Reviews

L'artista by B.A. Shapiro

lizlantz's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition

5.0

I really enjoyed this... I loved how the contemporary story was interwoven with the story from the 1930s. I especially enjoyed the American perspective of the time leading up to World War II and what kinds of political conflicts were brewing in the United States. Alizee was a compelling heroine and I liked the artistic milieu in which she worked and lived. I would like to read more by this author.

bambrosio's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

missamandamae's review against another edition

4.0

A good, pull-you-in read, despite how unbelievable I found the ending. First of all, a 21-year-old artist who can hold her own with Pollack, Rothko, de Kooning and Kastner who were all older than her; who gives Rothko the impetus he needs to make his color block paintings what we know them today, who makes her way to France during wartime, escapes a detention camp, hides out for the rest of the war, and never reveals her true identity? My reaction by the end was pretty "pfft," and I don't think the author gave enough time to Danielle's search and revelations at the end of the book. However, the buildup until the end was sufficiently exciting for me to keep reading, and I did gain an education on abstract art and artists. I just think Shapiro could have done more with the ending.

mjsteimle's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars. Since she was a little girl, Danielle has been fascinated with her aunt Alizee, an artist who knew Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner, and who also disappeared in 1941. This story jumps back and forth between Danielle's search in 2015 to learn more about her aunt and Alizee's life in New York in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

This was a fascinating story. One of the big themes was immigration and refugees, making it super timely for our current political situation.

The narrator of the audiobook was decent, but at times I felt like she made Alizee's voice a little too dramatic.

anniew415's review against another edition

4.0

Better than The Art Forger. Very satisfying ending even if the overall story is a bit far-fetched. Kind of fun to be in the world of the early AE artists....

nursenell's review against another edition

3.0

I had a hard time getting into this book and almost quit reading it. I usually read quite quickly through WWII/holocaust books but this one didn't hook me like most do. I think it was all the discussion about art, not an area I'm particularly interested in. In the end though it is a good story and I'm glad I read it. One thing I did learn, in addition to some of the history of abstract art, was that the WPA hired artists to paint murals in various American cities, I never knew that.

elizaeliza's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

froydis's review against another edition

3.0

3 1/2 stars -
This was an interesting read - I enjoyed all the art background and the historical figures the author incorporated into the story. The plot has a few holes for me, but is overall entertaining, and gives you something to think about.

_seanna_nicole_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Violence and War