The Bulgari Connection

by Fay Weldon

Once again the acclaimed British author of Rhode Island Blues and Big Girls Don't Cry draws us into an unmistakably wild, rollicking tale full of her trademark satirical wit and sharp observation. Grace McNab Salt is the recently divorced wife of the millionaire Barley Salt, who has married Doris Dubois, the sexy, young host of TV's Artsworld Extra. The novel opens with Grace emerging from jail where she was sent for trying to run Doris over with her Jaguar in a supermarket parking lot in an act of revenge. All three attend a London charity ball, and in typical Weldon fashion the meeting turns everyone's lives upside down. Weldon's world is one of torrid affairs, lovers' spite, and revenge. Full of clever women, breathless romance, insistent desires, and even a dose of the supernatural, The Bulgari Connection is a boisterously witty and stylish novel.

The publication of The Bulgari Connection created a whirl of controversy when a front-page New York Times article revealed that Weldon received an undisclosed sum of money from the famous Italian jeweler for a prominent place in her novel. The debate about the legitimacy of commercially sponsored literature has been heating up ever since.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Romance, British Literature, Literary Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Fay Weldon CBE was an English author, essayist and playwright, whose work has been associated with feminism. In her fiction, Weldon typically portrayed contemporary women who find themselves trapped in oppressive situations caused by the patriarchal structure of British society.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fay_Weldon

Reviews

[Shiba Kurian · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I picked up the book, I instantly painted in my mind a landscape of blood, knives, kalashnikov, fashionistas, conniving wives, erotic love making, bang-bang, intense conversations and cars racing and zipping through dimly lit, deserted streets. Though the story did greet a few elements from my imaginative world, a few others remained missing in this story that comes across as a thriller initially. The suspense and some characters like Carmichael, Flora, Walter Wells, Ross kept me intrigued to read on till the end. However, a few incidents in the story were redundant, which made it a tad drag (for example, Grace mowing down Doris in her Jaguar; how young Grace grew when she entered into a relationship with Walter Wells; that Ross was plump and had to review his weight every Friday). Also, I just could not get my mind around why Grace's youthful and supple skin (thanks to the innumerable sessions of intercourse with her young artist lover and the happiness she derived from his company) was made such a great deal that she was taken to a Chinese herbal clinic and a nun; even a cosmetic surgeon suspected her to be a spy/impostor. But that's the writer's imagination, which I would not like to question further, but silently move on. Oh, and, it would have been really cool if the stalker (revealed towards the end) was somebody from Grace-Barely's past. Anyway, overall, it was a well-imagined and enrapturing story, warts and all.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I thought I would. The title implies either a heist caper or a really bad romance. This book is neither. Think of it as Dorian Gray from the perspective of the artist who has to keep touching up the darn painting. Quite inventive.

[Ploola · Rating 2 out of 5]

another one of the “paola and anni random charity shop bookclub” - and this one was a weird one. no idea what was happening, plot lines were completely dropped and given that it was the first book i read that had ad placements, i expected to want to buy the product post-reading the book. i do not.

[Майя Ставитская · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portrait of Dorianna
This novel by Faye Weldon found itself in the epicenter of a literary scandal due to aggressive product placement. Critics have estimated that the name of the jewelry house Bulgari, Tiffany's closest competitor in the global luxury goods market, is mentioned in it 34 times. Having found out along the way that, according to the terms of the contract, the writer had to do this only 12 times (did no one try to investigate Truman Capote after Breakfast at Tiffany's?) Colleagues condemned, envied, and laughed.; Earthling columnist Robert Wright broke out in an article "Vulgari?", where he touched on the imminent decline in writers' incomes due to the replication of intellectual property on the Internet - 2001 and the fear is not groundless, as life has shown - saying that literature cannot survive without patrons and, half jokingly, half seriously suggesting that Weldon initially indignantly refused But then she thought, "What the hell, they won't give me the Booker anyway!" - and she agreed.

