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Found Objects
Aldo Zoria is a successful commercial photographer who lives in a happy menage a trois with his wife and their lover along with the lover's two young children. Domestic bliss shatters when an unexpected guest arrives.
Found Objects tells a story of struggle between values and instincts, ideals and reality, whom we strive to become and whom we are born to be.
Found Objects tells a story of struggle between values and instincts, ideals and reality, whom we strive to become and whom we are born to be.
- GenresAdult FictionFiction
268 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Peter Gelfan
4 books29 followersPeter Gelfan is a novelist, screenwriter, book editor, and writing teacher. He was born in New York City, grew up in New Haven and the New York suburbs, and has lived in Spain, England, Florida, and Vermont.
He wrote the screenplay for Cargo, Les Hommes Perdus, which was produced and released in France in 2010. Found Objects, his debut novel, came out in 2013. His second novel, Monkey Temple, was published in February 2019. The first edition of his nonfiction book Hurling Words into Darkness: A Book Doctor's Dose of Brain Science for Writers was published in 2021; a revised second edition will be released in fall of 2022. He volunteers as a writing tutor in a New York City public high school.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 4, 2012
I won this book in a giveaway and agreed to an honest review.
For the first half of the book I kept waiting for some twist, some extreme circumstance to happen, but then I came to realize that this isn't that kind of book. Instead this is a character driven, intellectual exploration into the what if's. What if a man had two women in his life? But they also have each other, would this be perfect? But then, enters another man, who suddenly wants to be part of this too. Does he have the right? Can the two men share this dynamic? This book illuminates the push and pull of the cerebral and emotional aspects of dual, or quadruple intimacy.
The characters were well developed, realistic and flawed. Their unique circumstance brushes against societal norms and the story gives a snap shot of what kind of daily issues would occur, and I admit, my voyeuristic inner me...was curious.
Interesting, complicated, thought provoking.
For the first half of the book I kept waiting for some twist, some extreme circumstance to happen, but then I came to realize that this isn't that kind of book. Instead this is a character driven, intellectual exploration into the what if's. What if a man had two women in his life? But they also have each other, would this be perfect? But then, enters another man, who suddenly wants to be part of this too. Does he have the right? Can the two men share this dynamic? This book illuminates the push and pull of the cerebral and emotional aspects of dual, or quadruple intimacy.
The characters were well developed, realistic and flawed. Their unique circumstance brushes against societal norms and the story gives a snap shot of what kind of daily issues would occur, and I admit, my voyeuristic inner me...was curious.
Interesting, complicated, thought provoking.
December 29, 2013
This book is different for me as it is told in the first person from an active character's point of view. So, it took me a little extra time to grasp the flow and how the main characters truly interrelated with each other. When I did, I could hardly put the book down. The characters are exceptionally real and substantial. The stresses and tensions are palpable; the sexual highs were delightful. The only possible down element I might mention is that some internal tensions from the narrator seem to repeat, leaving me a bit perplexed. Nevertheless, a broader perspective became available to me as my immersion within this story grew. I even started to grasp the narrator's issues leaving me open to uncover wonderful beauties within the group even though this is being presented by the narrator who is part of the original threesome. I was able to let this remarkable romance percolate, letting me feel confident about saying this is a solid thumbs up!
Aldo is a freelance photographer at the current time and the 'narrator' of this book. I got to know how he clicked and perfected his ability to put together some impressive advertising campaigns. He loves to read. He is a pretty good cook and holds his own when it is his turn to prepare dinner. He has come to adore the area of Vermont where he and Erica, his wife, came to settle. He has an interesting collection of strengths, weaknesses, and perceptive acuity. Since everything I got to know about him, Erica, Marie, Dominic, Jasmine, and eventually Jonah, is filtered through Aldo's perceptions, I was frequently reworking my thoughts about folks. My feelings, discomforts, and joy is often at odds with his personal viewpoint. I enjoyed jostling with Aldo and I would have adored becoming the fifth member of this group! I never felt that close to an author before, but this first person presentation is a startlingly intricate and dramatically intimate relationship. I would often immediately fall into agreeing with his personalized presentation before I retrieved myself, separated myself from him so I could see him as just one of the cast. Eventually, I was very impressed with how the author gave me this sort of double edged sword wherein I walk in Aldo's skin and at other times I am with him shoulder to shoulder or eye to eye.
