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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This is a fabulous book. A forger should be despised but I was rooting for her reprieve. Enjoyed the history of the golden age
I think I would give this book more of a 3.5 than a three. Reading this story was really fun and I liked the way we were able to move through multiple lifetimes in multiple centuries. My art history teacher recommended this book and personally historical fiction is not something I am typically drawn to. I will more often just pick up a non-fiction history novel. That being said I found it really intriguing how the author presented Marty and Ellie. Clearly Ellie is in the wrong for her contribution but I find it strange how much of the blame Marty places on her. It is clear by his character that the painting was only a symbol to him. It could have been any expensive painting from his collection and it would have been the same. A symbol was taken from him and in turn he took a symbolic thing from Ellie that was a complete violation. It's so interesting because I feel like in the case of almost all rich art collectors a forgery is as good as the original because they have commodified art and perceived value is the only reason they will ever cherish it. I think this is best highlighted in the end when Marty says that she probably knows the painting better than he does. Because he never cared and in a world where he had everything and was still unhappy he grasped for whatever would keep his ego afloat.
In the end this was purely a hate read. Jesus, this writer is terrible. I can just imagine him sitting at his computer saying, " You guys, I'm totally a Writer! Look at all this Writing I'm doing! No one Writes as much Writing as me!"
This book surprised me in the end. I wasn't sure I was going to like any of the characters, but in the end I liked them all! This is one of those, stick with it, it's worth it books.
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Poignant, layered masterpiece on ageing and the lost promise of youth.
This lovely story, which takes place in 3 different time periods, was a pleasure to read. I was completely engrossed in all the characters and even now grieve the loss.
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[b:The Last Painting of Sara de Vos|25664459|The Last Painting of Sara de Vos|Dominic Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494524049s/25664459.jpg|45487238] was an enjoyable window into the art world, and while there are several dimensions through which to analyze the story, my favorite is through the intersection between art and wealth. On one hand, we have a deeply personal depiction of art in Sara de Vos's storyline. The personal nature endures throughout Sara's storyline, even though the realities of wealth and poverty shape her life. Her last painting is possibly the most personal. On the other hand, Ellie's story reveals the just how much art and wealth is intertwined. Her passion and abilities are constrained by her poverty as a student in Brooklyn, and while her forgery explores the limits of her talent, it also shows how easily that talent is monetized. Meanwhile Marty controls access to art through his wealth yet fails to form a personal relationship with art.
Dominic Smith's prose matches the artistic nature of his subject matter. At times, this makes it a joy to read. At other times, however, the story drags because of it.
I would also describe this book as forgettable, but the word is harsher than I mean it to be. I read so many forgettable books, and being forgettable is not necessarily negative. It depends on the author's intentions: are they trying to create a work that sticks in the minds of their readers, or are they trying to create something that is fleetingly beautiful? I think many authors would aim for the former, but that's probably a mistake. Smith's book achieves the latter goal, and while I won't think about this book for years to come, it is still beautiful in this moment.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5
Spoiler
For Marty, the loss of property motivates his pursuit of Ellie and blinds him to the harm he causes (until it's too late). Even in the end, Ellie's redemption is only made possibly by Marty's wealth.Dominic Smith's prose matches the artistic nature of his subject matter. At times, this makes it a joy to read. At other times, however, the story drags because of it.
I would also describe this book as forgettable, but the word is harsher than I mean it to be. I read so many forgettable books, and being forgettable is not necessarily negative. It depends on the author's intentions: are they trying to create a work that sticks in the minds of their readers, or are they trying to create something that is fleetingly beautiful? I think many authors would aim for the former, but that's probably a mistake. Smith's book achieves the latter goal, and while I won't think about this book for years to come, it is still beautiful in this moment.
Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5