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Available
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Publication
Knopf (2006), Kindle Edition, 288 pages
Description
Michael 'Butcher' Boone is an ex - 'really famous' painter now reduced to living in the remote country house of his biggest collector and acting as caretaker for his younger brother, Hugh, a damaged man of imposing physicality and childlike emotions. Together they've forged a delicate equilibrium, a balance instantly destroyed when a mysterious young woman named Marlene walks out of a rainstorm and into their lives. Beautiful, smart, and ambitious, she's also the daughter-in-law of the late great painter Jacques Liebovitz, one of Butcher's earliest influences. She's sweet to Hugh and falls in love with Butcher, and they reciprocate in kind. And she sets in motion a chain of events that could be the making - or the ruin - of them all.
User reviews
LibraryThing member scofer
Theft is great fun. Told in alternating voices of “ex-really famous” painter Michael Boone (“Bucher Bones”) and his mentally-challenged brother, Hugh (“Slow Bones”), the story takes on a musical sort of quality skipping from Australia to Japan and to New York. A bitter divorce, a
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complex art scam, a love story of sorts, a murder and the delicate relationship between two brothers combine for a humorous, magical roller coaster ride. Carey’s command of language is, in a word, brilliant. Show Less
LibraryThing member Niecierpek
Fantastic narration in two voices, one of an artist, ‘once famous’ painter, Bill (Butcher) Bones, and the other one of his ‘slow’ and crazy brother, Hugh (Slow) Bones. In the end, one didn’t prove crazier than the other in my opinion; I liked them both too, and the whole book with its
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plot, tempo and subject matter- art, artists, art dealers, love, swindles, and how it is all assessed. It sucked me right in and didn’t relent until the very end. It’s very well written, ironic, intelligent, informative, facetious and above all, very entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliobibuli
The story is told in alternating chapters by two brothers - renown artist Michael Boone (aka 'Butcher Bones') and his idiot-savante brother, Hugh ('Slow Bones').
Recently released from prison where he was sent for trying to steal his own paintings from his ex-wife (and here is where the alimony
And then one stormy night there walks into his life (in her Manolo Blahniks - important detail) a beautiful young woman who claims to have lost her way. Marlene is the wife of Oliver Leibovitz, son of one of the greatest artists of the century. She's also an accomplised art thief and con-woman. Both brothers fall in love with her ... which fits into her plans just nicely. And thus begins a rollicking tale of art theft and deception which moves from Australia to New York via Tokyo.
Love-story, thriller, comedy ... the novel is all of these. But the greatest strength of the novel is the depiction of the complicated love-hate relationship between the brothers. The interplay of voices is excellent, and the way the two accounts give sometimes contradictory views of events, the "truth" of things falling somewhere between them. Hugh may not be the full shilling, but he is certainly astute and in many ways sees the world more clearly than his brother. I love the way his talk is peppered with phrases picked up from everyone else and is full of malapropisms.
The research for the book seems authoratitive - I knew little beforehand about how the art world works, or how artists feel about their work becoming an item of commerce, or how painting might be forged ... and certainly now I feel interested to learn more.
I love the energy and drive of the writing. One reviewer described the prose as "muscular" and I like that. But the language has a rugged poetry too, particularly during when describing the artist working. We can see the finished canvases and know why they are so brilliant, through the words.
Theft reminds me of a couple of other novels I've enjoyed: Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (the episode of the dead puppy, Lenny's capacity for sudden violence and the murder at the end - I'm certain this is a reference Carey means us to pick up!), and Headlong by Michael Frayn (also about shady dealings in the art world and very funny). And then of course Carey's there are echoes earlier novels, particularly My Life as a Fake which also tackled the theme of forgery, and True History of the Kelly Gang in the way that Carey recreates the voice of Ned Kelly so brilliantly. And there's Carey's siding all the way with the rascal, the fraudster, the thief, and making us love him too.
Recently released from prison where he was sent for trying to steal his own paintings from his ex-wife (and here is where the alimony
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whore comes in) he is installed in a country house by his 'sponsor' and begins to make some of the best art of his life. Across huge canvasses he splashes fire and brimstone texts remembered from his violent and abusive childhood, the full scale of which only gradually becomes apparent.And then one stormy night there walks into his life (in her Manolo Blahniks - important detail) a beautiful young woman who claims to have lost her way. Marlene is the wife of Oliver Leibovitz, son of one of the greatest artists of the century. She's also an accomplised art thief and con-woman. Both brothers fall in love with her ... which fits into her plans just nicely. And thus begins a rollicking tale of art theft and deception which moves from Australia to New York via Tokyo.
