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keyalilyreads 's review for:
The Flames
by Sophie Haydock
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Happy publication day to The Flames!!
‘I’m not a saint. But we women are expected to be perfect and pure, while you men do whatever you please with no thought of the consequences.’
As a literature lover, I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the world of art, so I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would be able to fully immerse myself. I was very wrong.
The Flames is a feminist novel through and through, following the lives of the real women who defined and moulded the work of the artist egon schiele; although events throughout are fictitious. If you are unfamiliar with schiele (1890-1918), his radical art dominantly depicted women in the nude, their sensuality and sexuality celebrated. I felt Haydock’s admiration for his work so intensely whilst reading The Flames, which has exposed me to something I would have never appreciated beforehand.
‘It’s quite a battle the two of you have chosen to undertake. Against religion. Against society. It doesn’t bother your to forfeit order and conformity?’
The four women include: Adele the deluded admirer, whose fixation with Egon ruins not only her own life but those surrounding her, Gertrude the devout sister, who shares a bond unfathomable to others with Egon, Vally the magnificent muse, the love Egon was too foolish to fully embrace and the bravest of them all and Edith the multifaceted wife, the underestimated force to be reckoned.
‘She’s becoming that most mysterious of all creatures: a woman.’
Each of them contributes so much value to the novel and Egon, his art nothing without them. Yet their is a disheartening nature in that Egon benefits the most in their relationships, his gender and class raising his pedestal. Regardless, it is empowering as a female reader seeing these women define a man’s career and livelihood.
Another perfect read for the month of International Women’s Day, another perfect read for my fellow feminist rhetoric lovers!
I’m stuck between 3.5 and 4 stars with this one.
‘I’m not a saint. But we women are expected to be perfect and pure, while you men do whatever you please with no thought of the consequences.’
As a literature lover, I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to the world of art, so I was a little apprehensive as to whether I would be able to fully immerse myself. I was very wrong.
The Flames is a feminist novel through and through, following the lives of the real women who defined and moulded the work of the artist egon schiele; although events throughout are fictitious. If you are unfamiliar with schiele (1890-1918), his radical art dominantly depicted women in the nude, their sensuality and sexuality celebrated. I felt Haydock’s admiration for his work so intensely whilst reading The Flames, which has exposed me to something I would have never appreciated beforehand.
‘It’s quite a battle the two of you have chosen to undertake. Against religion. Against society. It doesn’t bother your to forfeit order and conformity?’
The four women include: Adele the deluded admirer, whose fixation with Egon ruins not only her own life but those surrounding her, Gertrude the devout sister, who shares a bond unfathomable to others with Egon, Vally the magnificent muse, the love Egon was too foolish to fully embrace and the bravest of them all and Edith the multifaceted wife, the underestimated force to be reckoned.
‘She’s becoming that most mysterious of all creatures: a woman.’
Each of them contributes so much value to the novel and Egon, his art nothing without them. Yet their is a disheartening nature in that Egon benefits the most in their relationships, his gender and class raising his pedestal. Regardless, it is empowering as a female reader seeing these women define a man’s career and livelihood.
Another perfect read for the month of International Women’s Day, another perfect read for my fellow feminist rhetoric lovers!
I’m stuck between 3.5 and 4 stars with this one.