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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I really loved this. Weaving three different eras together in a story of art, death, love, and deception, Smith managed to keep my attention at every turn. the last few chapters are a bit rushed but also provide for page turning goodness so I'm not picking that nit too much.
Dutch female artists of the Golden Age were few and limited to still life, portraits and florals. Painting and forgeries are blended together in a novel that time shifts between 1630s, Dutch Golden Age and the 2000s area of art historians and collectors.
3.5 stars, really.
Really enjoyed this as a story about art and how different people experience it.
Really enjoyed this as a story about art and how different people experience it.
I did enjoy this book although I wouldn't rate it up there with some of my favs. It totally held my interest. The plot moves along smoothly even though it is told in three time periods @Janee Connor you'll love that! The ending was satisfying. Because it is about the art world and its craggy corners, it was reminiscent a bit of The Goldfinch.
Maybe 3.5. I’ll write up more later.
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The Last Painting of Sara de Vos tells of the intersection between a young art historian and restorer, a New York lawyer, and one of the few female painters of the Dutch Golden Age. The timeline of the book jumps around between the 17th century, the 1950s and the early 2000s as we follow each character. By stretching out the story through alternating chapters and timelines, Smith creates some sense of suspense, though I wouldn't say I was ever on the edge of my seat. In general, I found the historical details of this book quite interesting, and the story interesting enough to keep reading.
However, I found the actions of the lawyer, Marty, in the 1950s timeline to be despicable. He is quite callous and unapologetic, with no regard to Ellie's (the art historian) feelings. And he isn't young enough for this to be excusable. Yes, he feels some sense of remorse for the rest of his life, but. that doesn't really make up for it to me. I also feel that Ellie took it all in stride in a weird way. I wanted some stronger emotion, and overall, I found this book to be very emotionally mellow, despite the manipulative and cruel things done by and to some of the characters.
I also wish that we got more of Sara de Vos’s narrative. The historical details from the 17th century were really interesting to me, and I wish I could have spent more time with her. Sara de Vos was probably the most emotional and faceted character out of the three, and we only got a few chapters with her. She's already a made-up painter, so there's no reason more of her life couldn't have been fabricated and included in the story.
Overall, this was a fine historical fiction, but not as suspenseful as the blurbs on the cover led me to believe it would be. I didn't feel any of the mystery that was supposed to propel the story. The story was engaging enough to propel me to turn the pages, but any sense of suspense was lost to me. I just didn't form much of a connection to any of the characters, and thought it wrapped up a little too perfectly.
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The Last Painting of Sara de Vos tells of the intersection between a young art historian and restorer, a New York lawyer, and one of the few female painters of the Dutch Golden Age. The timeline of the book jumps around between the 17th century, the 1950s and the early 2000s as we follow each character. By stretching out the story through alternating chapters and timelines, Smith creates some sense of suspense, though I wouldn't say I was ever on the edge of my seat. In general, I found the historical details of this book quite interesting, and the story interesting enough to keep reading.
However, I found the actions of the lawyer, Marty, in the 1950s timeline to be despicable. He is quite callous and unapologetic, with no regard to Ellie's (the art historian) feelings. And he isn't young enough for this to be excusable. Yes, he feels some sense of remorse for the rest of his life, but. that doesn't really make up for it to me. I also feel that Ellie took it all in stride in a weird way. I wanted some stronger emotion, and overall, I found this book to be very emotionally mellow, despite the manipulative and cruel things done by and to some of the characters.
I also wish that we got more of Sara de Vos’s narrative. The historical details from the 17th century were really interesting to me, and I wish I could have spent more time with her. Sara de Vos was probably the most emotional and faceted character out of the three, and we only got a few chapters with her. She's already a made-up painter, so there's no reason more of her life couldn't have been fabricated and included in the story.
Overall, this was a fine historical fiction, but not as suspenseful as the blurbs on the cover led me to believe it would be. I didn't feel any of the mystery that was supposed to propel the story. The story was engaging enough to propel me to turn the pages, but any sense of suspense was lost to me. I just didn't form much of a connection to any of the characters, and thought it wrapped up a little too perfectly.
I've been in a bit of a reading funk as of late, and was searching for my next great read. I wanted to read a novel with rich characters, and just something that drew me into their world. I picked this up at a local non-profit used bookstore, and figured why not? The cover alone was mysterious, yet elusive. What a delicious read! I absolutely love shifts in perspective and time, and Dominic Smith utilized both masterfully.
What I loved the most was the common themes seen stretched across time and circumstances. This included regret, hope, grief, and the power to keep moving forward. And certainly seeing how the perspectives interweave was fascinating as well.
What I loved the most was the common themes seen stretched across time and circumstances. This included regret, hope, grief, and the power to keep moving forward. And certainly seeing how the perspectives interweave was fascinating as well.
This year, I've read two of the most brilliant books I've ever read—We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves and The Museum of Modern Love—so I didn't think I could possibly read a third. I was wrong.
This book hooked me from the get-go. It's wide in scope—three different timelines and three different countries: the Dutch Golden Age, wealthy New York in the '50s, and Sydney at the turn of the 21st century. The characters are richly drawn, flawed but redeemable. The prose is exquisite, dense and evocative. The book itself is art of the highest quality.
This is ultimately a story about redemption—there's something about flawed characters making amends for their mistakes that moves me. The ending is very satisfying indeed.
This book hooked me from the get-go. It's wide in scope—three different timelines and three different countries: the Dutch Golden Age, wealthy New York in the '50s, and Sydney at the turn of the 21st century. The characters are richly drawn, flawed but redeemable. The prose is exquisite, dense and evocative. The book itself is art of the highest quality.
This is ultimately a story about redemption—there's something about flawed characters making amends for their mistakes that moves me. The ending is very satisfying indeed.
My first 5 star read of 2019! A wonderful story moving between 17th century Holland, 1950s New York and contemporary Sydney. It follows the story of a painting, an artist and a forgery.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Not a book I would have picked up on my own. It was, however, quite a fun read, and I enjoyed it. Going between times was smooth, and even the headhopping wasn't too jarring, mostly because it only happened in very specific places, and only once or twice.