Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry
By Leanne Sharpton
Sarah Chrichton Books, $18.00, 129 pages
Meet Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris. Lenore, aka Buttertart, writes a food column for the New York Times, loves striped clothing, and throws things when she’s mad. Harold, or Hal, is a professional photographer with a fear of commitment, a crusty English mother, and a collection of hotel keycards. The story of their quirky, tempestuous, and ultimately doomed relationship is skillfully told through a series of auction catalog entries in Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry, the innovative new book by Leanne Sharpton.
An illustrator and writer, Sharpton uses visual and written elements in concert to reveal the particulars of a relationship. For instance, a picture of a mix CD is accompanied by a flirty track list, or a broken mug by a note of apology. Though devoid of traditional narrative, these emotional artifacts and simple descriptions allow the reader to construct the story and become emotionally invested after only a few pages. Sharpton creates a delicate balance between pictures and words, between information and omission, allowing readers to fill in the blanks. The result is a love story both specific and universal.
Reviewed by Katie Capello
