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Trompe-l'oeil
Why would a woman entering middle age — attractive, sexy, articulate, imaginative, intelligent, charming, charismatic, wealthy and successful in almost every aspect of her life — knowingly give up the only thing missing from that life: namely, love? And love with a younger man she meets serendipitously not once, but three times — and whose appreciation of her quickly grows from mere physical attraction to adoration and then to obsession? The riddle from start to finish is perhaps to be found in the word "knowingly." The answer to that riddle? Revealed only in the final chapter.
DANEKA SØRENSEN is a Danish transplant to NYC, where she manages her life from an Upper East Side apartment building by night and from the top floor of a mid-town skyscraper by day — ostensibly, all under tight control. KIT ADDISON is a fashion photographer with a sideline penchant for flora and poetry who lives on the Lower East Side. The distance between them, however, is about much more than a mere hundred city blocks.
In Chapter One, serendipity brings Daneka and Kit together for the first time as both are exiting the Columbia campus — she from a poetry class in which she dabbles once a week, he from Philosophy Hall in which he labors days and nights without respite. This first encounter is both poetic and philosophical — but too hot to be captured in a mere haiku, too impulsive to be squeezed into an imperative, moral or historical, for either of them. At the start of Chapter Two, already eleven years later, they--or rather his camera and the front bumper of her limousine--meet a second time on a zebra crossing. Her search for a photographer for a special project (too hot and too imperative for any of the more than competent staff of a major magazine of which she is the Managing Editor) leads to a third serendipitous meeting. What follows these three meetings is, in the coming weeks, a game of cat and mouse — until, that is, their affair becomes such that "it seemed as if they might engulf each other in this single, ferocious act, like tigers chasing their own tails and slowly churning, turning, burning into butter."
Their affair takes them from New York to Paris, to the coast of Portugal, to Rome and Positano, Italy, to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, then back to New York City. What they discover about each other in those few weeks is more than most people discover in a mate or lover over a lifetime. The exploration is an erotic Elysian field, but also a psychological inferno.
What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter — when not downright nauseating.
DANEKA SØRENSEN is a Danish transplant to NYC, where she manages her life from an Upper East Side apartment building by night and from the top floor of a mid-town skyscraper by day — ostensibly, all under tight control. KIT ADDISON is a fashion photographer with a sideline penchant for flora and poetry who lives on the Lower East Side. The distance between them, however, is about much more than a mere hundred city blocks.
In Chapter One, serendipity brings Daneka and Kit together for the first time as both are exiting the Columbia campus — she from a poetry class in which she dabbles once a week, he from Philosophy Hall in which he labors days and nights without respite. This first encounter is both poetic and philosophical — but too hot to be captured in a mere haiku, too impulsive to be squeezed into an imperative, moral or historical, for either of them. At the start of Chapter Two, already eleven years later, they--or rather his camera and the front bumper of her limousine--meet a second time on a zebra crossing. Her search for a photographer for a special project (too hot and too imperative for any of the more than competent staff of a major magazine of which she is the Managing Editor) leads to a third serendipitous meeting. What follows these three meetings is, in the coming weeks, a game of cat and mouse — until, that is, their affair becomes such that "it seemed as if they might engulf each other in this single, ferocious act, like tigers chasing their own tails and slowly churning, turning, burning into butter."
Their affair takes them from New York to Paris, to the coast of Portugal, to Rome and Positano, Italy, to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea, then back to New York City. What they discover about each other in those few weeks is more than most people discover in a mate or lover over a lifetime. The exploration is an erotic Elysian field, but also a psychological inferno.
What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter — when not downright nauseating.
- GenresContemporary Romance
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2011
6 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Russell Bittner
22 books71 followersRussell presently lives and works in Hudson, New York, USA.
Russell has two kiddoes, Chris (M, aged 29) and Alex (F, aged 26). Both are out of the nest -- which, in any case, fell apart long ago. My boy lives in Manhattan, my girl in Brooklyn. The three of us occasionally meet for lunch or dinner or even an entire weekend -- whenever, that is, one party or the other can be convinced to drive north.
Russell has two kiddoes, Chris (M, aged 29) and Alex (F, aged 26). Both are out of the nest -- which, in any case, fell apart long ago. My boy lives in Manhattan, my girl in Brooklyn. The three of us occasionally meet for lunch or dinner or even an entire weekend -- whenever, that is, one party or the other can be convinced to drive north.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 19, 2011
My review from amazon.com:
"Intelligent, Character-Driven Fiction"
Don't let the "erotica" tag fool you. This has little in common with the barely literate drivel that is all too often associated with that genre. There is sex aplenty here, to be sure. At its heart, however, this is intelligent, character-driven fiction, rich with symbolism, poetry, and purpose--an excellent debut novel from Russell Bittner.
I know Mr. Bittner primarily as a poet and short fiction writer, and found this book while looking on amazon to review his short story collection, _Stories in the Key of C Minor_ (which I highly recommend--especially if you're a New York City native, or simply a lover of the Big Apple). Based on what I knew of the author's talent, I bought the novel immediately, sure that I wouldn't be wasting either money or time. He did not let me down. Bittner straddles the fence between author and poet with aplomb. There is wit, euphony, passion and sorrow enough in this novel to mark it as the opus of a poet--(and one translated poem that is worth the price of admission by itself)--but there is not so much poetic prose here to float this away from the gritty and grounded nature of good literature. The novel isn't perfect, (in some places, it simply offers "too much of a good thing"), but it was engaging, exciting (in all senses of the word), thought-provoking, and worth reading again. It is the sort of book I'll be passing along (in fact, I've already bought it as a gift for a friend, because I'm eager to discuss it with someone else).
This novel is centered around the emotional collision of two people; Kit, a sensitive, passionate, and philosophical American photographer, and Daneka, a sexually powerful, and emotionally mysterious Dane living and working as a magazine editor in New York. As their emotional collision occurs, the world around them becomes a symphony of impact; cars, cameras, characters, cultures, (and sub-cultures) are all given their own moments of literal and metaphorical collision, too. Kit and Daneka first meet outside of a subway entrance, and go from sharing a cigarette lighter to sharing bodily fluids within the space of a few pages. Kit feels the exchange is pure kismet, yet the young lovers do not manage to run into each other again for years. When they do encounter each other again, it is because her car hits his camera (and narrowly misses him) in a zebra crossing. She lets her driver do the dirty work of exchanging information, however, so they get little more than a fleeting glance at their erstwhile fates. It is not until she hires him as a photographer for a "special project" that Daneka rekindles the flames of immediate, all-consuming desire in Kit. From there, they begin a tornado of a romance that sweeps over continents, encompasses the history of generations within its eye, and leaves a wake of disheveled clothes and lives. There are hilarious moments, horrifying moments, and moments that were steamy enough I'm surprised my Kindle didn't short-circuit.
Collisions are not the only things that keep this novel moving--love, and the longings for unity and escape are its real driving forces (perhaps collisions are really just a different type of unity and escape). Kit, as one of the most refreshing male characters I've read in ages, is the novel's main advocate for love and unity. He strives to bring Daneka's heart into harmony with his own or at the very least, to get her to accept the humble sacrifice of his heart upon the altar of her own. He brings her gifts that symbolize his eternal love (I want a love lichen!), and tries to carve a place for himself within her life, wherever they go. Daneka, a woman of secrets, wants to accept Kit, but seems torn by a need for escape. I won't spoil which side wins, but I will say that I enjoyed the struggle. If nothing else, I found the believable, yet unobtrusive manner in which Bittner inverted the age-old gender roles a pleasant surprise (for once, it is the male who is unsure if his hopes for eternal monogamous bliss will be met, and the female who has the upper hand in the relationship).
The only real drawbacks I had with this novel, if pressed, were the occasional uses of untranslated foreign languages (if it's essential to the understanding of the action, don't worry, it's either directly or indirectly translated), and the rapid-fire sex scenes in the first part (one does benefit from a chance to breathe between bits of explicitly orgasmic prose.) If not for these two flaws, (and the presence of an "unforgettable" moment that neither character can seem to accurately recall until the novel ends), this would be 5 stars.
"Intelligent, Character-Driven Fiction"
Don't let the "erotica" tag fool you. This has little in common with the barely literate drivel that is all too often associated with that genre. There is sex aplenty here, to be sure. At its heart, however, this is intelligent, character-driven fiction, rich with symbolism, poetry, and purpose--an excellent debut novel from Russell Bittner.
I know Mr. Bittner primarily as a poet and short fiction writer, and found this book while looking on amazon to review his short story collection, _Stories in the Key of C Minor_ (which I highly recommend--especially if you're a New York City native, or simply a lover of the Big Apple). Based on what I knew of the author's talent, I bought the novel immediately, sure that I wouldn't be wasting either money or time. He did not let me down. Bittner straddles the fence between author and poet with aplomb. There is wit, euphony, passion and sorrow enough in this novel to mark it as the opus of a poet--(and one translated poem that is worth the price of admission by itself)--but there is not so much poetic prose here to float this away from the gritty and grounded nature of good literature. The novel isn't perfect, (in some places, it simply offers "too much of a good thing"), but it was engaging, exciting (in all senses of the word), thought-provoking, and worth reading again. It is the sort of book I'll be passing along (in fact, I've already bought it as a gift for a friend, because I'm eager to discuss it with someone else).
This novel is centered around the emotional collision of two people; Kit, a sensitive, passionate, and philosophical American photographer, and Daneka, a sexually powerful, and emotionally mysterious Dane living and working as a magazine editor in New York. As their emotional collision occurs, the world around them becomes a symphony of impact; cars, cameras, characters, cultures, (and sub-cultures) are all given their own moments of literal and metaphorical collision, too. Kit and Daneka first meet outside of a subway entrance, and go from sharing a cigarette lighter to sharing bodily fluids within the space of a few pages. Kit feels the exchange is pure kismet, yet the young lovers do not manage to run into each other again for years. When they do encounter each other again, it is because her car hits his camera (and narrowly misses him) in a zebra crossing. She lets her driver do the dirty work of exchanging information, however, so they get little more than a fleeting glance at their erstwhile fates. It is not until she hires him as a photographer for a "special project" that Daneka rekindles the flames of immediate, all-consuming desire in Kit. From there, they begin a tornado of a romance that sweeps over continents, encompasses the history of generations within its eye, and leaves a wake of disheveled clothes and lives. There are hilarious moments, horrifying moments, and moments that were steamy enough I'm surprised my Kindle didn't short-circuit.
