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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
My dad absolutely loved this book so I was quite curious to see what the fuss was all about. While I didn't love it as much as he did, I did enjoy it quite a bit. The story alternates between three people: the Sara de Vos, a Dutch artist in 1631, Ellie, a young art student in 1950, and Marty, a NY resident who happens to own the last painting that Sara painted. It was fascinating to see how the stories played out, especially since we get to see Ellie as a young woman and then fifty years later more established in her career.
An art heist played out over 300 years. In 1950s NY, a penthouse lawyer discovers that the treasured painting over his bed is a fake. In 2000 Sydney, the forger, now an art historian, is trying to live down her past. And in 17th century Holland, the Dutch painter, a mother reeling from the loss of her young daughter, reveals the tragedy that inspired the work. The novel hopscotches nicely between timelines but never really links the characters—painter, owner & forger—in a satisfying way. Clever highbrow mystery plot. The writing’s just OK.
I enjoyed this book very much; almost gave it a "5", but 4.5 is closer. Well-written triptych of stories across centuries. Reading about the sexism of the Art Guild was interesting, as well as life in the 1600's. Sara's story fascinated me, but so did the characters in the present time.
I was please to receive and advance reading copy of this book. It is an intriguing tale that I found hard to put down. It is well written with likeable characters. The story switches between three different time periods which you might think would make it confusing but in this book it just builds the suspense. You are reading three connected stories and wanting to know how each one ends. There is the original artist's story, the story of the owner of the art and then the story of the young girl who copies the art. There is an underlying message about mistakes coming back to haunt you, but it is also a story of a love that could have been.
Loved the settings of NYC, Sydney and Holland. Interesting art history story. Can't wait to go on museum tour at MFAH and discuss this book.
4.5 stars for me. Smith captures grimy 1950s Brooklyn and 17th century Dutch bleak winters and the harsh beauty of both equally vividly. Betrayal, love, lots and lots of art, loss, fear of discovery, and exquisitely detailed restoration and forgery processes form a backdrop to two women's linked journeys, separated by 300 years. I was totally taken in by the winding paths of their expectations and limitations, and their ultimate breaks from the traps they find themselves in.
I'm only an hour into this book and already there is much talk about phalluses. NEXT!
I really enjoyed this story. I liked how it moved between the characters and timelines. The only problem was that I was left asking why the painting was forged in the first place and I also wanted to hear more about Rachel - the wife. The ending seemed to wrap up with me wanting more