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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A book with fantastic twists and turns that could keep any reader guessing until the very end! Liv has been holding on to a painting given by her late husband who died way too young and it is the one thing that helps keep the happy memories of their marriage alive. While at the same time, the subject of this painting - Sophie is fighting to keep the memories of her husband who is off to war alive, whether he is alive or not.
A book with fantastic twists and turns that could keep any reader guessing until the very end! Liv has been holding on to a painting given by her late husband who died way too young and it is the one thing that helps keep the happy memories of their marriage alive. While at the same time, the subject of this painting - Sophie is fighting to keep the memories of her husband who is off to war alive, whether he is alive or not.
Zwei Paare – getrennt durch ein Jahrhundert, verbunden durch ein Gemälde.
Während um sie herum der Erste Weltkrieg tobt, versucht Sophie stark zu sein – für ihre Familie, für ihren Mann Édouard, der auf Seiten Frankreichs kämpft. Nur ein Gemälde ist ihr geblieben, das sie an ihr gemeinsames Glück erinnert. Ein Porträt, das Édouard einst von ihr malte. Und das ihn jetzt retten soll …
Hundert Jahre später. Liv trauert um ihren Mann David. Vor vier Jahren ist er gestorben, viel zu früh. Livs kostbarster Besitz: ein Gemälde, das er ihr einst schenkte. Der Maler: Édouard. Das Modell: Sophie. Als ihr dieses Gemälde genommen werden soll, ist sie bereit, alles zu opfern. Auch das eigene Glück …
Ich mag Moyes, aber ich bin ein eher untypischer Moyes-Leser. Mir hat zum Beispiel 'Eine Handvoll Worte' am besten und 'Ein ganzes halbes Jahr' mit Abstand am wenigsten gefallen. Ich finde aber auch, dass das ganze aktuell gehypte Sick-Lit-Genre einfach nur überflüssig ist. Das vorliegende Werk lässt mich auch ambivalent zurück, zum einen ist Kunst nun so wirklich gar nicht mein Thema, auch war mir das Buch stellenweise zu schmachtend, melodramatisch, übertrieben. Andererseits war die Grundgeschichte schon interessant. Gepflegte, gut gemeinte drei Sterne von mir - auch wenn ich mir etwas mehr 'Handvoll Worte' und weniger 'Halbes Jahr' gewünscht hätte. Damit meine ich etwas weniger 'Kitsch', auch wenn ich nicht leugnen mag, dass mir im letzten Kapitel ein Tränchen kullerte.
Während um sie herum der Erste Weltkrieg tobt, versucht Sophie stark zu sein – für ihre Familie, für ihren Mann Édouard, der auf Seiten Frankreichs kämpft. Nur ein Gemälde ist ihr geblieben, das sie an ihr gemeinsames Glück erinnert. Ein Porträt, das Édouard einst von ihr malte. Und das ihn jetzt retten soll …
Hundert Jahre später. Liv trauert um ihren Mann David. Vor vier Jahren ist er gestorben, viel zu früh. Livs kostbarster Besitz: ein Gemälde, das er ihr einst schenkte. Der Maler: Édouard. Das Modell: Sophie. Als ihr dieses Gemälde genommen werden soll, ist sie bereit, alles zu opfern. Auch das eigene Glück …
Ich mag Moyes, aber ich bin ein eher untypischer Moyes-Leser. Mir hat zum Beispiel 'Eine Handvoll Worte' am besten und 'Ein ganzes halbes Jahr' mit Abstand am wenigsten gefallen. Ich finde aber auch, dass das ganze aktuell gehypte Sick-Lit-Genre einfach nur überflüssig ist. Das vorliegende Werk lässt mich auch ambivalent zurück, zum einen ist Kunst nun so wirklich gar nicht mein Thema, auch war mir das Buch stellenweise zu schmachtend, melodramatisch, übertrieben. Andererseits war die Grundgeschichte schon interessant. Gepflegte, gut gemeinte drei Sterne von mir - auch wenn ich mir etwas mehr 'Handvoll Worte' und weniger 'Halbes Jahr' gewünscht hätte. Damit meine ich etwas weniger 'Kitsch', auch wenn ich nicht leugnen mag, dass mir im letzten Kapitel ein Tränchen kullerte.
Beautifully written - grabbed me from the beginning. A bit bumpy as the two stories merged, but as usual her characters are lovely and her voice is wonderful to read. Not quite Me Before You, but close.
