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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
This book gripped me from the first page, and I couldn’t put it down. The story was compelling, and I loved the way the painting had a voice as well.
Review for ST: http://bookslive.co.za/blog/2015/09/21/book-bites-20-september-2015/
Quotes:
- Human beings are a capricious lot, slaves to fancy and fashion. They are destined to be perpetual amateurs- they don't live long enough to be anything more. What can one do in a mere seventy or eighty years? During the first part of their lives, it's all haste and fornication. Thenceforward most of their efforts go into staying alive. -
- Let me guess what you are thinking. Girl finds picture; picture turns out to be worth a fortune. Girl (finally) finds boy with a heart. Girl sells picture, makes millions, marries boy, all live happily ever after. Piss off. Yes, you heard, piss off...Life is not that simple. -
- ...food is love, food is memory, food is suffering and hope, food is the past and the future, food is who we are and who we want to be; so cooking is all about originality and intimacy and you can't achieve that on a big scale. -
Quotes:
- Human beings are a capricious lot, slaves to fancy and fashion. They are destined to be perpetual amateurs- they don't live long enough to be anything more. What can one do in a mere seventy or eighty years? During the first part of their lives, it's all haste and fornication. Thenceforward most of their efforts go into staying alive. -
- Let me guess what you are thinking. Girl finds picture; picture turns out to be worth a fortune. Girl (finally) finds boy with a heart. Girl sells picture, makes millions, marries boy, all live happily ever after. Piss off. Yes, you heard, piss off...Life is not that simple. -
- ...food is love, food is memory, food is suffering and hope, food is the past and the future, food is who we are and who we want to be; so cooking is all about originality and intimacy and you can't achieve that on a big scale. -
This would have gotten a higher rating if it was properly edited. The story is intriguing and enjoyable: a young woman at a low point in her life buys a painting that may be a missing masterpiece. The book gives us not just her story but the parallel stories of various characters that are looking for or would like to possess this painting. That is a lot of subject matter and needs to be handled correctly to keep the action moving while making us care about the various characters. Sadly, we get bogged down in a lot of unnecessary side interludes and musings that turns this good book into a bit of a muddled mess. I still enjoyed it but skimmed far too many passages to consider it a recommendation.
This wonderful book wove a story surrounding a beautiful painting. The multiple view point story allows for the painting to literally speak for itself.
Like The Goldfinch crossed with The Monuments Men. The overall idea is interesting, but the pacing was unbalanced. After introducing a constellation of characters, the plot gets bogged down in one person's love life, dysfunctional parent, and career ambitions. There are pages of cooking descriptions. But then after getting us invested in her, the plot twists back onto a global scale and shuffles our Cinderella to the sidelines. As an art historian, my pet peeve was the lack of images. At least include a similar Watteau so we can imagine what you're describing!
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A tense, gripping, seedy look into the underbelly of the art world and just how far the rich and powerful will go to remain so. Despite this, love in all it's forms will stand the test of time.
The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild is not the kind of book I would usually pick up however turned out to be one I could not put down.
The prose is gripping, emotive and allows the reader to flow through the timeline with ease without the usual, often counter-submersive, change of perspective at each chapter. Rather the multiple points of view are told seamlessly giving the a more immersive feel to the storyline. The characters are achingly real and allow for the reader to connect with each individual. What is also a lovely twist is some of the story being told from the painting at the centre of the story's point of view. Managing to not feel childlike or silly, more giving the idea that art is filled with so much emotion that a good painting really does speak to the onlooker.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although slow at times the twists and turns alongside the excellent conclusion kept me turning the pages. 4 stars.
The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild is not the kind of book I would usually pick up however turned out to be one I could not put down.
The prose is gripping, emotive and allows the reader to flow through the timeline with ease without the usual, often counter-submersive, change of perspective at each chapter. Rather the multiple points of view are told seamlessly giving the a more immersive feel to the storyline. The characters are achingly real and allow for the reader to connect with each individual. What is also a lovely twist is some of the story being told from the painting at the centre of the story's point of view. Managing to not feel childlike or silly, more giving the idea that art is filled with so much emotion that a good painting really does speak to the onlooker.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although slow at times the twists and turns alongside the excellent conclusion kept me turning the pages. 4 stars.
Great story about the life of a painting and all the people who are affected by its unlikely history. The author dices deep into characters big and small in a way that makes me want to know more, even if I don't need to. With a variety of voices and layered story lines, I would highly recommend this book for people who aren't afraid to fall into a story for the long haul.