Nevertheless, the novel turned out well. That's not it. to make it very realistic, but interesting and anticipating something in today's modernity. Grace McNab, 55, is being released from prison, where she ended up a year and a half ago for trying to hit her husband's then-lover, now his wife, the sophisticated beauty Doris, thirty-two, a TV presenter of an art program, with a car. Doris's reactions were excellent, she jumped back briskly in the supermarket parking lot, the prosecutor asked for five years, the judge gave three, and she came out after one and a half months for good behavior. Grace moved from the top league of multi-millionaire wives to the middle one, divorced with decent but not exorbitant alimony, and she was invited to the charity opening day without thinking that Barley (husband) and his new wife would be there right away. The highlight of the program and the main lot was to be a portrait of Lady Juliet, made by the fashionable artist Walter (1,800 pounds for the portrait and its copy for auction, the lady posed in a necklace from Bulgari for 273,000 pounds).

Upon seeing the portrait, Doris immediately becomes eager to have - no, not a painting, but a jewel around the model's neck, which she informs her husband about, thus unpleasantly reminding her first wife, who preferred quiet respectability to extravagant luxury, cooked instead of ordering food in restaurants and saved his money, thereby annoying a successful businessman. Now he sadly thinks that Gracie would never have demanded a quarter of a million dollars. And to annoy his missus, he starts bidding for the portrait. In which, unexpectedly for herself, Grace joins, outbidding the final price. She leaves the auction in the company of an artist with whom she has the same 26 years difference as her ex with Doris.

And while she, intoxicated by this sudden romance, is getting younger, Doris, determined not to wash, but to get the coveted jeweler (and at the same time, a handsome boy artist, so that Grace the cow does not imagine much about herself), is trying to order Walter his own portrait in the same diamonds as Lady Juliet, he appoints for the price of 12,000 ("the dog could grow up during the journey"), they agree on a six and a half task: to draw her face to the figure of a lady. In fact, Goya did this by painting Wellington's head to the figure of Napoleon's brother after Waterloo - artists have to live somehow. And then the miracles begin, which you'd better read about than be content with my retelling.

This book won't change your life, but it will captivate, entertain, and inspire confidence that everything is still possible at 55. And BVG - well, they financially supported one good writer, even if they continue to exist in their own world of big fashion and big money.

Портрет Дорианны
Этот роман Фэй Уэлдон оказался в эпицентре литературного скандала из-за агрессивного продакт-плейсмента. Критики подсчитали, что название ювелирного дома Bulgari, ближайшего конкурента Tiffany на мировом рынке предметов роскоши, упоминается в нем 34 раза. Выяснив попутно, что по условию контракта писательница должна была сделать это всего 12 раз (в отношении Трумена Капоте никто не пытался проводить расследования после "Завтрака у Тиффани"?) Коллеги осуждали, завидовали, посмеивались; обозреватель Earthling Роберт Райт разразился статьей "Vulgari?", где затрагивал неминуемое падение писательских доходов из-за тиражирования интеллектуальной собственности в интернете - 2001 год и опасение не беспочвенное, как показала жизнь - говоря, что без меценатов литературе не выжить и, полушутя, полу-всерьез предполагая, что Уэлдон сначала с возмущением отказалась, но после подумала: "Какого черта, Букера мне все равно не дадут!" - и согласилась.

Роман, тем не менее, получился. Не то. чтобы очень реалистичный, но интересный и предвосхитивший кое-что в сегодняшней современности. 55-летняя Грейс Макнаб выходит из тюрьмы, куда угодила полтора года назад за попытку сбить машиной тогдашнюю любовницу мужа, ныне его жену, утонченную красавицу Дорис тридцати двух лет, телеведущую программы об искусстве. Реакции у Дорис отменные, на стоянке супермаркета она резво отпрыгнула, прокурор просил пять лет, судья дал три, вышла через полтора за примерное поведение. Из высшей лиги мультимиллионерских жен Грейс переместилась в среднюю - разведенных с приличными, но не запредельными алиментами, и на благотворительный вернисаж ее пригласили, не подумав, что Барли (муж) со своей новой окажутся тут же. Гвоздем программы и главным лотом должен был стать портрет леди Джулиет, сделанный входящим в моду художником Уолтером (1800 фунтов за портрет и его копию для аукциона, леди позировала в ожерелье от Булгари за 273 000 фунтов).

