Ellen Cherry Charles, a talented aspiring painter, works as a waitress in Manhattan while her husband, Boomer Petway, achieves accidental fame by turning a metal turkey into a celebrated piece of outsider art. Their marriage fractures against the backdrop of a high-stakes restaurant venture located near the United Nations. Simultaneously, a group of inanimate objects—a conch shell, a silver spoon, a dirty sock, a painted stick, and a can of beans—travel across the desert toward Jerusalem. The narrative culminates in the Performance of the Seven Veils, where a belly dancer systematically peels away layers of religious, political, and sexual illusions.
This book is written for readers who enjoy dense philosophical satire and non-linear storytelling. It appeals to those interested in the historical origins of monotheism and the ongoing geopolitical friction in the Middle East. Readers walk away with a cynical overview of how institutional religions suppress the divine feminine and an understanding of how individual artistic integrity differs from the art market's commercial mechanisms. It provides a specific lens for viewing the intersection of ancient mythology and modern consumerism.
Deep, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1990
- Language
- EN
