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Chinese Takeout
From the author of the cult classic The Fuck-Up comes a vicious new tale of art, drugs, love, and death on the Lower East Side. Orloff Trenchant is a painter who sells books on West 4th Street in Manhattan and is obsessed with mastering his craft. Desperate for cash, Or agrees to take a commission no one else will touch: he has three weeks to carve a headstone for a recently deceased restaurateur -- a Chinese takeout box. As Or attempts to make his deadline, he navigates among a toxic mix of fellow artists, struggling gallery owners, bloodsucking art dealers, his politically active friends, and a haunting addict poet whose life is more out of control than Or's own. Nersesian's prose is sparkling and hypnotic in this brutal and comic story that will make you wonder if life and art are two different things.
284 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2003
18 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Nersesian
35 books382 followersArthur Nersesian is the author of eight novels, including The Fuck-Up (Akashic, 1997 & MTV Books/Simon & Schuster, 1999), Chinese Takeout (HarperCollins), Manhattan Loverboy (Akashic), Suicide Casanova (Akashic), dogrun (MTV Books/Simon & Schuster), and Unlubricated (HarperCollins). He is also the author of East Village Tetralogy, a collection of four plays. He lives in New York City.
From arthurnersesian.com:
www.arthurnersesian.com/
"Arthur Nersesian is a real New York writer. His novels are a celebration
of marginal characters living in the East Village and trying to survive.
Nersesian's books include The Fuck-Up, The East Village Tetralogy, and now just published by a small press based in New York, Manhattan Loverboy. Nersesian has been a fixture in the writing scene for many years. He was an editor for The Portable Lower East Side, which was an important magazine during the 1980s and early 90s.
When The Fuck-Up came out in 1997, MTV Books picked it up and reprinted it in a new edition for hipsters everywhere. Soon Nersesian was no longer known only to a cabal of young bohemians on Avenue A. His work has been championed by The Village Voice and Time Out."
From arthurnersesian.com:
www.arthurnersesian.com/
"Arthur Nersesian is a real New York writer. His novels are a celebration
of marginal characters living in the East Village and trying to survive.
Nersesian's books include The Fuck-Up, The East Village Tetralogy, and now just published by a small press based in New York, Manhattan Loverboy. Nersesian has been a fixture in the writing scene for many years. He was an editor for The Portable Lower East Side, which was an important magazine during the 1980s and early 90s.
When The Fuck-Up came out in 1997, MTV Books picked it up and reprinted it in a new edition for hipsters everywhere. Soon Nersesian was no longer known only to a cabal of young bohemians on Avenue A. His work has been championed by The Village Voice and Time Out."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 17, 2007
Not bad...mind you, editing is dead. It's dead! He spelled author Henry Green's name with an 'e' like Graham Greene and said 'lockets of hair'. No, see, a locket is a pendant.
Word.net confirms this:
The noun locket has one meaning:
Meaning #1: a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
Ed Iting is dead. Mr. Ed is dead. Mrs. Iting is a widder.
Back to Nersesian. The book concerns an Armenian artist named Orloff Trenchant (changed from Tanzarian), who lives with his fiancee, June, also an artist. He suspects she's having an affair with a rich art dealer, so he destroys some of her paintings and winds up living in his van. He then becomes obsessed with a junkie named Rita. The story is mainly concerned with how hard it is to succeed in the New York art scene, how poor he is, and what makes or inspires good art/ good artists. He makes a meager living selling used books he buys in thrift stores and at library sales at a table on W. 4th St. The character of the junkie, Rita, is very well done. She's a rich debutante and art history student fallen to prostitution to get her fixes. The ending seemed like it ought to be trite. I knew exactly where he was going and I was saying, no, please, do something surprising, and he did exactly what I thought he would do, but it didn't seem trite when he did it. I didn't feel cheated in the end, so, not great, but a good read, especially if you're interested in art, New York, drugs, prostitution or swimming.
Word.net confirms this:
The noun locket has one meaning:
Meaning #1: a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
Ed Iting is dead. Mr. Ed is dead. Mrs. Iting is a widder.
