• An Object of Beauty

  • A Novel
  • By: Steve Martin
  • Narrated by: Campbell Scott
  • Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (1,072 ratings)

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An Object of Beauty  By  cover art

An Object of Beauty

By: Steve Martin
Narrated by: Campbell Scott
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Editorial reviews

Fans of Steve Martin might at first be disappointed when they note that the talented actor, writer, and musician doesn’t narrate his latest work himself. But once they hear Campbell Scott’s voice, their minor distress will be assuaged. Whether by nature or by practice, Scott’s voice is a near replica of Martin’s a baritone with a slightly nasal quality that rarely rises or falls in pitch, but still inexplicably conveys incredible depths of emotion.

An Object of Beauty thoroughly entrenches readers in the subculture of the Manhattan art world by following Lacey Yeager, a young, morally ambiguous art dealer who will do anything to make her mark and make her millions in the fine art business. Narrator Daniel Franks is an aspiring art writer and friend and witness to Lacey’s life and accidental co-conspirator to a misdeed that could ruin both their careers. Yet, like most people in Lacey’s life, Franks is drawn into her web willingly, due to her uncanny ability to beguile men, from wealthy art collectors to FBI agents a skill that aids her speedy ascension in her career.

Thanks to Scott’s pitch-perfect performance, Martin’s presence is felt and not missed throughout the reading. The subtle humor is sharp and the plot is driven forward by the desire to uncover where the boundaries of Lacey’s integrity lie if there are any. Part mystery, part intriguing character study, Martin’s latest creates a dilemma for the listener you don’t like the protagonist, yet you can’t help but want to know more about her and the sometimes seedy world in which she dwells. Colleen Oakley

Publisher's summary

Lacey Yeager is young, captivating, and ambitious enough to take the New York art world by storm. Groomed at Sotheby's and hungry to keep climbing the social and career ladders put before her, Lacey charms men and women, old and young, rich and even richer with her magnetic charisma and liveliness. Her ascension to the highest tiers of the city parallel the soaring heights - and, at times, the dark lows - of the art world and the country from the late 1990s through today.

©2010 Steve Martin (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"Martin compresses the wild and crazy end of the millennium and finds in this piercing novel a sardonic morality tale." ( Publishers Weekly)
"[A] clever, convincingly detailed depiction of NYC’s art scene." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about An Object of Beauty

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I used to like Steve Martin

Admittedly I did not get very far in this book. I listened to "Shop Girl" all the way through, just waiting for the moment the heroine would develop into a woman of interest and depth but I was sorely disappointed. I just couldn't bare hearing another of Steve's books start out so similarly shallow.

Either he really doesn't understand women, or he surrounds himself with pretty women devoid of depth. Or maybe it's both.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Steve Martin's a GREAT writer!

Would you listen to An Object of Beauty again? Why?

Campbell Scott has the perfect voice for this story set in New York's art world. I could listen again just to hear his voice!

What other book might you compare An Object of Beauty to and why?

This has the same pace as Party Girl.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the ending, it wraps up the story nicely and leaves you a little melancholy.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Steve Martin always has lines that you want to bookmark and find a way to use in casual conversation...not that I can pull it off.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Renassaince man strikes again

Where does An Object of Beauty rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Steve martin establishes himself with this book as a master of another trade. Beautifully written,and spoken, book about the art world and it's inhabitants where the primary motif seems to be the meaning of beauty itself.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Too much background research, too little story

What would have made An Object of Beauty better?

A plot line. It was mainly a description of the art auction business, with underdeveloped characters who weren't sympathetic. Maybe it got better, but I gave up about a quarter of the way through.

Would you ever listen to anything by Steve Martin again?

Sure

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

No

What character would you cut from An Object of Beauty?

Seemed to be mainly two characters, and I could have done without both of them.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story

Any additional comments?

This book surprised me and I really loved it. It has a unique voice and I was completely enthralled by the story. Campbell Scott's voice was eerily similar to Steve Martin, so I think he was the perfect choice. I highly recommended this book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Look Into the Art World

I really liked this book. The characters, dialogue and story rang true and I found it all compelling enough that my mind didn't wander while I was listening. I think some people might find it a little slow or lacking in drama and/or thrills. I enjoyed the quality writing and glimpse inside the business of art.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not Steve Martin's best work

I love Steve Martin's comedy, and I moderately enjoyed the novel Shopgirl. He's a talented writer when it comes to the actual prose, but I found this novel difficult to get into or even care about.

First of all, the main character (Lacey Yeager) is hardly likeable and terribly hard to identify with. I just didn't care about her. In fact, I just didn't care period. She's a self-serving narcissist who really doesn't have many redeeming qualities other than the fact that nearly every heterosexual man she meets wants to sleep with her. (She is not, by the way, a cardboard character; just seriously dull.)

The best thing about this book is that it delves deeply into the pretentiousness of the art world of New York City. If that's what you're looking for, the book is for you. But if you're looking for a novel with captivating characters that you might care deeply about, I wouldn't recommend it.

On the plus side, Campbell Scott does a wonderful job, deadpanning his entire way through. (In some ways, I realize that Scott and Martin have similar-sounding voices.)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Don't believe the bad reviews.

A good book, the reader really captures Steve Martin's "voice."

I think there is a lot of Somerset Maughan in this book, and that's a good thing in my mind.

Spoiler Alert, don't read anymore if you don't want a spoiler.



I expect it would have been tempting to murder this girl, and I expect that Steve Martin felt some pressure to kill her off. He resisted, I think correctly.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Need pictures for audible users!

I enjoyed the book very much, however was dismayed to discover upon finding a hardcopy at a friends home that there were pictures that weren't available for audio users.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

BORING

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE WRITTEN A REVIEW IN 5 YEARS- THIS WAS THE MOST BORING BOOK I'VE LISTENED TO AND THE FIRST I HAVEN'T FINISHED- THE READER WAS SO MONOTONE THAT I COULD HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP. I'VE LOVED ALL OF STEVE MARTIN'S OTHER BOOKS

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