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The Fine Art of Fucking Up
It’s war at the School of Visual Arts, and nobody’s art is safe. Not even Jackson Pollock’s!
Your archenemy taunts you with clandestine bacon frying. Your boss feverishly cyberstalks an aging romance novel cover model. Your husband unexpectedly takes in a wayward foreign national. Your best friend reveals a secret relationship with your longstanding workplace crush.
Welcome to the life of Nina Lanning, lone and floundering administrator of a prestigious Midwestern art school. Her colleagues are pioneers of contemporary art movements, inspirational orators, creative virtuosos and the source of constant headaches as they rage against the authority Nina represents. They also happen to be her closest friends.
When once-a-century flooding threatens to destroy the art building, and the priceless Jackson Pollock trapped inside, Nina and her ragtag band of faculty members undertake to rescue the early work of the splatter master. Propelled by disasters both natural and personal, Nina must confront her colleagues, her husband, and most importantly, herself. Cate Dicharry’s debut novel is a painfully hysterical examination of what is truly worth saving, and mastering the art of letting go.
Your archenemy taunts you with clandestine bacon frying. Your boss feverishly cyberstalks an aging romance novel cover model. Your husband unexpectedly takes in a wayward foreign national. Your best friend reveals a secret relationship with your longstanding workplace crush.
Welcome to the life of Nina Lanning, lone and floundering administrator of a prestigious Midwestern art school. Her colleagues are pioneers of contemporary art movements, inspirational orators, creative virtuosos and the source of constant headaches as they rage against the authority Nina represents. They also happen to be her closest friends.
When once-a-century flooding threatens to destroy the art building, and the priceless Jackson Pollock trapped inside, Nina and her ragtag band of faculty members undertake to rescue the early work of the splatter master. Propelled by disasters both natural and personal, Nina must confront her colleagues, her husband, and most importantly, herself. Cate Dicharry’s debut novel is a painfully hysterical examination of what is truly worth saving, and mastering the art of letting go.
256 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2015
1 person is currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Cate Dicharry
2 books9 followersCate Dicharry graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR with a BA in Political Science in 2003. Cate moved to China to teach English at Dalian Nationalities University and discovered a love for creative writing. Cate went on to earn an MFA in Creative Writing from the Low Residency Program at the University of California, Riverside. Cate lives in Iowa City with her husband and two small sons.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 24, 2015
Reminded me of STRAIGHT MAN by Richard Russo and THE GROVES OF ACADEME by Mary McCarthy. In a good way.
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December 28, 2015Eh. This book wasn't quite what I was expecting it to be. It's full of madcap adventure but the underlying theme of the book concerns the absolute disconnect the MC is experiencing with her own life. Overall, it just wasn't my thing but it was competently written (although a lot of copywriting errors) and as a first book goes, a decent effort.
Wordier review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/126097...
Wordier review: http://jenn.booklikes.com/post/126097...
April 19, 2017
3.5 stars ... what a quirky and enjoyable read. I did not see it turning out that way at all. Enjoyed it greatly.
July 6, 2015
This is a marvelous book about heartbreak and figuring it all out cast in the floodwaters of the Iowa river with a band of artistic and eccentric outlaws. Parts of this book will make you laugh out loud, especially if you went to art school. The marriage of the main character is so human and tenderly believable. Humor, well-written rants, madness, imagination, beauty, and visceral description are all woven together skillfully by Dicharry in a wonderful story about love, art, academia, and the everyday grit of life. This book is throughly entertaining; you won't be disappointed!
November 3, 2015
This is a quirky book that takes place during the flood in Iowa City that ravaged Iowa a fes years ago. It is a constant character as the action unfolds among art faculty and among other members of the flood threatened city. It was enjoyable because I knew the history of the flood as it happened and of the mural that is a centerpiece of the book.
April 27, 2023
Well I'm torn. On the one hand this is a lovely quirky caper, and I wanted to enjoy those parts; but it is also and primarily a story about relationships and marriage that I didn't sign up for nor enjoy. I mean it's fine if you're looking for that, I just didn't connect to it particularly in contrast to the antics.
I feel... neutral. So that's a 2.5
I feel... neutral. So that's a 2.5
May 2, 2015
The words describing the smell, the scenery (the yuck), and the panic were dead on for a flood situation and made me reminisce.
The comedy in this book matched the character personalities which were true to the area and subject.
I recommend this to all my Midwest friends as a quick and fun read.
The comedy in this book matched the character personalities which were true to the area and subject.
I recommend this to all my Midwest friends as a quick and fun read.
April 13, 2015
A lot to like in this bizarre and amusing debut by Cate Dicharry. I'll definitely be on the lookout for more from her and more from Unnamed Press, in general.
June 22, 2015
Hilarious, sad, infuriating, wonderful.
December 16, 2017
I'd love to think that this was a premeditated design flaw—after all, there aren't a whole bunch of novels that feature the phrase "fucking up" in the title—but my copy proceeds from the penultimate chapter 18 directly to the finale (chapter 20).
July 11, 2015
This is a fun story, but not what I was expecting. Obviously, with that title, the book demands to be read. However, the cover blurbs call it "funny," "hilarious," and "charmingly ridiculous," leading me to believe it would be a laugh a minute. It's not, but there is a lot of "fine art" and plenty of "fucking up" and it is an enjoyable read.
September 2, 2015
Funny. This book made me laugh out loud it was so funny.
That was its redeeming character. The characters themselves seemed to be bonkers, but the plot needed to be better developed. Still, if you are a University of Iowa graduate, especially if you have spent time in the arts buildings, you will understand the book, even if you sometimes must read between the lines.
That was its redeeming character. The characters themselves seemed to be bonkers, but the plot needed to be better developed. Still, if you are a University of Iowa graduate, especially if you have spent time in the arts buildings, you will understand the book, even if you sometimes must read between the lines.
May 17, 2016
Thought the main character was hella annoying. Didn't care for her redemption arc at all, I just thought she was a bitch. idk. Wittily written and absurd in a horrifyingly sad way sometimes. Enjoyable and funny at times.
July 31, 2015
This was a really wacky book but I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the actions of the characters. The story kept you reading. I won this book on good reads.
September 28, 2015
A fine fine book.
September 16, 2015
I thought the title was hella clever. Maybe this book was a little too real for me. I prefer my realism with a little fluff. Also, who edited this? There were at least three editorial errors.
December 7, 2015
It was a very engaging book. I didn't like the main character midway as I did like her loads in the beginning but then liked her in the end.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews