Comments on: Truth & Beauty: A Friendship

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:21:07 +0000

Haunting (in a way), well-written (gorgeously, at times) tale. That said, let’s get a little editing here, OK? For example: (a) anyone. . . they. . . (sheesh; (b) Lucy had a PEDICLE flap, not a PEDESTAL flap; (c) Spell Percocet and Darvocet correctly. Left me wondering (after I started rooting for heroin towards the end) just what did the author get from Lucy that would in even a small way balance what Lucy sucked out of her?
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Betty Burks

Betty Burks — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:29:13 +0000

This is a running diary of a strange life after graduation from Sarah Lawrence College when deciding to become a writer by enrolling in Iowa Writers’ Workship in the mid ’80s. She had a Catholic education (like my nephews) all twelve years before going off to school. A fellow classmate had made an impression on her, though was less than friendly, because of a facial deformity which had crippled her life.

Lucy was a year older than Ann, but she needed a place to belong, somewhere she could be expressive and not be looked on as an oddity. After they were settled as roommates in Iowa, they became best friends.

In Nashville, Ann met Dr. Karl V. and Lucy liked him as well. Lucy wasn’t exactly normal, taking heroin which caused her death of an overdose a week before Christmas, 2002. The reason she continues to see Lucy’s ‘spirit’ in odd places is the nonchalant way she treated her when she asked if she could spend Christmas with her — Lucy felt rejected! And probably knew that Ann had turned her back on her friend to be in Atlanta with Karl. After so many years together, she should have been invited along, but that’s ‘hind-sight. ‘

She tells so much ‘truth’ in this book you wish sometimes she would be more discreet, for a Southern girl — but the ‘beauty’ (if there is any) is on the inside, and not from a bar of soap at all. Smooth skin means nothing when your face is deformed. Having to face that truth turns one bitter with no hope for a happy future. The mirror does not lie, I’ve found to my despair. This is not a happy story, and some of the intimate details would have been better left unsaid.

Ann Patchett wrote THE MAGICIAN’S ASSISTANT and BEL CANTO previously.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: B. Flatt

B. Flatt — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:41:20 +0000

I only found this book interesting in the parts where the author is talking about the end of her friend Lucy’s life.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Frieda

Frieda — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:19:16 +0000

Lucy and Ann are the best of friends. They even share a twin bed together. Ann gazes at Lucy during long, leisurely, naked baths. Ann does Lucy’s bidding, whatever the personal or financial cost. I was shocked by Lucy’s demands–and more shocked by Ann’s willingness to comply, like a leashed dog.

I kept expecting Ann to go down on Lucy, what with all the kissing, sleeping together, and long, hard stares. This book reminded me of the art house film 9 and half weeks, except for the fact that in this case the portagonists are both females.
Rating: 2 / 5

By: a reader

a reader — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:40:21 +0000

A lousy book by a typical and quite untalented iowa type or model or what have you will swill writer. Poor sad Lucy being used by in death, she deserved a grander tribute. Just buy Lucy’s book and pass on this self serving untalented trash.
Rating: 1 / 5