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jess_mango's review against another edition
3.0
I selected "Headlong" as a monthly pick for my bookclub since I had read positive reviews and the book had been shortlisted for the 1999 Booker Prize. Not everyone in my book club enjoyed it or for that matter even finished it. Then again, that book club was notorious for not reading the book.
I had mixed feelings about Frayn's art history farce. I hadn't know that much about the Dutch masters, so was happy to be exposed to Bruegel and learn a little bit about his art by reading this novel. A big portion of the book goes into 16th century Dutch politics, art history and very detailed descriptions of Bruegel's painting. Some of these lengthy descriptions were boring to me. I had never seen Bruegel's art before and Googled to check it out after reading the descriptions in the book. The book definitely wasn't a light or quick read, but I did learn something from it--which is always good.
I had mixed feelings about Frayn's art history farce. I hadn't know that much about the Dutch masters, so was happy to be exposed to Bruegel and learn a little bit about his art by reading this novel. A big portion of the book goes into 16th century Dutch politics, art history and very detailed descriptions of Bruegel's painting. Some of these lengthy descriptions were boring to me. I had never seen Bruegel's art before and Googled to check it out after reading the descriptions in the book. The book definitely wasn't a light or quick read, but I did learn something from it--which is always good.
linaleigh's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a joy from start to finish. It is a sign of good writing when you can be so invested in characters who can infuriate us so much. Frayn's characters are layered and carry a very real, natural quality.
dmje's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
avobaby's review
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
sowkat's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
farkle's review against another edition
3.0
For the art historian in me (what remains of her, that is), the research and thrill of discovering the "undiscovered" work, were thrilling. Ah, to think of what might have been! However, unless you are familiar with the artists and works mentioned in the text, the book really needs a pullout image section to reference the existing works and artists in question or it needs to come with a handy free app for viewing without doing extensive research of your own.
Due to the pretentious attitude of the protagonist, I have to say I'm a little glad that I'm not a full-time art historian.
Due to the pretentious attitude of the protagonist, I have to say I'm a little glad that I'm not a full-time art historian.
maryfbush's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It's well written, but there is a lot of academic history to slog through of a time period and a painting style that I'm not particularly interested in overall. The main story I was interested in enough to keep me reading, and the payoff in the end was worth it. I have to wonder if the time period and painting style were more to my general interest, if it would have made a difference, or if I would have still found those parts overly academic. I understand where it was coming from, that the character IS an academic, but at times it was a lot to get through.
michaeloconnor's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
raisa's review
funny
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
scarla's review
4.0
I had to read "Headlong" for a University course and I doubt that I would have picked it up otherwise. Now I am glad I did, as "Headlong" turned out to be an interesting, original and thrilling story.
Art has always played an important part in my life. It was my favourite subject in school, so no wonder I chose it was my main subject later on. Sadly, we never really learnt much about art history and theory, which I would have liked a lot, as this is an interesting topic that does not have to be boring or lame.
Michael Frayn has used art as the most general topic in his novel. The protagonist Martin and his wife Kate are both in the art business and trying to write a book each, but Martin gets distracted easily. When he sees a painting while in their cottage in the country, he is sure he has found the most important piece of art ever. Martin believes it to be the 6th missing painting in Bruegel's "Four Seasons" series.
The aspect I was asked to look out during reading the novel is the connection of fact and fiction, of knowledge and imagination. All the paintings and painters mentioned, from various Bruegels to Giordano, are real. Only the most important picture for Martin, the story and the novel is non-existant: the Merrymakers, as it is called. I probably have to look more into the matter, to find out how much there really is to know about the missing painting from Bruegel's series, but for the story, it does not matter much. It is irrelevant weather the painting that has such an impact on Martin exist. What matters is what the picture does to Martin, how it soon dictates his life, his family, his thinking. It changes everything and not only affects Martin, but his wife and his daughter as well as the painting's owner Tony and his wife Laura. Martin loses himself in the process of trying to own the painting and forgets everything and everyone around him.
Frayn paints a picture of his own in writing this story. On it can be seen love and loss, greed and goodness, fault and forgiveness. It shows the effect of obsession and fate and even if it sometimes puts to much emphasis on the details that could have been left out, it is a remarkably story with art topics involved in every aspect.
Art has always played an important part in my life. It was my favourite subject in school, so no wonder I chose it was my main subject later on. Sadly, we never really learnt much about art history and theory, which I would have liked a lot, as this is an interesting topic that does not have to be boring or lame.
Michael Frayn has used art as the most general topic in his novel. The protagonist Martin and his wife Kate are both in the art business and trying to write a book each, but Martin gets distracted easily. When he sees a painting while in their cottage in the country, he is sure he has found the most important piece of art ever. Martin believes it to be the 6th missing painting in Bruegel's "Four Seasons" series.
The aspect I was asked to look out during reading the novel is the connection of fact and fiction, of knowledge and imagination. All the paintings and painters mentioned, from various Bruegels to Giordano, are real. Only the most important picture for Martin, the story and the novel is non-existant: the Merrymakers, as it is called. I probably have to look more into the matter, to find out how much there really is to know about the missing painting from Bruegel's series, but for the story, it does not matter much. It is irrelevant weather the painting that has such an impact on Martin exist. What matters is what the picture does to Martin, how it soon dictates his life, his family, his thinking. It changes everything and not only affects Martin, but his wife and his daughter as well as the painting's owner Tony and his wife Laura. Martin loses himself in the process of trying to own the painting and forgets everything and everyone around him.
Frayn paints a picture of his own in writing this story. On it can be seen love and loss, greed and goodness, fault and forgiveness. It shows the effect of obsession and fate and even if it sometimes puts to much emphasis on the details that could have been left out, it is a remarkably story with art topics involved in every aspect.