Friends of the Museum
The conceit is clever ... McGowan exploits the potential of her workplace setting with ruthless precision, the museum’s staff offering endless possibilities for sociopolitical commentary, interpersonal dalliances, economic hypocrisies and questions of cultural legacy ... The problem is, there’s no time for the reader to luxuriate in them. The novel’s pace matches that of its characters’ hellish workday — which is fun in theory and fatiguing in practice. Across the short, time-stamped sections, plot points pile up quickly, beat after perpetual beat ... McGowan’s prose is solid, her one-liners effortless, and political observations sound, if run of the mill ... But wasted potential is always a sad thing. With characters so thorny and a setup so fun, the novel’s politics should be anything but straightforward.
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Ambitious, lovingly satirical ... Finds an addictive rhythm Some readers may be put off by the seemingly directionless pile-up of personal dramas; others will revel in them, wishing for even more time with this gallery of fatally flawed people ... A capacious story that pulsates with life, this will be a bold addition to literary collections.
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The sheer number of characters here, 46 in total, can be overwhelming to readers, and it’s a challenge to follow and differentiate each one. Prioritizing quantity over depth and interiority, characters are often indistinguishable. McGowan’s screenwriting experience is reflected in her prose, which is largely dialogue. Although sprinkled with wit and humor, the narrative is far too expansive and quite scattered and would have benefited from a tighter focus. Though the novel is weighed down by too much drama, and an overlong length, McGowan ultimately offers readers a rare inside look at the workings of a high-end museum.
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