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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I became bored with the book halfway through. I finished because I hoped it would get more interesting. Too much research, not enough character development. And the women seemed the same though the time periods they lived in varied.
I won a free copy of this book on Goodreads Firstreads. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and Firstreads!
I honestly really struggled to make it through this book. There was never a clear plot and the characters were unrelatable to me. I found this book a little boring. I think this book would be well suited for people interested in the history of photography. Unfortunately, it was not my cup of tea.
I honestly really struggled to make it through this book. There was never a clear plot and the characters were unrelatable to me. I found this book a little boring. I think this book would be well suited for people interested in the history of photography. Unfortunately, it was not my cup of tea.
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
I enjoyed this book, but some of the stories seemed rushed & misplaced. I also thought that more of the stories were going to intertwine. It only seems like Cymbeline Kelly was a recurring character. One of the stories that I loved left me with so many unanswered questions. I wasn't sure what happened next. Overall it was good, but not the best that I've read.
Loved the writing, but I never will be a fan of short stories. I take too much time trying to figure out how they will/do connect. The connections didn't always happen in this book.
Eight separate stories about women photographers
Theme: Struggle to be stay connected to their art vs domestic obligations and lack of support
Verdict: Too much telling not enough showing
Final impression: Underdeveloped
Theme: Struggle to be stay connected to their art vs domestic obligations and lack of support
Verdict: Too much telling not enough showing
Final impression: Underdeveloped
Pretty quick read. I really enjoyed the first couple of stories but then they all started to blur together. Not a lot of variety in this book.
DNF. From the description, I expected historical fiction - maybe even nonfiction essays - exploring the lives of pioneering female photographers. Two stories in, I started trying to research these fascinating photographers, only to discover all their names had been changed. Weird. I looked in the back of the book, where an author's note says that the book is intended as a "love letter" to the photographers on whom the characters are based. So...the events in these stories may or may not actually have anything to do with the women whose hard work, personal sacrifice, and creativity Otto claims to be so inspired by.
I read two and a half stories, but I just can't stand the idea that Otto threw away a chance to bring these women's real lives to light. The only female photographer I can name off the top of my head is Annie Leibowitz, and here Otto knows of eight(ish) women who advanced color photography and the role of women in the field, and yet somehow don't warrant even having their real names in the book.
Some of the photographers are Imogen Cunningham, Madame Yevonde (who pioneered color portraiture), Tina Modotti, Lee Miller, Grete Stern (who escaped Nazi Germany to pursue photography and graphic design in Argentina), and Ruth Orkin (who took "American Girl in Italy"). I would read biographies about any of them.
I read two and a half stories, but I just can't stand the idea that Otto threw away a chance to bring these women's real lives to light. The only female photographer I can name off the top of my head is Annie Leibowitz, and here Otto knows of eight(ish) women who advanced color photography and the role of women in the field, and yet somehow don't warrant even having their real names in the book.
Some of the photographers are Imogen Cunningham, Madame Yevonde (who pioneered color portraiture), Tina Modotti, Lee Miller, Grete Stern (who escaped Nazi Germany to pursue photography and graphic design in Argentina), and Ruth Orkin (who took "American Girl in Italy"). I would read biographies about any of them.
This is called a novel, but it's really a set of short stories all revolving around the themes of artist vs. woman. Some of the women in these eight stories desperately try to balance motherhood/family life with their artistry. Others battle social stereotypes to pursue their art. All of these women faced tough choices to pursue their work in the face of conflict, yet the choices seemed simple - what else would they do?
This book wasn't as enjoyable as I thought it would be. I don't usually read short stories (just because I prefer something a little longer), but since it was about photographers I figured I would love it. The characters weren't real, but they are based on actual women photographers. I probably would have enjoyed the biographies of the actually women more than the fictional accounts found in this book. I felt like the author was trying to be too artful in the writing and I was turned off.