Description

As a child, the flamboyant, brooding, and beautiful Rozzie was always the star of her family -- especially in her younger sister Jemma's eyes. So when Rozzie takes up acting and, as a teenager, wins a part in a major motion picture, life changes irrevocably for both sisters. Rozzie is catapulted into the chaotic adult world of celebrity while Jemma travels to movie sets and relishes her sister's fame -- never seeing the strain that the spotlight puts on Rozzie. Soon Jemma develops her own artistic ambitions as a photographer, and Rozzie is forced to reveal the secret she has kept from her family for years -- a rare eye condition that threatens her vision. Only then does Jemma begin to see the truth about her sister and herself -- a reality that threatens the delicate balance of their relationship.

A moving and profound story about family, celebrity, envy, and ultimately love, The Art of Seeing is a brilliant exploration of the powerful and enduring connection between sisters.

About the author(s)

Cammie McGovern was a Stegner Fellow and received the Nelson Algren Award for short fiction. Her fiction has been published in Redbook, Seventeen, Glimmer Train, TriQuarterly, and other journals. She is the author of a second novel, Eye Contact. Please visit www.cammiemcgovern.com.

Reviews

"Beautifully written."
-- Chicago Tribune

"Eloquent. [McGovern] is a wry and keen observer of sibling love and rivalry."
-- People

"McGovern explore[s] the deep shadows thrown by sisterly rivalry. She skillfully reflects the spotlight of fame back on itself."
-- Los Angeles Times

"Elegant and complex. An unusually accomplished first novel."
-- Christina Schwarz, The Atlantic Monthly