Collisions are not the only things that keep this novel moving--love, and the longings for unity and escape are its real driving forces (perhaps collisions are really just a different type of unity and escape). Kit, as one of the most refreshing male characters I've read in ages, is the novel's main advocate for love and unity. He strives to bring Daneka's heart into harmony with his own or at the very least, to get her to accept the humble sacrifice of his heart upon the altar of her own. He brings her gifts that symbolize his eternal love (I want a love lichen!), and tries to carve a place for himself within her life, wherever they go. Daneka, a woman of secrets, wants to accept Kit, but seems torn by a need for escape. I won't spoil which side wins, but I will say that I enjoyed the struggle. If nothing else, I found the believable, yet unobtrusive manner in which Bittner inverted the age-old gender roles a pleasant surprise (for once, it is the male who is unsure if his hopes for eternal monogamous bliss will be met, and the female who has the upper hand in the relationship).
The only real drawbacks I had with this novel, if pressed, were the occasional uses of untranslated foreign languages (if it's essential to the understanding of the action, don't worry, it's either directly or indirectly translated), and the rapid-fire sex scenes in the first part (one does benefit from a chance to breathe between bits of explicitly orgasmic prose.) If not for these two flaws, (and the presence of an "unforgettable" moment that neither character can seem to accurately recall until the novel ends), this would be 5 stars.
December 18, 2011
Russell Bittner's novel Trompe-l'oeil is a love story, and a wonderful piece of writing. In photographic detail, it calls upon every one of the senses, to create the sights, the tastes and smells of every morcel of sensual pleasure that can come with infatuation. The novel is also a tragedy. But it is not the usual, mundane tragedy brought on by time, as passionate love grows stale and fades away like the morning dew. It's the sort of tragedy that ensues when one person in the story is happy to see the illusions fade away, because it will allow the nurturing of a real long-term relationship, while the other side tries to maintain the facade of better than perfect beauty.
Kit Addison is an up and coming fashion photographer in New York, made blasé by the amount of naked flesh he has to photograph during the course of a normal working. At heart he is still a "simple boy from a simple state, from the comparatively simple United States". When his lucky path crosses that of Daneka an older, very wealthy and successful European lady, who edits one of New York's major magazines, he is all too ready to succumb to her perfect body and sophisticated way of life. He knows that one day the perfect illusion will end, but he feels sure he will be able to handle it. In the meantime, he intends to make the most of the experience.
Daneka takes Kit on a tour of some of Europe's most beautiful spots, where she dazzles him with her command of languages. Kit is no mean slouch at Italian or Russian himself. At heart, he is a decent person, ready to hitch his wagon permanently to that of Daneka's, but is she willing to devote herself to him? Hours of passionate, erotic engagement can be immediately followed by episodes of withdrawal, when she refuses even to acknowledge his presence. With every European beauty spot they alight in, Kit's pain and puzzlement at Daneka's behavior become more troubling. Perfectly aware that one of the best ways in the 21st century to drive a woman away is to lay a spoken claim to her, Kit accepts that he must seek no form of commitment from Daneka. He seethes with the need to express real love, that can complement the sexual pleasure they get from each other, but in his behavior he stoically maintains the studied indifference expected of a modern man.
At times, Kit manages to escape from the beautiful way of life represented by luxury hotels and unfailing perfection, to experience a taste of a younger, more gritty Europe. He refuses the many invitations which are tacitly thrown his way by the beautiful young women they bump into on their travels. But Kit begins to suspect that at least some of the men, in the beautiful hotels Daneka takes him to, have had more than a fleeting intimacy with her. As Daneka takes Kit closer to Denmark, her personality begins to undergo some radical changes. As Kit's first illusions fade, he realizes that he loves this woman, and he will for the rest of his life. Daneka senses that with Kit she can escape from the vacuity of a certain life style, at least as it is lived by the incredibly rich inhabitants of New York, but she also fears that abandonment of the illusion may throw her totally into the jaws of the demons pursuing her.
Kit's love for Daneka takes him from the peaks of European high culture to the foul troughs that harbor the worst sorts of abuse to be bought in the dark, back streets of New York. As with any tragedy, the end of Russell Bittner's novel raises in the reader's mind the sad surmise, 'If only....'
In this novel, the trompe-l'oeil is so perfectly executed that it continues to resonate hours after the final page has been turned.
A longer version of this review can be found on my blog:
http://johnjgaynard.blogspot.com/2011...
Kit Addison is an up and coming fashion photographer in New York, made blasé by the amount of naked flesh he has to photograph during the course of a normal working. At heart he is still a "simple boy from a simple state, from the comparatively simple United States". When his lucky path crosses that of Daneka an older, very wealthy and successful European lady, who edits one of New York's major magazines, he is all too ready to succumb to her perfect body and sophisticated way of life. He knows that one day the perfect illusion will end, but he feels sure he will be able to handle it. In the meantime, he intends to make the most of the experience.
Daneka takes Kit on a tour of some of Europe's most beautiful spots, where she dazzles him with her command of languages. Kit is no mean slouch at Italian or Russian himself. At heart, he is a decent person, ready to hitch his wagon permanently to that of Daneka's, but is she willing to devote herself to him? Hours of passionate, erotic engagement can be immediately followed by episodes of withdrawal, when she refuses even to acknowledge his presence. With every European beauty spot they alight in, Kit's pain and puzzlement at Daneka's behavior become more troubling. Perfectly aware that one of the best ways in the 21st century to drive a woman away is to lay a spoken claim to her, Kit accepts that he must seek no form of commitment from Daneka. He seethes with the need to express real love, that can complement the sexual pleasure they get from each other, but in his behavior he stoically maintains the studied indifference expected of a modern man.
At times, Kit manages to escape from the beautiful way of life represented by luxury hotels and unfailing perfection, to experience a taste of a younger, more gritty Europe. He refuses the many invitations which are tacitly thrown his way by the beautiful young women they bump into on their travels. But Kit begins to suspect that at least some of the men, in the beautiful hotels Daneka takes him to, have had more than a fleeting intimacy with her. As Daneka takes Kit closer to Denmark, her personality begins to undergo some radical changes. As Kit's first illusions fade, he realizes that he loves this woman, and he will for the rest of his life. Daneka senses that with Kit she can escape from the vacuity of a certain life style, at least as it is lived by the incredibly rich inhabitants of New York, but she also fears that abandonment of the illusion may throw her totally into the jaws of the demons pursuing her.
Kit's love for Daneka takes him from the peaks of European high culture to the foul troughs that harbor the worst sorts of abuse to be bought in the dark, back streets of New York. As with any tragedy, the end of Russell Bittner's novel raises in the reader's mind the sad surmise, 'If only....'
In this novel, the trompe-l'oeil is so perfectly executed that it continues to resonate hours after the final page has been turned.
A longer version of this review can be found on my blog:
http://johnjgaynard.blogspot.com/2011...
August 10, 2012
An Excellent Read
This is the story of a romance between two very complicated personalities, Daneka Sorenson and Kit Addison, whose characters were highly developed through explicit erotic sexual scenes, Kit’s long introspective narratives, and involved emotional, mental and physical characteristics of Daneka. The many innuendos regarding Daneka, created a mystique around her that throughout the entire story puzzled Kit, and hinted at some dark experiences in her past that inhibited her ability to give and accept love beyond lust. It is like she clutched for it, but something within could not allow her to fulfill herself. Kit, from the very first, although ten years younger than Daneka, found her to be the most desirable woman to not only him but all other men. He forever attempted to get her to commit herself as a soulmate, but she deftly alluded him. Her intelligent, drive, ambition and apparent narcissism throughout the story causes the reader to question why with all of her success and financial solidarity, she remained like an ice princess.
They took a two week trip to France, Portugal, Italy, and Denmark, and the various places visited were described to the reader like a travelogue and there many sentences in foreign languages, depending on where they were, which could be frustrating to some readers. The author has a technique of utilizing unique descriptive metaphors to allow the reader to see through his eyes sunrises, sunsets, mountains, seas, nature in all its glory.
This is not light reading. The dialogs, narratives and philosophical thoughts and conversations lure the reader into slowing down and truly seek to understand and interpret the underlying messages. Although this author is an experienced writer, this book parallels some of your famous romance authors like Margaret Mitchell, Scot Fitzgerald, Daphne DuMaurier and Virginia Wolf. I recommend this book.
Merged review:
An Excellent Read
This is the story of a romance between two very complicated personalities, Daneka Sorenson and Kit Addison, whose characters were highly developed through explicit erotic sexual scenes, Kit’s long introspective narratives, and involved emotional, mental and physical characteristics of Daneka. The many innuendos regarding Daneka, created a mystique around her that throughout the entire story puzzled Kit, and hinted at some dark experiences in her past that inhibited her ability to give and accept love beyond lust. It is like she clutched for it, but something within could not allow her to fulfill herself. Kit, from the very first, although ten years younger than Daneka, found her to be the most desirable woman to not only him but all other men. He forever attempted to get her to commit herself as a soulmate, but she deftly alluded him. Her intelligent, drive, ambition and apparent narcissism throughout the story causes the reader to question why with all of her success and financial solidarity, she remained like an ice princess.
They took a two week trip to France, Portugal, Italy, and Denmark, and the various places visited were described to the reader like a travelogue and there many sentences in foreign languages, depending on where they were, which could be frustrating to some readers. The author has a technique of utilizing unique descriptive metaphors to allow the reader to see through his eyes sunrises, sunsets, mountains, seas, nature in all its glory.
This is not light reading. The dialogs, narratives and philosophical thoughts and conversations lure the reader into slowing down and truly seek to understand and interpret the underlying messages. Although this author is an experienced writer, book parallels some of your famous romance authors like Margaret Mitchell, Scot Fitzgerald, Daphne DuMaurier and Virginia Wolf. I recommend this book.
This is the story of a romance between two very complicated personalities, Daneka Sorenson and Kit Addison, whose characters were highly developed through explicit erotic sexual scenes, Kit’s long introspective narratives, and involved emotional, mental and physical characteristics of Daneka. The many innuendos regarding Daneka, created a mystique around her that throughout the entire story puzzled Kit, and hinted at some dark experiences in her past that inhibited her ability to give and accept love beyond lust. It is like she clutched for it, but something within could not allow her to fulfill herself. Kit, from the very first, although ten years younger than Daneka, found her to be the most desirable woman to not only him but all other men. He forever attempted to get her to commit herself as a soulmate, but she deftly alluded him. Her intelligent, drive, ambition and apparent narcissism throughout the story causes the reader to question why with all of her success and financial solidarity, she remained like an ice princess.
They took a two week trip to France, Portugal, Italy, and Denmark, and the various places visited were described to the reader like a travelogue and there many sentences in foreign languages, depending on where they were, which could be frustrating to some readers. The author has a technique of utilizing unique descriptive metaphors to allow the reader to see through his eyes sunrises, sunsets, mountains, seas, nature in all its glory.
This is not light reading. The dialogs, narratives and philosophical thoughts and conversations lure the reader into slowing down and truly seek to understand and interpret the underlying messages. Although this author is an experienced writer, this book parallels some of your famous romance authors like Margaret Mitchell, Scot Fitzgerald, Daphne DuMaurier and Virginia Wolf. I recommend this book.
Merged review:
An Excellent Read
This is the story of a romance between two very complicated personalities, Daneka Sorenson and Kit Addison, whose characters were highly developed through explicit erotic sexual scenes, Kit’s long introspective narratives, and involved emotional, mental and physical characteristics of Daneka. The many innuendos regarding Daneka, created a mystique around her that throughout the entire story puzzled Kit, and hinted at some dark experiences in her past that inhibited her ability to give and accept love beyond lust. It is like she clutched for it, but something within could not allow her to fulfill herself. Kit, from the very first, although ten years younger than Daneka, found her to be the most desirable woman to not only him but all other men. He forever attempted to get her to commit herself as a soulmate, but she deftly alluded him. Her intelligent, drive, ambition and apparent narcissism throughout the story causes the reader to question why with all of her success and financial solidarity, she remained like an ice princess.
They took a two week trip to France, Portugal, Italy, and Denmark, and the various places visited were described to the reader like a travelogue and there many sentences in foreign languages, depending on where they were, which could be frustrating to some readers. The author has a technique of utilizing unique descriptive metaphors to allow the reader to see through his eyes sunrises, sunsets, mountains, seas, nature in all its glory.
This is not light reading. The dialogs, narratives and philosophical thoughts and conversations lure the reader into slowing down and truly seek to understand and interpret the underlying messages. Although this author is an experienced writer, book parallels some of your famous romance authors like Margaret Mitchell, Scot Fitzgerald, Daphne DuMaurier and Virginia Wolf. I recommend this book.
February 13, 2012
Such a wonderfull read, could not put it down.
Amazing characters - very sweet, tremendously hot and heartbreakingly conflicted.
Bittner takes you on an incredible ride around the globe to some exotic locations and in to your heart. I want to give it 6 stars.
Amazing characters - very sweet, tremendously hot and heartbreakingly conflicted.
Bittner takes you on an incredible ride around the globe to some exotic locations and in to your heart. I want to give it 6 stars.
October 20, 2012
AN EROTIC DRAMA THAT ENGAGES BOTH INTELLECT & HEART
Reviewed by Marilyn June Coffey
Don’t be put off by the French title. Bittner’s arresting novel is really written in English. Plus Danish and Spanish and Russian and Latin and.... But not often. And Bittner translates. He even notes that Trompe-l'œil literally means “deceiving the eye,” a definition that provides an entry into his layered book.
Trompe-l'œil is an exploration of love, both in and out of bed. The novel tells the story of the relationship between Kit Addison and Daneka Sørensen. Theirs is a May/December romance. Kit is thirty; Daneka is some ten years older. Kit is a freelance New York photographer, a Lower East Side resident, not exactly poor, but certainly not wealthy. Daneka, by contrast, is an uptown editor used to having her own way, with the doorman, her driver, and her staff. And Kit.
The book opens in New York City, and soon this unlikely pair is grappling day and night. Bittner’s descriptions of their love life are blatant but poetic depictions of sex. How could an author possibly find so many variations on that single theme? Bittner manages that by describing not just the climb to orgasm but also the emotions at stake, particularly Kit’s. Try, for instance, their lovemaking at the Boathouse (Chapters 14-16), my favorite.
Bittner calls Trompe-l'œil an erotic novel, but I don’t see it that way. True, it is literature that deals with sexual love, but it’s not My Lustful Adventures by Ramrod. It’s more like Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita: a drama with erotic elements.
Most of the story is told from Kit’s point of view, with occasional forays inside Daneka’s head. Perhaps because of this, Kit’s character is particularly appealing, while Daneka comes off as a baffling woman of mercurial moods.
After twenty-two chapters in New York City, Daneka takes Kit for a sensual romp through Paris, Portugal, Italy, and on to Denmark to visit her mother. Like many flights back into family, Daneka’s visit causes her to unravel, although the precise cause is not yet clear.
By this time, I knew these two characters so well, I could hardly wait to find out what happens next. And why. I wasn’t disappointed. Bittner’s Trompe-l'œil is a rich read that engages both the intellect and the heart.
Reviewed by Marilyn June Coffey
Don’t be put off by the French title. Bittner’s arresting novel is really written in English. Plus Danish and Spanish and Russian and Latin and.... But not often. And Bittner translates. He even notes that Trompe-l'œil literally means “deceiving the eye,” a definition that provides an entry into his layered book.
Trompe-l'œil is an exploration of love, both in and out of bed. The novel tells the story of the relationship between Kit Addison and Daneka Sørensen. Theirs is a May/December romance. Kit is thirty; Daneka is some ten years older. Kit is a freelance New York photographer, a Lower East Side resident, not exactly poor, but certainly not wealthy. Daneka, by contrast, is an uptown editor used to having her own way, with the doorman, her driver, and her staff. And Kit.
The book opens in New York City, and soon this unlikely pair is grappling day and night. Bittner’s descriptions of their love life are blatant but poetic depictions of sex. How could an author possibly find so many variations on that single theme? Bittner manages that by describing not just the climb to orgasm but also the emotions at stake, particularly Kit’s. Try, for instance, their lovemaking at the Boathouse (Chapters 14-16), my favorite.
Bittner calls Trompe-l'œil an erotic novel, but I don’t see it that way. True, it is literature that deals with sexual love, but it’s not My Lustful Adventures by Ramrod. It’s more like Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita: a drama with erotic elements.
Most of the story is told from Kit’s point of view, with occasional forays inside Daneka’s head. Perhaps because of this, Kit’s character is particularly appealing, while Daneka comes off as a baffling woman of mercurial moods.
After twenty-two chapters in New York City, Daneka takes Kit for a sensual romp through Paris, Portugal, Italy, and on to Denmark to visit her mother. Like many flights back into family, Daneka’s visit causes her to unravel, although the precise cause is not yet clear.
By this time, I knew these two characters so well, I could hardly wait to find out what happens next. And why. I wasn’t disappointed. Bittner’s Trompe-l'œil is a rich read that engages both the intellect and the heart.
February 24, 2012
The human psyche has quite often fascinated me. It bends, compromises, breaks, and more often than not, punishes itself. How often have you witnessed a behavior or peculiar habit and thought why does he/she do that? Daneka, one of our main focal points in this lavishly erotic tale, has several such habits that are quite fascinating. She is a complex and utterly fascinating character that tries to escape her past by locking her dark secrets away. Unfortunately, our past helps shape us, for good or bad, and always finds a way to break through to the surface. Such is the case in her dealings with Kit. Her carefully erected facade begins to chip away under his continual presence and uncontrollable emotions tumble forth. Emotions, that Daneka has been able to bury and deny the existence of. She chooses instead to concentrate instead on sensations, and uses her erotic dabblings as an outlet.
This story is about their romance. It takes you through their first erotic encounter, to the next professional one, and through the downward spiral of their relationship. This book is an exceedingly volatile roll-coaster ride through the erotic decadence in which their relationship springs forth. Their passion burns hot, and their sexual encounters throughout their travels are each more sensually erotic than the last. But complexity that makes Daneka's character so fascinating, could be the breaking point in the relationship. As worldly as Kit seems to be, Daneka brings a whole other edge, to which in my opinion, proves too much for Kit to handle. Communication is such a fragile thing but it is completely necessary for the growth into something more. Can these two characters climb out of their heads and bring to the table the necessary attributes needed to make this love affair last?
This was a fascinating read. It was erotically off the charts and gives you a taste of the darker side of passion. I enjoyed this book even though many parts of it made me sad. It also makes you reconsider some situations in your own past, and how you may view them differently now. The full picture can be heartbreaking. I'm glad, in the end, that I was able to review this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This story is about their romance. It takes you through their first erotic encounter, to the next professional one, and through the downward spiral of their relationship. This book is an exceedingly volatile roll-coaster ride through the erotic decadence in which their relationship springs forth. Their passion burns hot, and their sexual encounters throughout their travels are each more sensually erotic than the last. But complexity that makes Daneka's character so fascinating, could be the breaking point in the relationship. As worldly as Kit seems to be, Daneka brings a whole other edge, to which in my opinion, proves too much for Kit to handle. Communication is such a fragile thing but it is completely necessary for the growth into something more. Can these two characters climb out of their heads and bring to the table the necessary attributes needed to make this love affair last?
This was a fascinating read. It was erotically off the charts and gives you a taste of the darker side of passion. I enjoyed this book even though many parts of it made me sad. It also makes you reconsider some situations in your own past, and how you may view them differently now. The full picture can be heartbreaking. I'm glad, in the end, that I was able to review this book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 26, 2012
An instant attraction between Daneka and Kit on a chance encounter leads to an affair and a spontaneous European trip that seductively enravishes and endears the reader. The characters are intricate and ignite a sensual mystique that teases and lingers throughout the story. Daneka is a European beauty who is insatiable and Kit is that classic younger red blooded American who can't help but be enchanted by Daneka. The story however has much more to offer. Daneka is haunted by the skeletons in her closet and Kit is consumed in the crossfire. Sadly no happy ending as I had hoped and there was often extra information that I felt elongated the story but captivating none the less.
flounced
September 5, 2013DNF at 22%. This just isn't a book for me. The writing is beautiful and extensive, flowery without being purple. The story told should interest me, but it doesn't. I didn't connect with the MCs, and it's not working for me.
That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you! Please do take a look and give it a shot.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
That doesn't mean it wouldn't work for you! Please do take a look and give it a shot.
I received a free copy of this book from the author.
August 24, 2011
Equal parts brilliant and beautiful with touches of erotic, troubled and heartbreaking - Bittner gives a sublime tale of modern love between 'star-crossed lovers'.
August 7, 2012
NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS BASED ONLY ON THE FIRST 7500 WORDS-- TAKEN FROM MY GHETTO BLOG-- http://first7500words.blogspot.com/
Characters:
3.5/5
Pretty sure this only reflects the fact that Trompe-l’œil (Which will hereby be shortened to "Trompe" because my computer doesn't DO foreign letter codes) is a bit of a slow starter. I assure you, by the end of the 7500 words, characters start to get interesting. Especially Daneka. I really like her. Daneka is the sort of woman who can look at you and know all sorts of shit about you that you never planned to tell her. She's a manipulator, she's clever and conniving and she's the sort of person you probably don't want to have angry at you. She's a business woman and is a managing editor for a magazine. With all of this calculating exterior, I cannot help but to think that it is a mask or a skill, forged and honed by some... THING. Of course, in the first 7500 words, I can neither validate this nor say what that THING might be. Usually characters like Daneka have something in their past. She's an intelligent and powerful woman and just overall a great character who knows exactly how to say things. The subtle art of language is one that should be grasped more often. Then we have Kit, who is a young photographer sort of derping about. He photographs models but all he really cares about is the lighting. The guy has some weird fetish for lighting and this hot model is standing there waiting to be shot, but lighting is all that's on his mind. It reminds me of a memorable quote from my brother: "Who needs girls when you have science?" Except, you know, "light" instead of "science." The characters started off meh, but got a lot better by the end of the 7500 words, so I'd definitely say this is a reason to keep reading.
Setting:
5/5
The setting is fine, we're in New York City. Characters don't space-warp so nothing is ever really confusing. Judging by the mood of the novel, I'd wager a guess that Trompe is more about uh. Life, I suppose. Than any real plot. I'm pretty sure this is an exploration of life and the factors and perils involved.
Plot:
4/5
At first I was like "Where is this goingggg?" but then of course, the issue solved itself. Kit is bad at walking across streets and almost gets his ass pancaked to the road, the driver who almost accidentally hit him gets out of the car and is all "MAH 'POLOGIEZ SIR. I CN REPARE ANY DMG." Kit instantly likes the guy, and I instantly like Kit because he likes the guy. Kit assures that he and his camera are fine and then the woman in the car asks her driver if they can go now, but you know, not before she looks Kit up and down. So we walk around a bit with Kit while he's being all hipster-- well he's probably not actually a hipster, but that's how I am going to picture him-- and then we pop over to Daneka, who is the woman whose driver almost ran Kit over because Kit sucks at crossing streets. We get to learn how cool and bad ass Daneka is and then she asks one of her employees for a favor. She needs a photographer and she doesn't want to use one of the company's guys. And that's when us readers go "Ah, the significance of her almost running the dude over." Daneka does THE UNTHINKABLE and looks for a photographer in a shitty newspaper called "The Village Voice." We're not really sure where this novel is going to go after the first 7500 words, but the characters are finally starting to pick up and obviously Daneka has some sort of PLAN. I don't really have much to say about this. I'm sure wherever Daneka is, shit's cash.
Grammar/Spelling:
5/5
Everything is fine here.
Punctuation:
5/5
I hate semi-colons. No. I hate the way people use semi-colons. People throw semi-colons around as if they were some sort of claim to the literary throne. I usually foam at the mouth when I see a misplaced semi-colon. Or you use semi-colons like Jenelle Schmidt and they make me happy. Bittner uses semi-colons and I respond in this way: "Huh." He uses semi-colons as some really unique ploy to avoid comma legions AND fragmented sentences. So he maintains his voice and style without turning into a Vonnegut or a comma-happy 5th grader. It's strange. I think I like it. You know when somebody has you try a food that you think is going to be awful, and you put it in your mouth and it's not SUPER incredibly amazing but it's also not nearly so terrible as you thought? That's the best way I can describe my reaction. I encourage reading Trompe just for the unique taste of Bittner's writing.
Structure:
5/5
And his writing is pretty nice. In the beginning of the novel, Bittner uses some really damn long sentences that would send a nice "fuck you" to Hawthorne. Well okay, they're not THAT long, but come on, freaking Hawthorne. Hawthorne is the master of the sentence paragraph. Bittner doesn't write sentence paragraphs, for which I am thankful. I bring the hammer down on sentence paragraphs that are ill-formed. Hawthorne, unfortunately, would not receive the hammer. He just gets a slit-eyed glare from me and a "You..." Regardless of how long a few of the sentences are in the very beginning (and only in the very beginning), they're very easy to read. Bittner doesn't overuse commas and the word "and" to write his story. What I'm trying to say is that he writes really well. The first bit is pretty stylized and people just don't write like that any more. Might be your last chance to grab a novel written in your own time with such a voice, just saying.
Potential Beyond 7500 Words:
4/5
I'd definitely suggest giving Trompe a go, but don't expect any lightning fast development stuff. Just calm the hell down, open the first page and take your time. It's okay to calm down every once in awhile, guys. Don't let the first pages turn you off, read a bit farther than you usually do. Trompe won't be everyone's cup of tea, but who drinks tea nowadays? Well yeah, I do. But I also microwave the water to a boil like a tool. The best way to decide whether or not to read Trompe is, like always, to read the sample on Amazon. This is one of the many reasons why the internet is cool.
Characters:
3.5/5
Pretty sure this only reflects the fact that Trompe-l’œil (Which will hereby be shortened to "Trompe" because my computer doesn't DO foreign letter codes) is a bit of a slow starter. I assure you, by the end of the 7500 words, characters start to get interesting. Especially Daneka. I really like her. Daneka is the sort of woman who can look at you and know all sorts of shit about you that you never planned to tell her. She's a manipulator, she's clever and conniving and she's the sort of person you probably don't want to have angry at you. She's a business woman and is a managing editor for a magazine. With all of this calculating exterior, I cannot help but to think that it is a mask or a skill, forged and honed by some... THING. Of course, in the first 7500 words, I can neither validate this nor say what that THING might be. Usually characters like Daneka have something in their past. She's an intelligent and powerful woman and just overall a great character who knows exactly how to say things. The subtle art of language is one that should be grasped more often. Then we have Kit, who is a young photographer sort of derping about. He photographs models but all he really cares about is the lighting. The guy has some weird fetish for lighting and this hot model is standing there waiting to be shot, but lighting is all that's on his mind. It reminds me of a memorable quote from my brother: "Who needs girls when you have science?" Except, you know, "light" instead of "science." The characters started off meh, but got a lot better by the end of the 7500 words, so I'd definitely say this is a reason to keep reading.
Setting:
5/5
The setting is fine, we're in New York City. Characters don't space-warp so nothing is ever really confusing. Judging by the mood of the novel, I'd wager a guess that Trompe is more about uh. Life, I suppose. Than any real plot. I'm pretty sure this is an exploration of life and the factors and perils involved.
Plot:
4/5
At first I was like "Where is this goingggg?" but then of course, the issue solved itself. Kit is bad at walking across streets and almost gets his ass pancaked to the road, the driver who almost accidentally hit him gets out of the car and is all "MAH 'POLOGIEZ SIR. I CN REPARE ANY DMG." Kit instantly likes the guy, and I instantly like Kit because he likes the guy. Kit assures that he and his camera are fine and then the woman in the car asks her driver if they can go now, but you know, not before she looks Kit up and down. So we walk around a bit with Kit while he's being all hipster-- well he's probably not actually a hipster, but that's how I am going to picture him-- and then we pop over to Daneka, who is the woman whose driver almost ran Kit over because Kit sucks at crossing streets. We get to learn how cool and bad ass Daneka is and then she asks one of her employees for a favor. She needs a photographer and she doesn't want to use one of the company's guys. And that's when us readers go "Ah, the significance of her almost running the dude over." Daneka does THE UNTHINKABLE and looks for a photographer in a shitty newspaper called "The Village Voice." We're not really sure where this novel is going to go after the first 7500 words, but the characters are finally starting to pick up and obviously Daneka has some sort of PLAN. I don't really have much to say about this. I'm sure wherever Daneka is, shit's cash.
Grammar/Spelling:
5/5
Everything is fine here.
Punctuation:
5/5
I hate semi-colons. No. I hate the way people use semi-colons. People throw semi-colons around as if they were some sort of claim to the literary throne. I usually foam at the mouth when I see a misplaced semi-colon. Or you use semi-colons like Jenelle Schmidt and they make me happy. Bittner uses semi-colons and I respond in this way: "Huh." He uses semi-colons as some really unique ploy to avoid comma legions AND fragmented sentences. So he maintains his voice and style without turning into a Vonnegut or a comma-happy 5th grader. It's strange. I think I like it. You know when somebody has you try a food that you think is going to be awful, and you put it in your mouth and it's not SUPER incredibly amazing but it's also not nearly so terrible as you thought? That's the best way I can describe my reaction. I encourage reading Trompe just for the unique taste of Bittner's writing.
Structure:
5/5
And his writing is pretty nice. In the beginning of the novel, Bittner uses some really damn long sentences that would send a nice "fuck you" to Hawthorne. Well okay, they're not THAT long, but come on, freaking Hawthorne. Hawthorne is the master of the sentence paragraph. Bittner doesn't write sentence paragraphs, for which I am thankful. I bring the hammer down on sentence paragraphs that are ill-formed. Hawthorne, unfortunately, would not receive the hammer. He just gets a slit-eyed glare from me and a "You..." Regardless of how long a few of the sentences are in the very beginning (and only in the very beginning), they're very easy to read. Bittner doesn't overuse commas and the word "and" to write his story. What I'm trying to say is that he writes really well. The first bit is pretty stylized and people just don't write like that any more. Might be your last chance to grab a novel written in your own time with such a voice, just saying.
Potential Beyond 7500 Words:
4/5
I'd definitely suggest giving Trompe a go, but don't expect any lightning fast development stuff. Just calm the hell down, open the first page and take your time. It's okay to calm down every once in awhile, guys. Don't let the first pages turn you off, read a bit farther than you usually do. Trompe won't be everyone's cup of tea, but who drinks tea nowadays? Well yeah, I do. But I also microwave the water to a boil like a tool. The best way to decide whether or not to read Trompe is, like always, to read the sample on Amazon. This is one of the many reasons why the internet is cool.
March 17, 2015
Title: Trompe L'oeil
Author: Russell Bittner
Publisher/Year:Russell Bittner 1/4/14
Length: 362 pages
Overview
DANEKA SØRENSEN is a Danish transplant to NYC, where she manages her life from an Upper East Side apartment building by night and from the top floor of a mid-town skyscraper by day—ostensibly, all under tight control. KIT ADDISON is a fashion photographer with a sideline penchant for flora and poetry who lives on the Lower East Side. The distance between them, however, is about much more than a mere hundred city blocks.
The first sixty-five pages (other than the "erotic hook" of Chapter 1) are devoted to setting and character development. From that point on, all hell breaks loose.
That said, Russell has always believed that a woman’s most erogenous zone is between her ears. Whatever hell breaks should break only between each such pair of ears.
That’s as much as you need to know about the two principal characters and about the “nature” of this book. The rest will reveal—and unveil—itself in the eighty-two chapters of the story whose journey, incidentally, takes us from New York to Paris, to Lisbon and the coast of Portugal, to Rome and Positano, to Copenhagen and to Bornholm (an island in the Baltic Sea), then finally back to New York City.
