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inkwitchery's review against another edition
3.0
I AM MADAME X by Gioia Diliberto
This is a story loosely based on the life of Parisienne socialite Virginie AmĂ©lie Avegno Gautreau (aka Mimi) who is the subject in John Singer Sargentâs (in)famous painting âPortrait of Madame Xâ.
The authorâs version of Mimi is beautiful of course, but sheâs also terribly vain, stubborn and self-absorbed. Her volatile relationship with her social-climbing mother didnât help her either. I found it hard to like Mimi though I did understand and sympathize with her.
The author took what little info there is (at the time this was written) about Mimiâs life and just ran with it. I enjoyed the descriptions of Belle Ăpoque Paris, high society and the artist community. The authorâs acknowledgments at the end, which explains her thoughts and motives for writing the story, is worth reading as well.
Overall, this book will appeal to you if youâre already familiar with the painting and want some fun (but fictional!) background info on the mysterious Madame X.
Rating: 3/5 âïž
#IAmMadameX #GioiaDiliberto
This is a story loosely based on the life of Parisienne socialite Virginie AmĂ©lie Avegno Gautreau (aka Mimi) who is the subject in John Singer Sargentâs (in)famous painting âPortrait of Madame Xâ.
The authorâs version of Mimi is beautiful of course, but sheâs also terribly vain, stubborn and self-absorbed. Her volatile relationship with her social-climbing mother didnât help her either. I found it hard to like Mimi though I did understand and sympathize with her.
The author took what little info there is (at the time this was written) about Mimiâs life and just ran with it. I enjoyed the descriptions of Belle Ăpoque Paris, high society and the artist community. The authorâs acknowledgments at the end, which explains her thoughts and motives for writing the story, is worth reading as well.
Overall, this book will appeal to you if youâre already familiar with the painting and want some fun (but fictional!) background info on the mysterious Madame X.
Rating: 3/5 âïž
#IAmMadameX #GioiaDiliberto
mrblackbean11's review against another edition
3.0
This was a solid book. It went a little to into Creole background development, but I really enjoyed the second half of this book and I'm glad I stuck with it. I would recommend as a beach or plane read.
amandalb's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted this book to be better. I think maybe it's because the main character, Virginie, wasn't particularly likable or hugely sympathetic. It was a fascinating time period to read about- as an American, you don't hear too much about Europe during this time.
Ultimately, I wanted to know more about Virginie and Sargent. More about Sargent, really. I know the author is limited by historical facts and the framework within which to speculate, but I came away wanting...more. Perhaps not much has been written or preserved about Virginie for a reason- there's not too much to tell. It was unclear how much time had passed at certain points and I felt like the entire subject of the book- the portrait- didn't come into play until 2/3 of the way through the book! And then it was a bit anti-climactic. The story sort of dropped off.
I wanted to hear more about Virginie's daughter Louise and their relationship. She mentions that she's broken the cycle of strained mother-daughter relationships - "my proudest accomplishment"- but how? And what of her music? Perhaps it was not the focus or the point of the book, but I felt that these points helped the reader sympathize with Virginie. We needed more!
In general, I thought it was interesting and an ok book, but I think it's because I enjoy historical fiction, so those details (like the introduction of Charles Frederick Worth, generally thought to be the first couture designer) kept me reading.
Ultimately, I wanted to know more about Virginie and Sargent. More about Sargent, really. I know the author is limited by historical facts and the framework within which to speculate, but I came away wanting...more. Perhaps not much has been written or preserved about Virginie for a reason- there's not too much to tell. It was unclear how much time had passed at certain points and I felt like the entire subject of the book- the portrait- didn't come into play until 2/3 of the way through the book! And then it was a bit anti-climactic. The story sort of dropped off.
I wanted to hear more about Virginie's daughter Louise and their relationship. She mentions that she's broken the cycle of strained mother-daughter relationships - "my proudest accomplishment"- but how? And what of her music? Perhaps it was not the focus or the point of the book, but I felt that these points helped the reader sympathize with Virginie. We needed more!
In general, I thought it was interesting and an ok book, but I think it's because I enjoy historical fiction, so those details (like the introduction of Charles Frederick Worth, generally thought to be the first couture designer) kept me reading.
melanie_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Compelling narrative, interesting tale of history but as one other goodreads reviewer noted, oddly detached and passionless.
alexagracezupko's review
4.0
I've seen this book on my mom's shelf since I was six years old, and was always intrigued by the cover. Now that I'm eighteen, I figured I would give the book a try. I really enjoyed it, and continue to stay curious about Virginie's life. I have to go see the real painting at the Met!
lanikei's review against another edition
3.0
I saw the Sargent painting of Madame X when it was in DC and it is quite eye-catching. Of course viewing it now there's nothing scandalous about it, but the woman's profile and the unique pose are striking. The placard next to the painting mentioned some of the drama that was associated with it - and it's shockingly draping dress strap - but that was all I knew about it.
Diliberto brings several luscious settings to life in this book, the pseudo-French aristocracy of Civil War and Reconstruction Louisiana and France during the Franco-Prussian war. The author doesn't just tell the story of the painting, but follows the life of Virginie (Madame X herself), an American ex-pat. She is surrounded by fashion, glamour, and art despite her nouveau riche origins.
Unfortunately few of the characters in the book are likeable, although some sympathy is developed over the course of the book for Virginia and her eventual husband. Sargent himself seems to be rather an ass, but since the book is written from Virginie's point of view, perhaps this is to be expected.
Diliberto brings several luscious settings to life in this book, the pseudo-French aristocracy of Civil War and Reconstruction Louisiana and France during the Franco-Prussian war. The author doesn't just tell the story of the painting, but follows the life of Virginie (Madame X herself), an American ex-pat. She is surrounded by fashion, glamour, and art despite her nouveau riche origins.
Unfortunately few of the characters in the book are likeable, although some sympathy is developed over the course of the book for Virginia and her eventual husband. Sargent himself seems to be rather an ass, but since the book is written from Virginie's point of view, perhaps this is to be expected.
sadpear's review against another edition
2.0
This book disappointed me. The author notes they wanted to do a nonfiction book on the subject but there was very little in the way of primary sources and information. So - historical fiction! Which I love and support. But it just felt - thin. I didn't enjoy the style of narration, and I didn't enjoy how shallow all the characters felt. There was no heart or spark to this. (I was also sort of skeeved by the throwaway dismissal of Sargent's sexuality - I don't care if that was 'period accurate' in terminology it still felt gross and weird)
tristanrobinblakeman's review
3.0
Pleasant, diverting true-life fiction, a quick read and not challenging. Nice depiction of belle epoch Paris art scene and written in the voice of the notorious "Madame X" of John Singer Sargent's famous and once controversial Portrait of Madame X. Although the model, Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, wife of the French banker Pierre Gautreau, was a real person, there isn't a lot known about her, other than she was rich and reknowned for her beauty and style and criticized for her promiscuity. Therefore, most of this book is, indeed, fiction. But, it reads quite as quite believable...and I always enjoy stories of both belle epoch Paris and the art scene at the turn of the century. I'd recommend it for a short afternoon read for anybody has the same interests.
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