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Beautiful Inez
Inez Roseman, a noted beauty, has a charismatic husband, two bright children, and a successful career as a lead violinist with the San Francisco Symphony. On the surface, she is a woman with an enviable life. But since the birth of her second child, Inez has been plagued by a depression that’s been deepened by her husband’s philandering. Now, at forty, the violinist is obsessed with thoughts of suicide.
Sylvia Bran, a waitress and music store pianist, also has an obsession. Enraptured by the beautiful violinist, Sylvia contrives a way to get to know Inez. At once seductive and solicitous, Sylvia awakens Inez from the suffocating grip of her career, the demands of motherhood, and the tensions of her unhappy marriage. The two women become lovers, embarking on a dance of passion and betrayal that soon spins out of control.
A novel of risk, passion, and surrender, Beautiful Inez is alive with the music that draws Inez and Sylvia together. Set against the vivid backdrop of San Francisco in the early 1960s, it is an unexpected journey into the lives of two masterfully drawn, unforgettable women.
Includes a new essay and a Q + A with the author.
Sylvia Bran, a waitress and music store pianist, also has an obsession. Enraptured by the beautiful violinist, Sylvia contrives a way to get to know Inez. At once seductive and solicitous, Sylvia awakens Inez from the suffocating grip of her career, the demands of motherhood, and the tensions of her unhappy marriage. The two women become lovers, embarking on a dance of passion and betrayal that soon spins out of control.
A novel of risk, passion, and surrender, Beautiful Inez is alive with the music that draws Inez and Sylvia together. Set against the vivid backdrop of San Francisco in the early 1960s, it is an unexpected journey into the lives of two masterfully drawn, unforgettable women.
Includes a new essay and a Q + A with the author.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 19, 2013
Many times I've read a book about a profession or hobby I know little to nothing about (or even a lot about) and come away enriched. For example, the last book I read before this made me feel that I knew what it was like to be a bank robber during the Depression (as well as just what it was like to live through it). Beautiful Inez gave me no insight whatsoever into the life of a professional musician. Or even what it was like to live a life infused with music. And only the slightest idea of what went into learning to play an instrument at a high level.
The other two elements of this book are a lesbian relationship, which was done so badly I had to turn to the front cover to confirm what I hadn't noticed before, oh yes, this was written by a man (not that a man couldn't write convincingly about love and sex between women, but this man sure couldn't) and depression (this time the internal kind). Schneider gets a few decent descriptions in there but either he doesn't understand it at all or he does but can't tap into his understanding and put it to words. Oh yeah this character is depressed (we see some signs and a few insights in the character's mind) and suicidal and there's nothing nobody can do because you can't stop someone intent on hurting his or herself.
Oh and yes, the book is set in the 60's. Every so often the author would mention something about that and I'd have to remind myself that, yeah, it's not modern day. Good novels set in the past immerse you in that world so you never forget where you are. This one felt contemporary, in a lazy way, not a fresh one. On the other hand, the time period completely explains the lackadaisical attitude towards mental illness and suicide. Nor did I get a sense of the place the novel was set in. I live near San Francisco and still didn't feel like I was there in the book most of the time.
After a while, you realize there's only two possible endings for the book and neither one is particularly interesting. I just couldn't wait for it to be over. The only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 is because I somehow felt compelled to finish it. So Schneider got some things right. Obsession, stalking, martial relationships and problems, raising a pre-teen. These weren't done particularly well but at least got me to finish the book.
The other two elements of this book are a lesbian relationship, which was done so badly I had to turn to the front cover to confirm what I hadn't noticed before, oh yes, this was written by a man (not that a man couldn't write convincingly about love and sex between women, but this man sure couldn't) and depression (this time the internal kind). Schneider gets a few decent descriptions in there but either he doesn't understand it at all or he does but can't tap into his understanding and put it to words. Oh yeah this character is depressed (we see some signs and a few insights in the character's mind) and suicidal and there's nothing nobody can do because you can't stop someone intent on hurting his or herself.
Oh and yes, the book is set in the 60's. Every so often the author would mention something about that and I'd have to remind myself that, yeah, it's not modern day. Good novels set in the past immerse you in that world so you never forget where you are. This one felt contemporary, in a lazy way, not a fresh one. On the other hand, the time period completely explains the lackadaisical attitude towards mental illness and suicide. Nor did I get a sense of the place the novel was set in. I live near San Francisco and still didn't feel like I was there in the book most of the time.
After a while, you realize there's only two possible endings for the book and neither one is particularly interesting. I just couldn't wait for it to be over. The only reason I gave this book 2 stars instead of 1 is because I somehow felt compelled to finish it. So Schneider got some things right. Obsession, stalking, martial relationships and problems, raising a pre-teen. These weren't done particularly well but at least got me to finish the book.
