The Orange Cat Bistro

Where do you separate the writer from the story? In Linde's fresh and many-layered debut, set in contemporary New York, the line of demarcation is pleasingly blurred. Recovering from a failed marriage to controlling shrink Aaron, who even critiqued her dreams, Claire is seeking the ""intersection of the sacred and scared."" While learning to confront the outside world and discovering both the imprisoning and the liberating powers of her imagination, the agoraphobic Claire writes a book. Her protagonist is Nevada, a woman sculptor who hides out in the Nautilus Shell she has carved (aka Nevada's Egg or the Thing). Nevada seems to know as much about Claire as Claire knows about Nevada. In fact, Nevada, though she's Claire's invention, has a mind of her own. What at first seems a book devoted to the Oprah-esque fine art of man-bashing sees its character, and its character within a character, evolve to a point of trust. Yet, despite all the feminist trappings, both women find their transformations jump-started at the hands of--who else?--men. Such minor cavils aside, however, this book--about learning to love without losing yourself, about fighting back and the dangers of playing it too safe--introduces an original voice to the literary scene. Linde writes with a particular urban wit, finding absurd comedy in the most debilitating neuroses and fears--and discovering a way out of those fears through laughter and art. Author tour. (July)