LOOK AT ME Jennifer Egan

Finished Th 2/25/12

"Terrorism per se was never my intention".

My post on GoodReads:
The novel presents a high-fashion model who is in a near fatal car accident, and requires massive reconstructive surgery, and months of recovery. However, Egan treats this intriguing proposition only as a 'jumping off point', and shuns the obvious plot-line of a disfigured or changed individual who must reclaim her place in the fashion world. But instead, introduces dozens of three-dimensional characters, byzantine relationships, and colorful philosophical flights of fancy for your reading pleasure. Overall, I felt that LOOK AT ME is a tremendous novel, although it might be considered a bit 'over-written'. The novel is chock-full of delightful digressions, odd insights, and feverish descriptions, yet this is Egan's style, and made me want to read more by this author.

Charlotte Swenson, Super Model, but aging fast.
Rockford, IL
Ellen/young Charlotte- Childhood friend of Charlotte, named daughter after her?
Frank-Ellen's husband, Charlotte can't stand him
Ricky- Ellen's son, 13 years old, recovering from cancer
Moose (Edmund)-Ellen's brother, crazed professor, theory of 'glass', served time for almost setting off an explosive device.
Michael West- Muslim terrorist, math teacher and lover of young Charlotte
Anthony Halliday-looking for 'Z' which is the code name? for Michael West
Irene Maitlock-poses as reporter, but really professor who examines how contemporary culture changes a particular group. Ex-detectives are changed by reading and watching detective thriller.
Thomas Keene-Charlotte the model's manager. Has an idea to create a kind of Reality Website which focuses on the lives of Ordinary/Extraordinary people. Charlotte is profiled.

Professor's doctoral thesis: The thirteenth century's development of glass might have been one of the most significant advances in human history. Windows allowed people to actually see their environment, and they began to address the filth. Also, people began to notice each other, and this led to developments in fashion, and, maybe even chivalry. Glass development led to 'lenses', and this jump-started Science and Astronomy.

Charlotte, a high-fashion model, has a bad car accident and requires months of recovery, and is forced to undergo extensive reconstructive surgery which alters her appearance. She relocates to her hometown of Rockford, IL, and reconnects with friends and family members. Ellen, her best friend from high school, is now married with two children, Charlotte and Ricky. Charlotte is senior, and is having an affair with a math teacher from a local high school who happens to be a Muslim terrorist. And, Ricky is recovering from cancer. Ellen's brother, Moose, was a popular high school athlete, and earned his PHD, but has a history of mental instability. Charlotte the model becomes involved with a scheme to re-start her career by becoming a star of a 'reality-type' television show.

Tremendous novel, although it might be a bit 'over-written'. The novel is chock-full of delightful digressions, odd insights, and feverish descriptions, yet this is Egan's style, and made me want to read more by this author.