Увидев портрет, Дорис тотчас загорается желанием иметь - нет, не картину, а драгоценность на шее у модели, о чем сообщает супругу, тем неприятно напомнив первую жену, которая экстравагантной роскоши предпочитала спокойную респектабельность, готовила, вместо того, чтобы заказывать еду в ресторанах и берегла его деньги, тем раздражая успешного бизнесмена. Теперь он с грустью думает, что требовать цацку за четверть миллиона Грейси нипочем не стала бы. И, чтобы досадить своей миссис, начинает торг за портрет. В который, неожиданно для себя, включается Грейс, перебив финальную цену. С аукциона она уходит в обществе художника, с которым у нее те же 26 лет разницы, что у ее бывшего с Дорис.

И пока она, упоенная этим внезапным романом, молодеет, Дорис, настроенная не мытьем, так катаньем получить вожделенную ювелирку (а заодно уж и красивого мальчика-художника, чтобы корова-Грейс много о себе не воображала), пытается заказать Уолтеру собственный портрет в тех же брильянтах, что на леди Джулиет, он назначает цену 12 000 ("за время пути собака могла подрасти"), сходятся на шести и половинной задаче: пририсовать ее лицо к фигуре леди. На самом деле, так сделал Гойя, подмалевав голову Веллингтона к фигуре брата Наполеона после Ватерлоо - художникам надо же как-то жить. А дальше начинаются чудеса, о которых вам лучше почитать, чем довольствоваться моим пересказом.

Эта книга не изменит вашей жизни, но увлечет, развлечет и вселит уверенность, что все еще возможно и в 55. А BVG - что ж, одну хорошую писательницу они материально поддержали, пусть и дальше существуют в своем мире большой моды и больших денег.

[Jules · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll start in rather a nutshell and say that this book was hugely disappointing to me. We’ve all been there with books that just ‘chug’ along and have, I’m certain, all forced ourselves to read them in the hope that they are somehow good for us. This book is, I’m afraid, evidence of this.
The main crux of the book is an object – a Bvlgari necklace – as coveted by one of the main characters. Without much support, the art of ‘coveting’ and of lusting after superficial objects and therefore a superficial material lifestyle is the main theme of the book. Fine in my opinion but it is unsubstantiated and thus so much ‘bulk’ lies unexplored.
The three main characters of the book, Barley, Grace (his ex-wife) and Doris (his current squeeze) live in the most mundane world you can imagine and the fact that the book is restricted to 220 pages (in my edition) doesn’t help much. It’s never taken me as much effort to physically turn the pages. This book indeed had similar effects to lavender oil for me – it sent me into a deep sleep and quickly whenever I picked it up during a bedtime read.
My most major disappointment however lies with the author Fay Weldon – in short I expected much more from her. In my opinion, she’s normally a great lady for sparking subtle social commentary but here the themes of the book – social standing, one-upmanship and material wealth- didn’t allow Weldon to play to her strengths. Quite possibly, her characters were too alike with not a soul to challenge the mould of the status quo.
Like most of the paperbacks I read, this book will be straight off to the charity shop. Maybe it’ll appeal to someone else with different tastes (or a need for counting sheep!) – I hope so!!!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was this book that put me off reading Fay Weldon. I was becoming disenchanted anyway, she seemed to have moved on from wicked black humour to bitterness, but when she succumbed to payment for product placement in this novel, I no longer felt as if I could trust her as a commentator on contemporary life.
Sad really, because I had read almost everything she had written, starting with Life and Loves of a She-devil and reading everything else I could get hands on, buying it when it was affordable or borrowing it from the library when it wasn't.

[Sherry (sethurner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doris Dubois is twenty-three years younger than I am. She is slimmer than I am and more clever.

