Goldman's Anatomy

by Glenn Savan

Long-time friends Arnie Goldman, a rock and gem dealer, and Redso Wolff, an aspiring playwright, find their relationship threatened by the arrival of Billy Rubin, the daughter of a rabbi

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

321 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/art...

https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/edu...

Reviews

[H. Atmenmeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is also super and remarkably different from his only other novel which is a great achievement. It holds up and has a surprising ending. Everything was pointing the other way but the story stays true. It makes sense if you have read about the author. Even though many directions could have been explored -the story and characters are rich enough for that- the writer keeps doggedly to the triangle of protagosnists. A great novel.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I learned Savan only lived long enough to write two books, and I'd already read one of them, I felt compelled to see his other work through. It wasn't nearly as good a story. I like a happy ending, but that wasn't the case. Cannot really recommend this book...maybe it's a guy's book.

[Dor. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gripping and enticing story by the late Glenn Savan.

[Elizabeth Coldwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

After Savan's brilliant debut novel, 'White Palace', this came as a real disappointment. Arnie Goldman becomes involved in a weird love triangle with his closest friend from schooldays, Redso Wolff, and Redso's girlfriend, Billy Rubin. Billy is the daughter of a rabbi, trying to defy her father in her choice of man and lifestyle, but ultimately drawn to repeat the pattern of her relationship with him, looking for broken men she can fix. Redso's manic depression is too much of a challenge for her, but Arnie's neediness and physical infirmities caused by severe arthritis she can deal with. But what will she do when Arnie's condition improves and he no longer needs constant care and attention?

I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did, given how much I loved 'White Palace'. But Arnie is such an unlikeable main character, with his obsession with material things and physical appearances (at the start of the book, he's barely able to walk and his face is puffed up by the steroids that manage his condition, but he'll only consider dating very attractive women), that it's hard to care what happens to him. If 'Goldman's Anatomy' is meant to be satire, it falls flat, which is a real shame, given that Savan was clearly a talented writer with an eye for the quirky and memorable turn of phrase.

[Linda DiMeo Lowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live in St. Louis, so I loved that it was set there. I always felt firmly rooted in place. I thought the strongest and most interesting character was Retso and would have preferred that the book was written from his POV. He is missing from the book so much and I was always wondering what he was up to.

The writing is good and it's a fast read, but I absolutely hated the last chapter and the last line. Very unsatisfying.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this is an unusual book. It is an interesting read and is different from most of the books that I have read. It is the second novel for Glenn Savan and I would read another. He hasn't quite reached the top yet for me, but he has the ability to get there.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Day-v · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as white palace, but still a good read.

[Lynn Alpert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! It's about friends who deal with someone with bi-polar disorder and how difficult it is. The story really gets you hooked.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting. An enthralling love story.