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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I know very little about art in general and even less about Dutch artists of the 17th century, but this book brought that artwork to life. I very much enjoyed the story of Sara's life and her work, as well as the parallel story of Marty and Ellie. Very well written with lovely prose.
Very enjoyable read! If you were one of the many, many people who loved "The Girl In the Pearl Earring", you will find familiar elements here.
This book takes us to 3 different times/places: 1)Amsterdam in the 1630's where we meet one of the few women painters of the time, 2)New York 1950's where rich New Yorker is dismayed to find his Dutch masterpiece has been stolen and replaced by a forgery (done by our other protagonist Ellie Shipley), and 3) Sydney, Australia 2000 where characters and paintings all end up at the same museum.
So well done and an absolute page turner.
This book takes us to 3 different times/places: 1)Amsterdam in the 1630's where we meet one of the few women painters of the time, 2)New York 1950's where rich New Yorker is dismayed to find his Dutch masterpiece has been stolen and replaced by a forgery (done by our other protagonist Ellie Shipley), and 3) Sydney, Australia 2000 where characters and paintings all end up at the same museum.
So well done and an absolute page turner.
I wasn't compelled by this story at all - I think mainly because I just didn't care for any of the characters. Very similar in premise to Jessie Burton's [book:The Muse|27213208], and funnily enough that one didn't grab me either.
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was beautifully written, but unfortunate for me I just was not in the mood....
It is October so I’ve been on a kick to get in the Halloween spirit and read about all those witches and ghosts.... however my bookclub was not on the same page, so in the midst of all my paranormal reads I needed to pick up this serious book about art.... art not my strong suit, in fact I’m impressed if somebody can draw a stick figure well.... this book was a lesson in art history, told from multiple points of you including Holland in the 1600s, New York in the 1950s, and Australia in the 2000.... The author did a very good job of this, I was never confused as to what was going on, and I think he painted a fabulous picture of each time period And location.... really the only problem with this book was me, I was not in the mood and I’m just not all that into art, quite honestly I think a forgery is just as amazing as the real deal, as I said I’m impressed if somebody can draw stick figure.... tomorrow is my book chat, always interested to see what everyone else has to say, and of course I always have something to add, even if the book wasn’t my fave... OK now back to my ghosts👻
*** narration, the narrator did a fabulous job especially with all the accents, always impressed when a male narrator can do a female voice in an Australian accent!
It is October so I’ve been on a kick to get in the Halloween spirit and read about all those witches and ghosts.... however my bookclub was not on the same page, so in the midst of all my paranormal reads I needed to pick up this serious book about art.... art not my strong suit, in fact I’m impressed if somebody can draw a stick figure well.... this book was a lesson in art history, told from multiple points of you including Holland in the 1600s, New York in the 1950s, and Australia in the 2000.... The author did a very good job of this, I was never confused as to what was going on, and I think he painted a fabulous picture of each time period And location.... really the only problem with this book was me, I was not in the mood and I’m just not all that into art, quite honestly I think a forgery is just as amazing as the real deal, as I said I’m impressed if somebody can draw stick figure.... tomorrow is my book chat, always interested to see what everyone else has to say, and of course I always have something to add, even if the book wasn’t my fave... OK now back to my ghosts👻
*** narration, the narrator did a fabulous job especially with all the accents, always impressed when a male narrator can do a female voice in an Australian accent!
Why are all books about the art world so melancholy? I got a lot of [b:The Goldfinch|17333223|The Goldfinch|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1378710146l/17333223._SY75_.jpg|24065147] vibes. The present-day character was sad and lonely but I loved the flashbacks to the artist.
Art intrigue meets retribution. Sort of the Goldfinch meets Crime and Punishment. But a very satisfying read.
Hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars.
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos is beautifully written, and extensively researched in a way that adds layers to the writing, but that never comes across as overbearing or excessive. It artfully blends historical fiction with fiction-fiction, the fabricated de Vos mixed in with the likes of Vermeer. All three ages (Golden Age Holland, Brooklyn of the 1950s, and contemporary Sydney) are well built and authentic ; Smith's prose captures the essence of each era.
But, I'll be honest with you - I am a very uncultured person. I cannot spend hours at an art gallery - I can spend 10 minutes max looking at a painting. War or Natural History Museums can captivate me for weeks, but art escapes me. And so, even in a well written novel about art, I became bored. This is completely my own inadequacy, and nothing to do with the book itself, but do know that if you're like me, the plot will drag in the middle and you might fall asleep. I needed much more Sara, and a lot less Marty.
Would watch the movie though (if it were optioned), if only for the feminist undertones that hum too softly throughout the novel, but that would work wonderfully in film.
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos is beautifully written, and extensively researched in a way that adds layers to the writing, but that never comes across as overbearing or excessive. It artfully blends historical fiction with fiction-fiction, the fabricated de Vos mixed in with the likes of Vermeer. All three ages (Golden Age Holland, Brooklyn of the 1950s, and contemporary Sydney) are well built and authentic ; Smith's prose captures the essence of each era.
But, I'll be honest with you - I am a very uncultured person. I cannot spend hours at an art gallery - I can spend 10 minutes max looking at a painting. War or Natural History Museums can captivate me for weeks, but art escapes me. And so, even in a well written novel about art, I became bored. This is completely my own inadequacy, and nothing to do with the book itself, but do know that if you're like me, the plot will drag in the middle and you might fall asleep. I needed much more Sara, and a lot less Marty.
Would watch the movie though (if it were optioned), if only for the feminist undertones that hum too softly throughout the novel, but that would work wonderfully in film.