3.5. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Solid story, solid characters, and an interesting premise. I thought Sophie's narration was stronger than Liv's, but I enjoyed them both as characters.
Overall, I'll definitely check out another Moyes book the next time I need a 'lighter' read.
Overall, I'll definitely check out another Moyes book the next time I need a 'lighter' read.
The Hook - I’ve become quite the fan of JoJo Moyes so when this one popped up for loan in audio through the library I jumped on the chance. It did not disappoint.
The Line – Couldn’t resist two this time:
”It reminds me that humankind is capable of love and beauty as well as destruction.”
”Every couple of weeks we hook up for a technically proficient but ultimately soulless coupling. He was pretty rubbish when we started, but he’s getting the hang of it.”
The Sinker – There are many worthy war stories, both fiction and non-fiction but not quite as many written about The Great War as World War II or at least not that I have read. Two parallel stories are told, the first in 1916 tells the story of Sophie Lefevre, a young wife struggling to exist in her small French town after her husband Edouard, an artist heads off to the front. Sophie and her sister run a hotel that is commandeered by the Germans for their meals. The Kommandant admires a painting that Edouard has done of his beautiful wife, Sophie, dubbed The Girl You Left Behind. Fast forward to present day where the painting now hangs on the wall of Liv Halston, a gift from her husband who has recently passed away. The ownership of the painting becomes embroiled in a legal battle for the recovery of stolen art taken during the war.
This is JoJo Moyes so get the tissues and expect a bit of sadness, a love story, and a darn good story that will keep you engrossed.
Penny Rawlins and Clare Corbett dually narrate the audio version. I had a hard time getting in sync with the voice of Sophie but leveled out as the story dew me in.
Yet another winner for Ms. Moyes.
The Line – Couldn’t resist two this time:
”It reminds me that humankind is capable of love and beauty as well as destruction.”
”Every couple of weeks we hook up for a technically proficient but ultimately soulless coupling. He was pretty rubbish when we started, but he’s getting the hang of it.”
The Sinker – There are many worthy war stories, both fiction and non-fiction but not quite as many written about The Great War as World War II or at least not that I have read. Two parallel stories are told, the first in 1916 tells the story of Sophie Lefevre, a young wife struggling to exist in her small French town after her husband Edouard, an artist heads off to the front. Sophie and her sister run a hotel that is commandeered by the Germans for their meals. The Kommandant admires a painting that Edouard has done of his beautiful wife, Sophie, dubbed The Girl You Left Behind. Fast forward to present day where the painting now hangs on the wall of Liv Halston, a gift from her husband who has recently passed away. The ownership of the painting becomes embroiled in a legal battle for the recovery of stolen art taken during the war.
This is JoJo Moyes so get the tissues and expect a bit of sadness, a love story, and a darn good story that will keep you engrossed.
Penny Rawlins and Clare Corbett dually narrate the audio version. I had a hard time getting in sync with the voice of Sophie but leveled out as the story dew me in.
Yet another winner for Ms. Moyes.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
A copy of The Girl You Left Behind was provided to me by Pamela Dorman Books for review purposes.
______________________________
"Once it is done, it cannot be undone."
1916
In the midst of WWI, a small French town is overtaken by the Germans and Sophie and her sister Helene are forced to make the soldiers extravagant meals every night. When the portrait of Sophie that her husband painted of her catches the attention of the Kommandant, he begins showing her a kindness not afforded to any others. Sophie decides to take advantage of that kindness in hopes that she will be able to help free her husband from the ravages of the prison camp. For his help though, it will come at a steep cost.
'Sometimes life is a series of obstacles, a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes [...] it is simply a matter of blind faith.'
2006
Liv is still grieving for the husband she lost unexpectedly 4 years prior. She meets a man that she feels she could actually move on and be happy with only to find that he's been searching for a long lost painting that Liv's husband gave to her while on their honeymoon. He was hired to recover the painting when the descendants came forward when she was discovered as being stolen from the family during WWI. Liv begins researching information on the girl in the portrait in hopes to uncover the truth behind it's origins.
I'm a huge fan of dual narrative stories, especially when you have a wonderful mix of old with the new. This is perfect for fans of historical fiction and/or contemporary because you get both genres intertwined. I personally was a bigger fan of the 1916 storyline and all the aspects of WWI, plus I felt Sophie's story was simply a better written and riveting tale. Sophie's story was heartrending as war tales typically are. Liv's story was equally distressing but lacked a clear understanding why she was so adamant about keeping the portrait.