Erica is Aldo's wife and a woman of color. That fact came gently into my awareness when all three adults are getting into bed for the first time within the narration. According to Aldo, his relationship with Erica was having trouble before Marie and her children Dom and Jas joined the household. She and Aldo truly love Marie on all levels. Naturally, there are tiffs and tussles, but this feels like a perfect trio. I found Erica the hardest to come close to and I put that situation completely on Aldo's shoulders as I thought he was a bit skimpy with Erica's presentation.
Marie is the mother of Dominic, Dom, and Jasmine Jas, and is an important central character around which the entire book revolves. She is not an angel, but she is a very loving soul, and an affectionate and dutiful mother. Her loving relationship with Aldo and Erica is immediately put to the test at the end of chapter one.
Jonah, Marie's husband, arrives at the end of chapter one. He is very difficult to get a good handle on, because Aldo is afraid he will take Marie and the children away from him and Erica. Aldo frequently holds thoughts of obliterating Jonah to the far reaches of the universe. Yet, there are some interesting bonding episodes between Aldo and Jonah. Jonah shows his best side to me through Aldo's rendering of Jonah dealing with his son. The Jonah 'issue' is a brilliant addition to this narrative and I tip my hat to the author for creating this fascinating foursome.
NOTE: This book was provided by Nortia Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Aldo is a freelance photographer at the current time and the 'narrator' of this book. I got to know how he clicked and perfected his ability to put together some impressive advertising campaigns. He loves to read. He is a pretty good cook and holds his own when it is his turn to prepare dinner. He has come to adore the area of Vermont where he and Erica, his wife, came to settle. He has an interesting collection of strengths, weaknesses, and perceptive acuity. Since everything I got to know about him, Erica, Marie, Dominic, Jasmine, and eventually Jonah, is filtered through Aldo's perceptions, I was frequently reworking my thoughts about folks. My feelings, discomforts, and joy is often at odds with his personal viewpoint. I enjoyed jostling with Aldo and I would have adored becoming the fifth member of this group! I never felt that close to an author before, but this first person presentation is a startlingly intricate and dramatically intimate relationship. I would often immediately fall into agreeing with his personalized presentation before I retrieved myself, separated myself from him so I could see him as just one of the cast. Eventually, I was very impressed with how the author gave me this sort of double edged sword wherein I walk in Aldo's skin and at other times I am with him shoulder to shoulder or eye to eye.
Erica is Aldo's wife and a woman of color. That fact came gently into my awareness when all three adults are getting into bed for the first time within the narration. According to Aldo, his relationship with Erica was having trouble before Marie and her children Dom and Jas joined the household. She and Aldo truly love Marie on all levels. Naturally, there are tiffs and tussles, but this feels like a perfect trio. I found Erica the hardest to come close to and I put that situation completely on Aldo's shoulders as I thought he was a bit skimpy with Erica's presentation.
Marie is the mother of Dominic, Dom, and Jasmine Jas, and is an important central character around which the entire book revolves. She is not an angel, but she is a very loving soul, and an affectionate and dutiful mother. Her loving relationship with Aldo and Erica is immediately put to the test at the end of chapter one.
Jonah, Marie's husband, arrives at the end of chapter one. He is very difficult to get a good handle on, because Aldo is afraid he will take Marie and the children away from him and Erica. Aldo frequently holds thoughts of obliterating Jonah to the far reaches of the universe. Yet, there are some interesting bonding episodes between Aldo and Jonah. Jonah shows his best side to me through Aldo's rendering of Jonah dealing with his son. The Jonah 'issue' is a brilliant addition to this narrative and I tip my hat to the author for creating this fascinating foursome.
NOTE: This book was provided by Nortia Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 9, 2016
I picked up this book at the LA Times Festival of Books. I suppose I was drawn to it because it was about a nontraditional relationship--two women and a man--but honestly, I was caught up in a conversation with the publisher and liked him so much I thought I'd buy a book to support his endeavor.
I finished the book on the corner of 18th & Castro in San Francisco's historic gay district heading to a queer youth organization's open house that is just a few blocks from my home. Perhaps people who aren't surrounded by this much sexuality and gender diversity on a daily basis would read Found Objects as an eye-opening look into another world, but I found the scenario to be quite lacking in complexity. The narrator is a man, Aldo, in a relationship with two women. When another man enters the picture, Aldo gets possessive. It's a pretty simple and primal story and I wanted more agency granted to the women and more intellect granted to the men.
