ryner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
2.0
Following the deaths of her parents, Emily Carr endures a "proper" (stifling) existence living with her three older sisters in Victoria, British Columbia, but Emily only feels alive when she's painting, and she feels drawn to paint native art and communities of the Pacific Northwest. Despite her siblings' disapproval, Emily embarks on a number of journeys to remote sites in pursuit of her dream, but the beauty of what she sees contrasts with the increasingly bleak lives of the people she meets and the destruction and theft of their art.
The story is moderately interesting, but this novel is probably one of Vreeland's weakest. Though her passion for art history shines through, this book might be forgettable if it hadn't been based on a real historical figure. It is always fairly uncomfortable reading an author's attempt to depict "broken English," and to rub salt in the wound it appears to have been used inconsistently among the very same speakers. I wouldn't necessarily recommend unless you are already a fan of Vreeland and are working your way through her oeuvre.
The story is moderately interesting, but this novel is probably one of Vreeland's weakest. Though her passion for art history shines through, this book might be forgettable if it hadn't been based on a real historical figure. It is always fairly uncomfortable reading an author's attempt to depict "broken English," and to rub salt in the wound it appears to have been used inconsistently among the very same speakers. I wouldn't necessarily recommend unless you are already a fan of Vreeland and are working your way through her oeuvre.
magresha's review against another edition
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
javamamanc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.5
carolynf's review against another edition
3.0
Like all Susan Vreeland books there isn't much of a plot arc, but there is a very detailed story of an artist's aspirations and the time in which she lived. Emily Carr was not an artist I had known about at all before picking up this book, but it was very interesting to read about her connection with Canadian Indian art, issues of race and Eurocentrism, and the difficulties of her family life.
calster's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
susaninthewild's review against another edition
5.0
This is the fourth time I’ve read this book. The reading was precipitated by an engaging discussion about her art and a tour of the recent Emily Carr exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. This book sits on a single shelf that holds the few select books that stir my soul and it is one of those books that I treasure every time I read it.
Perhaps because I am an artist I deeply connect to Emily as she is portrayed in this book. I love that the author took facts and things we know for certain about this amazing BC artist and then wove stories around them.
I don’t know if Emily’s introspection comes from her actual writings but if it did not then the author must be an artist in her own right. The musings of most artists I know reasonate in Emily’s words, “what am I here for? If only I were sure it was to paint the places I love. To paint them well enough to mean something to people, then I would take joy in every step toward that... “ And when Emily looks at something and identifies the colour...”cadmium red extra deep”, it makes me laugh every time because that is how I and many artists see the world. I once told another artist I was at the beach and that I was surrounded by Ultramarine Blue light; they understood exactly what I meant.
Susan Vreelands descriptive language blows me away-I can barely go a page without experiencing
joy at her words, “breathe a soup of smells”, “see with storybook eyes”, and “you fit me”. I know personally the truth of “a baby for a while is better than no baby” and “you never know forests until you get inside”.
I find this book is a joy and pleasure to read. I intend to visit it again and again.
Perhaps because I am an artist I deeply connect to Emily as she is portrayed in this book. I love that the author took facts and things we know for certain about this amazing BC artist and then wove stories around them.
I don’t know if Emily’s introspection comes from her actual writings but if it did not then the author must be an artist in her own right. The musings of most artists I know reasonate in Emily’s words, “what am I here for? If only I were sure it was to paint the places I love. To paint them well enough to mean something to people, then I would take joy in every step toward that... “ And when Emily looks at something and identifies the colour...”cadmium red extra deep”, it makes me laugh every time because that is how I and many artists see the world. I once told another artist I was at the beach and that I was surrounded by Ultramarine Blue light; they understood exactly what I meant.
Susan Vreelands descriptive language blows me away-I can barely go a page without experiencing
joy at her words, “breathe a soup of smells”, “see with storybook eyes”, and “you fit me”. I know personally the truth of “a baby for a while is better than no baby” and “you never know forests until you get inside”.
I find this book is a joy and pleasure to read. I intend to visit it again and again.
niceread's review against another edition
3.0
Glad that I stuck with this story, the later half of the book was better than the first half, but altogether I did not enjoy this title nearly as much as Vreeland's other titles that I have read.
kbuchanan's review
4.0
Perhaps it was simply the timing (having just come from a very long, very violent and male-centric read), or the fact that I fell in love with Vancouver and British Columbia on a trip earlier this year, but for some reason this one hit me as the perfect read. I came into this book knowing a little about Emily Carr, but not very much. The book inspired me to take a look at many more of her paintings, which are surprising and incredible. I would be interested to read more about her relationships with the First Nations peoples that she encountered on her trips to ostensibly make a record of their monumental art works before they were lost to the disgraceful practices of European colonialists during the period of Carr's life. Vreeland paints a rosy picture, with Carr befriending people along the way and being accepted into various native communities. The author's note provides some hints that this may not be too far from the truth, as the author interviewed some First Nations people who remember Emily Carr. The fact that she was invited to experience a potlatch, a practice already outlawed by that time, would seem to indicate that at least that particular community trusted her enough to take the risk of inviting her into this important cultural practice. Vreeland's version of Carr repeatedly mulls over the difference between appreciation and appropriation, and much of Carr's work does ask us to do this. In any case, this female-driven story was a pleasure to read for many reasons. Vreeland's characters are sympathetic and vibrant, and one feels, as in the best historical fiction, that one wants to go from this novel to learning more about its subjects.
jodi_b's review against another edition
5.0
I have a love/hate relationship with Emily Carr as she is depicted in this book. At least that is what I thought when I started reading the book. In the beginning, Emily came across as whiny. Poor me, my sisters don't understand me, the local artists don't understand me.... But she seems to grown as you read. Because she is also strong -- headed out into the forests of British Columbia to paint totem poles and indigenous peoples.
It has taken me a while to get through this book, but I don't want it to end. It is so beautifully written. And so painful. It is so beautiful partly because of the rich descriptions of Emily Carr's art. I can almost envision turn of the century British Columbia; the relationships between indigenous peoples and Europeans; the impact of missionaries and anthropologists; the post-impressionist art scene in British Columbia and beyond; as well as the vivid green of the landscape and the multiple and divergent ways of viewing art and beauty.
It makes tears sting my eyes. The pain of growing up in a missionary family, playing with native boys, not understanding why your parents want you to be different from those boys. The pain of losing child after child, wondering why white women's children live. The tension between doing what you love, what makes you feel good and what other people find socially acceptable.
I could probably find flaws with this book, but tonight I found those tear wrenching pages, so beautifully written, portraying so many things that I have read about and envisioned, all within a story about art.
It has taken me a while to get through this book, but I don't want it to end. It is so beautifully written. And so painful. It is so beautiful partly because of the rich descriptions of Emily Carr's art. I can almost envision turn of the century British Columbia; the relationships between indigenous peoples and Europeans; the impact of missionaries and anthropologists; the post-impressionist art scene in British Columbia and beyond; as well as the vivid green of the landscape and the multiple and divergent ways of viewing art and beauty.
It makes tears sting my eyes. The pain of growing up in a missionary family, playing with native boys, not understanding why your parents want you to be different from those boys. The pain of losing child after child, wondering why white women's children live. The tension between doing what you love, what makes you feel good and what other people find socially acceptable.
I could probably find flaws with this book, but tonight I found those tear wrenching pages, so beautifully written, portraying so many things that I have read about and envisioned, all within a story about art.