I picked up this story after being thoroughly enchanted by 'Me Before You' however, this is a vastly different type of tale with much more focus on the historical aspects. I would recommend this read to fans of Sarah Jio and Susanna Kearsley as both typically focus on dual narratives and/or the blending of past and present.
The Girl You Left Behind is the tale of two women, both surviving trying times, joined through decades by a remarkable portrait. A portrait that brings to light what's right and wrong and how there is oftentimes a middle ground, a grey area.
A copy of The Girl You Left Behind was provided to me by Pamela Dorman Books for review purposes.
______________________________
"Once it is done, it cannot be undone."
1916
In the midst of WWI, a small French town is overtaken by the Germans and Sophie and her sister Helene are forced to make the soldiers extravagant meals every night. When the portrait of Sophie that her husband painted of her catches the attention of the Kommandant, he begins showing her a kindness not afforded to any others. Sophie decides to take advantage of that kindness in hopes that she will be able to help free her husband from the ravages of the prison camp. For his help though, it will come at a steep cost.
'Sometimes life is a series of obstacles, a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes [...] it is simply a matter of blind faith.'
2006
Liv is still grieving for the husband she lost unexpectedly 4 years prior. She meets a man that she feels she could actually move on and be happy with only to find that he's been searching for a long lost painting that Liv's husband gave to her while on their honeymoon. He was hired to recover the painting when the descendants came forward when she was discovered as being stolen from the family during WWI. Liv begins researching information on the girl in the portrait in hopes to uncover the truth behind it's origins.
I'm a huge fan of dual narrative stories, especially when you have a wonderful mix of old with the new. This is perfect for fans of historical fiction and/or contemporary because you get both genres intertwined. I personally was a bigger fan of the 1916 storyline and all the aspects of WWI, plus I felt Sophie's story was simply a better written and riveting tale. Sophie's story was heartrending as war tales typically are. Liv's story was equally distressing but lacked a clear understanding why she was so adamant about keeping the portrait.
I picked up this story after being thoroughly enchanted by 'Me Before You' however, this is a vastly different type of tale with much more focus on the historical aspects. I would recommend this read to fans of Sarah Jio and Susanna Kearsley as both typically focus on dual narratives and/or the blending of past and present.
The Girl You Left Behind is the tale of two women, both surviving trying times, joined through decades by a remarkable portrait. A portrait that brings to light what's right and wrong and how there is oftentimes a middle ground, a grey area.
My feelings about this book are lukewarm at best. For me, it just didn't have the emotional impact Moyes was going for, and certainly not that of Me Before You.
Skimming through other reviews, it seems most readers prefer the parts of the dual narrative set during WWI. But I couldn't bring myself to care about Sophie, the perfect, feisty heroine who daringly defies the Germans, brings food to the poor, pines for her annoying husband, and captivates the Kommandant with her unassuming beauty, all while being shunned by the town.
We're meant to admire her spirit and her loyalty, but she just felt too perfect. And I didn't care if she was reunited with her husband, a self-absorbed painter; their relationship is shown only in flashbacks, and just isn't very appealing to me. Sophie is his idealized muse, who of course spends all her time making sure he can CREATE. She continually credits him with the strong person she's become, but all he ever does is tell her how beautiful she is. Well, except the scene where he shows her how to be free and wild by dancing in public!
The story line set in the present wasn't that much better. It hinges on a very contrived romance and a legal case about art ownership that supposedly captures the public's attention so much as to inspire riots. I don't know anyone who cares that much about stolen art and war reparations that much.
Skimming through other reviews, it seems most readers prefer the parts of the dual narrative set during WWI. But I couldn't bring myself to care about Sophie, the perfect, feisty heroine who daringly defies the Germans, brings food to the poor, pines for her annoying husband, and captivates the Kommandant with her unassuming beauty, all while being shunned by the town.
We're meant to admire her spirit and her loyalty, but she just felt too perfect. And I didn't care if she was reunited with her husband, a self-absorbed painter; their relationship is shown only in flashbacks, and just isn't very appealing to me. Sophie is his idealized muse, who of course spends all her time making sure he can CREATE. She continually credits him with the strong person she's become, but all he ever does is tell her how beautiful she is. Well, except the scene where he shows her how to be free and wild by dancing in public!
The story line set in the present wasn't that much better. It hinges on a very contrived romance and a legal case about art ownership that supposedly captures the public's attention so much as to inspire riots. I don't know anyone who cares that much about stolen art and war reparations that much.