Then there was the subject of race. One of the women is black and this comes up tangentially, but not in relation to the core of the book, the relationship. And also the subject of place. The book was set in Vermont, my home state, but I never felt at home, never felt as if I was right there slapping black flies on my legs and sipping in the heavy summer air.
The book hit many philosophical and intelligent points, questions, and situations, but the dialogue and scenes felt forced and contrived. I wonder if this is because the author was writing from experience (sometimes reality sounds more fake than fiction) or if he just wanted to try an edgy story without knowing quite what it's like. Either way, instead of being in the moment with the characters, I was aware of the author crafting the moment.
But it's easy to be a critic, easy to demolish what took so much to build. And honestly, I was reading two other books at the same time, but put them down to read this one in three days, which says a lot about the author's ability to keep his reader turning pages. And these stories of the nontraditional relationship are extremely important to have in the world, to "normalize" and acknowledge what we so often keep to ourselves, behind our curtains, or suppressed inside of us.
I finished the book on the corner of 18th & Castro in San Francisco's historic gay district heading to a queer youth organization's open house that is just a few blocks from my home. Perhaps people who aren't surrounded by this much sexuality and gender diversity on a daily basis would read Found Objects as an eye-opening look into another world, but I found the scenario to be quite lacking in complexity. The narrator is a man, Aldo, in a relationship with two women. When another man enters the picture, Aldo gets possessive. It's a pretty simple and primal story and I wanted more agency granted to the women and more intellect granted to the men.
Then there was the subject of race. One of the women is black and this comes up tangentially, but not in relation to the core of the book, the relationship. And also the subject of place. The book was set in Vermont, my home state, but I never felt at home, never felt as if I was right there slapping black flies on my legs and sipping in the heavy summer air.
The book hit many philosophical and intelligent points, questions, and situations, but the dialogue and scenes felt forced and contrived. I wonder if this is because the author was writing from experience (sometimes reality sounds more fake than fiction) or if he just wanted to try an edgy story without knowing quite what it's like. Either way, instead of being in the moment with the characters, I was aware of the author crafting the moment.
But it's easy to be a critic, easy to demolish what took so much to build. And honestly, I was reading two other books at the same time, but put them down to read this one in three days, which says a lot about the author's ability to keep his reader turning pages. And these stories of the nontraditional relationship are extremely important to have in the world, to "normalize" and acknowledge what we so often keep to ourselves, behind our curtains, or suppressed inside of us.
January 20, 2013
A favorite quote of mine is from Oscar Wilde: "Be yourself. Everyone else is taken." In Found Objects, Peter Gelfan explores the myriad ways this is easier said than done. Society has expectations, our community or neighborhood has expectations, the people we care about have expectations -- even without all that, we'd still have to figure out what we really want out of life and relationships.
Photographer Aldo Zoria lives happily with his wife Erica and their lover, Marie, and Marie's two children. It's an unorthodox family but a very loving one: the children get extra care and attention, while jealousies and power plays among the adults are rarer than one usually finds in most traditional marriages. Then Marie's estranged husband, Jonah, turns up, and throws it all into chaos.
Gelfan's novel is quietly complex, filled with real people in situations you have to wonder how you'd handle yourself. Aldo, Erica and Marie may be slightly more communicative than most, but in a family dynamic this far from "Father Knows Best" you begin to realize such honesty is the only way they even stand a chance of making it work, and you want them to make it work.
What I loved most was how fair the author was to all his characters. There are no villains, just intelligent, loving people trying to a) puzzle out what they want and b) get it without causing too much destruction on the way. (Though for the record, that didn't stop me from hating Jonah for his monkey-wrenching, however inadvertent.)
Found Objects is original, well-written, smart, and complicated, and I recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human relationships.
Photographer Aldo Zoria lives happily with his wife Erica and their lover, Marie, and Marie's two children. It's an unorthodox family but a very loving one: the children get extra care and attention, while jealousies and power plays among the adults are rarer than one usually finds in most traditional marriages. Then Marie's estranged husband, Jonah, turns up, and throws it all into chaos.
Gelfan's novel is quietly complex, filled with real people in situations you have to wonder how you'd handle yourself. Aldo, Erica and Marie may be slightly more communicative than most, but in a family dynamic this far from "Father Knows Best" you begin to realize such honesty is the only way they even stand a chance of making it work, and you want them to make it work.
