honeymonster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved Bee Season. Fucking adored it. Own it. But when Goldberg's new book came out, I wasn't interested in the concept. So I skipped it. And finally, years later, I found out she has new books and picked a couple up.
This novel is fucking astounding. Told as the catalog of a photography exhibition, it tells the story of a genius photographer and her troubled relationship with her daughter, and, more generally, the world.
The format made it really hard for me to put this book down when I needed to sleep. It's an incredibly sad book, but I really love it.
This novel is fucking astounding. Told as the catalog of a photography exhibition, it tells the story of a genius photographer and her troubled relationship with her daughter, and, more generally, the world.
The format made it really hard for me to put this book down when I needed to sleep. It's an incredibly sad book, but I really love it.
marciag's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly my favorite book of the year so far. Written in the form as a catalog for an exhibition of photographs by fictional photographer Lillian Preston, interspersed with journal entries and interviews that fill in the blanks, the story begins to appear just as if you are immersing photographic paper in developing solution. You find the story faintly, then as it begins to "develop" the story becomes much clearer. The question remains--is the finished product a clear image or is it blurred wither by the creators hand or the developing process?
The book has much to say about what it means to be a woman and a mother and an artist, in a time when being just one of those things was hard enough. Lillian makes choices for her art that reverberate through the life of her daughter. Does she sacrifice her daughter's life for her art or does her daughter become who she is because of it.
Goldberg's done her research. The obvious comparison will be to Sally Mann, but there are shades of Lee Miller, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, and other pioneering photographers in her portrayal of Lillian.
Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction about mid-century women who defy tradition, anyone interested in the artistic process, or a fan of stories about mother-daughter dynamics.
I will also recommend Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto if you are interested in fiction about groundbreaking photographers.
The book has much to say about what it means to be a woman and a mother and an artist, in a time when being just one of those things was hard enough. Lillian makes choices for her art that reverberate through the life of her daughter. Does she sacrifice her daughter's life for her art or does her daughter become who she is because of it.
Goldberg's done her research. The obvious comparison will be to Sally Mann, but there are shades of Lee Miller, Imogen Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, and other pioneering photographers in her portrayal of Lillian.
Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction about mid-century women who defy tradition, anyone interested in the artistic process, or a fan of stories about mother-daughter dynamics.
I will also recommend Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto if you are interested in fiction about groundbreaking photographers.
alcyon_alcyon's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best audio recording productions I have ever heard. The book somehow lends itself very well to audio. Different voices are marvelously cast. And the story itself, subjects and characters and events, is fascinating and compelling. I remember being deeply affected by Goldberg's first book Bee Season, and wasn't sure if this would hit as deeply, but it did.
ljjohnson8's review against another edition
4.0
The inventive format of this novel - a museum catalogue prepared for a showing of 118 works by famous/infamous photographer Lillian Preston, featuring narrative from her daughter, excerpts from the artist's journals, interviews with friends and ex-lovers, newspaper clippings, etc. -is perfect for telling Lillian's story and that of her daughter, Samantha. I like reading about artists and especially enjoy descriptions/analysis of artworks, so this book checked a lot of boxes for me. Lillian comes of age and is creating in the late '50s-'70s New York and faces innumerable struggles and discrimination in the male-dominated art world. She is also a very young, unwed mother in a time when that poses its own many issues and problems.
This book has much to say about women and creating art and oppression, and I appreciate the feminist themes. However, of even more interest to me is a question I've enjoyed exploring in other novels (like Tracy Chevalier's Falling Angels) --- while our civilization absolutely requires the groundbreaking genius and effort of our great ones, what about the cost that's sometimes paid by the trauma of their children? No easy answers, of course.
Goldberg is a strong and skilled writer and her prose here is electrifying. I certainly hope she doesn't wait another 10 years before gifting us with her work.
This book has much to say about women and creating art and oppression, and I appreciate the feminist themes. However, of even more interest to me is a question I've enjoyed exploring in other novels (like Tracy Chevalier's Falling Angels) --- while our civilization absolutely requires the groundbreaking genius and effort of our great ones, what about the cost that's sometimes paid by the trauma of their children? No easy answers, of course.
Goldberg is a strong and skilled writer and her prose here is electrifying. I certainly hope she doesn't wait another 10 years before gifting us with her work.
aileron's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Cancer, Medical content, Miscarriage, and Abortion
pattieod's review against another edition
4.0
Unique format using a gallery catalog with entries about each "photo" (described by not shown) written by all the people in the artist's life, as the frame for the story.
It's an exploration of art and obsession, with an artist who sacrifices almost everything so she can continue to create photographs of every day New Yorkers which invite viewers to read stories into them. It was sometimes difficult to envision each of the described photos, but the journal voices are all well done, and the story is unflinching in dealing with every part of the artist's life, including visits to abortionists and watching someone die.
If you need to love the central character, you may not like this, but it's worth a read if you're okay with a difficult-to-like protagonist (although you could argue that the daughter, who is the central voice in the "catalog" is the protagonist, but she's also somewhat difficult). It's a compelling picture of a prickly, obsessed artist.
It's an exploration of art and obsession, with an artist who sacrifices almost everything so she can continue to create photographs of every day New Yorkers which invite viewers to read stories into them. It was sometimes difficult to envision each of the described photos, but the journal voices are all well done, and the story is unflinching in dealing with every part of the artist's life, including visits to abortionists and watching someone die.
If you need to love the central character, you may not like this, but it's worth a read if you're okay with a difficult-to-like protagonist (although you could argue that the daughter, who is the central voice in the "catalog" is the protagonist, but she's also somewhat difficult). It's a compelling picture of a prickly, obsessed artist.
katimae's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25