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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
On the whole, this was an entertaining read, and a fun "insider's-inspired" look into the art world. I enjoyed getting a look into a world I know so little about, from someone who knows it so well.
With that said, it also read as unfocused at various points, and a few of the many characters introduced — and even further developed — seemed rather unnecessary by the end. I found the main "romance" rather unconvincing (read: I couldn't really be bothered to care about it) and rolled my eyes multiple times at what felt like an overuse of similes. While I know next to nothing about the book-editing process, I still thought this book could've used some streamlining and closer editing.
With that said, it also read as unfocused at various points, and a few of the many characters introduced — and even further developed — seemed rather unnecessary by the end. I found the main "romance" rather unconvincing (read: I couldn't really be bothered to care about it) and rolled my eyes multiple times at what felt like an overuse of similes. While I know next to nothing about the book-editing process, I still thought this book could've used some streamlining and closer editing.
While I enjoyed this book as a bit of an escape read during the coronavirus pandemic, it wasn’t my favorite. It really picked up after the halfway point which kept me into it enough to finish, but it had way too many characters and story lines to keep track of. I wish the author had simplified the story lines a bit and focused more on the main characters at play. Good story overall, but too long with too many different story lines at play.
Only listened to a few chapters and then gave up. I just couldn't get into it and didn't like the narrator. Too many other books to be wasting time on this one.
I got this book free from FirstToRead.com
This book was not what I expected but was thoroughly enjoyable.There are quite a few twists and turns and interesting background in the art world. The final ending was a bit odd but seemed in keeping with the odd tone of the book.
This book was not what I expected but was thoroughly enjoyable.There are quite a few twists and turns and interesting background in the art world. The final ending was a bit odd but seemed in keeping with the odd tone of the book.
The first 1/2 is a bit of a slog. The second half goes much faster, and all because of a lovely twist revealed in the middle. If you like reading about art, food, history, you'll enjoy it.
I agree with many of the one and two star reviews - this is a book that couldn't decide on genre, style, or tone. It came across as a less-fun Jilly Cooper-esque story, far from the "Dickensian" novel promised by one of the reviewers on the back cover. Too many characters not well handled, inconsistent narrative, insults to the readers' intelligence, and terrible basic editing. Style aside, here is an example: "Once outside, she ran to her car and, slipping into the back seat, hidden from view by tinted windows, she clutched the steering wheel with both hands and screamed at her reflection in the driver's mirror." From the backseat, the character contorted herself through/over the back of the front seats to grab the wheel?? Why? Save your valuable reading hours for something better. I think I'm only giving this two stars because I did manage to finish it.
The Improbability of Love is an amazing mix of fiction, art, history, the life of a person intertwined in all of those with a splash of intrigue added to it. The author Hannah Mary Rothschild does an amazing job with this novel, particularly with characters. The characters are "real", they have stories which shaped them to be who they are, their motives for their actions are logical and you cannot help yourself but feel for them.
The writing itself wasn't amazing, the dialogue was a bit unrealistic and the author used a bit too many adjectives to describe minuscule things. However, this did not endanger my reading experience at all. I simply noticed it.
This novel follows the life of a woman who is lost, she is unmotivated and struggles to find meaning and value in life. We join her in her journey as she stumbles upon a mysterious painting. This painting proves to be far more interesting than we are first lead to believe.
One thing I found incredibly special within this book are the chapters written from the point of view of the painting. I enjoyed reading about the "life" of the painting, also about its feelings about people and the world.
As an art history student, this book really tickled my fancy. I loved reading about the "industry of art" that is present today and about ways of attribution of paintings.
In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to everyone interested in art, mystery, adventure, and history!
The writing itself wasn't amazing, the dialogue was a bit unrealistic and the author used a bit too many adjectives to describe minuscule things. However, this did not endanger my reading experience at all. I simply noticed it.
This novel follows the life of a woman who is lost, she is unmotivated and struggles to find meaning and value in life. We join her in her journey as she stumbles upon a mysterious painting. This painting proves to be far more interesting than we are first lead to believe.
One thing I found incredibly special within this book are the chapters written from the point of view of the painting. I enjoyed reading about the "life" of the painting, also about its feelings about people and the world.
As an art history student, this book really tickled my fancy. I loved reading about the "industry of art" that is present today and about ways of attribution of paintings.
In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to everyone interested in art, mystery, adventure, and history!
It’s not often I don’t finish a book - Andrew’s review pretty much covers it.
3.5 stars really... It was fairly entertaining but I think lots of disparate plot elements were introduced and became a bit ridiculous, plus the end sort of tied everything up insanely quickly! Also I felt Rothschild's art knowledge made her characters (and especially the Press!) talk about the painting in a way noone talks about art -apart from art experts...