Back to Nersesian. The book concerns an Armenian artist named Orloff Trenchant (changed from Tanzarian), who lives with his fiancee, June, also an artist. He suspects she's having an affair with a rich art dealer, so he destroys some of her paintings and winds up living in his van. He then becomes obsessed with a junkie named Rita. The story is mainly concerned with how hard it is to succeed in the New York art scene, how poor he is, and what makes or inspires good art/ good artists. He makes a meager living selling used books he buys in thrift stores and at library sales at a table on W. 4th St. The character of the junkie, Rita, is very well done. She's a rich debutante and art history student fallen to prostitution to get her fixes. The ending seemed like it ought to be trite. I knew exactly where he was going and I was saying, no, please, do something surprising, and he did exactly what I thought he would do, but it didn't seem trite when he did it. I didn't feel cheated in the end, so, not great, but a good read, especially if you're interested in art, New York, drugs, prostitution or swimming.
March 27, 2016
Enh, as you get farther along it gets a bit more interesting as far as the plot goes, and it'll probably pull you to finish it, but truth be told, I really just thought this book was boring. The way it's written is utterly pretentious, too. The narrator, Or something, throws a ton of "been there done that" sentiments and haughty art terms around and talks about how he sketches and all the techniques he uses. Maybe that seems innocent enough, but here's just this underlying vibe of "I make art that looks ultracool, you probably don't, maybe you're not in with my ultracool crowd making ultracool stuff and throwing around ultracool art jargon," and frankly, it pissed me off. I make art. I know people who make art. You don't have to act like you're some supreme being. If you, as the reader, want to make art, don't let this bloody novel discourage you from it. If you want to make your art silly or whatever, don't let these sodding characters' high-nosed remarks stop you. These fictional people are a bunch of jerks, and they really brought the book down with them. And anyway, the plot is pretty weak, too.
September 22, 2011
I do not see why I should give a gnat's fart about anyone of the characters in this novel except possibly Lynn. I certainly don't see why I should give a gnat's fart about the protagonist.
Orloff Trenchant is petty, jealous, obsessive, violent, possibly talented, and not someone I would ever care to interact with. Lynn is focused, ambitious, and self-aware. Exactly why is Or the hero?
The story which emerges in the last, oh, twenty pages, the one about Rita's terminal illness and her belief that heroin extended her life, that is an interesting story. That could be an interesting novel about self-delusion and family and illness, but no, we got the story about a straight white able-bodied man and the pain he goes through when women do not appreciate him as he deserves.
:(
Orloff Trenchant is petty, jealous, obsessive, violent, possibly talented, and not someone I would ever care to interact with. Lynn is focused, ambitious, and self-aware. Exactly why is Or the hero?
The story which emerges in the last, oh, twenty pages, the one about Rita's terminal illness and her belief that heroin extended her life, that is an interesting story. That could be an interesting novel about self-delusion and family and illness, but no, we got the story about a straight white able-bodied man and the pain he goes through when women do not appreciate him as he deserves.
:(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2010
Loved this book and Arthur Nersesian! His style of writing is descriptive with witty comparisons that his readers can completely relate to.I truly felt I was living the life of the character. I want more books from him!
January 2, 2018
crazy good..wasn't expecting much as i heard this was a book everyone reads when they're in college..it feels to me like a book everyone should read when they're in new york..eating microwave rice and beans and walking everywhere because they lost their expensive subway card and can't call home for allowance.
i urge you to read this line if not the whole book...
"art was one thing, and life was another."
i urge you to read this line if not the whole book...
"art was one thing, and life was another."
June 3, 2023
honestly really liked reading this book. idk if it’s bc it’s set in nyc or what but i was always kept engaged. i’m also a sucker for an artist struggling to make ends meet and self sabatoging over and over again sooo yeah. also was an interesting account of nyc around the 2000 election. some of the drug use was a lot to read tho so warning there
May 9, 2016
Nersesian, the po-mo Damon Runyon, spinner of contemporary tales of New Yorkers on the lowest end of the caste, finally in this, the fifth of his novels I've read, manages a pitch-perfect ending after wading through some dangerously mawkish territory.
