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A review by mishasbooknook
Alchemy of a Blackbird by Claire McMillan
4.0
DISCLAIMER: I acquired an ARC edition of this novel from my employer (I work at a bookstore) for free and am reviewing the ARC version - not the final sale copy. My acquisition of this ARC does not impact my review at all.
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This is an excellent historical fiction novel with a very engaging format. Each chapter follows the story of Remedios Varo, but is broken by the image of a tarot card, it’s meaning, and the first person perspective of whoever the card is meant to represent. It’s unique and enjoyable, though I can see how some readers may find this confusing. I think it is very appropriate for the fictionalized account of an artist of the surrealist circles.
I love that Remedios is the focus of this novel - she and Carrington are not very well known to me - and I studied art history for two years and spent quite a bit of time on the surrealist movement. That said, this novel highlights their voices in a way I very much enjoyed and found touching.
So what is it about? The novel centers on the artistic and at times literal journey of Remedios Varo, a Spanish artist who was part of the surrealist circles of Paris at the outbreak of WWII, her flight to Mexico, and her self actualizing growth as a woman embracing herself, her power, and her artistry.
The novel bills itself in some ways as the story of two women - Remedios and Leonora - friends and artists together who were influenced by the tarot and studied occultism.
Unfortunately this is one aspect of the novel that felt mildly lacking - Leonora’s and Remedios’ friendship did not feel quite like the anchor it should have been in this novel. It WAS present, and I loved what was there, but I honestly wanted more.
Wanting more is really my take away from the book - I wanted more of Remedios’ life before the outbreak of WWII, I wanted more of her time in prisoned for her association with her lover, I wanted more of her time in Marseilles and even more of her time in Mexico, more of her relationship with Carrington, and more of her relationship with the man she ends up with. The skeleton is all there - all of these aspects are present - but they do not feel fleshed out to my satisfaction. There is scant meat on these bones.
This book in the state I read it in was around 270 pages. I would have liked it to have had another 100.
Enough of my negatives, however. Let me sing it’s praises where it is deserved: I adore McMillan’s utilization of the tarot in this book. It’s very well executed and makes for a wonderful lens through which to consider this story and its characters. It is unique and refreshing to see the subject of occultism treated this way in a novel.
The themes of the book - the transformative power of friendship between women, the alchemy of artistic expression, the love and longing to be seen and understood - they’re beautifully expressed in McMillan’s writing.
I did genuinely love this book, despite my quibbles. It is a testament to Claire McMillan’s excellent ability to craft a story that I left it wanting more - to spend more time with Remedios and Leonora, because their journeys were wonderfully done.
—
This is an excellent historical fiction novel with a very engaging format. Each chapter follows the story of Remedios Varo, but is broken by the image of a tarot card, it’s meaning, and the first person perspective of whoever the card is meant to represent. It’s unique and enjoyable, though I can see how some readers may find this confusing. I think it is very appropriate for the fictionalized account of an artist of the surrealist circles.
I love that Remedios is the focus of this novel - she and Carrington are not very well known to me - and I studied art history for two years and spent quite a bit of time on the surrealist movement. That said, this novel highlights their voices in a way I very much enjoyed and found touching.
So what is it about? The novel centers on the artistic and at times literal journey of Remedios Varo, a Spanish artist who was part of the surrealist circles of Paris at the outbreak of WWII, her flight to Mexico, and her self actualizing growth as a woman embracing herself, her power, and her artistry.
The novel bills itself in some ways as the story of two women - Remedios and Leonora - friends and artists together who were influenced by the tarot and studied occultism.
Unfortunately this is one aspect of the novel that felt mildly lacking - Leonora’s and Remedios’ friendship did not feel quite like the anchor it should have been in this novel. It WAS present, and I loved what was there, but I honestly wanted more.
Wanting more is really my take away from the book - I wanted more of Remedios’ life before the outbreak of WWII, I wanted more of her time in prisoned for her association with her lover, I wanted more of her time in Marseilles and even more of her time in Mexico, more of her relationship with Carrington, and more of her relationship with the man she ends up with. The skeleton is all there - all of these aspects are present - but they do not feel fleshed out to my satisfaction. There is scant meat on these bones.
This book in the state I read it in was around 270 pages. I would have liked it to have had another 100.
Enough of my negatives, however. Let me sing it’s praises where it is deserved: I adore McMillan’s utilization of the tarot in this book. It’s very well executed and makes for a wonderful lens through which to consider this story and its characters. It is unique and refreshing to see the subject of occultism treated this way in a novel.
The themes of the book - the transformative power of friendship between women, the alchemy of artistic expression, the love and longing to be seen and understood - they’re beautifully expressed in McMillan’s writing.
I did genuinely love this book, despite my quibbles. It is a testament to Claire McMillan’s excellent ability to craft a story that I left it wanting more - to spend more time with Remedios and Leonora, because their journeys were wonderfully done.