The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories

by Valerie Martin

From the Orange Prize-winning author of Property comes a vital and heartbreaking collection of short stories that turns an unflinching eye upon artists—driven and blocked, desired and detested, infamous and sublime—as they struggle beneath the tyranny of Art to reconcile their audience with their muse. • “A triumph”— The New Yorker

A painter who owes his small success to a man he despises, discovers that his passivity has cost him the love that might have set him free. A writer of modest talents encounters the old love who once betrayed him; now she repels him, yet the unfinished novel she leaves in his hands may surpass anything he could ever produce himself. An American poet in Rome finds herself forced to choose between her lover and a world so alien it takes her voice away. A print maker, who has reached a certain age, enters so deeply into the magical world of her imagination that she can never find her way back. In captivating, luminous prose, Martin explores the trials and rewards of human relationships and creative endeavor with all the ease and insight of a writer at the top of her form.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

212 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2006

About the author

Valerie Martin is the author of nine novels, including Trespass, Mary Reilly, Italian Fever, and Property, three collections of short fiction, and a biography of St. Francis of Assisi, titled Salvation. She has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as the Kafka Prize (for Mary Reilly) and Britain’s Orange Prize (for Property). Martin’s last novel, The Confessions of Edward Day was a New York Times notable book for 2009.
A new novel The Ghost of the Mary Celeste is due from Nan Talese/Random House in January 2014, and a middle-grade book Anton and Cecil, Cats at Sea, co-written with Valerie’s niece Lisa Martin, will be out from Algonquin in October of 2013.
Valerie Martin has taught in writing programs at Mt. Holyoke College, Univ. of Massachusetts, and Sarah Lawrence College, among others. She resides in Dutchess County, New York and is currently Professor of English at Mt. Holyoke College.

Reviews

[Nandakishore Mridula · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the advent of Goodreads, it has become the habit for me to pick up books based on reviews and recommendations from friends. This month, I decided to change, and go back to my old idiosyncratic method of buying a book based just on the blurb and the cover, and trust to serendipity. This was one such book where serendipity paid rich dividends.

Valerie Martin writes about the twisted love-lives of people working the field of the creative arts - painting, writing and theatre - in this slim collection of one novella and five stories. None of the stories are breathtakingly original or shockingly avant-garde. They are solidly written tales (one might even call them old-fashioned) addressing the same theme (in essence); the relation of the artist to his/ her art to the exclusion of everything else, and their often unknowing callous treatment of fellow human beings. The stories are heavily character-driven, and the reader has to invest in them (not very easy, as many of them are unpleasant) and follow them along. Don't expect finely rounded endings - they are not there. What we have here is a window to a crazy, rich, psychedelic world where there are no beginnings and endings.

My favourites were the title novella, and the first story ('His Blue Period'). All the stories, of course are readable and competently written.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first two stories in this collection are very strong, quietly devastating in their effects. Perhaps because they were so strong, I felt disappointed with the later ones, especially the novella-ish title story and the last story, as they both went on too long, I thought, though I did enjoy their endings -- not devastating this time, but more accommodating to the experiences the characters went through.

[Iva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valerie Martin writes about artists and writers with a keen eye. Each story creates complex characters; they always have challenging relationships with friends and lovers. I admired Property, a novel that examined slavery in a fresh way. This collection shows Martin's deep understanding of the creative life. An excellent reading experience.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valerie Martin's compendium of tales about artists and relationships is, unfortunately, rather uneven. Some of the tales are gripping and leave you wanting more, while others seem to slog along (particularly the title piece for the anthology). The good thing about this book is that it examines all manner of human relationships across sexual orientations, ethnicities and ages. I just wish the work had been more consistently good, because the well-written tales were delightful although they pointed up the flaws of the lesser works.

[Matt Graupman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short story collections and I particularly love short story collections that revolve around a common theme (or, even better, connect into a single narrative). Valerie Martin’s book, “The Unfinished Novel And Other Stories,” concerns artists of all kinds - writers, painters, printmakers, poets, etc. - and it’s a sandbox she’s clearly comfortable playing in. Her characters and their pursuits feel really alive, like she’s spent time with them at gallery openings or poetry readings, and she’s cataloged every detail. The stories themselves deal more with the drama of everyday life, with art serving as a background element, but that doesn’t mean these half dozen pieces are boring or mundane. Far from it. They’re romantic, even wistful at times, but oh so relatable.

FAVORITES:
“His Blue Period” - A mediocre painter harbors resentment towards his more successful friend for the way the man treats his own girlfriend.
“The Bower” - A drama professor carries on a torrid affair with her extremely talented student.
“The Change” - A printmaker in the throes of menopause becomes increasingly distant from her frustrated husband.

[John Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie Martin, an established author of novels and short stories, perhaps best known for "Mary Reilly" gives us an inciteful collection featuring creative types, writers, artists, dancers, their crafts and relationships. An interesting and varied assortment.

[Gail Kennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

written with her usual economy of words and depth of feeling and thought each of these stories encompasses a whole small world.

[Tom Farrelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of longish short stories. Martin is an under-valued author.

[Scott Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without trepidation or hesitation, I declare this a very good short story collection and wholeheartedly recommend it to devoted lovers of art and literature.

In The Unfinished Novel, Valerie Martin not only displays expert craftsmanship, but she also concocts truly identifiable, interesting characters with extremely engaging plots.

It's rather common knowledge that hardcore bookworms have flirted either with the idea of writing something themselves or with some other artistic endeavor. This makes The Unfinished Novel the perfect collection for such insatiable readers. Each story focuses upon an artist of some sort - whether it be a painter, an actor, a novelist, or a poet - and each artist struggles not only with life and its challenges, but also with their craft.

Martin composes eloquent, vibrant sentences with powerful diction, and she also comprehends what it means to be a creator, thus presenting authentic, flawed characters for whom we have no trouble imagining and owning.

My only complaint with The Unfinished Novel is that Martin tends to end her stories on an abrupt, often haphazard note. She lays such solid foundation that I found myself surprised when her endings came out of nowhere and, in some cases, seemed to exist independently from the preceding plot. In most cases, this was a forgivable offense, but with the story entitled "The Bower," it really ruined an otherwise exceptional tale.

That being said, the installment titled "The Unfinished Novel" is one of the best short stories I've ever read, and I assure you, that's not hyperbole. Making up most of the book's content, this short in particular is worth the purchase price alone.

Like I already said, if you love art and literature, appreciate fine writing and astounding vocabulary, and can't get enough of realistic, captivating characters, then The Unfinished Novel and Other Stories is a must-read.

[Diane Kistner · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me say that I did not read this collection of stories quickly. You could, but I doubt you will want to. The writing is both spare and rich, and I found myself lingering over sentences, reading them several times and pondering them before moving on. There is so much between the lines here. In a phrase, the author can give you not only a glimpse but a long, dimensional, ironic glimpse into the passage of many years. You will see so much that isn't spoken aloud, and you will find little that is predictable--especially not the endings.

I found the juxtaposition of diverse perspectives both within and across these stories to be quite profound. After spending several days with the stories, reading from the first to the last, the effect of the last image in the last story was to shake me from head to toe, leaving me with an understanding I had not had before. I recognized that amazing creature!

Although I was a poet and hung around with writers, actors, and artists in my youth, I have for decades now spent most of my money and time on non-fiction. Valerie Martin has drawn me back into a world at once familiar and very strange. I am very impressed with her skill as a writer, so much so that I want to read more of her fiction. This book is a must-read. I think I'll pick up "Property" next.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed reading The Unfinshed Novel and Other Stories. Valerie Martin is adept at short story writing. In a very few pages, her characters are complex and complete and that is a real art.

The book is six short stories about various artists and their lives which gives the book a cohesiveness.