Love-story, thriller, comedy ... the novel is all of these. But the greatest strength of the novel is the depiction of the complicated love-hate relationship between the brothers. The interplay of voices is excellent, and the way the two accounts give sometimes contradictory views of events, the "truth" of things falling somewhere between them. Hugh may not be the full shilling, but he is certainly astute and in many ways sees the world more clearly than his brother. I love the way his talk is peppered with phrases picked up from everyone else and is full of malapropisms.
The research for the book seems authoratitive - I knew little beforehand about how the art world works, or how artists feel about their work becoming an item of commerce, or how painting might be forged ... and certainly now I feel interested to learn more.
I love the energy and drive of the writing. One reviewer described the prose as "muscular" and I like that. But the language has a rugged poetry too, particularly during when describing the artist working. We can see the finished canvases and know why they are so brilliant, through the words.
Theft reminds me of a couple of other novels I've enjoyed: Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (the episode of the dead puppy, Lenny's capacity for sudden violence and the murder at the end - I'm certain this is a reference Carey means us to pick up!), and Headlong by Michael Frayn (also about shady dealings in the art world and very funny). And then of course Carey's there are echoes earlier novels, particularly My Life as a Fake which also tackled the theme of forgery, and True History of the Kelly Gang in the way that Carey recreates the voice of Ned Kelly so brilliantly. And there's Carey's siding all the way with the rascal, the fraudster, the thief, and making us love him too.
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LibraryThing member posthumose
A story about painting and art; loving it, creating it, showing it, selling or stealing it, depending on your definition of theft. And the tests of love and loyalty. A serious story that manages to be a great romp too. A Booker Prize winner, "Theft" was also shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award
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( Australia). Show Less
LibraryThing member MykelBoard
Usually I hate love stories, but there's so much humor and irony in this one that it makes up for it. Well, plotted with tight twists and turns, and two voices (a painter and an idiot savant). Much of the writing is poetic... in a good sense. Beautiful similes, fine believable voices.
LibraryThing member ElizabethPisani
I'm a great fan of Peter Carey's in general, and this is a pretty good yarn. But the outback-to-Greenwich-village transition is bumpy. And I marvel that a writer who is supremely in command of internal dialogue should have such a poor command of conversation.
LibraryThing member Gary10
Australian tale about art theft and fraud and a woman who is at once ruthless and beautiful. Must concentrate on plot development but worth the effort.
LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
I am left, once again, wondering why Peter Carey is not better known and appreciated in the USA. Theft is a great story filled with believably quirky characters, deception, love and murder as well as theft and art fraud on a major scale.
The action of the story is spread across the globe, spanning
I’ve always admired Carey’s attention to detail and I am now wondering if he has a connection to the world of visual arts. His attention to the pigments used, the techniques of the artists, the emotions they go through and their motivations to create are engrossing.
If you are an admirer of Carey’s work, read this is you have not already done so. While not a mystery in the grand tradition of Who-Done-It stories, the behind the scenes description of the deception and the lengths people will go to for art, including murder, will resonate with readers of that genre as well. Most of all, this is a work of art for lovers of character driven stories.
The action of the story is spread across the globe, spanning
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Tokyo and New York and Carey’s native Australia. I can attest to the accuracy of his descriptions of New York and Tokyo, so I must assume the depictions of Australia are also true to form. I have yet to visit there, but now, more than ever, I am determined to go there.I’ve always admired Carey’s attention to detail and I am now wondering if he has a connection to the world of visual arts. His attention to the pigments used, the techniques of the artists, the emotions they go through and their motivations to create are engrossing.
If you are an admirer of Carey’s work, read this is you have not already done so. While not a mystery in the grand tradition of Who-Done-It stories, the behind the scenes description of the deception and the lengths people will go to for art, including murder, will resonate with readers of that genre as well. Most of all, this is a work of art for lovers of character driven stories.
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LibraryThing member Melanielgarrett
A revelation of a read, and no mistake. It's the first Peter Carey I've read and I was bowled over by the combination of sublime storytelling, with prose that lights up the sky. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get around to it. Vivid, thought-provoking, an emotional roller-coaster
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without ever being sentimental. Beautifully judged. Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
I tried three hours of this eight hour audiobook and just could not engage with the story.
