feliciar33ds's review
5.0
"There is a bit of a bitch in every good cook" - Georgia O'Keefe
"A marriage is a civilization, the couple at the ceter of it, king and queen. When it falls apart, the entire population suffers."
I love the way this author writes. This isn't just a dry biography. The author artfully weaves in lessons/ stories from her own life, while giving us more than a glimpse into Georgia's complicated life. This really is a telling of Georgia's life in the context of imparting lessons from her life - and those lessons stand the test of time. My take away from this book - be who you are and be interested/ passionate about something (it makes you a more intrigueing person, worth getting to know). This author has also written books about Coco Chanel and Katherine Hepburn - and I'll definitely be adding those to my reading list!
"A marriage is a civilization, the couple at the ceter of it, king and queen. When it falls apart, the entire population suffers."
I love the way this author writes. This isn't just a dry biography. The author artfully weaves in lessons/ stories from her own life, while giving us more than a glimpse into Georgia's complicated life. This really is a telling of Georgia's life in the context of imparting lessons from her life - and those lessons stand the test of time. My take away from this book - be who you are and be interested/ passionate about something (it makes you a more intrigueing person, worth getting to know). This author has also written books about Coco Chanel and Katherine Hepburn - and I'll definitely be adding those to my reading list!
lifstrand's review
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
How Georgia Became O'Keeffe: Lessons On The Art Of Living is part biography, part entertaining life-lessons. Karen Karbo's writing style is quirky, she's your fun friend talking to you over a glass of wine and making you laugh. The "lessons" are from Karbo's own life, deftly presented as personal commentary, including witty asides (footnotes).
I highly recommend How Georgia Became O'Keeffe for the story of the artist who became a towering icon of the art world, a woman of passion and self-discipline who succeeded in being fully herself in an era when women were to be seen but not heard. O'Keeffe would do well as a role model for any creative person, but especially for anyone who who understands that the most valuable and powerful possession she possesses is her own Self.
I highly recommend How Georgia Became O'Keeffe for the story of the artist who became a towering icon of the art world, a woman of passion and self-discipline who succeeded in being fully herself in an era when women were to be seen but not heard. O'Keeffe would do well as a role model for any creative person, but especially for anyone who who understands that the most valuable and powerful possession she possesses is her own Self.
auntblh's review
3.0
I'm not sure I learned any lessons on the art of living but I learned a few things about Georgia O'Keeffe. I'm not sure I liked everything I learned about her but she seemed to be quite an individual. I enjoyed the author's sense of humor but I don't know that I want to read any of her other books.
allison_lay89's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! I like the authors style of giving commentary throughout. I enjoyed a lighthearted biography about her life!
aprilbosworth's review
3.0
A nice light biography written in an essay style. While I really enjoyed it, it wasn't especially remarkable. The chapters on the young and growing Georgia were the most interesting. I would have liked a few more stories/quotes/remembrances of the old woman. In the last two or three chapters the author has convinced herself that the life is so well known and public that there's nothing to say, so the end of the book lacks the pizzazz of the beginning.
fiona_leonard's review
4.0
I'd never heard never heard of Georgia O'Keefe before we visited New Mexico in 2009. Sure, now I know that O'Keefe is one of the US's most celebrated artists but back then I had no idea. But you can't spend long in Santa Fe and Taos though without being drawn into the world of O'Keefe's incredible paintings and her love of the landscape and light. Karen Karbo's style is very different from what you'd normally expect from biographies. As much about her own discovery of O'Keefe, the book provides a somewhat irreverent journey into O'Keefe's life. Written in a very funny and conversational style, Karbo presents a woman whose passion, eccentricity and independence shaped her evolution as an artist and as a woman. It is a terrific read for those who know of O'Keefe's work and for those looking for inspiration in their own creative endeavours.
kristenhg's review against another edition
3.0
To be honest, I liked the Katherine Hepburn and Coco Chanel books better, but I like this series so well I'm already in for the Julia book Karbo's working on now.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
4.0
Now I see why others have raved so much about this story. It’s the life of artist Georgia O’Keeffe, but you won’t find this story in the encyclopedia. It’s a tale beautifully, cleverly, wisely told with hundreds of little personal asides and footnotes. I think you will love it. I’m pretty sure you will.
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