This is a sad, bittersweet story of young urban artists, junkies, and other lower-rung characters in Gotham, struggling with love and life on the eve of the sad events of the 2000 presidential election.
About halfway into this I was leaning toward a three-star rating, thinking the book was charming and atmospheric and beautifully evocative of New York City and the artist's life therein, but slightly banal and somehow lacking the effervescent humor that makes Nersesian's souffles so characteristically buoyant.
But as this more serious tale develops the undercurrent of humor becomes more noticeable, and the book started to burrow under my skin as the characters were rounded out, particularly those of Lynn, the haunted Vietnamese takeout food gal and artist, and of Rita, the wisecracking, self-deluding, Edie Sedgwick-like heroin addict. These two are the most interesting and palpable women characters I've encountered yet in a Nersesian novel. The character of Shade, the grizzled art guru is also a delight. Even though he's supposed to be Scottish, I couldn't help thinking of Kris Kristofferson being cast in this role if ever a film version is made.
It was probably serendipitous to have read this just a week or so after finishing a biography of Basquiat, who, as it happens is mentioned herein. It provided a nice '80s context for the late '90s New York art scene described in this book.
As always happens in a Nersesian novel, the main character -- in this case, Orloff Trenchant, an artist in his thirties painfully aware of squandered hopes -- has lost the woman of his life and is bouncing between several others on the rebound while skirting the fringes of poverty. Also, as always, Nersesian rather fearlessly, deftly and perhaps shamelessly keeps it all moving along with deus ex machina unlikely chance meetings between characters, but his technique is so sly that one is able to forgive it even when it's noticed.
No matter the grittiness of the milieu or the jadedness of Nersesian's urbans, there's always more than a hint of the sentimental in his books, which you'll either find annoying or charming. I choose the latter.
On the whole, even though it is not nearly as enjoyable or as funny as, say, The Fuck Up or dogrun, I would say that this is best of the Nersesian novels I've read so far.
This is a sad, bittersweet story of young urban artists, junkies, and other lower-rung characters in Gotham, struggling with love and life on the eve of the sad events of the 2000 presidential election.
About halfway into this I was leaning toward a three-star rating, thinking the book was charming and atmospheric and beautifully evocative of New York City and the artist's life therein, but slightly banal and somehow lacking the effervescent humor that makes Nersesian's souffles so characteristically buoyant.
But as this more serious tale develops the undercurrent of humor becomes more noticeable, and the book started to burrow under my skin as the characters were rounded out, particularly those of Lynn, the haunted Vietnamese takeout food gal and artist, and of Rita, the wisecracking, self-deluding, Edie Sedgwick-like heroin addict. These two are the most interesting and palpable women characters I've encountered yet in a Nersesian novel. The character of Shade, the grizzled art guru is also a delight. Even though he's supposed to be Scottish, I couldn't help thinking of Kris Kristofferson being cast in this role if ever a film version is made.
It was probably serendipitous to have read this just a week or so after finishing a biography of Basquiat, who, as it happens is mentioned herein. It provided a nice '80s context for the late '90s New York art scene described in this book.
As always happens in a Nersesian novel, the main character -- in this case, Orloff Trenchant, an artist in his thirties painfully aware of squandered hopes -- has lost the woman of his life and is bouncing between several others on the rebound while skirting the fringes of poverty. Also, as always, Nersesian rather fearlessly, deftly and perhaps shamelessly keeps it all moving along with deus ex machina unlikely chance meetings between characters, but his technique is so sly that one is able to forgive it even when it's noticed.
No matter the grittiness of the milieu or the jadedness of Nersesian's urbans, there's always more than a hint of the sentimental in his books, which you'll either find annoying or charming. I choose the latter.
On the whole, even though it is not nearly as enjoyable or as funny as, say, The Fuck Up or dogrun, I would say that this is best of the Nersesian novels I've read so far.
