MONES, Nicole 1951(?)-

PERSONAL: Born c. 1951. Education: Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

ADDRESSES: Home—Portland, OR. Agent—c/o Delacorte Publicity, 201 East 50th St., New York, NY 10022.

CAREER: Writer. Textile broker in the People's Republic of China and the United States, beginning 1977; also worked as an interpreter and a freelance grant writer for public institutions.

AWARDS, HONORS: Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award, 1999, Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, and New York Times Notable Book selection, all for Lost in Translation.

WRITINGS:

Lost in Translation (novel), Delacorte (New York, NY), 1998.

A Cup of Light (novel), Delacorte (New York, NY), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Additional novels about the People's Republic of China.

SIDELIGHTS: Nicole Mones, a textile broker who worked in the People's Republic of China, used her knowledge of that land and its culture to write the novels Lost in Translation and A Cup of Light. Central to both stories is an interest in ancient art and artifacts; both also feature the adventures of Americans in China and romantic subplots. Mones's debut novel earned her awards and a New York Times Notable Book designation. Her next novel received stronger reviews than her promising first, particularly from critics who enjoyed its emphasis on art and those who deal in precious and therefore possibly fake objects.

The plot of Lost in Translation revolves around the activities of an American translator, Alice Mannegan, who works for archaeologists who are trying to find the remains of Peking Man, an ancient human skeleton that disappeared during World War II. Mannegan, the daughter of a racist United States senator, wages war against her bigoted father by seducing Chinese men. When she falls in love with a Chinese member of the archaeological team, Mannegan must deal with her past before securing her future.

Library Journal contributor Barbara Hoffert noted that Mones "has some good points to make" but felt that "she doesn't explore them fully." Writing in the Detroit Free Press, Judy Rose faulted the author's use of revealing important technical information in the characters' dialogue but liked "the far-ranging subjects Mones weaves together." Rose observed, "Perhaps when Mones grows a little more, the whole of her writing will become as good as some parts." Booklist contributor Nancy Pearl called Lost in Translation "a moderately entertaining first novel." Reviewing Lost in Translation in the New York Times Book Review, Lisa See concluded, "While Mones seems to be exploring issues of race and taboo, her treatment of them is finally muddled. Still, her search for Peking Man—as well as for that enigmatic place where man and woman fall in love—is thought-provoking, sometimes disturbing and undeniably entertaining."

In A Cup of Light, American porcelain expert Lia Frank is sent to China to appraise a collection of possibly rare pots. As the representative of a leading dealer, she is concerned about finding fakes among the 800 beautiful pieces. Another concern is whether the wealthy entrepreneur offering the porcelain, Gao Yideng, and his colleage Bai, have permission from the Chinese government to sell the collection. Lia proves to be deft at her job and blessed with mnemonic skills that help her classify each pot. The stress of this daunting task is also offset by a romantic relationship she develops with American doctor Michael Doyle, who works nearby. But the lovers must deal with the confines of Lia's limited stay in China and health problems that keep Michael from making a commitment.

The novel drew a mixed reception from critics. Library Journal's Rebecca Stuhr said that the book's human elements were sacrificed to the focus on porcelain. She concluded, "Hints at possibly rich themes are scattered throughout this tedious novel, but they are never developed." More often, however, reviewers enjoyed the book's themes. A Publishers Weekly contributor said the author "twins a conventional romance with an unconventional and intriguing art world mystery" and commended the manner in which Mones "generates real suspense—moving cinematically from character to character and place to place." A writer for Kirkus Reviews called the book "intelligent and consistently interesting, with an engagingly original cast, subject, and themes—but the story itself often lags." According to Carol Haggas in Booklist, "Lia triumphs in the seductively exotic world of international intrigue, one which Mones conveys with depth and subtlety." In the Los Angeles Times, Susan Salter Reynolds called A Cup of Light "a delightful novel" with a style akin to that of Tom Wolfe. Reynolds felt that it was fired by the drama of ancient art: "arteries wind from its creation, sending each of the characters on his or her own separate quest."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 1998, Nancy Pearl, review of Lost in Translation, p. 1859; March 1, 2002, Carol Haggas, review of A Cup of Light, p. 1093.

Detroit Free Press, August 30, 1998, Judy Rose, review of Lost in Translation, p. 7H.

Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2002, review of A Cup of Light, p. 132.

Library Journal, May 1, 1998, Barbara Hoffert, review of Lost in Translation, p. 139; May 15, 2002, Rebecca Stuhr, review of A Cup of Light, p. 126.

Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2002, Susan Salter Reynolds, review of A Cup of Light.

New York Times Book Review, September 20, 1998, Lisa See, review of Lost in Translation, p. 41.

Publishers Weekly, February 4, 2002, review of A Cup of Light, p. 49.*