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A review by yourfavavery
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
So I was really torn about this one. The story follows Lucrezia de Medici, who marries the Duke of Ferrara at 15 when her sister (the original bride) dies. The Duke is desperate for an heir, and when she doesn't get pregnant within a year, he kills her. That's it - that's the whole story.
The Pros: O'Farrell is an incredible writer from a technical perspective. Her descriptions are lush, and the story as told from Lucretia's perspective gives us enough description to know what is happening without making the main character omnipotent (a real pet peeve of mine).
The Cons: SOMETHING should have happened. Lucrezia is housed outside of Ferrara for most of her marriage, so we don't get to see the political machinations that lead to her death and there's very little tension built as a result. Lucrezia doesn't even interact with her husband that much, so we don't understand their dynamic either. The author does a great job showing that Lucrezia chafes at her limited role in society and longs for freedom, but when her death arrives she doesn't do anything to prevent her own murder. This is honestly more of a character study than anything else, because very little happens "on screen" in this book.
Overall, it's good for what it is, but I needed more from this. If you liked it and want to read another great character study, try My Year of Rest and Relaxation next.
The Pros: O'Farrell is an incredible writer from a technical perspective. Her descriptions are lush, and the story as told from Lucretia's perspective gives us enough description to know what is happening without making the main character omnipotent (a real pet peeve of mine).
The Cons: SOMETHING should have happened. Lucrezia is housed outside of Ferrara for most of her marriage, so we don't get to see the political machinations that lead to her death and there's very little tension built as a result. Lucrezia doesn't even interact with her husband that much, so we don't understand their dynamic either. The author does a great job showing that Lucrezia chafes at her limited role in society and longs for freedom, but when her death arrives she doesn't do anything to prevent her own murder. This is honestly more of a character study than anything else, because very little happens "on screen" in this book.
Overall, it's good for what it is, but I needed more from this. If you liked it and want to read another great character study, try My Year of Rest and Relaxation next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Sexual content