文學小說
更新日期:
2013-04-25
Eight Girls Taking Pictures: A Novel
Whitney Otto
Scribner
Dec 2012
352pp
書籍編號:
01-1552
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● 內文簡介

美國亞馬遜書店當月選書!

想像催生二十世紀八位女性攝影師的思想與環境,一幅女性生命動人而深刻的描繪!

這部迷人的小說開始於一場火:1917年,Cymbeline Kelley傷心地檢視自己的攝影工作室在大火後焦黑的殘餘物。為了追求攝影生涯,她不惜雇用一名女性幫忙照料家務,卻正是這名幫傭縱火將工作室摧毀殆盡。這其中的緊張關係——在同時身處兩地的渴望與需要之間,在家務責任與個人野心之間,在公領域與私生活之間,在世人可見與費心潛藏之間——將持續迴盪在其他七名女性的生命故事裡。

她們,有的為了重新捕捉被一次大戰剝奪的喜悅,創造出一個色彩與奇想的世界;有的在與墨西哥的社會主義革命者並肩作戰時找到了自己的聲音;有的遊歷世界拍攝照片,也享受在紐約公寓做為妻子與母親的生活;也有美麗的模特兒,比起自己的時尚拍攝,更喜歡捕捉二次大戰後法國鄉間被遺棄城鎮的影像。

《八個拍照的女子》(Eight Girls Taking Pictures)故事橫跨一世紀,場景從舊金山到紐約、倫敦、柏林、布宜諾艾利斯及羅馬,書中八位主角以世界上最知名的幾位女性攝影師為原型(Imogen Cunningham,Madame Yevonde,Tina Modotti,Lee Miller,Grete Stern,Ellen Aurbach, Ruth Orkin,Judy Dater與Sally Mann)再予以重新塑造與命名,她們藉由工作追尋不凡的生命,同時也在母職、婚姻、家務等日常俗務中覓得意義與回饋。本書飽含感情地思索女性面臨的衝突與抉擇,最重要的,它生動描繪了女人在愛之中的模樣——愛男人、愛女人、愛小孩,熱愛事業、熱愛美麗、熱愛自由。

如同暢銷作《How to Make an American Quilt》,作者 Whitney Otto細膩地檢視相互交織的女性生命,以大膽、教人沈浸其中的敘事展現過去的藝術、愛情與生命如何影響今日的我們。這些二十世紀的女子也將在二十一世紀的讀者心中引發深刻共鳴。

 

● 作者簡介

Whitney Otto,著有暢銷書《How to Make an American Quilt》(改編電影由薇諾娜瑞德主演)、《Now You See Her》、 《The Passion Dream Book》與 《A Collection of Beauties at the Height of Their Popularity》。 個人網站:www.whitneyotto.com

 

● 媒體報導

"Otto is certainly [a] mistress of her craft."──New York Times Book Review)

"Thoughtful, nuanced depictions of the complexity of women's lives...Eight Girls is a moving read about the pleasures and pangs that define the lives of women."──USA Today

"Otto’s photographers battle society’s denunciations and personal demons as they seek love, acceptance, success, and harmony. A visionary and distinctive look at the sacrifices and triumphs of daring women artists."──Booklist

“Otto skillfully develops each character and draws the reader in with rich detail that must be the result of careful and extensive research. Highly recommended; those with an interest in photography, women’s history, or feminist literature should particularly enjoy.” ──Library Journal

"The reader is captivated and transported on several levels with a book that rings with universal truths as it pays homage to eight very real ground-breaking photographers. You don’t have to be an art historian nor even like photography to love this deeply soul satisfying work. Each work is a gem to be savored and appreciated like a fine work of visual art." ──Booktrib.com