Reviews

The Painter by Peter Heller

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pjancy's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

liakeller's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoy Heller's writing style: to the point and without contrived devices. This has lots of painting, fly fishing and grit. It is a little dark, but I still liked this one.

nooneyouknow's review against another edition

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3.0

Oh, how I wanted to love this one as much as I loved [b:The Dog Stars|13330761|The Dog Stars|Peter Heller|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388122817s/13330761.jpg|18538203]. And how this one just fell a little short. Heller is a master of beautiful landscape writing - really making it a character in his books - and has an honest connection to fly fishing, but The Dog Stars just brought me closer to the land and water of that story than The Painter did. (Maybe that says more about me than the story, but I'm ok with that.) I also thought Jim, the main character, had a rather choppy voice that didn't resonate with me all that well. Overall worth the read, but I won't be recommending this one as freely as I do The Dog Stars.

serinde4books's review against another edition

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1.0

This was my last BOTM club book I read this year, it was after this one that I decided I needed a break. I HATED this book. I couldn’t stand the characters, the story line left nothing to be guessed, the ending pissed me off. There was too much fishing talk and it added nothing to story. The main character was an asshole and I didn’t feel sorry for him. The tragedy of his daughters death was stupid, the author made it seem like it was a big EVENT, which yeah she died but the method was idiotic.
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dameagles's review

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sillytothejoe's review against another edition

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5.0

Still loving all of Heller’s work. Just one novel yet to read. I appreciate that the protagonist here was so flawed. You root for him but, but he’s also a murderer. Not an accidental murderer, a real deal one. I loved the ending.