About the Author
Russell is first and foremost a father—and quite happily so—of one boy and one girl. The boy is now working his way up onto the silver screen, while the girl continues to practice, practice, practice her way onto the dance stage. I suppose that our little household is not devoid of that special kind of lunacy that adheres to a family of aspiring artists, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just the nature of life here in Brooklyn, New York—which is to say that we’re in no sense unique, unless it be in our peculiar brand of lunacy.
My Thoughts
So....I have to say that all that i've read about what this book was supposed to be compared to and then thorugh reading it to see what it actually was, i think that in my own opinion there's a disconnect. I don't know that i'd put it in the realm of FSOG or those ,but i think that there's an interesting romance here, something that's a bit more intellectual than most other books that i've read. I've actually had to think quite a bit while i'm reading and while i'm not opposed, it's definitely something outside of the norm.
We have these 2 characters that are quite confident in their own stature and where they stand among other professionals in their circles, yet what they are to each other, that's clear in some senses, but it's certainly a game. One that i'm kind of enjoying a bit, but still i don't know that i'm necessarily a huge fan of the overt.
Daneka is a woman who's definitely 'mature' and she's written to seem not just 'old and wise' which i mean in the best sense possible, but she's established, she takes no prisoners and she's the kind of woman that i'd be ok becoming when i 'grow up' since it's not so much that i want to be able to manipulate people like she does, but i can see how it has it's value.
Kit on the other hand, he's quite smart, and talented but i've never quite been able to work him out and i think that's part of the allure with this book. that you know his intentions but not necessarily his motivations.
We are on a nice journey and trip with these guys, trying to sort out what makes sense for them since their worlds are so vastly different from one another, but we see that through the development of a meaningful (of sorts) relationship, there's a way to bridge that gap. Where the conclusion takes us, well that's something that you have to invest yourself in the novel for to get there. so...on that note, i'll leave you with a few links to find this book, the author and all sorts of other great stuff and hopefully you'll enjoy!
Author: Russell Bittner
Publisher/Year:Russell Bittner 1/4/14
Length: 362 pages
Overview
DANEKA SØRENSEN is a Danish transplant to NYC, where she manages her life from an Upper East Side apartment building by night and from the top floor of a mid-town skyscraper by day—ostensibly, all under tight control. KIT ADDISON is a fashion photographer with a sideline penchant for flora and poetry who lives on the Lower East Side. The distance between them, however, is about much more than a mere hundred city blocks.
The first sixty-five pages (other than the "erotic hook" of Chapter 1) are devoted to setting and character development. From that point on, all hell breaks loose.
That said, Russell has always believed that a woman’s most erogenous zone is between her ears. Whatever hell breaks should break only between each such pair of ears.
That’s as much as you need to know about the two principal characters and about the “nature” of this book. The rest will reveal—and unveil—itself in the eighty-two chapters of the story whose journey, incidentally, takes us from New York to Paris, to Lisbon and the coast of Portugal, to Rome and Positano, to Copenhagen and to Bornholm (an island in the Baltic Sea), then finally back to New York City.
About the Author
Russell is first and foremost a father—and quite happily so—of one boy and one girl. The boy is now working his way up onto the silver screen, while the girl continues to practice, practice, practice her way onto the dance stage. I suppose that our little household is not devoid of that special kind of lunacy that adheres to a family of aspiring artists, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s just the nature of life here in Brooklyn, New York—which is to say that we’re in no sense unique, unless it be in our peculiar brand of lunacy.
My Thoughts
So....I have to say that all that i've read about what this book was supposed to be compared to and then thorugh reading it to see what it actually was, i think that in my own opinion there's a disconnect. I don't know that i'd put it in the realm of FSOG or those ,but i think that there's an interesting romance here, something that's a bit more intellectual than most other books that i've read. I've actually had to think quite a bit while i'm reading and while i'm not opposed, it's definitely something outside of the norm.
We have these 2 characters that are quite confident in their own stature and where they stand among other professionals in their circles, yet what they are to each other, that's clear in some senses, but it's certainly a game. One that i'm kind of enjoying a bit, but still i don't know that i'm necessarily a huge fan of the overt.
Daneka is a woman who's definitely 'mature' and she's written to seem not just 'old and wise' which i mean in the best sense possible, but she's established, she takes no prisoners and she's the kind of woman that i'd be ok becoming when i 'grow up' since it's not so much that i want to be able to manipulate people like she does, but i can see how it has it's value.
Kit on the other hand, he's quite smart, and talented but i've never quite been able to work him out and i think that's part of the allure with this book. that you know his intentions but not necessarily his motivations.
We are on a nice journey and trip with these guys, trying to sort out what makes sense for them since their worlds are so vastly different from one another, but we see that through the development of a meaningful (of sorts) relationship, there's a way to bridge that gap. Where the conclusion takes us, well that's something that you have to invest yourself in the novel for to get there. so...on that note, i'll leave you with a few links to find this book, the author and all sorts of other great stuff and hopefully you'll enjoy!
November 6, 2013
(I Received a copy of this book in order to provide a review.)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ordinarily here I would copy in the book blurb, but in this case I find it very wordy, which is much like the rest of the book. Instead I offer you my very brief synopsis:
Meet Daneka Sorenson, a very wealthy Danish transplant to New York City. Enter Kit, a financially poor New York Photographer. After a very short romantic encounter they then don’t see one another for another 11 years, when they are once again thrown together. What follows is a steamy love affair, but with a cloud hanging over the relationship. They leave New York and travel together through many European cities …
“What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter--when not downright nauseating.” (This last bit is taken from the end of the book’s blurb).
MY THOUGHTS:
The book starts very slowly, and even when it reaches speed the book remains a complicated read. It feels as though the author has tried too hard for a colourful array of vocabulary, which ends up confusing and hard work. This comes across as a very intellectual book, which makes it very difficult to place. Whilst it definitely satisfies the criteria for outright erotica, I would have to say that this would be erotica aimed at the highly intellectual reader. This book sits very definitely within the Adult genre, and is not for the faint hearted.
THE STRUCTURE:
The first 20% of the book is given over to a commentary from the author - we don’t meet the characters really until this point – a fifth of the way in. The point of view changes often from one paragraph to the next, with a sudden shift of point of view mid flow on at least two occasions. We start the narrative with a lengthy foreword, and then leap 11 years to the first chapter. More detailed description and commentary follows, and finally – at about 30% of the way into the book – we are introduced properly to Daneka and Kit. However, the wordiness continues, which may explain why this is such a long book – over 160,000 words (approximately 450 pages). The book could do with some further editing, and there are enough instances of inadequate proofing to interrupt the read. Throughout, the dialogue is presented in many and various languages, each instance accompanied by an English translation. One nice touch was the inclusion of links to Youtube for the different pieces of music described, unfortunately – here in the UK at least – not all of those links work.
SUMMARY:
There is no doubt that this writer can write, and has great powers of description. However, the language used in this book is complicated where it could be simple. Whilst there were a few lines that I really liked, for the most part I simply found this book hard work. If you are a highly intellectual reader who enjoys erotica then this would be the book for you. At 450 pages this is never going to be a quick study. This is not a book for the faint hearted, and not just because of the sexuality. There is one scene in which we are treated to an incredibly graphic description of an automobile accident and its physical consequences for the bodies involved. Overall this is a decent enough read, and the author shows potential. He does, however, need to polish and simplify the writing and smooth out a few rough spots. I offer a soft 3 stars for this book.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Ordinarily here I would copy in the book blurb, but in this case I find it very wordy, which is much like the rest of the book. Instead I offer you my very brief synopsis:
Meet Daneka Sorenson, a very wealthy Danish transplant to New York City. Enter Kit, a financially poor New York Photographer. After a very short romantic encounter they then don’t see one another for another 11 years, when they are once again thrown together. What follows is a steamy love affair, but with a cloud hanging over the relationship. They leave New York and travel together through many European cities …
“What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter--when not downright nauseating.” (This last bit is taken from the end of the book’s blurb).
MY THOUGHTS:
The book starts very slowly, and even when it reaches speed the book remains a complicated read. It feels as though the author has tried too hard for a colourful array of vocabulary, which ends up confusing and hard work. This comes across as a very intellectual book, which makes it very difficult to place. Whilst it definitely satisfies the criteria for outright erotica, I would have to say that this would be erotica aimed at the highly intellectual reader. This book sits very definitely within the Adult genre, and is not for the faint hearted.
THE STRUCTURE:
The first 20% of the book is given over to a commentary from the author - we don’t meet the characters really until this point – a fifth of the way in. The point of view changes often from one paragraph to the next, with a sudden shift of point of view mid flow on at least two occasions. We start the narrative with a lengthy foreword, and then leap 11 years to the first chapter. More detailed description and commentary follows, and finally – at about 30% of the way into the book – we are introduced properly to Daneka and Kit. However, the wordiness continues, which may explain why this is such a long book – over 160,000 words (approximately 450 pages). The book could do with some further editing, and there are enough instances of inadequate proofing to interrupt the read. Throughout, the dialogue is presented in many and various languages, each instance accompanied by an English translation. One nice touch was the inclusion of links to Youtube for the different pieces of music described, unfortunately – here in the UK at least – not all of those links work.
SUMMARY:
There is no doubt that this writer can write, and has great powers of description. However, the language used in this book is complicated where it could be simple. Whilst there were a few lines that I really liked, for the most part I simply found this book hard work. If you are a highly intellectual reader who enjoys erotica then this would be the book for you. At 450 pages this is never going to be a quick study. This is not a book for the faint hearted, and not just because of the sexuality. There is one scene in which we are treated to an incredibly graphic description of an automobile accident and its physical consequences for the bodies involved. Overall this is a decent enough read, and the author shows potential. He does, however, need to polish and simplify the writing and smooth out a few rough spots. I offer a soft 3 stars for this book.
November 6, 2013
BOUT THE BOOK:
Ordinarily here I would copy in the book blurb, but in this case I find it very wordy, which is much like the rest of the book. Instead I offer you my very brief synopsis:
Meet Daneka Sorenson, a very wealthy Danish transplant to New York City. Enter Kit, a financially poor New York Photographer. After a very short romantic encounter they then don’t see one another for another 11 years, when they are once again thrown together. What follows is a steamy love affair, but with a cloud hanging over the relationship. They leave New York and travel together through many European cities …
“What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter--when not downright nauseating.” (This last bit is taken from the end of the book’s blurb).
MY THOUGHTS:
The book starts very slowly, and even when it reaches speed the book remains a complicated read. It feels as though the author has tried too hard for a colourful array of vocabulary, which ends up confusing and hard work. This comes across as a very intellectual book, which makes it very difficult to place. Whilst it definitely satisfies the criteria for outright erotica, I would have to say that this would be erotica aimed at the highly intellectual reader. This book sits very definitely within the Adult genre, and is not for the faint hearted.
