A Model Summer by Paulina Porizkova

Hyperion, $16.25, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-4013-0936-7, 324 pp., released April 2007

Models rarely write books, and when they do, they’re never as compelling as Paulina Porizkova’s 2007 novel, A Model Summer. Sure, you could argue that this is merely an autobiographical fiction, loosely based on Porizkova’s own life, but then you’d just be missing the point.

I don’t like to judge books based on their authors. If I could read them entirely blind and get the biographical backstory afterwards, I surely would. However, I must admit I was intrigued when I first heard that model (and sometime actress) Porizkova had written a novel. Would it be any good? Would it just be a cheesy story about a girl becoming a model? Would it be more of a novella of 100 pages or so, pimped out by her publisher as a “real book”?

The answer, my lovelies, is that A Model Summer kicks your NaNoWriMo novel’s ass. In fact, it’s by far the best novel written by a model or actress that I’ve read (I’m talking to you, Ethan Hawke!), and I’d even say that had I not known it was written by a former cover girl, I’d still have enjoyed it.

Any flaws in Porizkova’s writing are easily dismissed, due to her decision to write in the voice of an unreliable 15-year-old narrator (Jirinia) who, though independent and occasionally quite wise for her age, is often naïve about things and acts accordingly. For instance, the scene where someone offers her coke at a party, and she assumes they mean Coca-Cola, putting the powder into her glass, stirring it up and drinking it, then pocketing the money straw without realizing she’s done anything unusual. It’s a funny scene and gives her a reason to once again make an ass of herself in front of the photographer she’s got a crush on, delaying their inevitable hook-up (oops, spoiler!).

All in all, the book reads a bit like a young-adult work, though the sex, drugs and violence—as well as Jirinia’s philosophical and artistic leanings—make it more truly adult subject matter. With a character straddling adolescence and adult responsibilities in far-away, fairy-tale Paris, there’s plenty of trouble for Jirina to get into, not to mention the steep learning curve for the world of high-fashion modelling. With an insider’s knowledge, Porizkova gives us the catty goods through parody characters like Evalinda and gay make-up artist Emmanuel, but makes them each human through small moments of sincerity.

Sure, the book is a bit chick-lit for my tastes, what with all the talk of make-up and fashion and creepy Parisian men (or boys), but I found myself absorbed by A Model Summer nevertheless. I stayed up all night reading it, which is an event these days, and I’d definitely be interested in reading a second Porizkova novel, should she ever venture to write one. A recommended read for anyone interested in supermodels, the fashion biz, or a good old-fashioned fish out of water story set amongst the bright lights of Paris.