The narrator here is Grace McNab, a middle aged divorcee, and Doris is the woman who stole her husband, Barley Salt. The Bulgari Connection is nothing more than a guilty pleasure, a fluffy and sometimes quite funny beach read about money, marital and extra marital relationships, power, and people getting what's coming to them.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hum,I think I may have read this before as a short story - hope this at 220 pages is the uncut version. Finished it and although it draws on many ofthe authors pet themes it is original. Very good, enjoyed it. I suppose she could have written in any fashionable jeweller into the narrative as their inclusion did not seem to me to be gratuitous. I agree with the comment on the Dorian Gray theme but enjoyably so.Suprised it has never been made into a movie or TV series.

[Martin Boyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love Fay weldon's acerbic style. This novel is no exception and I found myself chuckling - or at least mildly amused - through much of the book. The problem for me was more to do with the nature of the relationships - they really did not feel credible, so the result was more farce than social comment.

My conclusion: an ok read, but not really satisfying. You can certainly find better Weldon.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The infamous 'product placement' book. Presumably Faye viewed this as some kind of sly commentary. Two stars, because even when she's phoning it in, she's still better than most of her colleagues. So it wasn't a painful read.

But really, don't bother. Life is short. Read something else instead.

[Emeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easily one of the ,if not THE ,worst books I've had the distaste to read. Crappy adaptation of a cinderella story. Aimed toward the menauposed and hopelessly romantic. Makes for a great fire starter.

[Crystal Melbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book I ever read in English. I'm completely aware it doesn't deserve 4 stars, but still...I loved it so much at that time.

[Maite Mateos · Rating 4 out of 5]

La británica Fay Weldon es conocida por ser una autora declaradamente feminista, cuyas novelas acostumbran a estar protagonizadas por mujeres feas, con sobrepeso o cualquier otra característica que las convierta en una mayoría invisible, como fue el caso de «Vida y amores de una maligna» de 1983, su novela más proclamada. En el 2000 Fay Weldon publicó la novela «Conexión Bugari», con la que generó una gran polémica al ser fruto de un encargo comercial y publicitario de la joyería italiana Bulgari.
Se dice que la autora debía mencionar al menos 12 veces el nombre de la joyería, cifra que superó con creces. Fay Weldon defendía que no la habían pagado para que la joyería apareciese un determinado número de veces sino para que la marca quedara en buen lugar y que para ella no constituía ningún problema mencionar un producto para construir una historia, puesto que al fin y al cabo, ya que resulta tan difícil vivir de la literatura, una ayuda privada siempre significa un menor control que una ayuda pública…
El uso intenso de publicidad fue una relativa novedad en la literatura en aquel momento, después de todo, puesto que Truman Capote ya había introducido una marca en su obra «Desayuno con Tiffany´s» de 1958.
La trama de «Conexión Bugari», protagonizada por una mujer en edad madura llamada Grace McNab, cuyo marido la abandona por otra mujer más joven, contiene suspenso, humor negro y elementos fantásticos que recuerdan la novela de Oscar Wilde «El retrato de Dorian Gray».
«Conexión Bugari» contiene también una crítica al estilo de vida material y superficial y una crítica al romanticismo patriarcal, aunque sin profundizar demasiado en todo ello.
El estilo narrativo de Fay Weldon se acostumbra a comparar también con el de Dickens, por sus elementos de crítica social y sin embargo, muchos consideran que «Conexión Bulgari» no es más que una farsa insustancial, sin el alma que impregna el resto de las novelas de la autora.
Puede que «Conexión Bugari» sea más un divertimento muy original que otra cosa, pero tiene más sustancia de la que parece.

Sigue mis reseñas en:
https://librosmagazine.wordpress.com/
https://maitemateos.wordpress.com/

[Bdiz Ziemer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Product placement

Although I didn't realize it when I started reading this book, I learned later that the author was much criticized for making a deal with the Bulgari Jewelry Company to mention their name at least 18 times in the course of the story. She mentions them many more times, but it didn't matter to me. Since I am neither British nor rich, I didn't even know who that it is a real company. Additionally, there is so much advertising in the world that it just din't matter. The novel itself is amusing. It's sort of an old fashioned romp where everything turns out fine for all the good guys in the end and the actually nasty person gets her comeuppance. Not a great story by any stretch, but quick and fun.

