Scan barcode
rubenstein's review
3.0
link goes live on the blog 9/3
Julien Garnier is like any other seventeen-year-old boy: he doesn't take his studies as seriously as he should, he's moving on after a disastrous relationship, and he works as a tour guide at the Musée d’Orsay. What isn't typical about Julien, however, is that he has after-hours access to some of the world's most valuable paintings. His mother is the museum's curator and the art world is abuzz with excitement as the news spreads of the discovery of a lost Renoir. After authentication, the painting will find a permanent home at the museum.
One night while Julien is making the rounds in the now-empty galleries, he notices something isn't quite right with the paintings. First it was some sun damage, then a peach rolled out of a frame. Seascapes begin leaking onto the floor and Degas' dancers start, well, dancing and putting on impromptu performances for Julien.
Worst of all, the girl in the Renoir made a brief appearance and now Julien can't stop thinking about her.
Starry Nights brought me back to the art world. Last year I read and loved B.A. Shapiro's The Art Forger. Shapiro took a subject I knew practically nothing about and made it extremely accessible. Not once did I get lost in the paintings, artists, or techniques. I was eager to return to that magical world and Starry Nights didn't disappoint!
Male POVs are relatively rare in Young Adult and it was a joy to get inside Julien's head. His friends - Simon, Sophie, Bonheur, Emilie, Zola - were wonderfully written too and even the minor characters were fleshed out. That said, the real star of the show was Clio. For over a century she's been trapped inside the cursed painting and only now has been set free. Her story and magical and enchanting and when her true identity was revealed, I was caught off guard.
I'm sure those more knowledgeable than me would enjoy the talk of specific paintings without the added distraction of having to rush off and Google them. That said, the fantasy element was so incredibly well done! Who hasn't looked at a painting and wanted to explore it a bit more? To be able to speak with the subjects, sail on the rivers, or watch the dancers perform is something I'd love to do and the way Ms. Whitney went about it worked.
The ending was a bit rushed and too Happily Ever After for me, but Starry Nights was a delightfully inventive story that can easily be read in a single sitting. This is my first of Whitney's novels, but it left me itching for more!
Julien Garnier is like any other seventeen-year-old boy: he doesn't take his studies as seriously as he should, he's moving on after a disastrous relationship, and he works as a tour guide at the Musée d’Orsay. What isn't typical about Julien, however, is that he has after-hours access to some of the world's most valuable paintings. His mother is the museum's curator and the art world is abuzz with excitement as the news spreads of the discovery of a lost Renoir. After authentication, the painting will find a permanent home at the museum.
One night while Julien is making the rounds in the now-empty galleries, he notices something isn't quite right with the paintings. First it was some sun damage, then a peach rolled out of a frame. Seascapes begin leaking onto the floor and Degas' dancers start, well, dancing and putting on impromptu performances for Julien.
Worst of all, the girl in the Renoir made a brief appearance and now Julien can't stop thinking about her.
Starry Nights brought me back to the art world. Last year I read and loved B.A. Shapiro's The Art Forger. Shapiro took a subject I knew practically nothing about and made it extremely accessible. Not once did I get lost in the paintings, artists, or techniques. I was eager to return to that magical world and Starry Nights didn't disappoint!
Male POVs are relatively rare in Young Adult and it was a joy to get inside Julien's head. His friends - Simon, Sophie, Bonheur, Emilie, Zola - were wonderfully written too and even the minor characters were fleshed out. That said, the real star of the show was Clio. For over a century she's been trapped inside the cursed painting and only now has been set free. Her story and magical and enchanting and when her true identity was revealed, I was caught off guard.
I'm sure those more knowledgeable than me would enjoy the talk of specific paintings without the added distraction of having to rush off and Google them. That said, the fantasy element was so incredibly well done! Who hasn't looked at a painting and wanted to explore it a bit more? To be able to speak with the subjects, sail on the rivers, or watch the dancers perform is something I'd love to do and the way Ms. Whitney went about it worked.
