Scan barcode
ellie_cripps's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but it's definitely a little too long. The opening is unfortunately a little slow and I did feel myself disappointingly bored somewhere in the middle. Glad I stuck it out because I enjoyed parts of the final act, but not what I was hoping for.
carokfulf's review
3.0
Although the sweep and beauty of this historical novel were impressive and very much of interest to me as a film fan, the novel doesn't do much to innovate on the form. The characters felt rather thin, and the central love story didn't quite capture my sympathy.
lambsears's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little disappointed by this, having enjoyed The Last Painting of Sara de Vos so much.
The amount of research that has gone into this novel is prodigious and that alone makes it impressive, but I found it tediously over-written in parts, and quite drawn out.
It's had a lot of press, and is interesting in parts, but over-all I'm glad it's finished.
The amount of research that has gone into this novel is prodigious and that alone makes it impressive, but I found it tediously over-written in parts, and quite drawn out.
It's had a lot of press, and is interesting in parts, but over-all I'm glad it's finished.
lindzlovesreading's review against another edition
3.0
I almost wish Smith's Version of The Electric Hotel was an actual lost movie. It would feel like watching an silent movie that feels so modern it would have came from the mind of someone from the 21st century! I actually really enjoyed the book, it has eveyrthing you could want from a novel, it's cozy and engaging. I enjoyed my time with it. But one thing kept bugging me. The character of Claude Ballard had not real ego. Film history is littered with the film makers who flew too close to the sun, falling so others could run. But all these guys have this alpha ego, everyone from Griffith to Tarantino. Even in the pre WWI days there was a sense of creation of creating something new, you also see it with the tech companies, playing God. They are creating there own little universes where they can manipuate actors, distort reality, bankrupt whole companies on whims. You never see Ballard even tempted really. So because of that the book never really reaches the operatic heights it should have. But maybe I have just seen too many movies.
tfisher78's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
cae's review against another edition
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Well researched setting, boring story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
leahslibrarycard's review
3.25
enjoyed the bones of the story. i wish transitions were clearer, such as between characters and time periods. smith writes with a certain pretension that is enjoyable at first but grows annoying. idk how many times he said pneumonic, rheumatic, and myopia!!! let’s grab a thesaurus instead of a medical dictionary!
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
5.0
"The Last Painting of Sara de Vos" was an extraordinary reading experience and a tough act to follow. Author Dominic Smith appears to be a writer ready to transport readers to a totally different world. Instead of 17th century Amsterdam, he takes us to the turn of the 20th century world of early cinema.
As a young French photographer, Claude Ballard sees a demonstration of moving "filmstrips" presented by the Lumiere brothers. He is fascinated, and begins making these very brief films himself in hopes of joining the brothers in bringing this new art form to the world. He will do this, traveling the world collecting images and sharing them with eager audiences.
In the 1960s, Claude is living in a worn Hollywood hotel with the nitrate films of his career disintegrating around him. A young film historian runs him down to hear his story and offers to restore the films Claude has been trying to preserve. But most of all, he's come to talk to him about "The Electric Hotel," the vanished film he considered his masterpiece.
As the two ends of Claude's story come together, we meet a cast of characters including Sabine Montrose, the respected French actress whose filmstrip of a playful bubble bath with a soapy kiss blown to the audience changes all their lives.
This is a lovely novel, offering rich, appealing characters, exploration of a little known glimpse into a brief period of film history and a new window into World War 1.. "The Electric Hotel" is an immersive experience.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for permission to review this fine novel.
As a young French photographer, Claude Ballard sees a demonstration of moving "filmstrips" presented by the Lumiere brothers. He is fascinated, and begins making these very brief films himself in hopes of joining the brothers in bringing this new art form to the world. He will do this, traveling the world collecting images and sharing them with eager audiences.
In the 1960s, Claude is living in a worn Hollywood hotel with the nitrate films of his career disintegrating around him. A young film historian runs him down to hear his story and offers to restore the films Claude has been trying to preserve. But most of all, he's come to talk to him about "The Electric Hotel," the vanished film he considered his masterpiece.
As the two ends of Claude's story come together, we meet a cast of characters including Sabine Montrose, the respected French actress whose filmstrip of a playful bubble bath with a soapy kiss blown to the audience changes all their lives.
This is a lovely novel, offering rich, appealing characters, exploration of a little known glimpse into a brief period of film history and a new window into World War 1.. "The Electric Hotel" is an immersive experience.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for permission to review this fine novel.
esshgee's review against another edition
3.0
The overall story is really interesting, but found I had to wade through a lot of dull stuff to get to the points of interest. Which was a real shame, as I had high hopes for this one, having enjoyed Sara de Vos