THE STRUCTURE:
The first 20% of the book is given over to a commentary from the author - we don’t meet the characters really until this point – a fifth of the way in. The point of view changes often from one paragraph to the next, with a sudden shift of point of view mid flow on at least two occasions. We start the narrative with a lengthy foreword, and then leap 11 years to the first chapter. More detailed description and commentary follows, and finally – at about 30% of the way into the book – we are introduced properly to Daneka and Kit. However, the wordiness continues, which may explain why this is such a long book – over 160,000 words (approximately 450 pages). The book could do with some further editing, and there are enough instances of inadequate proofing to interrupt the read. Throughout, the dialogue is presented in many and various languages, each instance accompanied by an English translation. One nice touch was the inclusion of links to Youtube for the different pieces of music described, unfortunately – here in the UK at least – not all of those links work.
SUMMARY:
There is no doubt that this writer can write, and has great powers of description. However, the language used in this book is complicated where it could be simple. Whilst there were a few lines that I really liked, for the most part I simply found this book hard work. If you are a highly intellectual reader who enjoys erotica then this would be the book for you. At 450 pages this is never going to be a quick study. This is not a book for the faint hearted, and not just because of the sexuality. There is one scene in which we are treated to an incredibly graphic description of an automobile accident and its physical consequences for the bodies involved. Overall this is a decent enough read, and the author shows potential. He does, however, need to polish and simplify the writing and smooth out a few rough spots. I offer a soft 3 stars for this book.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
AIA Reviewers
Ordinarily here I would copy in the book blurb, but in this case I find it very wordy, which is much like the rest of the book. Instead I offer you my very brief synopsis:
Meet Daneka Sorenson, a very wealthy Danish transplant to New York City. Enter Kit, a financially poor New York Photographer. After a very short romantic encounter they then don’t see one another for another 11 years, when they are once again thrown together. What follows is a steamy love affair, but with a cloud hanging over the relationship. They leave New York and travel together through many European cities …
“What gradually comes to light in the space of two continents and one return transatlantic flight is that, while love's bite may initially be sweet, the aftertaste may be exceedingly bitter--when not downright nauseating.” (This last bit is taken from the end of the book’s blurb).
MY THOUGHTS:
The book starts very slowly, and even when it reaches speed the book remains a complicated read. It feels as though the author has tried too hard for a colourful array of vocabulary, which ends up confusing and hard work. This comes across as a very intellectual book, which makes it very difficult to place. Whilst it definitely satisfies the criteria for outright erotica, I would have to say that this would be erotica aimed at the highly intellectual reader. This book sits very definitely within the Adult genre, and is not for the faint hearted.
THE STRUCTURE:
The first 20% of the book is given over to a commentary from the author - we don’t meet the characters really until this point – a fifth of the way in. The point of view changes often from one paragraph to the next, with a sudden shift of point of view mid flow on at least two occasions. We start the narrative with a lengthy foreword, and then leap 11 years to the first chapter. More detailed description and commentary follows, and finally – at about 30% of the way into the book – we are introduced properly to Daneka and Kit. However, the wordiness continues, which may explain why this is such a long book – over 160,000 words (approximately 450 pages). The book could do with some further editing, and there are enough instances of inadequate proofing to interrupt the read. Throughout, the dialogue is presented in many and various languages, each instance accompanied by an English translation. One nice touch was the inclusion of links to Youtube for the different pieces of music described, unfortunately – here in the UK at least – not all of those links work.
SUMMARY:
There is no doubt that this writer can write, and has great powers of description. However, the language used in this book is complicated where it could be simple. Whilst there were a few lines that I really liked, for the most part I simply found this book hard work. If you are a highly intellectual reader who enjoys erotica then this would be the book for you. At 450 pages this is never going to be a quick study. This is not a book for the faint hearted, and not just because of the sexuality. There is one scene in which we are treated to an incredibly graphic description of an automobile accident and its physical consequences for the bodies involved. Overall this is a decent enough read, and the author shows potential. He does, however, need to polish and simplify the writing and smooth out a few rough spots. I offer a soft 3 stars for this book.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review
AIA Reviewers
May 13, 2014
I must preface this review by stating my tastes are unique. What the masses generally find appealing in most cases I don't. I am the proverbial salmon swimming against the current constantly. I am not a huge fan of the romance genre. I do prefer my romance stories to be tragic and trying. I detest the sappy, rainbows and puppy dog tails type love story. I am also a newbie to contemporary literature so with this being said here is my personal take on Trompe-l'oeil.
Trompe-l'oeil is extremely well written. Mr. Bittner is obviously an accomplished and talented writer. I adored his style. Mr. Bittner alone could make me a bonafide fan of contemporary literature. His style borders between poetic and classic. His writing is mature but not dummied down like most contemporary writers.
I can't say enough about the character development. Mr. Bittner did an outstanding job in this area. He introduced the characters in such a detailed manner you really had a grip on their thoughts which pulled you into the story even more than his stellar writing style.
Storyline was fabulous. Tragic and trying for sure not to mention a few twists along the way. Where the story fell short for me - the sexual content. I was one of the few out there that was NOT a fan of E.L. James. Erotica just doesn't appeal to me at all. I find that too much takes away from the story and the writing style. Mr. Bittner has writing talent where E.L. James has zero and compensated with her dose of heavy porn content - my opinion. I believe erotic content is best in small doses - less is often more revealing. Leaving something to the imagination is often more alluring and sexy.
I was also turned off by the notion that after initial chemistry and sexual attraction these two determined they were soul mates. Humph! Let's not confuse lust with love - this is the problem with most relationships and I find it so unappealing. Yes, I know this was a "story" but this just didn't do it for me in the least. I once felt I discovered my soul mate via love at first sight - I ended up with a deadbeat daddy. Enough said.
Mr. Bitter is a detailed writer which I appreciate and enjoy but there were moments when the story dragged due to unnecessary descriptive scenes. On the other hand there were areas where given the detailed character descriptions the cohesiveness of the story stalled. I found it a bit choppy and not at all in alignment with the characters M.O.
In summary, I feel if this book was shortened/edited a bit, the erotic content cleaned up in many ways, and more attention to developing the story this could have endless potential.
If you enjoyed E.L. James you will enjoy Trompe-l'oeil thoroughly. Please keep in mind my tastes are very different from the masses. I have zero journalism or writing experience. I am merely a voracious reader with very specific taste. Remember this review is my opinion and opinions vary.
Take the time to read Trompe-l'oeil and determine your own opinion, despite it not being my complete cup of tea it was time well spent with an accomplished and gifted writer.
Trompe-l'oeil is extremely well written. Mr. Bittner is obviously an accomplished and talented writer. I adored his style. Mr. Bittner alone could make me a bonafide fan of contemporary literature. His style borders between poetic and classic. His writing is mature but not dummied down like most contemporary writers.
I can't say enough about the character development. Mr. Bittner did an outstanding job in this area. He introduced the characters in such a detailed manner you really had a grip on their thoughts which pulled you into the story even more than his stellar writing style.
Storyline was fabulous. Tragic and trying for sure not to mention a few twists along the way. Where the story fell short for me - the sexual content. I was one of the few out there that was NOT a fan of E.L. James. Erotica just doesn't appeal to me at all. I find that too much takes away from the story and the writing style. Mr. Bittner has writing talent where E.L. James has zero and compensated with her dose of heavy porn content - my opinion. I believe erotic content is best in small doses - less is often more revealing. Leaving something to the imagination is often more alluring and sexy.
I was also turned off by the notion that after initial chemistry and sexual attraction these two determined they were soul mates. Humph! Let's not confuse lust with love - this is the problem with most relationships and I find it so unappealing. Yes, I know this was a "story" but this just didn't do it for me in the least. I once felt I discovered my soul mate via love at first sight - I ended up with a deadbeat daddy. Enough said.
Mr. Bitter is a detailed writer which I appreciate and enjoy but there were moments when the story dragged due to unnecessary descriptive scenes. On the other hand there were areas where given the detailed character descriptions the cohesiveness of the story stalled. I found it a bit choppy and not at all in alignment with the characters M.O.
In summary, I feel if this book was shortened/edited a bit, the erotic content cleaned up in many ways, and more attention to developing the story this could have endless potential.
If you enjoyed E.L. James you will enjoy Trompe-l'oeil thoroughly. Please keep in mind my tastes are very different from the masses. I have zero journalism or writing experience. I am merely a voracious reader with very specific taste. Remember this review is my opinion and opinions vary.
Take the time to read Trompe-l'oeil and determine your own opinion, despite it not being my complete cup of tea it was time well spent with an accomplished and gifted writer.
November 11, 2012
Review: 'Trompe l'oeil' is the story of Kit and Daneka. The story begins when they meet one afternoon in NYC and have a brief interlude. They meet up again ten plus years later when they get in a brief car accident and Daneka (a successful Danish editor in her 40s) decides to hire Kit (a photographer in his 30s) for a special project. They quickly commence an affair and travel from NY, Paris, Portugal, Italy, Denmark and finally back to NY. During their trip, Kit tries to figure out the layered personality of Daneka and determines if his love for her is enough to keep them together.
After reading the Fifty Shades Trilogy and Bared To You, I read message forums to see what other readers recommended. Many people who detested the 'Fifty' books lauded 'Trompe l'oeil' as erotica for an intelligent person, with an amazing story and layered characters. Well, as readers of this blog know, I'll read just about anything so I downloaded this (luckily a free download from amazon) and jumped in hoping to find a juicy read. This book is well written and it was unique to read a romance written mostly from the male's perspective. What I found challenging was that the book was incredibly boring. So boring that I had to force myself to read and finish it. While the main characters travel throughout Europe, there is a lot of commentary written in foreign languages. I didn't take the time to translate everything (I started to, but it was way too time consuming) and I was able to understand the gist of everything but it was annoying. However, I think the biggest flaw with this book was Daneka herself. She is initially introduced as a successful woman in her mid-40s who knows what she wants in life and goes for it. She is seemingly put together. As the novel progresses, we realize that is anything but the case. However, unlike Christian Grey and Gideon, she had no redeeming qualities that I could ascertain except that was she beautiful and good in bed. She treated Kit horribly almost immediately and it was shocking that he put up with her behavior for as long as he did. Although maybe that is one of the points of the book, that love is blind and we don't choose the people we love? Who knows, but I do know that I despised Daneka by the end of the novel and when we (and Kit) discover her background that lead her to behave as she did, I didn't even care. *spoiler alert* I was so annoyed with her that her committing suicide didn't register for me as a tragic event.