November 19, 2012
The characters come alive in this intense story of extramarital affairs, musical passion, deceit, despair and insanity. I was frustrated by some characters and their twisted reactions to abrupt shifts in their environment and relations with others. But these reactions came off as utterly realistic (perhaps the source of the frustration). While reading about the titular Inez and the other characters in and on the periphery of her life, I kept wondering whether matters could have happened differently or whether the trajectory of her life was pre-ordained, foreshadowed in one painful conversation with her lover Sylvia.
But it is the love between the two women that shines, the pulsing heart of this book. Pursuing Inez with the determined mania of the stalker, Sylvia captures and captivates the older violinist with the sheer power of her mind and heart. While her behavior borders on the criminal, certainly the depraved, you envy her courage in going after someone she wanted so fervently, a woman she fell in love with practically at first sight.
This is a book to wring the emotions, to leave you dripping wet with its no-holds-barred ferocity of people pursuing their passions, no matter who gets hurt.
But it is the love between the two women that shines, the pulsing heart of this book. Pursuing Inez with the determined mania of the stalker, Sylvia captures and captivates the older violinist with the sheer power of her mind and heart. While her behavior borders on the criminal, certainly the depraved, you envy her courage in going after someone she wanted so fervently, a woman she fell in love with practically at first sight.
This is a book to wring the emotions, to leave you dripping wet with its no-holds-barred ferocity of people pursuing their passions, no matter who gets hurt.
December 8, 2010
i loved this book. i read it in one day of not sleeping and drining coffe and energy drinks. I loved the plot Inez is a vey talented volinist who is married to a civil right lawyaer who is havign an affiar which is not unknow to Inez. They have two child one who is obsessed wit the cello and the other a practical pre teen girl. Inez's father in law comes to live with them, who used to be her tieacher and who molested her.
On day Sylia see inez at one of her concerts and insttnlky become obsessed with her. She pretends to be a report to get next to the woman, in summary they start an affair. Inez finially starts to feel happy and becomes intrigued with sylivia and how she lives.
The story goes from there and i don't want to tell you the ending.
The book is beautiful in every way the cahracter are very sympathic, the only trip up is the ending, it doesn't make sense to some or me but i can overlook that the book is still great.
On day Sylia see inez at one of her concerts and insttnlky become obsessed with her. She pretends to be a report to get next to the woman, in summary they start an affair. Inez finially starts to feel happy and becomes intrigued with sylivia and how she lives.
The story goes from there and i don't want to tell you the ending.
The book is beautiful in every way the cahracter are very sympathic, the only trip up is the ending, it doesn't make sense to some or me but i can overlook that the book is still great.
March 3, 2020
At the time when I read this, I was looking for more LGBT+ literature to read and I'm really glad that this wasn't the first book I read. I'm giving it 2 stars because I finished it, and if it were truly terrible I would not have bothered. That being said, coming from a queer woman, the sex and relationship aspect left a lot to be desired while the story itself felt lackluster and forgettable.
August 2, 2017
The book was ok - I thought it would have been more about the romance, however, it seemed to really focus on the main character, Inez, and her struggles. The ending could have been more powerful.
April 1, 2011
I came across this book when I read the book review in our local newspaper when it was published in 2005. I purchased and read the book before I went to see the author, Bart Schneider. It is far and away one of my favorite books; one of the few hard copy books I own. The writing is top notch and the characters are flawed and real. The physical appearance of the book is also beautiful. The scenes between the two women are realistic and at times, painful. As any woman can tell you women can be mean spirited and down right insensitive. Bart Schneider is a lovely man who I would stand in line to see.
January 28, 2014
This is a story about a talented symphony violinist,Inez, who is married with two children and a high profile political cheater husband. She is lonely and ends up in the bed of another woman who is like a pill, giving her life joy again.
Obviously if I say anymore I would be spoiling it, overall I wonder if the author really knows women or the character of Inez was just plain insane.
Obviously if I say anymore I would be spoiling it, overall I wonder if the author really knows women or the character of Inez was just plain insane.
July 25, 2008
I found this touching, original, beautiful. The author has great respect and empathy for his characters but doesn't patronize. The love and passion ring very true, as does the despair. This moved me...
September 9, 2007
one of my favorite reads of all time. its incredibly tragic. i cried at this book. its a classic story of how even love and the oppertunity of something beautiful and healing cannot fix the broken.
July 22, 2011
I found it depressing. I am really hooked on "happily ever after/feel good at the end" books.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews