“An exotic touch of intrigue arises in THE ITALIAN TEACHER . . . deliciously ironic and deeply affectionate.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post A masterful novel about the son of a great painter striving to create his own legacy, by the bestselling author of The Imperfectionists.Conceived while his father, Bear, cavorted around Rome in the 1950s, Pinch learns quickly that Bear’s genius trumps … the 1950s, Pinch learns quickly that Bear’s genius trumps all. After Bear abandons his family, Pinch strives to make himself worthy of his father’s attention–first trying to be a painter himself; then resolving to write his father’s biography; eventually settling, disillusioned, into a job as an Italian teacher in London. But when Bear dies, Pinch hatches a scheme to secure his father’s legacy–and make his own mark on the world.
With his signature humanity and humor, Tom Rachman examines a life lived in the shadow of greatness, cementing his place among his generation’s most exciting literary voices.
more
The Imperfectionists is one of my favorite books, so I was really excited for Tom Rachman’s newest novel, which didn’t disappoint. This is another psychologically rich story that puts Rachman’s ability to develop truly three-dimensional characters on full display. It’s both heart-breaking and entertaining and I’m sure to be thinking about it for days to come.
not a great read
So many people have criticized this book for unlikable characters that I had to write a review. Is Bear, the larger-than-life artist dad of Pinch, the main character, a womanizer who’s cutting remarks destroy people right and left? Sure he is. Is Pinch, our hero, lurching along in his life because of his needy mom and neglectful dad? Yup. But aren’t we all lugging around some heavy family baggage? I adore novels with flawed characters, and there are moments of such brilliant dark comedy in this novel that I had to read passages over again, just for the fun of it. The author makes slyly wise observations about the notion of fame and the question of what makes art “art” as we watch Pinch grow up and his family drama unfolds. As an added bonus, Rachman’s writing is spectacular throughout, like this great passage about Pinch finally allowing himself to paint with passion, which also serves as a metaphor for Pinch’s entire life: “He fumbles toward something of his own, negotiating color outward from a center point, tiny strokes, as if feeling through the void of each blank canvas. What marks his style is the inclusion of errors: clots of red paint left untouched, black threads from hesitant bristles, stuttering lines in blue.”
The story of the sad-sack son of a famous and egotistical painter. Very engaging and psychologically true. Also, very well-written
Not nearly as good as The Imperfectionists, but it does go into the world or art: painters, dealers, the public.
This is a difficult book to rate as I would have never picked this one up off the shelf (even though the cover art is fabulous) as the description didn’t interest me. Family sagas are not my thing. I wouldn’t have finished this novel, but it was a book club selection (and everyone knows you are legally obligated to finish those). Although the writing is good, the story didn’t pull me in. I hated, hated, hated Bear. His serial marriages added to having numerous children he essentially forgot about it made me more than a bit angry. And Pinch? He was not a character easily loved. I kept screaming for him to get it together! Strangely enough, the characters on the pages of a novel do not listen to their readers.
The twists and turns are interesting. You could almost see the paintings by the description. The author did a great job of portraying one of the main characters as a real jerk! Great insight into the art world.
I loved this novel and its unexpected comic ending.
Charles “Pinch” Bavinsky is the son Bear and Natalie Bavinsky. He famous and flamboyant artist, she emotional and mentally fragile aspirant. This heritage is by turns comic, tragic, fierce and faded, but it is never dull.
The story of Pinches life is the kind of story that I do not usually read, but from now on I will have an eye out for Tom Rachman’s work. The wonderfully realized characters enthrall you, the prose dazzles with beautiful scintillating humanity, and when the story ends, you will wish for more.
I did not expect to like this book a tenth as much as I now do and I cannot recommend it more highly.
My thanks to Penguin for the advance readers copy on which I have based this review.
Liked it but not as good as the Imperfectionists.
Great author. This book takes you right along with the characters, being right there with them. And his use of words is creative.