How do I locate the title of a book that I know many specific plot
details of but cannot for the life of me remember either title or
author? I have done extensive googling of different combinations of
the names of the characters, various plot points, and the like --- all
turn up NOTHING. I am looking for a web site or forum specifically for
this kind of problem, or perhaps some kind of index of all the
best-sellers of different genres for different years (with plot
summaries). If by some stroke of luck you can find the actual book
that would be amazing.
If someone brave would like to take a crack at the actual title, here
is everything I remember about the book:
This book was published no later than 1999, but likely at least a few
years earlier (I read a rather tattered copy in 1998-1999). It is a
trashy, melodramatic, popular, romance-thriller-weepie (perhaps
best-selling?)novel about a petite, shy, dark-haired girl named Laura
with a father who was a Polish tailor. She goes to college and has a
secret affair with her professor, but drops out after finding out that
he is cheating on her with other students and that she is pregnant.
She has an abortion, marries a red-haired Irish guy named Tim, becomes
a succesful clothing designer, and has a miscarriage. While in the
hospital recovering, Tim reads on her medical chart that she had an
abortion, and goes into an insane rage and beats her. They divorce,
and Laura has a sexual encounter/love affair with a gorgeous rich
young society boy named Michael. Michael is from an aristocratic
super-wealthy family and is unhappy. Michael has an ineffectual older
brother named Stan (I THINK, not 100% sure on that detail) and a
weird, reclusive sister named Sybil (Sibyl? some variant spelling of
this?). Without him knowing, Laura becomes pregnant with his child and
has a son --- during which time she becomes a famous art photographer.
Michael has married a fiery red-head named Elizabeth (eek, it may be
Tess? Maybe Tess is the author's name?), who ends up finding out about
Michael's love-child with Laura. She goes to her art show (I am about
99% sure this all happens in New York City) and is stunned by the
amazing quality of Laura's photographs. She discovers this for certain
when she views a picture in Sybil's house of Michael emerging from his
pool --- taken by Laura. Elizabeth/Tess takes a gun and almost shoots
Laura, but decides not to when she sees Laura's son. I believe she
kills herself in the end. Michael and Laura possibly end up together.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I will check back frequently if
any clarifications are needed --- I remember other plot details but
won't burden the reader with more if that is sufficient. |
Clarification of Question by
melora-ga
on
03 Mar 2005 22:08 PST
There is a rich society lady named Linda (this is a subplot) who has
an affair with another girl and is a supressed lesbian who becomes
bitter and miserable and an alcoholic in her middle age. Linda is a
tennis player.
Sybil, the sister, is perhaps a bit autistic and lives alone, with her
brother Michael taking care of her.
Laura finds out the professor is cheating on her because he has a
painting that he tells her looks just like her --- she discovers he
has a stack of similiar ones in the closet with different haircolors
to seduce all the female art undergraduates. She comes to his door and
sees a blonde painting, and then a blonde girl waves to her from a
crack in his door as the professor tells her to go away.
Laura is really the main character of the book, her maiden name is
definitely Polish. Her photographs of people get her an art
exhibition, and they are huge blown-up portraits of people's faces
that are intensely striking.
After her traumatic ILLEGAL abortion she holes herself up in an
apartment and takes in sewing, becoming a tailor just like her beloved
father. This is how she meets Tim, and after they marry he encourages
her to open her own boutique. Her fashion designs are highly unusual
and soon become quite a hit, drawing high society ladies from all over
New York City.
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