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Utopia
Utopia: A Novel | Heidi Sopinka
3 posts | 3 read | 2 to read
Out of the explosive 1970s L.A. art scene comes a riveting novel about creativity, death, and reinvention that follows two artists--one dies mysteriously, and the other takes her place Paz, an ambitious young artist, is drawn to Romy, one of the only women to break into the male-dominated art scene of 1970s California. She is also drawn to Romy's husband, Billy, an enigmatic art star. When Romy dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances, Billy is left unmoored, caring for their newborn. Leaving New York and grad school behind, Paz takes on the mantle of Romy's life and steps into a ghostly love triangle. When Paz attempts to claim her creative life, strange things start to happen--photographs move, an unexplained postcard arrives, and an unsettling journal entry begins to blur the line between art and life. As Paz becomes increasingly obsessed with the woman she has replaced and the absent man she has married, a disturbing picture begins to emerge, driving her deep into the desert to uncover the truth. Astonishing and profound, Utopia affirms Heidi Sopinka as one of the most exhilarating voices in Canadian literature. A propulsive mix of desire, friendship, and betrayal, Utopia illuminates a crucible moment for art and feminism, which still reverberates today. This is both a visionary love story and a feminist manifesto that will leave you altered.
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review
BookishTrish
Utopia: A Novel | Heidi Sopinka
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Mehso-so

An ambitious book with a gorgeous cover that ultimately tries to do too much and ends on a heavy handed note.

squirrelbrain I didn‘t love this one either. I think mine had a different cover to yours, but was also lovely, so there‘s that I suppose! 1y
57 likes1 comment
review
sarahbarnes
Utopia: A Novel | Heidi Sopinka
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Pickpick

A low pick for me. I loved the premise and I think Sopinka skillfully created a sense of disorientation for the reader to match the experience of the MC. But at times the writing and plot felt tedious and left too little to the reader‘s interpretation. Enough to keep me invested until the end, but not a great read for me.

squirrelbrain Phew, I‘m glad you felt the same as me! I always worry when I‘m one of the first to review, in case my opinion is wildly different from others! 1y
sarahbarnes @squirrelbrain glad to hear you had a similar take! I really wanted to love it more than I did. 1y
Megabooks Great review! I love that cover even if the book isn‘t spectacular. 1y
sarahbarnes @Megabooks I know! I love the cover, too. 1y
28 likes4 comments
review
squirrelbrain
Utopia: A Novel | Heidi Sopinka
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Pickpick

This had all the ingredients to make a strong pick; 1970s, the art-world, feminism, a mystery and apparently based on du Maurier‘s Rebecca. It is a pick, but only a soft one.

There were too many elements that didn‘t quite work, so I never felt myself really drawn in. I can‘t put my finger on exactly what (other than the ending that was too far in the future and too exposition-y) so maybe it was me rather than the book.

#netgalley

sarahbarnes Good to hear your thoughts. I just put this one on hold at the library yesterday and will be interested to give it a try when it comes in. 1y
TrishB But a great cover! 1y
squirrelbrain I hope you‘ll like it @sarahbarnes - I‘d have probably been better hibernating it until my brain was a bit less fried! 🤷‍♀️ 1y
See All 6 Comments
squirrelbrain That‘s what attracted me to it! @TrishB #easilyinfluenced 1y
batsy All of those elements sound pretty interesting! I have not heard of it, so thanks for putting it on my radar. 1y
Megabooks I‘m intrigued, so maybe I‘ll stack it to #BorrowNotBuy. Thanks! 1y
55 likes1 stack add6 comments