What I loved most was how fair the author was to all his characters. There are no villains, just intelligent, loving people trying to a) puzzle out what they want and b) get it without causing too much destruction on the way. (Though for the record, that didn't stop me from hating Jonah for his monkey-wrenching, however inadvertent.)
Found Objects is original, well-written, smart, and complicated, and I recommend it to anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human relationships.
December 6, 2012
With the frontispiece quote from the poem "Tonight I Watched" by Sappho, the mood is set for this hauntingly written novel of beauty, loneliness and self-discovery.
Aldo is having a tough time adjusting to a major change in his life and his first person narrative explores the moral, philosophical and practical challenges of living a complicated alternative lifestyle. Things start out joyful and fulfilling for Aldo, his wife, their lover and her two children, but quickly become confusing and uncomfortable when an unexpected guest arrives unannounced.
Full of humor and deftly drawn characters, the novel explores the complexity of relationships forged between adults, adults and their children, and between a family unit and the community in which they live. Social questions are posed in this novel such as: what makes a family? what is moral? what is marriage? what makes a parent? These questions are pondered in a provocative and interesting way from the viewpoint of the main character and the reader is carried along for the journey.
I found the novel to be difficult to put down and read it in a couple of days. I will probably pick it up again in a few weeks and read it at a more leisurely pace to fully digest all the philosophical questions.
I recommend this novel to anyone who seeks to more fully understand themselves and their relationships with others. For, in the end, this is a book about being human and learning to accept yourself for who you are, even when who you are is a riddle.
Aldo is having a tough time adjusting to a major change in his life and his first person narrative explores the moral, philosophical and practical challenges of living a complicated alternative lifestyle. Things start out joyful and fulfilling for Aldo, his wife, their lover and her two children, but quickly become confusing and uncomfortable when an unexpected guest arrives unannounced.
Full of humor and deftly drawn characters, the novel explores the complexity of relationships forged between adults, adults and their children, and between a family unit and the community in which they live. Social questions are posed in this novel such as: what makes a family? what is moral? what is marriage? what makes a parent? These questions are pondered in a provocative and interesting way from the viewpoint of the main character and the reader is carried along for the journey.
I found the novel to be difficult to put down and read it in a couple of days. I will probably pick it up again in a few weeks and read it at a more leisurely pace to fully digest all the philosophical questions.
I recommend this novel to anyone who seeks to more fully understand themselves and their relationships with others. For, in the end, this is a book about being human and learning to accept yourself for who you are, even when who you are is a riddle.
July 17, 2013
When a book earns that fourth or fifth star from me you can trust that something stuck in my mind weeks after the last page was turned. This is one book I couldn't put down even after I'd placed it back on my library shelf. I could still hear these friends negotiate and posture for what they needed and valued. I felt concerned about the children and their school experiences while this non-traditional family refused to acquiesce to the ridged worries of traditional educators. I continued to wonder what would happen in this unusual family structure in the distant future, after the book ended. Now I want to reread "Found Objects" because I want to know, to study, how Peter Gelfan so smoothly hooked, convinced, and drew me into a situation, a way of life, which I would have have previously scoff as unbelievable.
May 31, 2013
Curl up on the sofa with Found Objects, but don’t expect to be comfortable. The book will challenge you. The characters and plot are always pushing and pulling, trying to get you out of your comfort zone. Peter Gelfan’s prose is like sculpture. Think of Michelangelo crawling all over a block of marble, chiseling away everything that’s not David. Outstanding read.
January 24, 2014
This beautifully written novel is full of surprises. I don't mean the melodramatic, soap-opera-y kind, but the true surprises of character that make good fiction worth reading. I recommend it highly. You will not always love the characters, but you they will live in your head for a long time.
June 17, 2018
2.5 stars. I added the .5 because I can't dispute that the book is well-written and on some pages quite insightful and profound. But I just couldn't muster up much sympathy for poor Aldo when another man (with a connection important enough to allow for his showing up) intrudes upon Aldo's cozy menage a trois. Aldo is basically selfish and the world he's created for himself allows him to be. He doesn't want to give up his wife, but boy is he happy to have a new model in his bed as well. He doesn't care that he doesn't have children of his own, but there are a couple of nice kids around to satisfy some innate paternal instincts. He works from (a beautiful) home in a private setting so makes his own hours and answers mostly to himself. How dare someone mess that up for him? But when convenient, he and the new guy run off for the day and leave the women to deal with the inconveniences. I felt sorry for the kids in their confusing situation. Didn't really like any of the characters -- can't see being friends with any of them. Just couldn't get invested in this one.