June 1, 2010
A beautifully written book like this deserves a lot of credit for taking on tough topics such as living on the streets, struggling to make it as an artist, infidelity, drug addiction, and love for a drug addict. This is hands down my very favorite Nersesian book so far, and I'm almost certain it'll stay that way. Not only are the concepts powerful but the delivery is absolutely amazing. This is one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. It truly hit hard, and I wish there were more Goodreads stars to award this.
My favorite quotes are:
"I had to sell my labors at half price to remind a millionaire that life was hard."
"Art was one thing and life was another."
"It takes two qualities to make a serious artist: an interesting aesthetic and a blunt trauma. The first is a method and the second is a reason to paint."
This is a novel I'll be pimping to people for a long time.
My favorite quotes are:
"I had to sell my labors at half price to remind a millionaire that life was hard."
"Art was one thing and life was another."
"It takes two qualities to make a serious artist: an interesting aesthetic and a blunt trauma. The first is a method and the second is a reason to paint."
This is a novel I'll be pimping to people for a long time.
May 20, 2012
There is an incredible quality to Nersesian's writing. Ever since reading The F*ck Up years ago, I never forgot the way he writes and his characters. This book is just as strong. He writes about, well about the f*ck ups, the overlooked, the ingored, the struggling, the artists, the junkies and the dreamers of New York City. The city is as much of a character in his books. It's strange, because these are not the characters one would normally care about, they are not the classic heroes and heroines, but they are so well fleshed out, so compellingly written, that one can't help feeling drawn in. Nersesian's NY is an abysmal black hole, dirty, dangerous and cruel (pretty much how I regard that city anyway) and he really makes the reader care about the f*ck ups trying to survive it. The writing is top notch, well paced with great descriptions and realistic dialogues. Highly recommended.
Read
July 28, 2011Nersesian's sparse but mildly raunchy prose and wobegone characters sneak up on you when you least expect it, and by the end of the story, you realize you actually do kind of care what happens to Rita, Or and the rest of the strange myopic bunch. The book isn't revolutionary by any means, and although I can't recall any off the top of my head, there were definitely some awkward, forehead-scrunching inconsistencies in details and characterizations towards the beginning of the text. Regardless, Nersesian seems to do a decent job of capturing the independent, artistic spirit and provides a rather colorful account of some of the seedier aspects of city life and human futility.
November 2, 2008
This is the fourth novel I've read by Nersesian, a writer obsessed with NYC for all the right reasons. The style is very much like his earlier stories--a first-person trip through the weirder, darker (= the vanishing) sides of the city. He throws in so much action that I could almost imagine it being made into a graphic novel--something along the lines of Daniel Clowes. But not a film, please. His characters are amusing to read about, though not always completely believable. Must give him credit for writing a story dealing with heroin addiction and death that remains vaguely uplifting.
May 16, 2007
this book is gritty and honest and from the heart. it's about an artist who lives in a van in nyc. he's entirely devoted to his work, and to living a bohemian 'starving artist' sort of life. then, along comes this girl, see..... a junky girl, and you can fill in the details with your imagination, or read the book and find out for yourself why this is such a great read.
plus, on a personal level i really identified with the protagonist....
plus, on a personal level i really identified with the protagonist....
October 17, 2019
Like a lot of urban fiction this book is pretty dry, kind of boring, and also very good.
October 26, 2023
"Chinese Takeout" by Arthur Nersesian is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the complex themes of identity, cultural heritage, and personal transformation. This book takes the reader on a remarkable journey through the lives of its characters, primarily focusing on the experiences of the protagonist, Howard, a New Yorker searching for his own place in the world.
Nersesian's storytelling is nothing short of masterful, as he weaves a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. The exploration of Howard's connection to his Chinese heritage is beautifully nuanced and adds a layer of depth to the story. The supporting characters are vividly drawn and contribute to the rich tapestry of the novel.
What makes "Chinese Takeout" exceptional is its ability to tackle profound subjects with a delicate touch, combining humor and introspection in a harmonious way. The book serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of modern identity, and it invites readers to contemplate their own roots and the forces that shape their lives.
In short, "Chinese Takeout" is a literary gem that not only entertains but also provokes thought. Nersesian's prose is both poetic and poignant, making this novel a must-read for those who appreciate beautifully crafted stories that resonate on a deep emotional level.
