of her status and her limitations. Clearly there is some lesson she was supped to lave learned by now, but what it is continues to elude her.

Vladimir Hurtado Padrón has troubles of his own. Although he fled Cuba a decade earlier, he still can’t convince his estranged wife in Havana to grant him a divorce. When Diane meets and falls for Vladimir, he is up front about the stalemate in his personal life, letting her make her own decisions. Diane considers the minor role he has to offer and wonders: Would Ingrid Bergman put up with this?

An eviction notice jolts Diane out of her home and her routine–aren’t all New York stories ultimately about real estate? Diane shuttles between the couches of friends and family, dodging advice and criticism in equal measure and touring countless fatally flawed Manhattan apartments.

Meanwhile, Vladimir refuses to succumb to nostalgia as he deals with the exile’s dilemma: What happens when you can’t go home? Then an unexpected visitor from Vladimir’s past arrives on the scene and becomes captivated by Diane just as her ardor for Vladimir is cooling. Diane considers returning his affections, and wonders if she’s lost her mind.

An unabashed valentine to cinema, Don’t Make a Scene is a sparkling, witty novel that asks, Do movies satisfy the yearning, or merely fan the flames? Valerie Block uses tart humor and a deceptively light touch in this fiercely intelligent look at how the movies shape and haunt us, and what happens when the eternal allure of classic movies collides with the daily indignities of contemporary life. Don’t Make a Scene is a refreshing comedy about finding fascination, irritation, and joy in unexpected places.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2007

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Story of Diane, who lives in NYC and runs an"art house" kind of a film theatre- lots of themes and movies from all eras and countries. Soon into the book, she loses her apartment and spends most of the book looking for a place to live. They keep falling through and she begins couch surfing. Meanwhile, she is dealing with being a 40 year old ,never married woman and the family and friends who keep trying to find someone for her. I found the continual titles and descriptions of movies quite interesting and thought I should write them down before I took the book back(but didn't). I almost feels like a list of interesting films with a few links about Diane's life as a pretense for not just publishing a list of interesting films.
Generally not too thrilled by the books I'm reading lately. Here's another.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointed reading this book--thought it might be a fun light read because I love movies and like reading New York stories. I did like the movies part, and I really liked learning about Cuba. Didn't really like the characters (am I too picky?), and the ending is almost creepy. (Clearly I'm not sophisticated enough, and/or haven't seen enough French films to appreciate the ending!) I liked the line that says something like "all New York romances are really about real estate"--I can appreciate that!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about Cuba and 3rd world countries in general. Even though I learned a lot, that aspect of the novel was not overwhelming. I really enjoyed the story. Again, there's not really one character I'd relate to, but it was still interesting.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did, but it ultimately ended up rather cliched. The quick film descriptions were interesting, though, and made me want to see more movies! (is that good for a book, or should I be reading instead?)

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable easy read with lots of good N.Y. scenery - like not being able to find an apt, eating in corner coffee shops etc. more than a chick lit book - it was well written with several sly laughs and authentic funny scenes. Good movie references too. Contrived ending but she wrote herself into a corner.....and happy is always better than tragic.

[Peter Jochinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale of a father and then son that escape Cuba for a new life and romance with the one woman, bubbly cinema manager Dianne in the USA.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diane Kurasik, 40 years old, single, manager of the Beford Street cinema, finds herself in a summer of unexpected change. Evicted as her building is bought, romantically uninvolved but searching, searching, searching, expanding her theater… She continually compares her life to the movies and finds it lacking (who doesn’t, right?). And then the last third of the book unexpectedly (to me) turns into a May-September story (is that what you call it? a younger/ older romance?).

I really enjoyed this but I wasn’t very interested in the character of Vladimir and found it hard to believe Diane was either. Javier, on the other hand, I could understand.

Loved the movie references and the bits of history (wow, I will never look at Cary Grant the same way ever again). It’s referential the way the “Special Topics in Calamity Physics” was…except this is both better written and better edited. (Completely different type of plot, however.)