I am shocked at the high reviews on Amazon for this book. Yes, it's well written (I'm giving it a C/3 stars for that purpose and it had it's moments). But I prefer a trashy romance that keeps my interest any day of the week! Okay to skip this one.
Grade: C
After reading the Fifty Shades Trilogy and Bared To You, I read message forums to see what other readers recommended. Many people who detested the 'Fifty' books lauded 'Trompe l'oeil' as erotica for an intelligent person, with an amazing story and layered characters. Well, as readers of this blog know, I'll read just about anything so I downloaded this (luckily a free download from amazon) and jumped in hoping to find a juicy read. This book is well written and it was unique to read a romance written mostly from the male's perspective. What I found challenging was that the book was incredibly boring. So boring that I had to force myself to read and finish it. While the main characters travel throughout Europe, there is a lot of commentary written in foreign languages. I didn't take the time to translate everything (I started to, but it was way too time consuming) and I was able to understand the gist of everything but it was annoying. However, I think the biggest flaw with this book was Daneka herself. She is initially introduced as a successful woman in her mid-40s who knows what she wants in life and goes for it. She is seemingly put together. As the novel progresses, we realize that is anything but the case. However, unlike Christian Grey and Gideon, she had no redeeming qualities that I could ascertain except that was she beautiful and good in bed. She treated Kit horribly almost immediately and it was shocking that he put up with her behavior for as long as he did. Although maybe that is one of the points of the book, that love is blind and we don't choose the people we love? Who knows, but I do know that I despised Daneka by the end of the novel and when we (and Kit) discover her background that lead her to behave as she did, I didn't even care. *spoiler alert* I was so annoyed with her that her committing suicide didn't register for me as a tragic event.
I am shocked at the high reviews on Amazon for this book. Yes, it's well written (I'm giving it a C/3 stars for that purpose and it had it's moments). But I prefer a trashy romance that keeps my interest any day of the week! Okay to skip this one.
Grade: C
September 26, 2016
This was a romance between to very complicated personalities Dorenka Sorensen and Kit Addison.
The sexually contect between these two is off the meter. 1st time he meets a woman 10 years he senior Kit is smitten, and wants what he sees as the most beautiful and incredible woman on Earth. She is Beautiful financially stable and socially successful yet she is an Ice Princess, treating him like he does not mean to her what she means to him. Fate keeps them meeting. 10 years later (in chapter 2) She knows she can have him but wont but her "special project" rekindles their love the roles in this one get reversed as its the man wanting love and the woman having the upper hand. but the action is feverous especially in the beginning. They share a lighter in a subway then a few pages later its on and popping. then 10 years later her car hits his camera and almost him. even then she has her driver get his info. during her special project their romance rekindles and he is consumed by her. after a min cat and mouse dance they take a 2 week trip to France Portugal Italy and Denmark. the various places are masterfully described in the most vivid details as if you were watching a show or given a travelogue. There were a few times however the few different languages as they traveled place to place became kind of frustrating but it actually made me take more time to get into it. THIS WAS A REALLY DEEP READ!!! FULL OF philosophical thoughts and narratives and conversations that had many underlying themes. Kit really discovers his place was different than he believed it was the entire book when he sees those butterflies. I wont ruin it for you and tell you how the on again super hot & passionate - distant and stale & cold folly that was Danika & Kits relationship turns out. But I will say this if you love a mix of Erotica and traditional romance Authors like Daphne Du Maurier or Virginia Wolf. YOU WILL HONESTLY APPRECIATE THIS BOOK FOR THE DEEP complex integral struggle between a man and a woman and knowing what you want as opposed to the effort you think it requires. From that standpoint this was an excellent well written well described book. You could actually taste the Sea Air or bask in a sunse. I take it the Author is a poet as well, or at least poetically gifted. Great Read highly recommend it
The sexually contect between these two is off the meter. 1st time he meets a woman 10 years he senior Kit is smitten, and wants what he sees as the most beautiful and incredible woman on Earth. She is Beautiful financially stable and socially successful yet she is an Ice Princess, treating him like he does not mean to her what she means to him. Fate keeps them meeting. 10 years later (in chapter 2) She knows she can have him but wont but her "special project" rekindles their love the roles in this one get reversed as its the man wanting love and the woman having the upper hand. but the action is feverous especially in the beginning. They share a lighter in a subway then a few pages later its on and popping. then 10 years later her car hits his camera and almost him. even then she has her driver get his info. during her special project their romance rekindles and he is consumed by her. after a min cat and mouse dance they take a 2 week trip to France Portugal Italy and Denmark. the various places are masterfully described in the most vivid details as if you were watching a show or given a travelogue. There were a few times however the few different languages as they traveled place to place became kind of frustrating but it actually made me take more time to get into it. THIS WAS A REALLY DEEP READ!!! FULL OF philosophical thoughts and narratives and conversations that had many underlying themes. Kit really discovers his place was different than he believed it was the entire book when he sees those butterflies. I wont ruin it for you and tell you how the on again super hot & passionate - distant and stale & cold folly that was Danika & Kits relationship turns out. But I will say this if you love a mix of Erotica and traditional romance Authors like Daphne Du Maurier or Virginia Wolf. YOU WILL HONESTLY APPRECIATE THIS BOOK FOR THE DEEP complex integral struggle between a man and a woman and knowing what you want as opposed to the effort you think it requires. From that standpoint this was an excellent well written well described book. You could actually taste the Sea Air or bask in a sunse. I take it the Author is a poet as well, or at least poetically gifted. Great Read highly recommend it
December 12, 2011
Trompe L’oeil by Russell Bittner
Intriguing, Erotic and most recommended
In paintings trompe l’oeil is used to reference what can ‘trick the eye’, in the brilliant tale written by Russell Bittner his words do this to the reader’s mind. This is done in detailed colorful, erotic prose which fills the canvass with a magnificent story through the characters and settings in this book. This is also enhanced by the author’s clever use of various languages and historical data. In as much as I am fluent in some of the languages he used and familiar with others, I trust; in Trompe L’oeil any reader should feel comfortable with the use of foreign language.
The detailed manner cities and resorts are described; whether the urban feel of New York, Paris and Rome or the picturesque scenery of resorts in Portugal and Italy is very thorough and complimented through the food, the history and the cultural mood. The ingenious manner the characters themselves develop and invite the reader into a complicated world; a world that is as much an old tragic love story, as it is a most unique and new tragic love story.
Russell Bittner’s foreshadowing is so clever that even the predictable gets enough of a twist in it as to become surprising. The main characters Daneka and Kit reveal themselves through their intense and erotic sexual encounters as well as by their sophisticated and diverse knowledge exploring the best and the worst, found in us all as individuals and as societies. The secondary characters enhance the tale filling in any gaps and answering any questions a reader may have.
I love a story that leaves no question, where the writer meticulously makes it a point to tie together any and every loose end and give me the satisfaction of a very full picture. The beautiful manner in which the author does this, as a reader left me wanting more of Mr. Bittner’s prose.
M.C.V. Egan
Author The Bridge of Deaths
December 11, 2011
Intriguing, Erotic and most recommended
In paintings trompe l’oeil is used to reference what can ‘trick the eye’, in the brilliant tale written by Russell Bittner his words do this to the reader’s mind. This is done in detailed colorful, erotic prose which fills the canvass with a magnificent story through the characters and settings in this book. This is also enhanced by the author’s clever use of various languages and historical data. In as much as I am fluent in some of the languages he used and familiar with others, I trust; in Trompe L’oeil any reader should feel comfortable with the use of foreign language.
The detailed manner cities and resorts are described; whether the urban feel of New York, Paris and Rome or the picturesque scenery of resorts in Portugal and Italy is very thorough and complimented through the food, the history and the cultural mood. The ingenious manner the characters themselves develop and invite the reader into a complicated world; a world that is as much an old tragic love story, as it is a most unique and new tragic love story.
Russell Bittner’s foreshadowing is so clever that even the predictable gets enough of a twist in it as to become surprising. The main characters Daneka and Kit reveal themselves through their intense and erotic sexual encounters as well as by their sophisticated and diverse knowledge exploring the best and the worst, found in us all as individuals and as societies. The secondary characters enhance the tale filling in any gaps and answering any questions a reader may have.
I love a story that leaves no question, where the writer meticulously makes it a point to tie together any and every loose end and give me the satisfaction of a very full picture. The beautiful manner in which the author does this, as a reader left me wanting more of Mr. Bittner’s prose.
M.C.V. Egan
Author The Bridge of Deaths
December 11, 2011
December 27, 2011
Okay. Let's start, shall we. Russell and I are stable mates from the Next Stop Hollywood franchise. In that book (and I'll not give anything away here) Russell just grabbed your attention by the nuts and squeezed as he put his two characters through a shot, tight wringer of suspense.
This is different.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got the email from Russell about his new book. First off was the long list of co-contributors. Then the translations. The tag at the time was erotica.
Yes, there's erotica in there, and for the first half of the book it would be easy to write it off as a tittilator, but there is much much more hidden in here. Crafted between dalliances and daydreams there is a love story of almost epic proportions going on. Two people who - by some standards - should probably never even meet work through every high and low a relationship can go through, proving (at at least at one time quoted) that a true relationship needs work. Lots of it. It requires understanding, a suspension of judgement and the giving and recieving of trust.
It's a big book. Once the initial sex phase has passed, you get under the characters skins, you understand what makes them tick, what motivates and what drives them on. There are more than a few surprises hidden in here, that alter your thinking as you go through. At times I liked and disliked both of the characters. By the end of the book I knew them, and felt them and understood the why's of their lives.
This is a good book, a long read. Be prepared to put some time in but it is well worth the while.
Congratulations Russell. Job well done.
This is different.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got the email from Russell about his new book. First off was the long list of co-contributors. Then the translations. The tag at the time was erotica.
Yes, there's erotica in there, and for the first half of the book it would be easy to write it off as a tittilator, but there is much much more hidden in here. Crafted between dalliances and daydreams there is a love story of almost epic proportions going on. Two people who - by some standards - should probably never even meet work through every high and low a relationship can go through, proving (at at least at one time quoted) that a true relationship needs work. Lots of it. It requires understanding, a suspension of judgement and the giving and recieving of trust.
It's a big book. Once the initial sex phase has passed, you get under the characters skins, you understand what makes them tick, what motivates and what drives them on. There are more than a few surprises hidden in here, that alter your thinking as you go through. At times I liked and disliked both of the characters. By the end of the book I knew them, and felt them and understood the why's of their lives.
This is a good book, a long read. Be prepared to put some time in but it is well worth the while.
Congratulations Russell. Job well done.
August 9, 2012
I received this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
The opening chapter is really confusing, almost as if the author tried too hard to impress with the array of vocabulary. I think the author was going for eccentric, all I got was confusion.
