Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
I was really, really, really enjoying this book up until the 2/3 mark, when the plot grew legs and started running. It started out very character driven, which I really enjoyed despite it's slight meandering quality, but around the 300 page mark all of a sudden eight hundred thousand things started happening, which might have been as interesting and believable if it had been taken at a slower pace, though it would have extended the novel far beyond its already lengthy 480 pages.
I really wanted to give this book 5 stars.
The main story in this book, the one of Annie finding a long-lost painting, is a cute, 4-star story - unlikely, with somewhat flat characters, but cute, well-done, and interesting enough to keep me going.
My big criticism with this book was with the ending. There was a somewhat contrived reveal that made a big subplot run into the ground a little. But for the ending, this book would have been 5 stars,
The 5-star bit for me was the plot of the story's main secondary character: Rebecca. It talks about her trying to run her family's gallery, but what really got me was its portrayal of being Jewish. Her father lived through Auschwitz, she feels othered slightly because of her faith; it's a very interesting view and it's not one we see often, that of a character's Jewishness playing that sort of role. Of course, Rebecca's character was probably autobiographical, but it still makes for a unique character.
All together, this book read like Rothschild's love letter to the art world, as well as her complaints about it. She seems to know what she is writing (having had plenty of experience in that world) and it comes off well.
Would reccomend.
The main story in this book, the one of Annie finding a long-lost painting, is a cute, 4-star story - unlikely, with somewhat flat characters, but cute, well-done, and interesting enough to keep me going.
My big criticism with this book was with the ending. There was a somewhat contrived reveal that made a big subplot run into the ground a little. But for the ending, this book would have been 5 stars,
The 5-star bit for me was the plot of the story's main secondary character: Rebecca. It talks about her trying to run her family's gallery, but what really got me was its portrayal of being Jewish. Her father lived through Auschwitz, she feels othered slightly because of her faith; it's a very interesting view and it's not one we see often, that of a character's Jewishness playing that sort of role. Of course, Rebecca's character was probably autobiographical, but it still makes for a unique character.
All together, this book read like Rothschild's love letter to the art world, as well as her complaints about it. She seems to know what she is writing (having had plenty of experience in that world) and it comes off well.
Would reccomend.
The prose was gloriously pretentious, with its inclusion of complex vocabulary and an in-depth analysis of art history and the art world, but that in turn completely suited the plot of the novel and (most of) its characters. Would recommend getting to know your van Dycks from your Caravaggios before you start reading this, as it may make for slow reading otherwise. (I was very grateful that I took a History of Art course for a year at university!) But overall, an enjoyable read about the twists and turns that can take place in the art world!
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
I was unpleasantly surprised at how little I liked this book. Mainly because it has so many reviews.
I found the main character unlikeable, despite the author’s best efforts. The love story was pretty much non-existence and the real plot hid so deep behind all that that it almost went by unnoticed.
I found the main character unlikeable, despite the author’s best efforts. The love story was pretty much non-existence and the real plot hid so deep behind all that that it almost went by unnoticed.
I loved this. Everything about it was glorious. Probably on my top 5 list of best books in 2016.
A light diverting read--appreciated after finishing Be My Wolff, but pretty trivial. I liked the segments narrated by the painting best.
This book was a ton of fun. The shifting perspectives slowed the story a little, but I enjoyed the funny little vignettes from different characters lives.
mysterious
slow-paced