LibraryThing member crosbyc
I enjoyed this novel overall, although found the second half more enjoyable than the first half. I have read it once; I have heard it stands up well to a second read to pick up what was missed the first time through.
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Michael "Butcher" Boone has hit on some hard times - recently divorced and his life work as an artist not only out of popularity but in the hands of his ex-wife - and to add on to his troubles, he's been appointed the guardian of both a rural estate belonging to a patron and his own brother Hugh,
The story of Theft is told in the alternating perspectives of Butcher - a coarse, bitter, and angry man - and Hugh - who, as aforementioned, has some behavioral/mental issues and doesn't always understand what is going on around him. Neither of them were particularly likable or even engaging characters. Marlene, who seems to be a one-note character who can do whatever she wants because she is so irresistibly beautiful that all men around her fawn over her, was equally uninteresting. The "love story" between Butcher and Marlene seemed completely unbelievable, although there is an attempt toward the end to explain that Marlene is attracted to men who are as a physically imposing and brusque as her country father was.
Plot-wise, Theft is actually pretty slim when it comes right down to it, despite the multiple changes in scenery. There were few surprises, except one at the very end. A big overarching theme is about the nature of art itself - what goes into making it, what goes into appreciating it, and what goes into deciding a masterpiece. However, I felt like this theme was very similar to that of My Life as a Fake, the other Peter Carey novel that I read before this one and enjoyed much more. I had found My Life as a Fake much more thought-provoking than this novel.
The reader of the audiobook version of this book was just okay. Some of his accents were just completely off (like that of a woman in New York) while others came off as insulting caricatures (like that of a Japanese man). I had a hard time telling if it was Carey's writing or the narrator's reading or a combination of both that made the character of Hugh come off as a bit disparaging as well. There were other bits dropped here and there that hinted at some casual racism, misogyny, classism, and ableism, but it was think that was more a reflection of the characters' opinions than Carey's. Either way, it didn't make the characters any more likable or the book any more enjoyable.
Greater minds that mine have praised this book and its place in literature, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was not poorly written; it just wasn't a compelling read for me. I'm glad I tackled Carey's My Life as a Fake prior to this one; if I had read this first, I probably wouldn't pick up another Carey, but as it is, I am still interested in trying some other works of his and hoping this one was a fluke.
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who has an unspecified mental disability. Things go from worse to unexpectedly whirlwind when a beautiful authenticator, Marlene Liebovitz, arrives on the scene and declares that the Boones' rustic neighbor is in possession rare piece of art from the early 20th century - and the work is soon stolen days afterward, with Butcher becoming the police's primary suspect.The story of Theft is told in the alternating perspectives of Butcher - a coarse, bitter, and angry man - and Hugh - who, as aforementioned, has some behavioral/mental issues and doesn't always understand what is going on around him. Neither of them were particularly likable or even engaging characters. Marlene, who seems to be a one-note character who can do whatever she wants because she is so irresistibly beautiful that all men around her fawn over her, was equally uninteresting. The "love story" between Butcher and Marlene seemed completely unbelievable, although there is an attempt toward the end to explain that Marlene is attracted to men who are as a physically imposing and brusque as her country father was.
Plot-wise, Theft is actually pretty slim when it comes right down to it, despite the multiple changes in scenery. There were few surprises, except one at the very end. A big overarching theme is about the nature of art itself - what goes into making it, what goes into appreciating it, and what goes into deciding a masterpiece. However, I felt like this theme was very similar to that of My Life as a Fake, the other Peter Carey novel that I read before this one and enjoyed much more. I had found My Life as a Fake much more thought-provoking than this novel.
The reader of the audiobook version of this book was just okay. Some of his accents were just completely off (like that of a woman in New York) while others came off as insulting caricatures (like that of a Japanese man). I had a hard time telling if it was Carey's writing or the narrator's reading or a combination of both that made the character of Hugh come off as a bit disparaging as well. There were other bits dropped here and there that hinted at some casual racism, misogyny, classism, and ableism, but it was think that was more a reflection of the characters' opinions than Carey's. Either way, it didn't make the characters any more likable or the book any more enjoyable.