[Flora · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like a pantomime. Everyone in the book is a caricature, even down to their hammy names: Doris Dubois, Lady Random, Billyboy Justice, and a therapist named Doctor Doom. I found it very hard to take seriously, though I’m not sure it is intended to be taken seriously.

The women around which the story centres are painfully yoked to their roles as romantic partners to some entirely unappealing men.

It’s silly and camp which makes it a bit of fun, but unfortunately not really a worthwhile read. I feel this little book belongs where it no doubt is: nestled beside romance novels on the bookshelves of older, English women.

[Zanna Hugo · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay read. As I chose this as holiday reading, I should probably not have expected too much, but would have given it a better rating if the story felt finished upon completion.

It feels like the author had been working towards a deadline and just abruptly ended the story as her book was due at the printers, with a lot left up in the air. This was my first Weldon and, frankly, I expected more.

[Carinya Kappler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fay Weldon’s writing reminds me of a modern day Dickens. She is an expert in extreme social commentary. Her characters are larger than life and almost always ridiculous.
In this novel Grace McNab attempts to murder the new lover of her exhusband and is sentenced to prison.
Satire is a form of humour not appreciated by every reader but I enjoyed this bright little book, full of come-uppance and consequences.
Carinya

[Caroline Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published by BULGARI as a special limited gift edition! I guess to give out with their necklaces?

Impressive score by this author, who is clearly extraordinarily accomplished.

First time I am reading her though. A "light romantic romp", of the modern age, focusing on an older woman.

Fun, easy read, for all of us older women.

[Ravi Jain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yet more advertising. Fay Weldon has proved no sphere of human life is immune - and no author.

Fun, light reading, sharp observations about people and mores. But somehow fizzles out in the end.

Would have been 3 stars but downgraded to 1 as the author made a deal with Bulgari for product placement. Unbelievable!

[Mattia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed this cast of characters. I was initially intrigued by the controversy of Bulgari paying the writer for the most obvious product placement in literary history. Come to find out, it’s actually a fun story. Biting, witty and written with knives out- just about every sentence. Under 200 pages, short and fast.

[Fabíola Salomão Lima · Rating 3 out of 5]

É engraçado como quem deveria ser a vilã, é a personagem mais doce e que se importa menos com dinheiro. E quem deveria ser a mocinha, é rude, egoísta, fútil e interesseira. Não me surpreendeu, mas foi bom para passar o tempo.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know why I fell off from reading Fay Weldon’s books. I loved “Life and Loves of a She-devil” and It’s British miniseries. I enjoyed this one too. It’s along the same lines-jilted wife gets vindicated-but the story is still completely different, yet no less entertaining.

[Carla Leemans · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was well written but the story was a bit flimsy.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, light hearted , a critique of wealth and a sweet romance.

[Alex Van Damme · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a crazy ride.

[Silke Eloot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorian Gray als hij een vrouw van middelbare leeftijd aan het begin van de 21ste eeuw was

[Donna Rankine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way Weldon plays with age, yearning, belonging and womanhood with these vulgar and comedic characters. Great page turner!

[Fulya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. It was a page-turner first and then the story got stuck in the middle. It has a surreal atmosphere from the beginning but the ending is a little bit too contrived. It seems that Weldon started with a good idea and it turned out to be a frustration. Humour is something she's so capable of but in this one it is artifical and imprecise. So it is an optimistic 2 1/5 actually.

[Danielle Gawronski · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is a good writer, but the story isn't exciting unless you are divorced or over 45. It has some interesting themes running through it that felt unfinished. The ending was just a let down. This is no mystery or adventure. It was probably exciting in 2000, but feels dated now. This is really the story of an older divorcee and the others in her life. And the Bulgari necklace is a dumb connection. It was a forced item in the story.

[Peggy bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by the same author as the last book I read. It was much funnier. It is the story of a middle aged Londoner whose husband dumps her for a younger, TV celebrity. She ends up falling in love with a young, hot artist and growing younger, literally.

The book doesn't actually address anything like why or how this is all happening. But, it is funny.