Picture Perfect

I've just finished reading a second book for New Books Magazine (www.newbooksmag.com), a review magazine for books clubs.  ‘Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures’ by Emma Straub charts the life and career of a Hollywood actress from the 1930s.  I love old films, so was immediately drawn to this story and am glad to say that I wasn't disappointed by it.

'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures'
by Emma Straub (Picador, 2012)

Laura Lamont began life as Elsa Emerson, the youngest daughter of Mary and John, owners of the Cherry County Playhouse, Door County, Wisconsin.  The youngest of three sisters by ten years, she spends idyllic summers in the rural setting, in awe of the actors and fascinated by their relationships on and off stage.  Her formative years are marked by tragedy and triumph, until she marries and leaves her home for the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, the home of Hollywood and the movies.  Although desperate to spread her wings and have her own career as an actress, she's soon caught up with the responsibilities of motherhood and beginning to feel as though her time in the spotlight may never come.  Then, at an employee party at Gardner Brothers Studio, she's unexpectedly spotted by one of the owners, Irving Green.  Suddenly she has a new name, a new patron and a golden opportunity for the career she's always dreamt of.I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  

Although it's a first novel, it's consistently well written and engaging throughout.  I think it's strength lies in the fact that it doesn't go to extremes; it doesn't become the clichéd fame morality tale ending with a bitter, drug-addicted, surgically altered Laura desperately begging to return to the limelight.  It remains grounded with the lead character, her life, experiences and feelings and, consequently, it's easier to identify and sympathise with her.  You keep reading because you want things to turn out OK in the end, even though she's 'living the dream' in a way most of us never will.

There is also quite a lot going on in terms of themes.  The story explores identity (Laura changes her name and sometimes wrestles with who she is and who she was), truth (the reality Hollywood creates, the falsehoods in her own life), love and loss (her relationships with the men in her life and her children).  This means that there's a lot to think about and much for book groups to discuss, but the themes are secondary to the story, so don't worry that you'll have to analyse it to enjoy it.

Overall, I really enjoyed 'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures' (Although I've had trouble not adding 'Motion' to the title for some reason!) and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven stories and family sagas.  I'm looking forward to seeing more from Emma Straub in the future and plan to track down her collection of short stories, 'Other People We Married', just as soon as I've read a few more titles on the list.

As a footnote, it was interesting for me to compare this with 'The Somnambulist', the first book I read for New Books Magazine, and also a first time novel.  One difference stood out: the acknowledgements and thank yous were at the back of 'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures' and at the front of 'The Somnambulist'.  I commented when starting to read the latter that this made it feel like the author wasn't expecting people to get to the end and see them there and ultimately I found I struggled with the book.  Perhaps I've stumbled on something afterall!  I will certainly be looking out for this in the future to see if I can spot a pattern!

Now, what next...?