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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Claire is a new maintenance employee with the Museum. As she dusts, mops, and polishes she studies the art she’s surrounded by—especially her favorite subject, Jean Matisse, son of Henri. Her chosen painting of his includes a man-handsome, well dressed, with a curiosity he ached to explore. Claire begins to talk to the subjects of the art and to herself when she needs a friend.
Jean has been frozen in his father’s painting. Jean observes the comings and goings not only by regular visitors but by other artists seeking to study and admire Henri’s work. Once Claire begins to talk with the subjects of the art, it is only a matter of time. But things begin to change when Jean begins to talk back. Both are shocked to discover they can talk to each other. It’s only a matter of time before they discover they can also touch and Claire can enter the painting like Alice through the Looking Glass.
The love affair that develops is especially touching and their “real lives” begin to suffer. On Jean’s side, they explore how other painting subjects live in their realities. As they continue falling in love amid parties, horse racing, and on the beach. But things begin to change. When the museum is threatened by budget constraints and temporarily closes due the COVID lockdown, the characters in the paintings suppose that there has been a catastrophic event to force their admirers to stay away. Some believe that there is another war, riots and conflicts, all things they have been witness to but not as participants. But the most disturbing are the questions about love, acceptance and fear.
This book has a wonderful premise. One that I don’t remember reading before. The characters are the heart of the book and I came to want more for them. The setting of a museum, and to paintings, in order to provide limitations on those characters was done well. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to more from its author. Recommend to readers of romance, fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction, art, contemporary adult fiction.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really enjoyed the concept of the story, a magical painting romance. But it became apparent very quickly that the writing was not going to hold up. It is rather juvenile, as other reviewers have pointed out, simplistic and abrupt. I could not get attached to the characters and, after reading some other reviews, it doesn’t get easier. So this will be my first DNF of the year. Too bad.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
i loved the concept!!!! but didn’t feel like it was in line with my typical style/reading pace
i don’t like when books have covid and this one seemed unnecessary. also, heist plot didn’t come until like 200+ pages in but was mentioned on the back, wish it had more of a prominent aspect
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was such a letdown for me. I was SO excited about it, thought about purchasing it outright... but the writing style was too juvenile for my taste, the characters 2-D, and the ending so abrupt. The journal? Of course it's Odetta's, but why was it being stolen the only reason that Claire got caught? How the heck do her and Jean fall in love immediately when he is... in an oil painting? What does it mean that the subjects got "painted in" to this life and left their life out there... sort of? What's the deal with Luna's dad? Claire lets him back in and then he's gone again. There's a jump forward five years, so you know she and Jean see each other again sort of but.... There are so many loose ends in this book and it really skimmed the surface when I wanted such a deep dive into the granular details. The part I liked most was "moving" from painting to painting.