ABSTRACT
AsDonDeLillo'sshortnovelTheBodyArtist(2001)opens,LaurenHartke andherhusbandReyRoblesareatthebreakfasttableoftheirrentedseaside houseinanunnamedcoastaltowninwhatseemsanordinarysceneonan ordinarydayofamarriageroutine.Whilestirringcoffee,readingthenewspaper,pouringorangejuiceormilkfromthecarton,waitingforthetoast, andexchangingbrief,distractedremarks,thecoupleperformswhatseemsa familiarritual.Butthisisnottobeanordinaryday.Rey,asixty-four-yearoldfilmdirector,isabouttoleaveforNewYorkanddieofaself-inflicted gunshotwoundinhisfirstwife'sapartment.Lauren,thebodyartistofthe title,willreturntotherentedcottagebytheseatomournincompleteisolationthetraumaticlossofherhusband.Here,however,shewillfindinan emptyroomonthethirdfloorastrange,unstable,possiblyretardedman whomayhavebeentherethroughoutherentirestaywithherhusband.