August 28, 2013
This is a really hard book to review, along the same lines as Tampa. Although both books deal with uncomfortable sexual settings, this one throws in philosophical discussions, marriage issues, discussions about race, childrearing practices, etc. It's well written and everyone will pick up some new vocabulary words.
So the setting made me uncomfortable--it's a true ménage a trois of Aldo, Erica and Marie. No, let me rephrase that. There's Aldo, and Erica "his" wife and Marie, "his" lover. Aldo and Erica are married and Marie has two children who live with them. When the parents are called to school about Dom, Marie's son, Erica stresses how all three of them are the parents. I disagree with that--a child can be loved by many people but only one or two are parents who call the shots and make the final decisions. Loving a child doesn't confer parental rights. This was just one tiny aspect of the story.
So Jonah--the husband who walked out on Marie years earlier--walks back in. Many clashes ensue and the ending was unexpected. I don't consider this group a family in any sense of the word.
I'm still puzzling over the title. Erica and Aldo met at an art exhibit that showed UFOs, unidentified found objects, about junk and garbage that were displayed as art. Were they then art? Erica also picks up random things and displays them together. So of course that can apply to this group...but people are different than randon bits and pieces aren't thay?
One thing that kept grating on me was the music that played in the bedroom--a small detail that perhaps was to clue you in on how smart Aldo was. Maybe he was booksmart, but not people smart. Everyone was wayyyyy too polite, that's for sure. Think about it, even a king sized bed is going to be crowded w/4 adults.
So the setting made me uncomfortable--it's a true ménage a trois of Aldo, Erica and Marie. No, let me rephrase that. There's Aldo, and Erica "his" wife and Marie, "his" lover. Aldo and Erica are married and Marie has two children who live with them. When the parents are called to school about Dom, Marie's son, Erica stresses how all three of them are the parents. I disagree with that--a child can be loved by many people but only one or two are parents who call the shots and make the final decisions. Loving a child doesn't confer parental rights. This was just one tiny aspect of the story.
So Jonah--the husband who walked out on Marie years earlier--walks back in. Many clashes ensue and the ending was unexpected. I don't consider this group a family in any sense of the word.
I'm still puzzling over the title. Erica and Aldo met at an art exhibit that showed UFOs, unidentified found objects, about junk and garbage that were displayed as art. Were they then art? Erica also picks up random things and displays them together. So of course that can apply to this group...but people are different than randon bits and pieces aren't thay?
One thing that kept grating on me was the music that played in the bedroom--a small detail that perhaps was to clue you in on how smart Aldo was. Maybe he was booksmart, but not people smart. Everyone was wayyyyy too polite, that's for sure. Think about it, even a king sized bed is going to be crowded w/4 adults.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2013
"My ninth-grade English teacher once assigned the class an essay on The Ideal Family. What the teacher expected, and what the other kids delivered, was Dad goes to work in a suit and tie ... Mom works part-time ...Timmy and Tammy help with recycling and do their homework .... My family life was nothing like that." Aldo Zoria, remembering.
The family lives comfortably in rural Vermont, the adults share household and parenting duties and a carefully created life. Dinners are eaten on the screened porch behind the house, conversations include the coming school year and what it means when things happen beyond our control. Their world is filled with misty evening fields, golden green hills in the distance, barn swallows and cats hoping for a handout. There are five of them, three adults and the two young children; a boy named Dom and his sister Jasmine. Marie is their mother.
Aldo Zoria, a successful edgy photographer is the careful narrator. He and Erica are married, have been married for a number of years. The adults, Marie and Aldo and Erica are portrayed as caring, respectful and intelligent. They are also lovers, a threesome, have been for a year. But change is headed their way. It arrives, as it often does, quietly and unannounced. Their peaceful existence will be forever interrupted by an unexpected guest who turns their world upside down. There will be no going back.
The author Peter Gelfan has chosen an unconventional story, he tells it well and tastefully. The writing flows swiftly, yet is economical and rather captivating. I predict readers will enjoy this up close view of a family forced to deal with their emotions and the inevitable fallout from their domestic decisions.
An advanced uncorrected reader's proof of this novel was provided by the publisher, Nortia Press, for review purposes. The words contained here are my own.
September 9, 2013
I’m going to start with a quote plucked from the Wikipedia article on polyamory:
"Polyamory, often abbreviated as poly, is often described as "consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy." The word is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic."
