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A review by runninginair
Costalegre: A Novel Inspired By Peggy Guggenheim and Her Daughter by Courtney Maum
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I adored this novel. It was written in a style I had never seen—part literary novel, part sketchbook, part diary, part compendium. It was just so neat to never know if I was going to get another chapter-like read when I turned the page, or another short snippet of the flora and fauna of Mexico, or a letter to one of Lara's friends... I LOVED it.
Lara's voice was also so perfect. I'm not really all that familiar with the art world of the 1930s, but the terms were defined enough to where I was easily able to slip into the world Maum was showing me, and using a fifteen-year-old's eyes was such a clever way to do that. Lara was both immature enough to reflect that fifteen-year-old voice but also informed enough to keep me, as the reader, informed enough to really enjoy the story being told. Her reflections and the things she noticed more than the adult artists around her were so important and so well-done. I feel like I really could just rave about this book all day long.
I enjoyed every page of this novel, but especially the ending. Usually, the endings of books bother me for one reason or another. Things are either tied up too nicely, not nicely enough, seem forced, don't make sense, or whatever reason; but that was not the case with Costalegre. The ending was perfection. It was everything the ending of this book needed to be and not a drop more.
I'm sad I borrowed this book from the library. I may have to go out and buy my own copy just so I can reread it at my leisure.
Lara's voice was also so perfect. I'm not really all that familiar with the art world of the 1930s, but the terms were defined enough to where I was easily able to slip into the world Maum was showing me, and using a fifteen-year-old's eyes was such a clever way to do that. Lara was both immature enough to reflect that fifteen-year-old voice but also informed enough to keep me, as the reader, informed enough to really enjoy the story being told. Her reflections and the things she noticed more than the adult artists around her were so important and so well-done. I feel like I really could just rave about this book all day long.
I enjoyed every page of this novel, but especially the ending. Usually, the endings of books bother me for one reason or another. Things are either tied up too nicely, not nicely enough, seem forced, don't make sense, or whatever reason; but that was not the case with Costalegre. The ending was perfection. It was everything the ending of this book needed to be and not a drop more.
I'm sad I borrowed this book from the library. I may have to go out and buy my own copy just so I can reread it at my leisure.