The writing does clean up a bit further in and becomes less confusing. What bothered me most was the lack of intimacy, and no, I don't mean sex. I mean the depth of the bond between the characters. It was like two old friends, without the deeper connection of a strong friendship. They were IMHO causal friends.
The sex scenes were okay. The story line was okay as well. Just the delivery was confusing. Less fancy words could have replaced the ones chosen and made perfect sense.
Overall A decent read. Author shows potential, just needs to polish the writing and smooth out a few rough spots in the story line.
The opening chapter is really confusing, almost as if the author tried too hard to impress with the array of vocabulary. I think the author was going for eccentric, all I got was confusion.
The writing does clean up a bit further in and becomes less confusing. What bothered me most was the lack of intimacy, and no, I don't mean sex. I mean the depth of the bond between the characters. It was like two old friends, without the deeper connection of a strong friendship. They were IMHO causal friends.
The sex scenes were okay. The story line was okay as well. Just the delivery was confusing. Less fancy words could have replaced the ones chosen and made perfect sense.
Overall A decent read. Author shows potential, just needs to polish the writing and smooth out a few rough spots in the story line.
August 17, 2012
I discovered this book from Mr. Bittner himself on Goodreads.
I was sucked in the moment I began reading. The first night I was up WAY past my bedtime unable to put my Kindle down. (That has not happened in a while.) He was able to create such amazing characters, whose lives (and trists) kept me reading.
This was different than most romanticish stories I normally read. Here, it's not the woman, Daneka, who is the romantic; it's the man, Kit. The woman is the inaccessible lover that Kit just can't seem to reach. Trompe l'oeil is quite the journey with believable characters that you can't help but route for, created by a powerful writer.
I was sucked in the moment I began reading. The first night I was up WAY past my bedtime unable to put my Kindle down. (That has not happened in a while.) He was able to create such amazing characters, whose lives (and trists) kept me reading.
This was different than most romanticish stories I normally read. Here, it's not the woman, Daneka, who is the romantic; it's the man, Kit. The woman is the inaccessible lover that Kit just can't seem to reach. Trompe l'oeil is quite the journey with believable characters that you can't help but route for, created by a powerful writer.
March 13, 2015
wonderful book
Sexy and sophisticated read from Russell Bittner. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an erotic read, but also those that enjoy character-driven fiction. This book wasn't just about sex, though those scenes were hot and nearly left you breathless. I found that I was drawn to the two main characters - their motivations, their failures, their triumphs. Bittner did an excellent job of fleshing out his cast and making it real.
Sexy and sophisticated read from Russell Bittner. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an erotic read, but also those that enjoy character-driven fiction. This book wasn't just about sex, though those scenes were hot and nearly left you breathless. I found that I was drawn to the two main characters - their motivations, their failures, their triumphs. Bittner did an excellent job of fleshing out his cast and making it real.
Read
October 18, 2012Boring, didn't finish it...
August 23, 2012
This is a literate, sexy, page turner. What more could one ask?
January 27, 2014
Erotica for the thoughtful: the secret of a surprising novel
Daneka Sorensen, an attractive woman, and Kit Addison, the handsome younger man, will meet once in New York, and then again, and live what seems a great love story that ends only to make room to what seems will be a greater one that begins with the same scheme, meeting once in New York, and then again, always amidst the sound of foreign languages. In the game of Chinese boxes or in a mise en abîme, a mysterious woman like Daneka has to forcefully mislead the steadfast and loving Kit to become the tantalizing trompe-l'-oeil alluded in the title.
Passionate love scenes described with an extreme art and poetry lead the reader into an unexpected trap: erotica becomes less an instrument to sparking the body than to stirring the soul. Is treachery embedded in women's genes as blind loyalty is carved in a man's heart? Or is it the other way around? In this novel, the Trompe-l'Oeil expands to the mind, bodies glow and fade in the dark, and nothing in the relationship is what it looks like. Russell Bittner stings the reader and provokes a deliberate confusion that will be clarified only after a long trip to Europe and a return to New York. While he amuses and entertains with the landscape, the new languages and foods, he cuts his characters into tiny pieces to make the puzzle even greater. A fine and perceptive writer, Bittner has the proustian talent of detail. Also the drive to get into what interests women and men alike: why love and couples are always so difficult and which is the true matter that keeps them together or sets them apart. Intense and committed to all the stages of love, Daneka and Kit will be characters hard to forget.
The only thing one could demand of Bittner the artist is a higher consciousness of the form. Novels are difficult to build but it's unforgivable that the construction of the second love story, which parallels the first, is not properly framed and misses the parallelism. The recurrent and beautiful motif of trees and gardens could be also put in more relief with no pain, since Bittner as a poet excels in this type of imagery.Other minor details to correct are a certain avoidable length in some parts, the need of a more polished tightness that honors the author's poetic talent, and an unnecessary insistence with the word-by-word translations of foreign languages, all of which a savvy editor could help to fix, for the perfection of a novel which deserves it.
All in all,Trompe l'Oeil will delight all who, having bet on love, can't refrain from exploring the ins and outs of winning or losing.
Daneka Sorensen, an attractive woman, and Kit Addison, the handsome younger man, will meet once in New York, and then again, and live what seems a great love story that ends only to make room to what seems will be a greater one that begins with the same scheme, meeting once in New York, and then again, always amidst the sound of foreign languages. In the game of Chinese boxes or in a mise en abîme, a mysterious woman like Daneka has to forcefully mislead the steadfast and loving Kit to become the tantalizing trompe-l'-oeil alluded in the title.
Passionate love scenes described with an extreme art and poetry lead the reader into an unexpected trap: erotica becomes less an instrument to sparking the body than to stirring the soul. Is treachery embedded in women's genes as blind loyalty is carved in a man's heart? Or is it the other way around? In this novel, the Trompe-l'Oeil expands to the mind, bodies glow and fade in the dark, and nothing in the relationship is what it looks like. Russell Bittner stings the reader and provokes a deliberate confusion that will be clarified only after a long trip to Europe and a return to New York. While he amuses and entertains with the landscape, the new languages and foods, he cuts his characters into tiny pieces to make the puzzle even greater. A fine and perceptive writer, Bittner has the proustian talent of detail. Also the drive to get into what interests women and men alike: why love and couples are always so difficult and which is the true matter that keeps them together or sets them apart. Intense and committed to all the stages of love, Daneka and Kit will be characters hard to forget.
The only thing one could demand of Bittner the artist is a higher consciousness of the form. Novels are difficult to build but it's unforgivable that the construction of the second love story, which parallels the first, is not properly framed and misses the parallelism. The recurrent and beautiful motif of trees and gardens could be also put in more relief with no pain, since Bittner as a poet excels in this type of imagery.Other minor details to correct are a certain avoidable length in some parts, the need of a more polished tightness that honors the author's poetic talent, and an unnecessary insistence with the word-by-word translations of foreign languages, all of which a savvy editor could help to fix, for the perfection of a novel which deserves it.
All in all,Trompe l'Oeil will delight all who, having bet on love, can't refrain from exploring the ins and outs of winning or losing.
February 9, 2015
A FASCINATING MIXTURE OF SENSUALITY AND ROMANTICISM
Before I start my review I feel the urge to clarify that erotica is not my cup of tea. Nevertheless I decided to read TROMPE-l’OEIL for two reasons:
Reason #1: A copy of the book was “gifted” to me by the writer himself in exchange for an honest review.
Reason #2: I already had read “In the Animal Kingdom” by the same writer and was absolutely enthusiastic about Mr. Bittner’s style.
I was charmed by TROMPE-l’OEIL from its first pages; such is the author’s descriptive force; of characters, backdrop, scenery, events, feelings and -- yes! -- sensuality.
While reading the book, I often found myself in its heroes’ shoes, even if -at times- for different reasons and/or from another point of view.
Yet, TROMPE-l’OEIL, considered as erotica, has a great advantage which, in my opinion, might prove to be its one and only disadvantage: while it describes scenes of utmost sexuality, it is at the same time classy. Hence, fans of erotica may feel indifferent or even repulsed by its “intellectuality,” while readers of literary fiction might not choose it because they would not “waste” their time on erotica.
I admit that I’m a big fan of Mr. Bittner’s. That’s because every book or story by him I’ve read so far has the imprint of quality and shines like a diamond among pebbles.
Apart from all the skills of the writer I mentioned above, I most admire R. Bittner’s ability to penetrate the human soul. Actually, his writings remind me of a mirror where we all can see our features /characteristics, whether we like them or not.
One more thought before I close my review: TROMPE-l’OEIL has all the qualities required for a successful film adaptation. Not only can it take you to exotic places, make you empathize with its heroes’ sentiments, even excite you with its sensuality; additionally, and thanks to the author’s psychological insights, it’ll offer you food for thought .
As for me, I believe that it’s only a matter of time for Mr. Bittner to be recognized as a talented, worthy writer.
I hope this happens soon because he absolutely deserves it!
Before I start my review I feel the urge to clarify that erotica is not my cup of tea. Nevertheless I decided to read TROMPE-l’OEIL for two reasons:
Reason #1: A copy of the book was “gifted” to me by the writer himself in exchange for an honest review.
Reason #2: I already had read “In the Animal Kingdom” by the same writer and was absolutely enthusiastic about Mr. Bittner’s style.
I was charmed by TROMPE-l’OEIL from its first pages; such is the author’s descriptive force; of characters, backdrop, scenery, events, feelings and -- yes! -- sensuality.
While reading the book, I often found myself in its heroes’ shoes, even if -at times- for different reasons and/or from another point of view.
Yet, TROMPE-l’OEIL, considered as erotica, has a great advantage which, in my opinion, might prove to be its one and only disadvantage: while it describes scenes of utmost sexuality, it is at the same time classy. Hence, fans of erotica may feel indifferent or even repulsed by its “intellectuality,” while readers of literary fiction might not choose it because they would not “waste” their time on erotica.
I admit that I’m a big fan of Mr. Bittner’s. That’s because every book or story by him I’ve read so far has the imprint of quality and shines like a diamond among pebbles.
Apart from all the skills of the writer I mentioned above, I most admire R. Bittner’s ability to penetrate the human soul. Actually, his writings remind me of a mirror where we all can see our features /characteristics, whether we like them or not.
One more thought before I close my review: TROMPE-l’OEIL has all the qualities required for a successful film adaptation. Not only can it take you to exotic places, make you empathize with its heroes’ sentiments, even excite you with its sensuality; additionally, and thanks to the author’s psychological insights, it’ll offer you food for thought .
As for me, I believe that it’s only a matter of time for Mr. Bittner to be recognized as a talented, worthy writer.
I hope this happens soon because he absolutely deserves it!
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