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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Whoever wrote this book’s flap did it a remarkable disservice by 1) comparing it to Ocean’s Eleven and 2) calling it a “heist novel.” Because while there are many thefts in this book, I would not say that any of them are either heists or the book’s major thematic focus. So readers who come to the book looking for the ludicrous plans, twists, and oh shit moments that typify heist novels (i.e. readers like me) cannot fail to be disappointed. (The idea that we were going to fit five major robberies into a 400-page book really should have tipped me off; the fact that the entirety of our first theft took place in the span of a page and a half finally did.)
This book is not about canny, larger-then-life characters pulling off impossible tasks with bravado and piano wire; this book is about five more-or-less aimless twenty-somethings navigating the complexities of their identities in that end of/post-college malaise. And if you want to read a book about that, this is a pretty good one. If it was only a novel about that, then the harshest critique I can lob at it is that those introspections tend towards repetitiveness (prose-wise and content-wise) and that, for five characters who one would assume have different and complex relationships with their families and the country from which those families emigrated, Portrait of a Thief’s main cast all have remarkably similar feelings about them.
Unfortunately, the book also insists on being about international art theft, and while the plans that our—I’m going to use this word loosely here—crew put on are perhaps more realistic than the absurdly complicated, technically specific ones that typify the genre (except for the part where it’s apparently harder to break into the book sale at my public library than it is to steal millions of dollars of art from the Swedish government), they are also so, so much less interesting. This means that the book needs to rely solely on the five main characters and their interpersonal dramas, which, as stated above… are eh.
There’s still lots of potential here, especially when it comes to questions of ownership, identity, diaspora, and the legacies of colonialism. These themes are most compellingly expressed in the relationship between Daniel and his father, but I can’t say with honesty that they’re ever really explored. All of the characters have a generally similar posture towards art acquired through colonialism, and none of them inspire the kind of introspection or truly thorny (and, crucially, interesting) questions that arise from a more thorough reading of history. And to be absolutely clear, I’m not saying that the opinions expressed by the characters are wrong; I just wish that the questions had been asked.
2.5 rounded up because I wanted to like it, dammit
This book is not about canny, larger-then-life characters pulling off impossible tasks with bravado and piano wire; this book is about five more-or-less aimless twenty-somethings navigating the complexities of their identities in that end of/post-college malaise. And if you want to read a book about that, this is a pretty good one. If it was only a novel about that, then the harshest critique I can lob at it is that those introspections tend towards repetitiveness (prose-wise and content-wise) and that, for five characters who one would assume have different and complex relationships with their families and the country from which those families emigrated, Portrait of a Thief’s main cast all have remarkably similar feelings about them.
Unfortunately, the book also insists on being about international art theft, and while the plans that our—I’m going to use this word loosely here—crew put on are perhaps more realistic than the absurdly complicated, technically specific ones that typify the genre (except for the part where it’s apparently harder to break into the book sale at my public library than it is to steal millions of dollars of art from the Swedish government), they are also so, so much less interesting. This means that the book needs to rely solely on the five main characters and their interpersonal dramas, which, as stated above… are eh.
There’s still lots of potential here, especially when it comes to questions of ownership, identity, diaspora, and the legacies of colonialism. These themes are most compellingly expressed in the relationship between Daniel and his father, but I can’t say with honesty that they’re ever really explored. All of the characters have a generally similar posture towards art acquired through colonialism, and none of them inspire the kind of introspection or truly thorny (and, crucially, interesting) questions that arise from a more thorough reading of history. And to be absolutely clear, I’m not saying that the opinions expressed by the characters are wrong; I just wish that the questions had been asked.
2.5 rounded up because I wanted to like it, dammit
I really feel like the synopsis doesn’t match the actual vibe of this book. It’s a little bit heist, a lot of not fully fleshed out character development, and a lot of discussion of dreaming of/returning art to China that still somehow falls short. Definitely not Ocean’s Eleven.
This thrill ride art heist novel was a delight to read. It starts off with a museum robbery where twenty-three priceless pieces of Chinese art are stolen, but Will Chen, an art history major at Harvard and part-time employee of the museum takes something as well - a jade tiger that fits snugly in his pocket. As a Chinese American, he feels that he has more of a right to the piece of art that once belonged to China than Harvard does. He confesses his thieving to an old Flame, Alex, a tech whiz and MIT dropout, living in Silicon Valley . The museum robbers have left something behind, a business card and Will is compelled to call, which leads to a proposition to fly to Beijing where they are joined by three others, including Will’s sister, and receive directives to “steal back” artwork that’s been appropriated by different countries and return them home to China. In return, they’ll receive fifty million dollars to change the course of history. But is it worth the risk? This novel is fast-paced, fun and thoughtful look at whether or not art belongs to its origin country and identity issues and loyalty to one’s country of origin. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys a heist novel, especially if you happen to be an art lover. Thank you to penguin Group Dutton and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.
Emotional and beautifully written, Portrait of a Thief is a truly impressive debut. I went into this book excited to read about the heists but it was really the platonic and familial bonds that captured my attention. The years only halfway through, but this may be the best book I read all year.
A phenomenal book from start to finish. The story was beautiful and I wish I could read it again for the first time.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5
I wanted to like this book more! I am weirdly obsessed with art theft and this should have been everything I wanted… but it feel flat. It was really character driven instead of plot driven. We got an in-depth look into the characters and not (like at all!) the art heists.
I wanted to like this book more! I am weirdly obsessed with art theft and this should have been everything I wanted… but it feel flat. It was really character driven instead of plot driven. We got an in-depth look into the characters and not (like at all!) the art heists.
The art theft plot is laughably implausible. Read this for the portraits of Chinese American college students coming to grips with their place in the diaspora. It is not a heist story. Another reviewer described the prose as painterly. Many of the scenes are moodily sketched, but I got lost in the prose.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
*2.5. I was so excited about the premise of this book but it took SO long for something to happen and even when it did I was underwhelmed. I appreciated the characters struggles with their identity, but I found the inner monologues too lengthy and I was zoning out as they got so repetitive.