Nersesian's storytelling is nothing short of masterful, as he weaves a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. The exploration of Howard's connection to his Chinese heritage is beautifully nuanced and adds a layer of depth to the story. The supporting characters are vividly drawn and contribute to the rich tapestry of the novel.
What makes "Chinese Takeout" exceptional is its ability to tackle profound subjects with a delicate touch, combining humor and introspection in a harmonious way. The book serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of modern identity, and it invites readers to contemplate their own roots and the forces that shape their lives.
In short, "Chinese Takeout" is a literary gem that not only entertains but also provokes thought. Nersesian's prose is both poetic and poignant, making this novel a must-read for those who appreciate beautifully crafted stories that resonate on a deep emotional level.
October 25, 2018
It’s probably a 3.5 for me but I’m rounding it up due to the total NYC vibe about this book which was so descriptive that I feel like I spent the last week there.
A story about Or, a struggling artist / bookstall runner in his 20s in Brooklyn. He breaks up with his girlfriend, rents a loft space from a friend, eats a lot of Chinese food, falls in love with a junkie, rides around in his van and makes a sculpture. I wasn’t really quite sure what the meaning of it all was but I enjoyed the writing style and it was fun until it was sad.
A story about Or, a struggling artist / bookstall runner in his 20s in Brooklyn. He breaks up with his girlfriend, rents a loft space from a friend, eats a lot of Chinese food, falls in love with a junkie, rides around in his van and makes a sculpture. I wasn’t really quite sure what the meaning of it all was but I enjoyed the writing style and it was fun until it was sad.
February 17, 2025
3.5 stars. Beware that it starts off a little slowly and confusingly, but stick with it. I'm conflicted about how to feel about this book, though. Set in the struggling artist world of 90s NYC, it felt authentic, raw, and passionate. But I worry that my enjoyment of the book is coloured by my love for those themes and settings. I'm not sure the book always had a clear direction, so read this more for the scene than the plot.
June 9, 2024
Set in the year 2000, the focus is on a struggling artist n NYC. I have always been fascinated by the talent and insight of a true artist. The main character, Or, is a mess who struggles the entire read. There was a friend named Lynn, who I don’t usually get to see in print, so that was cool for me lol.😂 . I’d recommend.
January 18, 2020
Nersesian's Chinese Takeout is a familiar voice of self destruction I remember enjoying from various other authors when I was younger. He has a nice ebb an flow that really just makes it easy to sit for long spells. Definitely need to go through some of his other published works after this one.
August 17, 2021
I couldn't finish it. This books is the perfect example of having potential but its not worth reading because reading the thoughts of this terribly terribly unlikeable main character is just hell on earth.
September 21, 2020
Nersesian takes fiction to a higher pleasurable plateau as he juggles around some quirky characters and amusing storylines set against the manhattan art scene.I had a blast with this book
March 21, 2021
Forgot how much Nersesian inspired my view of the city. Good to get back into him.
March 5, 2022
Felt like I was back living in NYC. Loved the bit at the end with the headstone and the river.
Read
October 28, 2024remember this being fairly on the nose but in a good way; self-identificatory nyc fanfiction
March 14, 2025
A fantastic little book about East Village and a sculptor who falls for an addict in Tompkins. Smart, sardonic, and sincere.
April 28, 2013
Orloff ("Or" for short) Trenchant is a struggling New York City artist in the East Village in the early 2000s. At the start of the story, he's breaking up with his live-in painter girlfriend, destroys some of her paintings in a fit of rage, and ends up living in his van. He's eventually able to sublet from a friend for a few months, and in the process ends up subletting part of the loft—forbidden, but who's counting?—to a fellow painter.