This is the situation Aldo, his wife Erica, and their mutual lover, Marie, have. Throw in Jasmine and Dominic, Marie’s two kids, and we’ve got one big, happy, and very nontraditional family.
Wikipedia also says that “People who identify as polyamorous typically reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships.” A 2009 article Newsweek Magazine Online contended that there were more than 500,000 polyamorous relationships in the US at that time. It doesn’t work for me, but apparently it does for some people, and it appeared to be working for Aldo, Erica, and Marie. At least it was until their delicate balance was upset by a visit from Jonah, the husband who had abandoned Marie and her kids.
If this book doesn’t get you thinking about relationships, families, and what separates the good from the not, you weren’t paying attention. If that happens, the “Questions for Discussion” section at the end might help (as well as being a good starting point for your book club’s discussion). One of those questions is, “Some reviewers saw Found Objects as a cautionary tale, others as a challenge to conventional mores. How did it work for you?” Can I pick both?
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
"Polyamory, often abbreviated as poly, is often described as "consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy." The word is sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic."
This is the situation Aldo, his wife Erica, and their mutual lover, Marie, have. Throw in Jasmine and Dominic, Marie’s two kids, and we’ve got one big, happy, and very nontraditional family.
Wikipedia also says that “People who identify as polyamorous typically reject the view that sexual and relational exclusivity are necessary for deep, committed, long-term loving relationships.” A 2009 article Newsweek Magazine Online contended that there were more than 500,000 polyamorous relationships in the US at that time. It doesn’t work for me, but apparently it does for some people, and it appeared to be working for Aldo, Erica, and Marie. At least it was until their delicate balance was upset by a visit from Jonah, the husband who had abandoned Marie and her kids.
If this book doesn’t get you thinking about relationships, families, and what separates the good from the not, you weren’t paying attention. If that happens, the “Questions for Discussion” section at the end might help (as well as being a good starting point for your book club’s discussion). One of those questions is, “Some reviewers saw Found Objects as a cautionary tale, others as a challenge to conventional mores. How did it work for you?” Can I pick both?
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
January 31, 2013
A well crafted story of family life in a unique point of view.
In this novel by Peter Gelfan, the author describes a unique family situation. Aldo and Erica are married and have no children. They live in rural Vermont.
When Marie’s husband leaves her, Erica invites her and her 2 children to join them. She does and they quickly form a family unit. This unit evolves into a menage a trois for the adults. Which incites some curiosity from the community they live in.
Then Marie’s husband Jonah returns to the family. This, in turn, creates a new dynamic that evolves as time goes on.
The story is told by Aldo, so there is much one can only guess at. He is a photographer and very introspective. Erica is a writer and Marie works part time at a local store. They all share in household chores as well as child rearing duties. Jonah’s appearance realigns the chores some, but not much as he is not allowed to step right back in where he left off as he needs to re-establish his relationship with Marie and the kids.
I found the book interesting but not one I would have chosen to read. It was well written and easy to read but not one I would have necessarily finished had I picked it up at random. I can see that it will make a great book group selection. Not just because of the relationship issues but also because of all the life issues that are brought up/contemplated/ discussed among the characters.
The book was sent to me by the publisher and I was not compensated in any way to post this review.
In this novel by Peter Gelfan, the author describes a unique family situation. Aldo and Erica are married and have no children. They live in rural Vermont.
When Marie’s husband leaves her, Erica invites her and her 2 children to join them. She does and they quickly form a family unit. This unit evolves into a menage a trois for the adults. Which incites some curiosity from the community they live in.
Then Marie’s husband Jonah returns to the family. This, in turn, creates a new dynamic that evolves as time goes on.
The story is told by Aldo, so there is much one can only guess at. He is a photographer and very introspective. Erica is a writer and Marie works part time at a local store. They all share in household chores as well as child rearing duties. Jonah’s appearance realigns the chores some, but not much as he is not allowed to step right back in where he left off as he needs to re-establish his relationship with Marie and the kids.
I found the book interesting but not one I would have chosen to read. It was well written and easy to read but not one I would have necessarily finished had I picked it up at random. I can see that it will make a great book group selection. Not just because of the relationship issues but also because of all the life issues that are brought up/contemplated/ discussed among the characters.