Greater minds that mine have praised this book and its place in literature, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. It was not poorly written; it just wasn't a compelling read for me. I'm glad I tackled Carey's My Life as a Fake prior to this one; if I had read this first, I probably wouldn't pick up another Carey, but as it is, I am still interested in trying some other works of his and hoping this one was a fluke.
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LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book on CD narrated by Simon Vance
3***
Michael “Butcher” Boone used to be a famous painter. Now, following a messy divorce and a jail term and thanks to the largess of a former patron, he’s living on a remote estate with his developmentally delayed brother, Hugh. One rainy day a beautiful
The novel is told by the two brothers in alternating chapters. Butcher is pretty straightforward in his narration, if a little slow to catch on to what Marlene is up to. Hugh, given his mental deficiencies, seemingly rambles, but has insights unique to his perspective. Regardless, the two are drawn into Marlene’s schemes, like moths to a flame, and the reader can only watch the train wreck.
The plot is convoluted and intricate, as befits a psychological thriller, but I didn’t find it a grippingly fast read. I was interested but puzzled about where this was going for a good third of the novel. Part of this, of course, is the dual narration, especially given Hugh’s limited information. However, once Butcher and Marlene begin their international adventure – going first to Japan and then New York – I was completely engrossed. And just when I thought I had it figured out, Carey had another surprise in store for me. I’ve finished the book and I’m still waiting for the next twist …
Simon Vance is superb as the narrator of the audio version. He gives each brother a unique voice, which makes it easy to tell who is narrating.
3***
Michael “Butcher” Boone used to be a famous painter. Now, following a messy divorce and a jail term and thanks to the largess of a former patron, he’s living on a remote estate with his developmentally delayed brother, Hugh. One rainy day a beautiful
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young woman appears at their door in a downpour. Marlene is smart and driven, and also the daughter-in-law of the late Jacques Leibowitz, a painter of world renown, and one of Michael’s early influences. She’s nice and develops a rapport with Hugh – not an easy fete – and departs on her 3-inch Manolo Blahnik heels just as quickly as she appeared. But Marlene’s connection to the Boone brothers isn’t over. Like a bad penny she reappears and continues to wreak havoc.The novel is told by the two brothers in alternating chapters. Butcher is pretty straightforward in his narration, if a little slow to catch on to what Marlene is up to. Hugh, given his mental deficiencies, seemingly rambles, but has insights unique to his perspective. Regardless, the two are drawn into Marlene’s schemes, like moths to a flame, and the reader can only watch the train wreck.
The plot is convoluted and intricate, as befits a psychological thriller, but I didn’t find it a grippingly fast read. I was interested but puzzled about where this was going for a good third of the novel. Part of this, of course, is the dual narration, especially given Hugh’s limited information. However, once Butcher and Marlene begin their international adventure – going first to Japan and then New York – I was completely engrossed. And just when I thought I had it figured out, Carey had another surprise in store for me. I’ve finished the book and I’m still waiting for the next twist …
Simon Vance is superb as the narrator of the audio version. He gives each brother a unique voice, which makes it easy to tell who is narrating.
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LibraryThing member Eye_Gee
Brilliant, as only Peter Carey can be. Interesting characters, fabulous dialogue (with plenty of un translated Aussie-isms), and a plot with plenty of depth.
Awards
Booker Prize (Longlist — 2006)
New South Wales Premier's Literary Award (Winner — 2007)
Miles Franklin Literary Award (Shortlist — 2007)
Victorian Premier's Literary Award (Winner — Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction — 2006)
Publishers Weekly's Best Books of the Year (Fiction — 2006)
Christian Science Monitor Best Book (General Fiction — 2006)
Language
Original publication date
2006
Local notes
Butcher Boone is an all-id all-the-time Australian painter of enormous talent and renown. Now divorced and bankrupted by his former wife, who tired of his excesses, Butcher has been reduced to caretaking a remote estate for his largest collector. And since the deaths of his working-class parents, he has also been saddled with his beloved, bedeviling brother, Hugh, who, like Butcher, has a primarily pugilistic relationship with the world. One rain-flooded night, a chic young woman knocks on their door, having lost her way. She is Marlene, wife of Olivier Leibovitz, son and heir to an early 20th-century master. Soon the brothers are embroiled in an international crime investigation that eventually comprises forgery, vast sums of money and murder. None of this, however, distracts Butcher from his overpowering love affair with Marlene, which threatens to leave Hugh stranded in an unforgiving world.