Contemporary Fiction: The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman

Let's face it, we have all judged a book by its cover. That is certainly the case with me when it comes to The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman. The cover is absolutely stunning, and after having been drawn in by the swirling colors, I read the book jacket and was more than intrigued. Art is something I always feel I should know more about than I do. And stories about children living in the shadow of a famous parent are always interesting to me.

The Situation: Charles "Pinch" Bavinsky remembers wanting only one thing from his life, and that is the attention, admiration, and approval from his father. Bear Bavinsky is an incredibly popular painter, and due to the high standard he holds to his work, he paints almost twice as much as he actually shows the public, ultimately burning the works that don't make the cut. When not painting and making new art, it seems Bear is endlessly forming new relationships, and he has the ex-wives and children to show for it. Born in 1950, Pinch is the son of Bear and his second wife Natalie, a Canadian ex-pat who moved to her husband's studio in Italy, before he was even her husband. As Pinch grows up, one constant in his life will be his desire to make his father proud, make his father notice him for something remarkable he has done. Unfortunately for Pinch, it seems anyone in Bear's circle will always come second to the man himself.

The Problem: Early in his life, Pinch comes to the conclusion that he will never be an artist, despite his mother telling him he has real talent. What he does have an extraordinary knack for is languages, and is able to pick them up as easily as most adults seem to struggle with them. But this is not enough to gain Bear's attention, the one thing Pinch has always wanted. To make matters worse, Pinch struggles to relate to most people as he gets older, causing a level of loneliness that is almost painful. He may be smart as well as talented, but what didn't pass to the younger Bavinsky was the magnetic personality and charm that makes Bear the center of attention wherever he goes. Pinch wishes to do something significant in his life, but is forced to accept mediocrity and dullness at almost every turn. If he wants to do something big, he'll almost have to do it without anyone knowing it was him.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel that begins in Rome in 1955, when Pinch is five years old. From here, the reader will follow Pinch through the course of his life as he spends his childhood in Rome before moving with his mother to London. There are the college years in Canada, and the eventual return to Europe where he will spend most of his adult life as a teacher of Italian. No matter where he ends up, there are always trips to Bear's studio in France, where there is a collection of Bear's work that the painter refuses to sell or show. Throughout the story and his life, Pinch will have a complicated relationship with his father that is equal parts unhealthy hero worship, and a mixture of bitterness and rage at being forgotten, pushed aside, and ignored. It will end up a well-established fact that Pinch is the favorite of all of Bear's children, but that does little to make Pinch's life better, or allow him to live a life that gets him noticed, by anyone. Only when Pinch decides to stage his own quiet, but dangerous rebellion does he show signs of moving away from his father's shadow, though he'll never outshine it. In this book is a man who must confront the awful reality that he may live a life that is utterly unremarkable.   

My Verdict: Seeing the current rating this book has on Goodreads, I did not expect much, and perhaps that aided in me being pleasantly surprised. Now I think a few of the readers were a little unfair, and that this book does not receive enough credit. This is an interesting account of a man who wants to make his mark on the world, but lacks the personality, as well as physical features, that would allow anyone to care. Standing next to the great Bear Bavinsky, no one notices Pinch unless his father points him out. It is an admission that sometimes brains and talent are not enough, and its an admission that most people would rather go unsaid. Poor Pinch tries his best, and while it is certainly easy to remain hidden while Bear takes up the spotlight, Pinch also blunders continually in his personal interactions. Rachman offers a history of a man who is only interesting because of who his father is, and somehow gets the reader to care about him. Occasionally, the reader may even want to act like the characters in the book and look past Pinch in order to see what Bear is up to. I think those fascinated, or even just interested, in the world of art and art collection will enjoy this book.

Favorite Moment: When Pinch makes a serious blunder with a fellow teacher. With the slightest bit of forethought and observation, the whole thing could have been avoided.

Favorite Character: Marsden McClintock is Pinch's friend from college who will come in and out of his life throughout the book. He is a bit silly and cannot quite commit to a path, but he is a good friend and is there when Pinch needs him.

Recommended Reading: For more fiction that deals with the art world, I recommend An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin.