aage 's review for:

The Portrait by Iain Pears
2.5
reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Interesting premise. Well written, too, with a number of quotable lines and ideas on art theory, relevance, and relationships.

That said, I wish I had been warned in advance that this book is written entirely as a one-sided monologue, which never diverts and drones on and on until the predictable finish.

In the words of Henry McAlpine, “You’re not really interested in how I came to live on this island, are you? …. But I’ll tell you anyway. It will be your punishment”.