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girlinacardigan's review against another edition
3.0
http://jennsbookblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-very-picture-of-you-by-isobel-wolff.html
m3l89's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very easy read. I didn't dislike it, but I wouldn't rave about it either.
laurasjana's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I enjoyed this book, loved the art and the bonds the main character developed with each of the models and their stories. Loved the conclusion with her portraits, was like a full circle moment. But i deeply missed more ella and nate time.
I enjoyed this book, loved the art and the bonds the main character developed with each of the models and their stories. Loved the conclusion with her portraits, was like a full circle moment. But i deeply missed more ella and nate time.
paulineerika's review against another edition
3.0
good enough read, a little fluffy, a little too neat. (so much drama and how coincidental all these random sitters have life stories similar to the big secret!) still, overall, not bad.
rickijill's review against another edition
4.0
Sorry I am getting this post up so late. It has been an extremely busy day! This week I read The Very Picture of You by Isabel Wolff. This is an excellent beach/lake read, and the main character is a portrait artist, so I enjoyed it immensely. I did like it better than A Vintage Affair because I was not crazy about the ending.
Gabriella Graham (Ella for short) is an up and coming portrait artist in London. She recently painted the Dutchess of Cornwall for the National Gallery, and she is being featured in an upcoming radio program featuring London artists. As her career is taking off, her younger sister, Chloe, is planning her wedding to a handsome American named Nate. Chloe bids on and wins a portrait painted by Ella at a charity auction. She requests that Ella paint Nate. During Nate's portrait sittings, Ella begins to develop feelings for Nate that are totally inappropriate toward her sister's fiance.
Ella is known for her ability to capture the true essence of her subjects. While painting five different portraits, Ella begins to learn more about herself than her subjects. Several of their life experiences and current situations reflect similar situations in Ella's life. As a birthday present to herself, she decides to hold an exhibit of the portraits in a gallery and invite the subjects, friends, and family as guests.
It was fun as an artist to read some of the technical aspects of portraiture. Ella's creative process was fascinating to me, and her interaction with the other characters both in the studio and out were fun because I appreciate Ella's spirit. Family secrets, a mystery, a tragedy, and a meddling mother all contribute to a rich, well-written story.
Gabriella Graham (Ella for short) is an up and coming portrait artist in London. She recently painted the Dutchess of Cornwall for the National Gallery, and she is being featured in an upcoming radio program featuring London artists. As her career is taking off, her younger sister, Chloe, is planning her wedding to a handsome American named Nate. Chloe bids on and wins a portrait painted by Ella at a charity auction. She requests that Ella paint Nate. During Nate's portrait sittings, Ella begins to develop feelings for Nate that are totally inappropriate toward her sister's fiance.
Ella is known for her ability to capture the true essence of her subjects. While painting five different portraits, Ella begins to learn more about herself than her subjects. Several of their life experiences and current situations reflect similar situations in Ella's life. As a birthday present to herself, she decides to hold an exhibit of the portraits in a gallery and invite the subjects, friends, and family as guests.
It was fun as an artist to read some of the technical aspects of portraiture. Ella's creative process was fascinating to me, and her interaction with the other characters both in the studio and out were fun because I appreciate Ella's spirit. Family secrets, a mystery, a tragedy, and a meddling mother all contribute to a rich, well-written story.
krisz's review against another edition
4.0
IW is one of the few writers whose books I actually seek out to read. This one was a delight to read too. The same humble heroine who learns how to be loved...
However, all those details on how to actually paint really drove me nuts sometimes. I also couldn't really care for the sitters and reading those parts were boring, just lacked tension. This book could have done with a better editor, who points out how to place information in the text to make it more tense. For example right in the beginning, we see a little girl painting his dad's portrait - and then IW writes her mum tells her why she shouldn't. But she doesn't tell the reader. I think this is a mistake: either the whole prologue should have been deleted (my preferred choice), or the reader should have know what the mum said: your father was a liar, two-timing bastard. I prefer the first option as it keeps some secret, even though THIS will be the conclusion the reader makes, even (as it is in the book now) IW doesn't tell. So that was pretty annoying.
However, putting all these details aside, I enjoyed the romantic suspension :)
However, all those details on how to actually paint really drove me nuts sometimes. I also couldn't really care for the sitters and reading those parts were boring, just lacked tension. This book could have done with a better editor, who points out how to place information in the text to make it more tense. For example right in the beginning, we see a little girl painting his dad's portrait - and then IW writes her mum tells her why she shouldn't. But she doesn't tell the reader. I think this is a mistake: either the whole prologue should have been deleted (my preferred choice), or the reader should have know what the mum said: your father was a liar, two-timing bastard. I prefer the first option as it keeps some secret, even though THIS will be the conclusion the reader makes, even (as it is in the book now) IW doesn't tell. So that was pretty annoying.
However, putting all these details aside, I enjoyed the romantic suspension :)
booknerd113's review against another edition
3.0
A picture is worth a thousand words and this story delves into what they are in each of her portraits. I really liked the premise of the story but I felt it lacked the depth each painting deserved. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable read (particularly the story of Iris and her portrait). Just don't expect a literary masterpiece.