mmariericker 's review for:

The Art of Vanishing: A Novel by Morgan Pager

2.5

adventurous emotional fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

---

This book was such a letdown for me. I was SO excited about it, thought about purchasing it outright... but the writing style was too juvenile for my taste, the characters 2-D, and the ending so abrupt.

The journal? Of course it's Odetta's, but why was it being stolen the only reason that Claire got caught? How the heck do her and Jean fall in love immediately when he is... in an oil painting? What does it mean that the subjects got "painted in" to this life and left their life out there... sort of? What's the deal with Luna's dad? Claire lets him back in and then he's gone again. There's a jump forward five years, so you know she and Jean see each other again sort of but....

There are so many loose ends in this book and it really skimmed the surface when I wanted such a deep dive into the granular details. The part I liked most was "moving" from painting to painting.