Elizabeth Feuer's book PAPER DOLL is about a girl named Les who lost the use of her legs as a kid, in a car crash. Now she's a teenage violin prodigy. She's the family star and her big brother is the designated fuckup. He warns her she pays a price too: sexless, funless, regulated life. She genuinely loves music and disbelieves him at first. She finally meets a boy, but when she slacks off on music, dad forbids her to date till she knuckles down and practices. "After all, he doesn't care about you--he just figures you're an easy target, desperate, because of your legs." Oh, gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, dad!

Les starts to realize how her life is constrained by mom's coddling and dad's conditional love. She goes on a music strike. They bargain, but her musical gift won't be bought and sold, and it leaves her. Her dad assumes it's willful, to spite him, but the truth is, Les is facing an artistic block.

She only gets art back when she starts living in the moment, embracing pleasure, risking hurt. Makes love with her boyfriend--and sex unblocks art. Well, it's broader than that.

Happiness unblocks art.

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