Flare Up

by Gary Beck

A young art dealer is suddenly swept into the world of the mega-rich. Terry Crannick is a specialist in American Art of the 60s and 70s, who works for the prestigious Warbler International Art Galleries. Overnight he becomes a player in avant-garde and posh galleries, as well as at auction houses. However, he questions his career choice and struggles daily to control his temper because of it. He meets a beautiful woman, Angela Grant, a computer graphics designer, at an Off-Off Broadway show and they are strongly attracted to each other. Things suddenly change when Mr. Warbler assigns him to select art for the children of two billionaire hedge fund operators, George Anderson and Bill Braithwaite. All he has to do is please his new clients by providing the art they covet, fit into the appropriate environments and his desires will be fulfilled. Until Victoria Graham, the wife of one of the richest men in America, wants to collect Pop Art and Terry is sent to assist her; their rapport is instantaneous. Conflicted by his choices, where will the connections between Terry's career and private life lead him?

342 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2019

About the author

Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger and a salvage diver. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and his published books include 28 poetry collections, 11 novels, 3 short story collections, 1 collection of essays and 2 books of plays. Published poetry books include: Dawn in Cities, Assault on Nature, Songs of a Clerk, Civilized Ways, Displays, Perceptions, Fault Lines, Tremors, Perturbations, Rude Awakenings, The Remission of Order, Contusions and Desperate Seeker (Winter Goose Publishing. Forthcoming: Learning Curve and Ignition Point). Earth Links, Too Harsh For Pastels, Severance, Redemption Value, Fractional Disorder and Disruptions (Cyberwit Publishing). His novels include Extreme Change (Winter Goose Publishing). and Wavelength (Cyberwit Publishing). His short story collections include: A Glimpse of Youth (Sweatshoppe Publications). Now I Accuse and other stories (Winter Goose Publishing) and Dogs Don’t Send Flowers and other stories (Wordcatcher Publishing). Collected Essays of Gary Beck (Cyberwit Publishing). The Big Match and other one act plays (Wordcatcher Publishing). Collected Plays of Gary Beck Volume 1 and Plays of Aristophanes translated, then directed by Gary Beck (Cyberwit Publishing). Gary lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Flare Up’ is shaped around its main character, a young man named Terry, who is a salesman for a prestigious International gallery in New York City. Terry is smart, ambitious, witty, clever and a has gifted eye for art. We follow the main character Terry and other people he meets who change his life for the better. When he first meets some new buyers, Terry discovers that his upscale clients have paid extravagantly for paintings that were not worth the money they paid. Terry’s rich and fabulous clients begin to appreciate art that appeals to their personal aesthetic and sensibilities by learning about different styles such as Impressionist, Pop, and Modern style paintings as well as my favorites, the masters of Renaissance, Spanish & Italian art. With Terry’s guidance, these new collectors develop a taste for high quality art and build an art collection that can result in a handsome profit, if they were to ever sell their new acquisitions. Through these experiences, Terry’s life and mindset are completely transformed.

Terry learns that he has the power to control his mind which can shape his reality to be the way that he envisioned it to be- one filled with possibilities! Beck’s book, Flare Up, affected me in a very personal way because I can think of plenty of times in my life where I have spent a lot of energy, ensnarled in flare ups over what was really nothing in the scheme of things. I realized that through this book, Beck may be sending a message to his readers - that while one must trust their thoughts and instincts, there is no need to feed into them whenever they pop into your head. “A surge of rage went through him at her crudeness, but he remained calm outwardly”. Terry used a mantra that he repeatedly said in his mind to control his flare ups. Having a mantra helped keep him ‘calm’ whenever he had doubts or felt angry or insecure.
It also worked well when he was offended, disrespected, undervalued, etc. “A flash of rage at her intrusion went through him” but he figures out how to quash his negative feelings and exercise restraint by not reacting to every impulsive thought, particularly the flare ups, “He felt a flash of rage toward her for putting him in this situation”. It is not about what others do, say or how they make you feel- it is more about the response to it.

While I was reading ‘Flare Up,’ I picked up points about how to exercise restraint and not react to every impulsive thought particularly the ones that suddenly flare up. They were seeds planted into the minds of readers- giving us the keys to a successful life. I think Beck’s message may be to have a dream, follow it at all costs and suppress the natural urges to react to uncomfortable feelings by focusing on the business at hand. Lately, I have been fortunate enough to read the types of novels that leave me thinking critically long after I finish reading them. “Flare Up” is one of those books. I was reminded of one of life’s biggest lessons, owning what we feel, controlling it so one can focus on being in the moment. So, with that said (written), I wholeheartedly recommend that you pick up or download a copy- it’s definitely a good read!

[Jim Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, do not let my star count override your judgement of content. More on the stars, counting, and my rating challenges later. If you are interested in art dealing, or the machinations of the extremely rich, this book is for you. If you’re interested in relationships, this book is for you. If you like a good novel, this book is for you.
Much of Beck’s book is a love story. This is handled extremely well, totally credible. There is some sex but it is not graphic. Beck clearly understands the desires of both genders.
Part of Beck’s story is about anger management. Part of the tale is about monetary ambition, understandable in a gallery art dealer seeing incredible wealth in the top clients. Part of it is, to be blunt, about the lust of a healthy man for the attractive women about him, some of whom seem to be coming on to him. Part of it is, thus, about temptation.
Much of the story is about art dealing. Normally I check all references outside of my knowledge base, but knowing Beck I didn’t do this. I’m sure all the many references to artists, paintings, and galleries etc. are absolutely correct.
Appreciation for art is another main thread in Beck’s work. You will follow a rich trophy wife learning what she likes about art, while she detests the ‘old masters.’ You will relax with Beck’s chief protagonist looking at an art gift.
That should give you a decent idea of what this book is about. It is a compelling read of over 300 pages with a surprise resolution at the end. You may think from the above that I have given the book away. No. There is far much more in every Beck paragraph. Now for the star count boilerplate.
My personal guidelines, when doing any review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. Beck has delivered us a novel of the first water. Five stars is an easy decision. Highly recommended.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Flare up follows Terry and Ange (mainly Terry who is an art appraiser caught up in the hedonistic, money and status lifestyle). I was initially confused as the first few pages stated that Terry and Ange met in the mid 40s but he was an appraiser of 60s art. The writing didn't have a 1940s feel so either the author was instantly confused by their own writing or Terry was an appraiser of 1860s art, which doesn't spring to mind as being as worthy of note as 1960s art. After their first date in the mid 40s they swapped email addresses and cell numbers. After only 9 pages my back was up and I was frustrated by the lack of continuity and thought.

There was little to no distinction between the sections from Terry's point of view and Ange's. Not even a page break, just a new line which made the flow difficult to follow.

The writing style was good with thought put into the characters and the plot flowed well, incorporating other snippets from Terry and Ange's lives. Unfortunately, the plot wasn't for me and I can only describe it as The Wolf Of Wall Street but with art. I would read other books on other topics by Gary Beck.