Considering that the story takes place right in my neighborhood, I was bound to like it. Junkies, hookers, hipsters, what's not to like? The cover of the paperback edition is a painting of the Horseshoe bar on the corner of 7th street and Avenue A, which I can see when I leave my building. I found myself being a little critical of the storyline because he clearly takes some liberties—hey, why not?—with facts, particularly of the Rev Billy marching group that was in the Halloween parade that year; I was part of that group, and yes, the aim was to call attention to NYU's intention of demolishing the Poe house in order to build a new law school building. But no, it wasn't an entirely accurate account of the parade; there was actually one participant "dressed" in a rolling house, and I was wearing an NYU T-shirt and a devil mask, wielding an axe.
I found this book by turns meticulous in its attention to detail and accuracy of description, and crazy in the tangents it goes off on. Nersesian manages to tie it up at the end; although I didn't find it to be an altogether satisfying ending, it did leave me wanting to read another Nersesian book right away.
Considering that the story takes place right in my neighborhood, I was bound to like it. Junkies, hookers, hipsters, what's not to like? The cover of the paperback edition is a painting of the Horseshoe bar on the corner of 7th street and Avenue A, which I can see when I leave my building. I found myself being a little critical of the storyline because he clearly takes some liberties—hey, why not?—with facts, particularly of the Rev Billy marching group that was in the Halloween parade that year; I was part of that group, and yes, the aim was to call attention to NYU's intention of demolishing the Poe house in order to build a new law school building. But no, it wasn't an entirely accurate account of the parade; there was actually one participant "dressed" in a rolling house, and I was wearing an NYU T-shirt and a devil mask, wielding an axe.
I found this book by turns meticulous in its attention to detail and accuracy of description, and crazy in the tangents it goes off on. Nersesian manages to tie it up at the end; although I didn't find it to be an altogether satisfying ending, it did leave me wanting to read another Nersesian book right away.
April 2, 2014
On page 236, Orloff says, "I did, however, start doubting my artistic interpretations." This one line of the book, about fifty pages from its ending, is essentially the entire point of both the plot and his characterization.
I've never heard of this author. My best friend and I jokingly plucked out his acclaimed novel "The Fuck-Up" because we loved the brazenness of the title, and then I picked up this story beside it. It had art, New York, a mention of books, and trying to make sense of yourself through art and life. What more could an ex-artist want, right?
I definitely had no idea. Early on, I was pretty easily overtaken by the narration being both casual and quick, and I liked the way that Orloff talked about art and his relationship and how he was always doubting himself. I could relate immediately, but who really can't if you're an artist? You notice his obsession with one series of paintings he's showcasing and you realize early on that it's some large metaphor for the entire story, and I actually almost wish Nersesian had just tried focusing more on that than on even bothering to make the summary about the stupid sculpture—it literally isn't mentioned or started on at all until page 150.
It was a good book, though, and it has some decent anecdotes about art and how a typical artist does feel sometimes through cynicism and uncertainty, and just flat-out exhaustion with life. The guy at the bookstore raved about this being his favorite book in the whole world, but I can't see myself agreeing much to the sentiment. It moves fluidly, but it's not all that moving for being about art.
I've never heard of this author. My best friend and I jokingly plucked out his acclaimed novel "The Fuck-Up" because we loved the brazenness of the title, and then I picked up this story beside it. It had art, New York, a mention of books, and trying to make sense of yourself through art and life. What more could an ex-artist want, right?
I definitely had no idea. Early on, I was pretty easily overtaken by the narration being both casual and quick, and I liked the way that Orloff talked about art and his relationship and how he was always doubting himself. I could relate immediately, but who really can't if you're an artist? You notice his obsession with one series of paintings he's showcasing and you realize early on that it's some large metaphor for the entire story, and I actually almost wish Nersesian had just tried focusing more on that than on even bothering to make the summary about the stupid sculpture—it literally isn't mentioned or started on at all until page 150.
It was a good book, though, and it has some decent anecdotes about art and how a typical artist does feel sometimes through cynicism and uncertainty, and just flat-out exhaustion with life. The guy at the bookstore raved about this being his favorite book in the whole world, but I can't see myself agreeing much to the sentiment. It moves fluidly, but it's not all that moving for being about art.
March 19, 2021
Excellent.