Her one short story that starts out the book, His Blue Period, captivated me with its brevity and depth.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, The Unfinished Novel, Max is blind sided by his girlfriend of twenty years ago suddenly reappearing in his life, but now instead of being lithe and beautiful, she is fat and unattractive. The day he left her twenty years ago comes flooding back and for awhile Rita is back in his life and she has written a novel.

One warning about this book: Most of the stories involve lesbians and lesbian lifestyle.

[Rosalind Minett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A recent find, not in the world of writers, but for me. Impressive and memorable. I often shirk short stories because I find them too transient. Not these, particularly, in the middle The Unfinished Novel itself - extremely powerful. How an irritating, seemingly predatory woman can be transformed in the reader's eyes to a victim of the arrogant, short-sighted narrator. I won't spoil the ending but it is certainly one that stays in the mind. This is not to say that the other stories in this collection are not strong. They start well, they finish well. If you don't know this author, and to my shame, although she's had Orange attention, I didn't, I highly recommend.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories collected in this volume are sometimes engaging but often bland portraits of aritsts (mainly writers and painters, one actor) and the small dramas of their lives.

My favorite moments from the book: the character of Myer Anspach, the egotistical painter from the first story of the book, and the descriptions of his paintings (which sound friggin awesone); and the portrait of Rita, the troubled and, presumably gifted writer from The Unfinished Novel, the story that gives this book its name.

[Kristen]

Valerie Martin is one of the authors that I'm escorting at this year's Texas Book Festival (you! sign up to volunteer! today!), so I figured I better read at least one of her books. This is the one I chose. Keeping my fingers crossed that I like it. My other author is Jane Hamilton. I chose her book "A Map of the World."

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely set of stories about art, academia, and relationships. "The Unfinished Novel" was a bit messy and drawn-out and "The Change" was probably my least favourite, which is not to say that I even disliked it. My favourite is a toss-up between "Beethoven" and "The Open Door". Reading this was a bit of a test for whether I should look up more Valerie Martin, and it passed.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of well-written short stories, almost all loosely having to do with traditional forms of creative expression (painting, theater, writing). Didn't blow my mind or anything but enjoyed reading them.

[Jane Deaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

only reading the story entitled "the unfinished novel," but it's already better than _property_. i think what annoys me the most is that she spends too much time trying to establish her status as an authority on new orleans. too obviously constructed. whatever.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read these short stories all the same day unless you are feeling overly cheerful and need to bring yourself down a notch. Heavy stories of regret and loss, most related to creativity and art, but beautifully rendered.

[Jamie]

Anyone have some light reading they can recommend to me after that heavy collection of stories? I enjoyed her writing very much, but I'm left feeling like I need to discuss at least a couple of the stories with a lit professor.

[Sally Kenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can really start to see the themes of Martin's work: creepy but sympathetic male narrator, mid-life female sexuality and its vulnerabilities, unfinished artistic work and artist angst, horrors of middle-aged women's decline.

[Julie Tridle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the story "The Unfinished Novel" a lot. Aspects of it will probably stay with me for quite awhile. The other stories were well-written and interesting enough, but I don't see them lingering in my psyche for very long.

[Frances Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First five star review of the year and I am pretty confident this is a worthy and accomplished book to set the bar... Full review to follow on my blog, but for now I recommend this collection of sort-of-art-themed short stories that are beautifully written and wonderfully surprising.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin is a master of tone and character - these stories are dazzling creations.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read my review and interview with the author, please click on this link:

[http://www.timeoutny.com/newyork/Deta...]

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine short stories with a focus on how human foibles affect the artistic life.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about artists that I thought was great. The range of characters is terrific, their worlds well made and interesting.

[SmarterLilac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent the whole morning in bed with this book on one of the worst days of my life. I found it to be comforting and contemplative, even if a couple of the stories in it feel a bit rushed.

[Solange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting mix of short stories...definitely not as riveting as 'Property'

[Ayelet Waldman]

She's a lovel writer. Got a little sick of the women's relationships, though.

[Sue Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artists have tough lives