The book was sent to me by the publisher and I was not compensated in any way to post this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2013
What a book! All throughout reading Gelfan's Found Objects I wondered just which way I would review it. Perhaps I wasn't in agreement with his characters' life style choices - I was uncomfortable with them, very uncomfortable - but that doesn't change the fact that the book is brilliantly written. So I had to step away from my own judgmental issues and step out of myself.
Aldo, the main character and narrator is a successful freelance photographer in the advertising industry. The story of his process is fascinating in itself. His work, very provocative. I loved it.
He has these spots of philosophizing that lift the book high above the ordinary. I wanted to underline! Beautiful sentences.
Every other member of his family is interesting in and of themselves. That's a good thing because you are going to be living with them long after you turn the last page. That's not to say that they are not flawed. I saw Aldo as particularly selfish. The three adults in the household live together as sexual and romantic partners. An errant husband who is the father of the two children in the house, Jonah, shows up and is added. Everything about him was jarring to me and I felt threatened as did the characters. The two children. That's where my problem was. Obviously aware of the bedroom situation and finding that it was very public knowledge, I think that the boy struggled. How will this affect them?
There is a snapping point. Snap.
There is no lag anywhere, nowhere to say, "I'll come back and finish this later." No. Deep breath and jump in.
Aldo, the main character and narrator is a successful freelance photographer in the advertising industry. The story of his process is fascinating in itself. His work, very provocative. I loved it.
He has these spots of philosophizing that lift the book high above the ordinary. I wanted to underline! Beautiful sentences.
Every other member of his family is interesting in and of themselves. That's a good thing because you are going to be living with them long after you turn the last page. That's not to say that they are not flawed. I saw Aldo as particularly selfish. The three adults in the household live together as sexual and romantic partners. An errant husband who is the father of the two children in the house, Jonah, shows up and is added. Everything about him was jarring to me and I felt threatened as did the characters. The two children. That's where my problem was. Obviously aware of the bedroom situation and finding that it was very public knowledge, I think that the boy struggled. How will this affect them?
There is a snapping point. Snap.
There is no lag anywhere, nowhere to say, "I'll come back and finish this later." No. Deep breath and jump in.
January 24, 2013
Found Objects by Peter Gelfan is a novel about love. It sounds simple. But love is very, very complicated even between two people. What about three or even four people? What about the added stress of kids, neighbors, work, etc. Aldo Zoria is a man with a wife named Erica. Marie and her two children, Dom and Jas, came to live with them as a family when Jonah abandoned them. What happens when Jonah suddenly appears? Can this ménage à trois turn into a ménage à quatre?
I know for some the topic might be quite shocking. But once you get into Aldo's thoughts you begin to understand his justification, fear, and such. Aldo is a very scientific man. He reads, listens to classical music, is a photographer, is marred to Erica, etc. I loved being sucked into this thought process. Reading how Aldo came to terms with their complicated relationship was intriguing.
I also got to see the relationship from the others' point of view. It was truly titillating. I read the ebook in two or three days. I wanted to see if Aldo could accept another male into the relationship, or if he would become a hypocrite. I also wanted to see if Marie was going to stay in the ménage à trois, go back to Jonah, or what. There was so much I wanted to know!
I loved all of the characters. They felt like real people. It was like a good indie movie you'd see on IFC or Sundance. The pace was right. The plot is quite unconventional and thought provoking. Found Objects by Peter Gelfan is compelling!
I know for some the topic might be quite shocking. But once you get into Aldo's thoughts you begin to understand his justification, fear, and such. Aldo is a very scientific man. He reads, listens to classical music, is a photographer, is marred to Erica, etc. I loved being sucked into this thought process. Reading how Aldo came to terms with their complicated relationship was intriguing.
I also got to see the relationship from the others' point of view. It was truly titillating. I read the ebook in two or three days. I wanted to see if Aldo could accept another male into the relationship, or if he would become a hypocrite. I also wanted to see if Marie was going to stay in the ménage à trois, go back to Jonah, or what. There was so much I wanted to know!
I loved all of the characters. They felt like real people. It was like a good indie movie you'd see on IFC or Sundance. The pace was right. The plot is quite unconventional and thought provoking. Found Objects by Peter Gelfan is compelling!
July 22, 2014
I enjoyed Found Objects more than I was expecting to. I was interested in the idea of how a relationship with 3 people might work (no, not like that, get your mind out the gutter!), and there was a element of that, but it was more.