The ending was a bit rushed and too Happily Ever After for me, but Starry Nights was a delightfully inventive story that can easily be read in a single sitting. This is my first of Whitney's novels, but it left me itching for more!
maidmarianlib's review
3.0
Nice fluffy romantic read with some interesting connections to art history and mythology.
beccarwolf's review
2.0
When I read the description for this book I was excited to dive in, but after only a couple of pages I knew it was a flop. The characters did not follow their descriptions very well (that of French teens). When plot holes looked to be forming (which was often) the fixes and explanations for them were random and weak. The overall idea of the book sounded amazing, but the execution could be so much better.
ashleyannagardner's review
3.0
Kind of a weird book but fast and fun to read. I think I enjoyed it mostly because of all the references to art and my beloved Paris.
dlrosebyh's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
atperez's review
1.0
The premise of this story was adorable; Night at the Museum meets YA meets romance. The execution, on the other hand, left much to be desired.
Starry Nights just jumps in to paintings coming to life and reveals the "why"s as it goes along. Unfortunately, it is inconsistent in its own world-building, having the female lead both artistically historic (130 years old or so) and at times confused by modern day lingo and at other times, unrealistically knowledgeable about what something means or what the proper, modern term to use would be.
The romance is hokey, rushed and unbelievable, the friendships based on shallow and short interactions (but possibly at least partially explained by the gimmick if you're willing to allow it), and the characters are largely two dimensional. The biggest disappointment was the waste of potential in creating some magic from the paintings brought to life. They make their appearances but only to support the main character as he first mopes over his love life, then builds another.
This might be right up the alley of art lovers but for anyone with only a passing or non-existent knowledge base in art history, a lot of this is going to go over your head. In other books, I'd consider this an opportunity to pull up Google and learn some fascinating new things but in this case, when I was already frustrated at the quality of the story, it just made things more frustrating. It went beyond references and straight into non-accessibility at a few points where it was not ideal to further pull myself out of the story.
Starry Nights just jumps in to paintings coming to life and reveals the "why"s as it goes along. Unfortunately, it is inconsistent in its own world-building, having the female lead both artistically historic (130 years old or so) and at times confused by modern day lingo and at other times, unrealistically knowledgeable about what something means or what the proper, modern term to use would be.
The romance is hokey, rushed and unbelievable, the friendships based on shallow and short interactions (but possibly at least partially explained by the gimmick if you're willing to allow it), and the characters are largely two dimensional. The biggest disappointment was the waste of potential in creating some magic from the paintings brought to life. They make their appearances but only to support the main character as he first mopes over his love life, then builds another.
This might be right up the alley of art lovers but for anyone with only a passing or non-existent knowledge base in art history, a lot of this is going to go over your head. In other books, I'd consider this an opportunity to pull up Google and learn some fascinating new things but in this case, when I was already frustrated at the quality of the story, it just made things more frustrating. It went beyond references and straight into non-accessibility at a few points where it was not ideal to further pull myself out of the story.
princessquill's review
2.0
I would have given this a three if it had ended the way I wanted it to. A wonderful premise, but underwhelmingly executed. I didn't believe the romance and I didn't think Clio had a lot of depth.
nicoles_card_catalog's review
4.0
Very cute! Totally enjoyable read. Lighter than Daisney Whitney's other titles. Love the Impressionist paintings on the end papers!
thelibrarianofalexandria's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
5.0
I started this a month ago or so,and dident get any further than the first chapter.
Then I picked it up again yesterday,read one chapter and read the rest of it today.
I have to say, the only bad things I have to say about it is the semi slow start.From chapter 3 and out it never stops being interesting,and it never stops entertaining me.
This book has it all.
Heart, a message, mystery, an interesting setting, good lines,funny lines. Friendships,family and love stories.
Characters you can relate to and love.
:D :D :D
If you need a book recomandation,read this book. Its fantastic on every level.