February 1, 2012
I was prepared to not like this book, maybe not even reading it but after meeting Nersesian at a reading when he passed thru Seattle on a doubleheader reading with Lydia Lunch there with "Predator's Diary" it was a debt owned. Now its debt-paid and I’m glad I did. AN is the quintessential NYC dweller (at least to my western sensibilities) and comes off as intriguing, passionate, underground, a beat-poet-of-the-mean streets -of -NY kind of guy which makes him a perfect match for his Akashic Press protégé Lydia. He was sweet, funny, conniving at the reading which nearly put me off but in his own words he exclaimed that he threw his heart and soul into his latest work and implored me to try/buy/read it… so when the other 2K+ books on my shelves didn’t grab me I figured it was time to make good on my debt.
The main character ‘Or’ as he’s known is a remarkable artist whose work is sought after by the Fifth Avenue gallery types but who is always struggling, broke, living in his much-ticketed van that is gasping from one Lower East side parking spot to another. He lives with his GF but not for long and the events that spark the break-up become a running motif , setting him up for the opportunity to meet the tragic love of his life.
AN’s writing is as compelling as his brilliant storytelling and he is the kind of writer who should get much more attention than he has to date. If you like the films of Abel Ferrara you’ll like Nersesian’s work because they mine some of the same gritty territory. If you don’t, don’t.
The main character ‘Or’ as he’s known is a remarkable artist whose work is sought after by the Fifth Avenue gallery types but who is always struggling, broke, living in his much-ticketed van that is gasping from one Lower East side parking spot to another. He lives with his GF but not for long and the events that spark the break-up become a running motif , setting him up for the opportunity to meet the tragic love of his life.
AN’s writing is as compelling as his brilliant storytelling and he is the kind of writer who should get much more attention than he has to date. If you like the films of Abel Ferrara you’ll like Nersesian’s work because they mine some of the same gritty territory. If you don’t, don’t.
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March 14, 2016To start off, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart of young children. The book is about Orloff Trenchant, an armenian painter going through something of a midlife crisis after initial success 8 years earlier on his first great works of 'The Subway Accident' in which he was pushed onto the tracks under a subway car. Back to present time, Or is in trouble. He broke up with his girlfriend, has little money to his name, a very poor conditioned van and no place to stay. Throughout the story, Or is trying to get by in the cruel city of Manhattan while trying to sort out his feelings and emotions. Or is a man with many needs as he is usually seen in a woman's company. When Or hits the 'jackpot', he lands a job stone cutting a headstone for an entrepreneur of a chinese takeout line, he has to keep himself focused on the task and not on his crush, Rita, a heroin addict who is in just as much a crisis as Or. As with all people, I can relate to Or on the lack of creativity at times as well as the need for human interaction. This is an overall good book, but again, not for children.
October 14, 2011
"I honestly believe Arthur Nersesian is very good when it comes to the nitty-gritty romance. The last novel I read by this author was Dogrun and it too was a romance. This one however was very good and had all the elements of a wonderful story.
The one part I like the most about this story is the emotional perspective given to the main character Or Terchant as we learn of how his living conditions in a reality truly by his own choice effects him and all his relationships around him. This story is also very good at showing the relationship between the pain and suffering an artist feels as he or she renders this pain and suffering into their very art itself.
All in all, this is a very good story by Arthur Nersesian. I have to say it is even better, in my opinion, than his books ""The Fuck-Up"" and ""Unlubricated"". When it comes to a New York City decadent romance, I have to admit Arthur Nersesian does it very well. I highly recommend this book to those who are into a decadent or should I say transgressional form of romance."
The one part I like the most about this story is the emotional perspective given to the main character Or Terchant as we learn of how his living conditions in a reality truly by his own choice effects him and all his relationships around him. This story is also very good at showing the relationship between the pain and suffering an artist feels as he or she renders this pain and suffering into their very art itself.
All in all, this is a very good story by Arthur Nersesian. I have to say it is even better, in my opinion, than his books ""The Fuck-Up"" and ""Unlubricated"". When it comes to a New York City decadent romance, I have to admit Arthur Nersesian does it very well. I highly recommend this book to those who are into a decadent or should I say transgressional form of romance."
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