Page 12 - Stuart Exposure - May '24

Page 12, Stuart Exposure

art HappeninGs

Martin Artisans Guild Tropical

Temptations – Celebrates The
Beauty Of The Treasure Coast

By Jackie Holfelder
Join the talented members of Martin Artisans Guild
at their next show – Tropical Temptations – which will
celebrate the natural beauty of the area.
It launched May 1 with a delightful opening reception
from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you’re a regular attendee of these

Mickey Rudolph Mallo Bisset Michaelann Bellerjeau

popular events, you know there was live music, luscious Artisans Boutique while attending Tropical Temptations.
liquid libations at a cash bar and delectable appetizers. Artists exhibiting include the following.
There will be a second opportunity to mingle with guild • Michaelann Bellerjeau
members at the “Meet the Artists” event on June 5 from 4 • Glen Allen • Jane Lawton Baldridge
to 6 p.m. • Mickey Rudolph • Curt Whiticar
Both events take place at The Palm Room Art Gallery • Mark Stall • Mallo Bisset
and Artisans Boutique, 3746 S.E. Ocean Boulevard in • Caryl Pomales • Dot Galfond
Stuart’s Harbour Bay Plaza. The exhibit closes June 29. • Kimberly Beltrame • James J. DeMartis
May and June bring a host of events that necessitate gift- The Palm Room Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from
giving. These are Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, noon to 6 p.m.
weddings, bridal showers and more. Take the opportunity For more information, visit www.martinartisansguild.org.
Jane Lawton Baldridge to check out the very special and one-of-a-kind items in the Photos provided by Martin Artisans Guild

Book review

The Main Character them to become the main an Alzheimer’s treatment drug that will help to cure his and
characters in her books, Rory’s father and make himself a billionaire; Nate, the man
By Nils A. Shapiro interviews them extensively, Rory loves who has just broken up with her; Caroline, her best
Many years ago I read then fictionalizes their lives friend since childhood, who works for Max and has had a crush
a couple of the all-time in novels. on him almost her entire life; and Gabriele, a handsome Italian
bestselling murder mystery Her newest main to whom Rory was once attracted.
novels by Agatha Christie and character, an American As if that weren’t enough, Ginevre Ex has arranged to
decided that this literary genre woman named Rory, has have distributed to all of them advance copies of the novelized
was simply not my cup of tea. just lost her job as an anchor mystery she has just written based on Rory’s life, a tale that
While my own personal person on a TV news show includes a secret one of the group is hiding—and a murder
reading tastes lean toward and, as a double blow, her in their future! But before any can read the book, one of them
nonfiction, especially history boyfriend whom she was has stolen all of the copies.
and anything related to nature expecting to marry, has just The story of The Main Character is told through the eyes of
and a better understanding of broken up with her. Some these different people in alternating chapters—a chapter from
the wonderful animals with whom we share this planet, I do make time after Rory’s in-depth Rory, then one from Max, one from Caroline, back to Rory,
it a point to review several novels a year in consideration of this interview relating her life story to Ginevre Ex, she learns that then to Ginevre Ex, and so on. It is an adventure fascinating to
column’s readers’ more varied preferences. the author has gifted her with a luxury trip through Italy aboard view from each one’s perspective. But you are advised to keep
So, when a year ago I was urged to read a new author’s the sumptuous Orient Express train. in mind my—despised but necessary—caution that nothing on
first book, a murder mystery novel, I turned the first few pages But when she boards the train, Rory is shocked to find that this ride is as it seems.
reluctantly—but was then caught up in what surprisingly turned Ginevre Ex has also arranged for the most important people If you enjoy murder mystery novels, The Main Character,
out to be an impressive and intriguing story that deserved a rave in Rory’s life to join her on that trip: Max, her brother, whose published this month, is a must. Even I am anxiously awaiting
review and strong recommendation in my book review column. pharmaceutical company is reportedly about to introduce the next stop on Jaclyn Goldis’s literary journey.
The name of that novel was The Chateau. Its author, Jaclyn
Goldis, is a young American woman who practiced law in
Chicago before leaving her job to travel the world and write
novels, and finally settle in Tel Aviv, where she writes from
cafes near the beach. She has now published her second novel,
and it is clear that her first success will not be her last.
Now, having just finished reading The Main Character, I
am reminded of what impressed me so much about Goldis,
and why I had looked forward to her next book. Rarely in any
work of fiction have I come across a writer who combines
intricate and imaginative story lines with an innate ability to
narrate perfectly—dialogue so natural, and other actions related
with such exquisite word choices that for me the loveliest part
of this reading experience was savoring the author’s writing
style, prompting me many times to put the book down for a few
minutes to reflect on precisely that.
Fans of Agatha Christie will be well aware that one of her
most famous murder mystery novels was Murder on the Orient
Express, which was made into a film more than once. Her readers
will immediately recognize Goldis’s nod to Dame Christie by
setting most of her own new novel on an Orient Express train!
But that is where the similarities end. Where Agatha Christie’s
story follows the usual plot—a murder takes place and we must
then try to figure out who committed the dastardly deed—in The
Main Character we are taken on a very different journey.
I won’t reveal any more about that because I don’t want to
spoil your fun. Instead, I am forced to use a phrase here that I
absolutely despise: Nothing on this ride is as it seems. (I once
devoted an entire column to how much I hate that phrase, which
is used to promote so many books and films by lazy advertising
writers who can’t think of more creative ways to describe what
they are promoting. But in the case of The Main Character it is
the most important element in the story line.)
The book gets its title from its theme: A famous bestselling
author of murder mysteries, Ginevre Ex, has figured out
that her biggest successes have come from stories based
on real people’s lives. So she hires real people and pays