danchrist's review
4.0
Very good story excellently told. Jim Wenger is an outstandingly drawn character along with his daughter Alce and their backstory.
Unfortunately, Heller overplays his hand a bit with respect to the female characters especially Sofia; too male-minded perfect, too overblown in every aspect. It's a bit of a hole in the narrative from my perspective.
Also, the police characters are too cartoonish and stereotypical and the resolution of his situation too pat.
Regardless, I devoured the book in under a week and would recommend it especially for the depiction of the artist's creative process. Those passages felt true, finely crafted and accurate.
Unfortunately, Heller overplays his hand a bit with respect to the female characters especially Sofia; too male-minded perfect, too overblown in every aspect. It's a bit of a hole in the narrative from my perspective.
Also, the police characters are too cartoonish and stereotypical and the resolution of his situation too pat.
Regardless, I devoured the book in under a week and would recommend it especially for the depiction of the artist's creative process. Those passages felt true, finely crafted and accurate.
ourladyofcats's review
3.0
I adore violent, problematic characters, but something about Jim just didn't quite sit right. His overall character never seemed to be quite enough-I felt totally unsatisfied after finishing the book. The whole "Hemingway" thing just seemed kind of blasé. I enjoyed the book in general, but didn't love it as much as I thought I would.
clarrro's review
4.0
This was a strange mix of styles for me. At times lyrical, with long passages describing the beautiful surrounds, the rushing river, the zen-ness of trout fishing, interspersed with action type violence, car chases, murder. At times sentimental, with not one, but two driving passions in his life - painting and fishing. It worked better for me when it zipped along with the action. And maybe there could have been more conflict in his love relationship. But all in all, a good read.
alykat_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I'm pretty indifferent about this one. Some parts I couldn't really stand and really seemed to be geared to appeal to men, but then I really enjoyed the scenic depictions. I wasn't super invested in the plot either, probably because I had a hard time relating to the MC.
sonia_reppe's review
4.0
The end was really good, I wish we could've gotten there a little sooner, there were interruptions as the action was building to have descriptions of nature, but Heller writes so beautifully, I didn't mind too much.
cathy1665's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
daleann's review
3.0
I have got to stop reading popular books while not sitting on the beach. This one didn't really grab me. It wasn't good but it wasn't bad either. I was great full to finish it...not a ringing endorsement
countingstarsbycandlelight's review
4.0
I really enjoyed listening to this story. An unpredictable narrator makes life so interesting. Our protagonist is likeable enough, but lets you know from the start his life is a huge mess and getting messier every day. He's a reputable artist with an extremely disreputable temper. The book was full of surprises and would make an excellent book club pick - I still questions just how bad (or good?) the narrator was.
mark_lm's review
3.0
Alternating discussion of art, natural beauty and fly fishing with very tense violent episodes this novel certainly holds one's attention. The protagonist is a large somewhat unstable alcoholic with an explosive temper and, consequently, we are not sure what to expect. I had to put it down a few times so as not to disturb my wa.
cook_memorial_public_library's review
5.0
Jim Stegner is a man who enjoys his solitary pastimes of painting and fishing. He is a successful artist who finds beauty in his quiet life although he lives with the grief of losing his only daughter to violence. He knows that he has dark impulses that he doesn’t always control.
In Colorado, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse. When he intervenes, the consequences take a violent turn and his quiet life explodes. Jim is tormented by his own conscience as he is chased by men set on retribution. The Painter feels like a novel of Old Western justice set in modern times. Jim is a conflicted soul and the suspense builds to a fitting showdown.
--Reviewed by Connie R.
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Spainter%20heller__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl
In Colorado, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse. When he intervenes, the consequences take a violent turn and his quiet life explodes. Jim is tormented by his own conscience as he is chased by men set on retribution. The Painter feels like a novel of Old Western justice set in modern times. Jim is a conflicted soul and the suspense builds to a fitting showdown.
--Reviewed by Connie R.
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Spainter%20heller__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=pearl