Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress

“Art is the ultimate seduction.”

Sirens & Muses is a backstage pass to the world of art from a few different angles. And it is a rather unflattering portrayal of that world by dramatizing the ways in which class, privilege and money dictate it. From how art is studied by students to what we see in galleries and museums, this work of fiction brings to life the realities of a very cut throat profession and passion.

Sirens & Muses is set in 2011 as Occupy Wall Street is dominating the news. Louisa and Karina are students at a prestigious College of Art in New England. Louisa is a scholarship student from Louisiana and Karina is the daughter of wealthy art collectors. Their worlds collide as they struggle to establish their identities with their art, their sexuality and themselves. There are many elements here of a classic coming of age story, but it is spun as a seductive tale of love and art, and the love OF art.

Two other characters round out the story: Robert is a former professor and painter who is trying to reestablish himself in a world dominated by youth and Preston is a senior art student who has set out to ruin Robert's attempts. Angress spun a complex web between these four and it allows for differing perspectives on just how competitive creating and marketing art really is. This is a look at the difference between viewing art for arts sake vs art for profit. We are also treated to an NYC setting after their stint at Wynnn College of Art and for me that was the icing on the cake.

I've seen Goldfinch comparisons and many of you know that stands among my top books of all time. I did not feel that however-this book is unique unto itself and making those comparisons often leads to a reader let down. All in all I think if you don't need to like your characters and, like me, are fascinated by all things art, you'll find this a great pick.  Thank you to Random House for sending me a finished copy!