New Books Network Gary Baum, "In Pursuit of Beauty" (Blackstone, 2025)
Jul 12, 2025
Gary Baum, an acclaimed reporter and author, dives into his debut novel, 'In Pursuit of Beauty.' He discusses the tangled ethics of a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who defrauds insurance to help the needy, flipping the script on aspiration and truth. Baum explores the complexities of race, identity, and the societal pressures shaping personal desires. Delving into the journey of writing this bold thriller, he reveals the challenges of crafting a narrative that blends fact and fiction, all while scrutinizing modern beauty standards.
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Dual Narrative on Desire and Truth
- The novel explores aspiration, desperation, and desire through a plastic surgeon jailed for insurance fraud.
- It shows storytelling tension via alternating chapters between the surgeon's memoir and her ghostwriter's viewpoint.
Layered Narratives Shift Perspectives
- The dual narrative reveals contrasting truths, evolving reader perspective through memoir and ghostwriter accounts.
- This layered storytelling mirrors how we gain deeper understanding by reassessing experiences over time.
Ghostwriter’s Investigative Approach
- Wes, the ghostwriter character, utilizes investigative journalist skills to fact-check Roya's story with multiple sources.
- This illustrates the challenge of discerning truth even within a memoir project.