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milomo's review
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
xeyra1's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading "Girl with a Pear Earring" and so was curious to read another book by Tracy Chevalier. This author's writing is stark, simple, uncomplicated and yet very engaging and possessing a clear beauty in the way she weaves her story, much like the tapestries of the Lady and the Unicorn were weaved. I really enjoyed this book, with all its different points of views, which allowed us to see events from different perspectives and understand the characters better.
Trying to create a story behind something like paintings and tapestries seems to be something Tracy Chevalier does very well; her books are a pleasure to read, with their seemingly simple but in fact complex studies of human nature and art. It was fascinating to read about the process behind the weaving of tapestries, as seen through the eyes of the Brussel weavers; to familiarise oneself with the realities of those times and the traditions that should be upheld (like the fact women were forbidden to weave lest the weaver's guild refuse to accept the work they were presented with). I couldn't have imagined the amount of work that goes into creating a single tapestry, let alone the seven the book tells us about.
It was beautiful to see these same tapestries in the book, their images following us as we read. I found myself looking at them often as I read them being described, so as to see with my own eyes the details the characters spoke about. Pity we cannot see Sound in the book, as it's the only one that's not printed there (I think).
Trying to create a story behind something like paintings and tapestries seems to be something Tracy Chevalier does very well; her books are a pleasure to read, with their seemingly simple but in fact complex studies of human nature and art. It was fascinating to read about the process behind the weaving of tapestries, as seen through the eyes of the Brussel weavers; to familiarise oneself with the realities of those times and the traditions that should be upheld (like the fact women were forbidden to weave lest the weaver's guild refuse to accept the work they were presented with). I couldn't have imagined the amount of work that goes into creating a single tapestry, let alone the seven the book tells us about.
It was beautiful to see these same tapestries in the book, their images following us as we read. I found myself looking at them often as I read them being described, so as to see with my own eyes the details the characters spoke about. Pity we cannot see Sound in the book, as it's the only one that's not printed there (I think).
isaexcel's review against another edition
informative
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
emybooksandcoffee's review
3.0
Decent attempt at bringing the medieval period to life and fictionalizing the story behind a work of art, but not as compelling as Girl With A Pearl Earring. Multiple POVs didn't work well.
bethsponz's review
4.0
An interesting story told of how a tapestry is made and all that goes into it. I liked how they made a story around the making of it.
aliciasirois's review
4.0
This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I really like how she ties in a bit of historical truth with fiction when the pieces are missing. I have also noticed in all the book I have read by her so far, including this one, she seems to have a tendency to use the color blue as some sort of symbol, either for the characters as a special meaning, or for the readers to notice as a meaning for them. Although I really enjoyed this book, it was not her best piece compared to the other three I have read (Girl with a Pearl Earning, Falling Angels, and The Virgin Blue), though it had some shining moments. Her characters, even though they live in the 1400s and 1500s are very real.
flickwitch's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
magena's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I happened to read it before we went to Paris. The story is based on a tapestry that hangs today in the Cluny museum(also in Paris).
rchluther's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoy Chevalier's books. I wish I'd bought more when Borders was going out of business! This one is the story of some French tapestries from the late 15th century. I was totally drawn in by the stories of all the different women, and just hope that the true story matches this one somehow because it is so wonderful.