There was a bit of a scientific element. A bit psychological, a bit evolutionary, a bit philosophical. A look at the nature of relationships and sex. And I found that really interesting. With it being within a story setting as well it made these ideas and thoughts easier to read than it would have in a text book. Having said that these elements did occasionally distract a little much from the story itself.
I did enjoy the story too, although it did need the more philosophical sections, I think. I liked the characters quite well. Although I sometimes felt a bit annoyed at Aldo, his actions and thoughts were understandable- even if he hadn't been the narrator.
The ending was a little bit too open, I knew what I wanted to happen next, but I couldn't see how any option would even be possible.
There was a bit of a scientific element. A bit psychological, a bit evolutionary, a bit philosophical. A look at the nature of relationships and sex. And I found that really interesting. With it being within a story setting as well it made these ideas and thoughts easier to read than it would have in a text book. Having said that these elements did occasionally distract a little much from the story itself.
I did enjoy the story too, although it did need the more philosophical sections, I think. I liked the characters quite well. Although I sometimes felt a bit annoyed at Aldo, his actions and thoughts were understandable- even if he hadn't been the narrator.
The ending was a little bit too open, I knew what I wanted to happen next, but I couldn't see how any option would even be possible.
January 21, 2014
This novel is about a polyamorous relationship that is threatened by an intruding alpha male. Superbly written and I get the feeling the premise would make most people uncomfortable, regardless of sexual identity. It never got preachy yet somehow still managed to explore deep philosophical themes. I didn't really know who to root for. The whole situation was so frustrating and I found myself getting bummed along with the main character as the details unfolded(I am lesbian identifying by the way). The whole novel is so uncomfortable and the situation so out of place, yet somehow it's as frustrating as every relationship that I've experienced that's been threatened. Just a really bizarre but somehow not bizarre novel that I would highly recommend.
April 8, 2013
I will tell you right now, don't go into Found Objects expecting an explosively dramatic plot. And don't expect to love every person in it (in fact, I quite disliked Aldo). Instead, expect this: a tightly-written, character-driven novel that shows a keen understanding of the intricacies of human relationships. You will be left mulling over the notions of free will, love, and domesticity. Any book that can make a reader ruminate on such lofty concepts is a winner in my eyes.
Read more of my review here: http://www.thewellreadredhead.com/201... (link live 4/9/2013)
Read more of my review here: http://www.thewellreadredhead.com/201... (link live 4/9/2013)
May 20, 2013
I picked up this book not knowing what to expect or what was coming, and I'm so glad I experienced it that way. It was perfect for the experience to be slowly introduced to these characters, to come to understand their relationship to one another, with as little or as much revealed slowly over time...just like the way they come to know, open up to, or readjust to each other and their ever-readjusting relationships.
A vague review, I realize, but highly, highly recommended. One of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had all year.
A vague review, I realize, but highly, highly recommended. One of the most enjoyable reading experiences I've had all year.
February 7, 2014
This book certainly challenges conventional Western values and mores. It could so easily have veered off into being sordid, but it never did. Perhaps because of the narrator's constant internal dialogue. It was interesting 'hearing' him think things through, questioning his actions, feelings, motives; and considering those (actions, feelings, motives) in the other main characters.
I found the thought processes about photography, and art, illuminating and revealing, but also very interesting.
The writing is very eloquent and I would certainly read more books by this author.
I found the thought processes about photography, and art, illuminating and revealing, but also very interesting.
The writing is very eloquent and I would certainly read more books by this author.
October 24, 2013
I can't say that I've ever read a book with such a complex love situation. The book is written in a very clear way so that you are instantly engaged with what is going on and I was able to attach myself to characters very quickly.
The thing I liked best about the book is that while reading it I really could not predict the ending which kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed.
The thing I liked best about the book is that while reading it I really could not predict the ending which kept me turning the pages long after I should have gone to bed.
January 29, 2014
Peter's book felt like a slow read, leisurely following a man's daily with his wife and their lover. Its not a thrill ride kind of story yet I couldn't stop reading it! A real page turner. I thought it was an excellent narrative and a realistic story of a man dealing with his ego in a situation I will never find myself.
January 31, 2014
Lot of philosophy about life. That's what kept me going. That and his photography. That was a lesson within itself. Throughout I couldn't help but think how selfish the adults were for not caring about what they were putting their children through. In the words of the child Dominic, "Gross." It was brilliantly written.
February 9, 2014
I am not going to add much to the excellent reviews already here except to say that this book is a challenge in many respects but well worth the read. Wish there were more to follow.....
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