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nglofile 's review for:
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos
by Dominic Smith
Though I can weary of stories that toggle between two time periods (and this one incorporates a third), The Last Painting of Sara de Vos is more successful in the construct than most. Readers are near equally invested in each era, and it seems the author is as well. I'm fond of narrative in which an object or work of art is passed through different hands (see also Vreeland's Girl in Hyacinth Blue or the film The Red Violin), and this tale takes that further by describing the artwork anew when beheld by different eyes. The technical detail, which I loved, is extensive without being overwhelming, but it is the slightly different tonal characterizations or focal points that added grace notes to my experience.
Sara was fascinating, Ellie something of an endearing mess, and Marty? Well, he's rather horrible, but somehow we were still invested in his quest. If only the author didn't let him off the hook quite as he did.
Excellent for book discussion. eta: Stands up to repeated readings.
audiobook note: I've previously raved about the lushness of Ballerini's narrative style, and this production is no less lovely. His controlled pacing in particular weaves mood and character, and I find myself willingly lost in the performance. Ballerini is one of the select male narrators who voices female characters without resorting to strained mimicry, and this book introduced me to yet another accent (Australian) that he executes with style.
Sara was fascinating, Ellie something of an endearing mess, and Marty? Well, he's rather horrible, but somehow we were still invested in his quest. If only the author didn't let him off the hook quite as he did.
Excellent for book discussion. eta: Stands up to repeated readings.
audiobook note: I've previously raved about the lushness of Ballerini's narrative style, and this production is no less lovely. His controlled pacing in particular weaves mood and character, and I find myself willingly lost in the performance. Ballerini is one of the select male narrators who voices female characters without resorting to strained mimicry, and this book introduced me to yet another accent (Australian) that he executes with style.