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madisonmarie97's review against another edition
3.0
Not enough Man Ray slander, weak exploration of Lee Miller
camilleisreading24's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent historical fiction about Lee Miller, Vogue model turned WWII war correspondent & photographer. I was unfamiliar with Lee Miller before reading this book, and I look forward to exploring some of the resources cited in the author's note.
It is 1929 and Lee Miller, a 23 year old Vogue model, has just moved to Paris. Lee wants to become a photographer, and when she meets Man Ray one night, she asks him to mentor her. As they work together, they discover new photographic techniques and embark on a tumultuous love affair.
I really enjoy books set in 1920s Paris. I found Lee to be a fascinating character, and it was cool to be able to look up the photographs discussed in the narrative. Thanks BOTM
It is 1929 and Lee Miller, a 23 year old Vogue model, has just moved to Paris. Lee wants to become a photographer, and when she meets Man Ray one night, she asks him to mentor her. As they work together, they discover new photographic techniques and embark on a tumultuous love affair.
I really enjoy books set in 1920s Paris. I found Lee to be a fascinating character, and it was cool to be able to look up the photographs discussed in the narrative. Thanks BOTM
raychill's review against another edition
2.0
I do not know anything about Man Ray and Lee Miller and was curious to learn about their photography with a Paris backdrop. However, they were written SO unlikeable and self centered that it was hard to appreciate their story and art. Googling Lee Miller and her life was much more informative and enjoyable.
katiekat19's review against another edition
2.0
The most interesting part was the prologue. This book just didn't "grab" me.
winelovingbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
This novel falls into a genre that seems to be growing in popularity that I call "Biographical Historical Fiction" (I have no idea if that's a thing or not) which, to me, are novels based on real people and events but with a fictional story line. Lee Miller was a model for Vogue who then studied under Man Ray as a photographer and eventually became one of the first female war correspondents during WWII. Fascinating, right? This book is set largely in 1920s France but with flash-fowards to her time as a war correspondent. I loved being able to Google Lee and Man Ray and see photos of them together as well as the specific works of art that are mentioned in the book.
Ugly Cry Potential: Low
LOL'd: No
Disturbing?: Mildly
Steam Factor: HOT (It's 1920's France after all)
Overall Concluding Feelings: Fascinating, dark and sultry.
Best for: Lovers of art (especially photography) and 1920's Paris
Ugly Cry Potential: Low
LOL'd: No
Disturbing?: Mildly
Steam Factor: HOT (It's 1920's France after all)
Overall Concluding Feelings: Fascinating, dark and sultry.
Best for: Lovers of art (especially photography) and 1920's Paris
batwoman411's review against another edition
4.0
This book wounded me a little like a good book should.
kimberlyhenry78's review against another edition
1.0
This is a ridiculous romance novel trying to masquerade as historical fiction. It barely touches on Lee being a WWII war correspondent, and mainly focuses on her wanting, thinking about, and having sex with Man Ray. There are way better examples of both romance novels & historical fiction out there. This was terrible.
sweetpavement's review against another edition
4.0
I'm deeply fascinated by "great" love affairs of the past, and so this book imagining the life of Lee Miller, and focusing on her relationship with Man Ray and her photography of WWII was a delight. I especially enjoyed the way we got to inhabit Lee, she was an easy character to empathize with and the story was one I had no trouble resuming when interrupted.
thevalkyriereader's review against another edition
4.0
A perfect summer read. I had never heard of Lee Miller before this book. Everyone knows Man Ray of course. Personally, I am not a fan of Dada or Surrealism. I appreciate what The Lost Generation was trying to do, but it is not my taste. But the stories of those who lived it deserve to be told and Lee's has only be around comparatively recently. This is a well written introduction to someone who's contribution to history has been overlooked (see Hedy Lamar), but her story is finally being recognized.
Scharer did a good job painting a picture of what transpired between Man and Lee. I know liberties are often taken in fiction, but I think it was accurate considering how temperamental artists can be, especially one like Man.
Overall, I'd highly recommend if one is looking to have an escape for a bit.
Scharer did a good job painting a picture of what transpired between Man and Lee. I know liberties are often taken in fiction, but I think it was accurate considering how temperamental artists can be, especially one like Man.
Overall, I'd highly recommend if one is looking to have an escape for a bit.
elinor01's review against another edition
2.0
This reads more like a romance novel than a biography and I found it difficult to read at times. I understand that a fictionalized biography takes liberties but this was a bit too much for my liking. A lot of times I asked myself "did that really happen?" and that I don't like when I read about real people. It's one thing to fictionalize them but another making facts up. Just one example: in the end it says she hadn't seen Man Ray in over 40 years since they broke up and then they meet again in the museum. I read they remained friends after they broke up and did see each other lots of times over the years. Why make something like that up?
It was too much sex and not enough information. After reading I still feel I have no idea who Lee Miller was (even less who Man Ray was, but that's okay, the book is about her).
It was too much sex and not enough information. After reading I still feel I have no idea who Lee Miller was (even less who Man Ray was, but that's okay, the book is about her).