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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wonderful story, I really enjoyed it. About art, the history of art, ownership of art, the value of art, food and love. Brilliant.
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The characters were all richly developed. I didn't have a hard time keeping track of anyone because they were given equal attention. Some of the biggest action was told in summary in past tense "off stage". This felt off, but worked well overall within the style of the novel.
Annie buys a painting from a junk shop with no idea what the value of it. With no real interest in art she is suddenly drawn into the cut throat business of the art world.
Honestly, I didn't think this book would be as intricate as it is. It was pretty telling when the book begins by basically introducing you to a long list of characters that you have to struggle to remember back to later. Even though some of them turn out to be of little meaning to the plot, it still draws back to them.
Then you have the narrative of 'the painting', which I think could have been interesting, but the voice of the painting just didn't seem particularly consistent or give you the depth you really wanted from an external narrative.
It wasn't a 'bad' book, per say, but I did really struggle to get through it because the art and food descriptions pretty much bored me. I assumed there would be some delving into art, but I thought if there would it would be a lot more interesting than what was in this.
Honestly, I didn't think this book would be as intricate as it is. It was pretty telling when the book begins by basically introducing you to a long list of characters that you have to struggle to remember back to later. Even though some of them turn out to be of little meaning to the plot, it still draws back to them.
Then you have the narrative of 'the painting', which I think could have been interesting, but the voice of the painting just didn't seem particularly consistent or give you the depth you really wanted from an external narrative.
It wasn't a 'bad' book, per say, but I did really struggle to get through it because the art and food descriptions pretty much bored me. I assumed there would be some delving into art, but I thought if there would it would be a lot more interesting than what was in this.
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rothschild excels at sensual description—paint textures and lavish banquets, both of which play key roles in The Improbability of Love. This was interesting, well-researched, and frequently surprising, though it could have been improved by some tighter editing. The chapters written from the painting's point of view were entirely cringeworthy, and any necessary information they contained could easily have been given to another character.
Plotwise, it reminded me of The Goldfinch, and sadly, though this is much better than The Goldfinch, it probably won't be half as praised or ubiquitously read.
Plotwise, it reminded me of The Goldfinch, and sadly, though this is much better than The Goldfinch, it probably won't be half as praised or ubiquitously read.
This is one of those books that I feel "I survived" and "thank goodness it's over" when I finally read the last page. I had to really push myself to make it through the first 200 pages - and to not give up on the book completely. The plot showed promise, but the story was told from too many different perspectives, and in those first 200 pages I had a hard time keeping up with some of the characters who weren't mentioned very often.
Part of the story is told from the perspective of the painting - which I absolutely hated. I set the book down every single time the painting served as the narrator - it just took me out of the story and diminished my already low interest in the book. I give this part of the book one sad star.
About 200 pages in, the book finally caught my interest and became more suspenseful. That said, I still put the book down every time the painting took it's turn as narrator, and became terribly bored with the excruciating detail with which the art history and culinary preparation/history parts of the story were told. This part of the book earns three stars.
Finally...my perseverance in reading this book paid off in the last 100 pages, and concluded with a satisfying ending. I give the last 100 pages of the book five stars.
Even though the book ended strong, I have to stick with a two-star rating for the book as a whole, since most of the book was such a chore to read. If the book had just received a thorough editing - trimming at least 100 pages, but maybe even 200 - it would've been a much more enjoyable read.
Part of the story is told from the perspective of the painting - which I absolutely hated. I set the book down every single time the painting served as the narrator - it just took me out of the story and diminished my already low interest in the book. I give this part of the book one sad star.
About 200 pages in, the book finally caught my interest and became more suspenseful. That said, I still put the book down every time the painting took it's turn as narrator, and became terribly bored with the excruciating detail with which the art history and culinary preparation/history parts of the story were told. This part of the book earns three stars.
Finally...my perseverance in reading this book paid off in the last 100 pages, and concluded with a satisfying ending. I give the last 100 pages of the book five stars.
Even though the book ended strong, I have to stick with a two-star rating for the book as a whole, since most of the book was such a chore to read. If the book had just received a thorough editing - trimming at least 100 pages, but maybe even 200 - it would've been a much more enjoyable read.
A witty, dark and occasionally romantic read.
Great writing, wonderful gallery of characters and a brilliant insight into the seedy world of art!
Great writing, wonderful gallery of characters and a brilliant insight into the seedy world of art!