[Darshan Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a riot. amusing in its gusano politics, it also has some great zingers about dating and the oddities of urban romance. i'd give this book a 4.5 if i could; it is short of a 5 for its rendering of the youngest character, javier. at times he is one-dimensional in ways that youth never are. that said, i am so going to lift some of this novel's phrases. the author divides straight men into two categories: specialists and generalists. specialists have obsessions that make them difficult to tolerate, hence their abundance in the heterosexual dating pool. generalists have multiple sources of knowledge and pleasure and tend to be partnered long before age 30. love that. also wonderful is how the novel imparts film history, weaving in stories of cary grant and francois truffault with deft ease.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vivid characters in this book propelled me through the first fifty pages of doubt about reading yet another book about a "neurotic single woman lookin for love", and then I was hooked.

The scathing commentary on Fidel challenged my "but it could have been beautiful if it weren't for the embargo" liberal soul. Vladimir is kooky, magnetic, angry and stuck. His yearning for escape and recompense(from/for what???) is painful.

I am thankful that Block includes a character that answers Vladimir's emotional imprisonment with exuberant love given freely.

Even the gay side-kick characters had depth. They are an architect and a NY real estate broker who round out the theme of constructing "home" in this book. How does the geography, structure, and people inside our house affect our peace, identity, and sense of belonging?

The movie trivia was delicious and smart.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I know from reading the other reviews of Valerie Block books on Good Reads that I apparently am her only fan lol. But even this one wasn't that great as far as I'm concerned. The combination of classic movies and Cuba was interesting, but somehow it didn't really connect. And that whole almost statatory rape thing? Ew. Just because he turned 18 two days beforehand still doesn't make it cool.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

very witty...some great turns of phrases and ideas...way above chick lit and it's too bad it will probably fall into that category. if you love movies, you'll especially love this as the main character runs an indie movie theater and there are tons of references to films throughout the 20th century. also loved the cuban main character even though he's not meant to be likeable.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected - some turns along the way I didn't see coming which only added to my interest. Loved the movie references and factual bits and pieces about classic movie stars intertwined through the story. Very amusing in parts which had me laughing out loud - equally frustrating in other parts as the leading male character was a bit of shit. But a great story, enjoyed it.

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It has wonderful cinephile friendly anecdotes as well as absorbing surprising characterizations and humor and politics. I recommend for anyone who loves old movies or foreign movies or arthouse cinema. Lots of fun.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was chosen by my book club. Reading through the very beginning I was optimistic. It went downhill fast and I lost all interest in the characters. The movie references just seemed very out of place and obscure.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could empathize with Diane, to a point. Despite being quite capable at her job, and personable & well liked she cannot make good decisions for herself. She turns down opportunities for new adventures too often.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read the interview with Valerie Block at Chica Lit, www.marycastillo.com

[Susan]

Forty year-old winds up with 18 year-old...aww yeah.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming book combining a love of movies with the search for real estate and relationships in NY.

[Kia B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute,
This books reads like a woody Allen film. Very witty and 'new-yorkish'. A nice escape from the seriousness of life. Very funny. . .

[Megan Shaughnessy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has lots of fun movie descriptions as well as vivid scenes of life in Cuba. The characters are not all lovable. Set in NY, so of course I love that.
Interesting take on dating.

[Tracy Crowe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not get started on this book - the characters are a bit scattered and I just didn't develop a love for any of them. Disappointed because I really liked her first novel.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun NY book. Full of surprises. Read it in my hammock.

[JP Perelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say I loved it but it was a nice break from school work. It was like starting vacation early. And yay for that.

[Allison Schwartz · Rating 2 out of 5]

i loved the beginning of this book, love all the references to movies and of course the great city of new york. but then.....

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel about a 49 year old independant movie theater manager with dating and apartment woes who meets a Cuban man and his teenage son.