The Beginner's Book of Dreams

This celebrated coming-of-age novel moves from Manhattan during the early days of Mad Men to the swinging, chaotic 1970s: A sensitive girl burdened with her mother?s drinking and long string of husbands becomes a special young woman when her best friend?s family opens her eyes to art Esme Singer is a resilient girl from Los Angeles, new to Manhattan, who takes better care of her beautiful, alcoholic mother than her mother does of her. A former fashion model and extra in the movies, her mother attracts a series of husbands and boyfriends as Esme watches in fascination and sometimes horror. Esme?s father comes and goes, forever riding the wave of the latest get-rich-quick scheme. As Esme becomes a teenager, she turns to her friend Leah?s cultured, exotic family for inspiration and solace?especially Leah?s father, a well-known photographer who encourages Esme to cultivate her gifts. Might art?and a favorite teacher?become the answer to some of her troubles? The Beginner?s Book of Dreams is an insightful, sophisticated, sometimes wickedly funny, always sharp-eyed portrayal of a young woman inventing and discovering her own independent spirit.