You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
amytate's review
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tonyzale's review against another edition
4.0
A book that is too quiet and introspective to call a thriller, despite the "art heist" theme. In place of over-the-top action, we're immersed in 3 eras critical to the theft: 1950s Manhattan where a notable Dutch artwork is stolen and swapped with a forgery, 1600s Netherlands where the painting was painted by a woman struggling to manage after her husband's expulsion from the painters' guild, and 21st century Australia, where the forgery and original are brought face to face.
The creation of the replica reveals the forger's love of the craft to be as motivating as the money. The original owner's efforts to track them down goes off scripts when the investigation loses focus and becomes a personal relationship. Meanwhile, the original painter navigates poverty and the arbitrary power structure of her day to create a piece still impacting lives hundreds of years later.
The creation of the replica reveals the forger's love of the craft to be as motivating as the money. The original owner's efforts to track them down goes off scripts when the investigation loses focus and becomes a personal relationship. Meanwhile, the original painter navigates poverty and the arbitrary power structure of her day to create a piece still impacting lives hundreds of years later.
tir93's review against another edition
2.0
Not an amazing book. Too many secondary characters with names and part history. Views are described mostly very similar to each other. will recommend to read "the are forger" as a better vision of the same storyline.
queencleo's review against another edition
3.0
It's a mystery to me why my mother's book club chose this book to read this month.
Then again, I "um"ed and "ah"ed about buying a copy from a bookshop in the city over Winter.
The blurb sells it as a tense and haunting suspense. It is not.
It is mostly a book about art. Lord knows it's not about history because the author has No Idea.
I liked Ellie a lot, but the other characters, even the titular, are not particularly well rounded or interesting.
I slogged through until about 50 pages from the end, when it all came together and I could move past anachronisms. Or there were less because the "plot" moved forward to the 21st century.
Hmm. Not what I thought I was signing up for.
Read if you appreciate art. Particularly painting. Or if you are looking for the smallest glimpse into the world of art forgery. Don't read if you are expecting a crescendo of suspense or a richly complex plot
Then again, I "um"ed and "ah"ed about buying a copy from a bookshop in the city over Winter.
The blurb sells it as a tense and haunting suspense. It is not.
It is mostly a book about art. Lord knows it's not about history because the author has No Idea.
I liked Ellie a lot, but the other characters, even the titular, are not particularly well rounded or interesting.
I slogged through until about 50 pages from the end, when it all came together and I could move past anachronisms. Or there were less because the "plot" moved forward to the 21st century.
Hmm. Not what I thought I was signing up for.
Read if you appreciate art. Particularly painting. Or if you are looking for the smallest glimpse into the world of art forgery. Don't read if you are expecting a crescendo of suspense or a richly complex plot
simonareads's review against another edition
5.0
A very enjoyable & artistic read.
I found the intricate layers of the story, and three distinctive timelines fantastic. Once I started this novel I had an incredibly difficult time putting it down, the details and flow of the story completely absorbed me. The plot is captivating and moves at a fast pace, I was completely drawn into the story. At times this book was reminiscent of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (one of my favourite books of all time), there were similarities in the basic plot, as well as the winding and treacherous battle to secure the painting in question. Despite these similarities, this novel is completely unique in its characters, descriptions and - for lack of a better word - overall “vibe”. I was captivated by the characters’ struggles, thoughts and actions, and found the frequent art references made the novel that much more fascinating.
I look forward to exploring other novels by this author, as the writing style was very pleasant and digestible, without being neither plain nor dull. I found the prose to be eloquent and descriptive.
Overall, I adored this book!
I found the intricate layers of the story, and three distinctive timelines fantastic. Once I started this novel I had an incredibly difficult time putting it down, the details and flow of the story completely absorbed me. The plot is captivating and moves at a fast pace, I was completely drawn into the story. At times this book was reminiscent of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (one of my favourite books of all time), there were similarities in the basic plot, as well as the winding and treacherous battle to secure the painting in question. Despite these similarities, this novel is completely unique in its characters, descriptions and - for lack of a better word - overall “vibe”. I was captivated by the characters’ struggles, thoughts and actions, and found the frequent art references made the novel that much more fascinating.
I look forward to exploring other novels by this author, as the writing style was very pleasant and digestible, without being neither plain nor dull. I found the prose to be eloquent and descriptive.
Overall, I adored this book!
pjvana's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful novel- filled with flawed characters, gorgeous art, struggling artists, lies, forgery, adultery, squalor, and opulence. I wish I had read it in 3 days - absorbed it all at once. Instead, life got in the way and I read it in fits and starts. It’s a beautiful look at art & artists across the centuries.
rlafleur85's review against another edition
3.0
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a long time. I enjoyed Donna Tratt's "The Goldfinch" immensely and wanted to read sometime with a similar subject matter. Although "The Last Painting of Sara de Vos" and "The Goldfinch" have fine art, as a subject, in common, the comparisons could end there.
For this novel, the story transports the reader through the life, career, and legacy of Dutch artist Sara de Vos and her powerful work entitled "At the Edge of a Wood." Through an art forgery in the 1950s and flashbacks to Sara's career, the reader understands more of the purpose behind creating the particular work. The tragedy surrounding it's creation as well as the chaos which engulfs graduate student Ellie in New York City, some would say possessing the work of art only causes pain.
I enjoyed the novel greatly and would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys art history, mysterious people, and searching for the truth.
For this novel, the story transports the reader through the life, career, and legacy of Dutch artist Sara de Vos and her powerful work entitled "At the Edge of a Wood." Through an art forgery in the 1950s and flashbacks to Sara's career, the reader understands more of the purpose behind creating the particular work. The tragedy surrounding it's creation as well as the chaos which engulfs graduate student Ellie in New York City, some would say possessing the work of art only causes pain.
I enjoyed the novel greatly and would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys art history, mysterious people, and searching for the truth.
rachhenderson's review against another edition
3.0
This story is told in three timelines. In the 1600s, Sara de Vos is a painter, mother, wife. In 1950s New York, Ellie is asked to make a copy of Sara's only known surviving work. Forty years later, in Australia, Ellie's forgery resurfaces and threatens the life she's built.
I didn't mind this. It was a pleasant, interesting read, but I'm not sure I'll remember much of it in a year.
3.5 stars rounded down
I didn't mind this. It was a pleasant, interesting read, but I'm not sure I'll remember much of it in a year.
3.5 stars rounded down
velvetcelestial's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75