Imagine your life punctuated by strange talismans—taxidermy, a narwhal’s tooth— illustrated by forgotten items of clothing—an old cardigan, a slip—set in motion by an antique opal found on the ground. Imagine your life in footnotes. Now imagine you are young and sent to live in Paris against your will. Imagine you get there and do not belong (for many reasons). Imagine the comfort of these strange objects you’ve come to collect. See how they follow you and begin to tell your tale. Stephanie LaClava’s brilliant first book is a powerful coming-of-age memoir and delightfully illustrated miscellany all at once. Delving into the deepest, darkest corners of a young life, capturing beautifully the tangibility of nostalgia and the impossibility of belonging, An Extraordinary Theory of Objects is a marvel of print. I cannot recommend it enough.
This article appears in Apr 11-17, 2013.
Paris is an enchanting city and this book seems to hold the magic that Paris contains. I put it at the top of my list of books to read. Thanks for the review! I just finished another memoir that was heart warming. The book is called, ” Ring EXchange – Adventures of a Multiple Marrier” by author Pam Evans. “Written for those who have never been married or married only once or are curious about multiple marriers.” http://www.ring-exchange.com/