The Forgery of Venus (3M)
Chaz Wilmot is (by choice) an unsuccessful painter doing primarily commercial work. He obviously has more talent than what he’s using, and this fact is a constant source of frustration for his ex-wife and others around him. As part of a medical study, Chaz starts taking Salvinorin A, a drug being tested for its effects on artists’ creativity. 
Chaz is strangely affected by the drug; it not only increases his creativity, it makes him have the memories and abilities of the famous Spanish artist, Diego Valazquez. Is Chaz crazy, or is the drug truly giving him these actual memories and abilities?
Salvinorin A is a real drug, reportedly having real, similar effects as the ones occurring in this book. If you like art and psychological suspense, you may enjoy this book by Michael Gruber. It was a little too graphic for my tastes, but I did enjoy the basic story.
2008, 318 pp.
Rating: 3.5/5
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Popularity: 15% [?]
Looks like we both had the same impression. I probably would have enjoyed it more without the profanity.