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nearly_empty_nesting's review
4.0
For whatever reason, books set in the medieval time period are really speaking to me lately. The culture descriptions had Pillars of the Earth vibes- told from the historic perspective which can be cringe-y from the modern perspective. Getting past that, I really enjoyed jumping into the imagination of how the Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries came to be.
kiwialexa's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
tlt19's review
5.0
I loved this book and it's my favourite by Tracy Chevalier. The author really brought the making of the tapestries to life for me. The characters were interesting and the story nicely tied up at the end.
margaret21's review against another edition
3.0
A book by Tracy Chevalier is always good value. She tells a good yarn, and while her subject matter is well-researched, she wears her learning lightly. This book got off on the wrong foot however. The tale of the over-sexed miniature painter, Nicholas des Innnocents, and his first foray into tapestry design struck a false note with me from the earliest pages. I simply didn't believe that the 14 year old daughter of nobleman Jean le Viste would all but give herself, on the slightest of acquaintance, and under the table at that, to this artist.
Things improved. I was interested in the weavers of Bruges who have to interpret Nicholas' design. The difficulties they encountered and the personalities involved got me interested. I wanted to know how the story would play out. It was a pity that at the end of the book, there was more scarcely credible under-the-table action.
The tapestries exists to this day. The story that Chevalier weaves is in no sense an account of its history. But it's an involving story, with just a few incredible plot details that somewhat spoilt the book for me.
Things improved. I was interested in the weavers of Bruges who have to interpret Nicholas' design. The difficulties they encountered and the personalities involved got me interested. I wanted to know how the story would play out. It was a pity that at the end of the book, there was more scarcely credible under-the-table action.
The tapestries exists to this day. The story that Chevalier weaves is in no sense an account of its history. But it's an involving story, with just a few incredible plot details that somewhat spoilt the book for me.
misajane79's review
2.0
I've read Chevalier's others and enjoyed this one, but I almost put this book down and stopped reading. For some reason or other, I finished it, but the characters were not engaging and I never really understood all the weaving terminology. Not as good as Girl in a Pearl Earring, and probably won't bother with any of her others (have also read Falling Angels but don't remember much about it).
maureenr's review
3.0
This was good - not as compelling as The Girl with the Pearl Earring, but good. I would love to see these tapestries, and I did appreciate how she created stories out of the tapestries' details. Short book, fast read, enjoyed it.
socorrobaptista's review against another edition
5.0
Um romance histórico muito bom, narrado sob diferentes pontos de vista, nos mostrando as diversas fases de um trabalho artístico muito comum até o final da Idade Média: a tapeçaria. Lindo, com personagens marcantes. Adorei.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
I like the way Chevalier works; I like the way a work of art is used as a focus and a catalyst. I don’t like most of her characters, which makes the books rather chilly reads; there’s a distance kept between the reader and the inhabitants of the book which isn’t unlike that between a viewer and the inhabitants of a painting. Even when you’re inside the head of one of the more sympathetic characters at a very intense moment there’s still a certain detachment. The chapters rotate POV among a selection of the major characters; it’s almost like an exercise in writing. I’m an art geek, so I love all the details about working in the 1400's here, and the tiny bit of weaving I did in school made this accessible; glad that was good for something. If nothing else, it’s a very pretty hardcover, and now I desperately want a) to go stand in the middle of the room hung with these tapestries and b) tapestries of my own. Recommended, but not with a whole lot of warmth.
categal's review
2.0
Oh dear with the unicorn! Nicolas des Innocents has been hired by a nobleman to make a set of tapestries. Nicolas designs a tale of the seduction of a unicorn over the course of the tapestries. The tapestries really do exist, and this story is a dive into how they might have been created and what they mean. Which is interesting and fine, but this Nicolas doofus swans around seducing women with tales of his magic unicorn (spoiler alert: his dick).
ummmmmm...
ummmmmm...