romynebel's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
fionnualat's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
sarahmoran27's review
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jennifur's review
4.0
I had a very vague idea what this book was about when I started reading it; I basically only knew what the blurb says, that it would deal with the art world in NYC in the 1970’s. And that is (in simplistic terms) what the book is about, at first… But then it takes this weird turn and gets claustrophobic and almost noiry. I was not expecting that! There is also a character in it that may be one of the creepier ones I have read about in a long time (if you have read the book I am sure you could guess who I am talking about).
Having said that, it is a great book. It deals with interesting themes of art, memory, friendship etc. The story is complex and the characters are as round as they can be in the context of the story. Hustvedt is obviously an incredibly accomplished writer and her style is magnificent. I am intrigued to read more of her work.
Having said that, it is a great book. It deals with interesting themes of art, memory, friendship etc. The story is complex and the characters are as round as they can be in the context of the story. Hustvedt is obviously an incredibly accomplished writer and her style is magnificent. I am intrigued to read more of her work.
alexandraidonea's review against another edition
This is an ugh/sigh/hmm book for me. I almost never read contemporary fiction as I find it too indulgent. Yes, the world sucks and relationships are difficult. People in unhappy marriages drive me crazy: do something, do something, change. Yet I was enthralled, I was captured by the horror of Mark, of finding in a character a trainwreck so similar to yet more alluring - because it was all fiction! - than the addicts and manipulators in my own life. For popular fiction, it was very gripping writing. I skimmed a lot of it so it shouldn't count toward my number this year, but I had to admit to this guilty pleasure/horror.
andrew61's review
3.0
A story of New York, art, friendships, marriage, parenting and grief told in prose which at times compelling but also at times I found laboured. I am torn as to my feelings about the novel whether 3 or 4* as I found the characters annoying but I became interested in their lives. I know I do not have to like a character to enjoy a book but there was something about the closeted world of artists and critics that left me cold while also fascinated by their emotional lives, like watching some beautiful animal pacing around in a zoo cage. I can't yet get my head around that contradiction.
The book centres around Leo, the narrator, an art lecturer, and his wife Erica. Leo and Erica have stories of their families escapes from Nazi Germany and in early 1970's New York are affluent, full of love and life. They meet artist Bill who with his wife Lucille who paints captivating images including a mysterious woman called Violet, Bill's model. We then follow the families through the next twenty years of their lives and without going through the various ups and downs it is a history which is traumatic. What I can say is that there is a section which deals with grief midway through which I found very moving and the portrayal of individual's responses was some of the best depictions of that experience that I have read.
The second half of the book moves into a completely different format with an almost noir like story of a hunt for Bill's son in the spider like grips of a fashionable but shocking artist and a crime that has occurred.
So a brilliant picture of love and loss and well worth reading however I found the depictions of the artwork distracting and uninteresting and at points I wished it was 50 pages shorter. This is a book that my reading group are discussing and I anticipate it should generate a lot of discussion.
The book centres around Leo, the narrator, an art lecturer, and his wife Erica. Leo and Erica have stories of their families escapes from Nazi Germany and in early 1970's New York are affluent, full of love and life. They meet artist Bill who with his wife Lucille who paints captivating images including a mysterious woman called Violet, Bill's model. We then follow the families through the next twenty years of their lives and without going through the various ups and downs it is a history which is traumatic. What I can say is that there is a section which deals with grief midway through which I found very moving and the portrayal of individual's responses was some of the best depictions of that experience that I have read.
The second half of the book moves into a completely different format with an almost noir like story of a hunt for Bill's son in the spider like grips of a fashionable but shocking artist and a crime that has occurred.
So a brilliant picture of love and loss and well worth reading however I found the depictions of the artwork distracting and uninteresting and at points I wished it was 50 pages shorter. This is a book that my reading group are discussing and I anticipate it should generate a lot of discussion.
katdid's review
5.0
ETA second read: More than any other book this reminds me of The Secret History, structurally but also in the sense of half-glimpsed things going on below the surface.
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Siri Hustvedt has been on my radar for years without me actually reading anything she’s written, and then I saw this at my local op shop for three bucks, read the first line, and had to get it. It reminded me of [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359] mixed with [b:Dark Adapted Eye|546673|A Dark-adapted Eye|Barbara Vine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344356311l/546673._SY75_.jpg|1898119] at first, and since I love both those books this was a dream read for me. Like Knausgaard when he gets all philosophical there were some parts of this (e.g. Violet’s treatises) that didn’t engage me as much as the general narrative, but by the end I could see how everything fit together.
--------------------
Siri Hustvedt has been on my radar for years without me actually reading anything she’s written, and then I saw this at my local op shop for three bucks, read the first line, and had to get it. It reminded me of [b:The Secret History|29044|The Secret History|Donna Tartt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1451554846l/29044._SY75_.jpg|221359] mixed with [b:Dark Adapted Eye|546673|A Dark-adapted Eye|Barbara Vine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344356311l/546673._SY75_.jpg|1898119] at first, and since I love both those books this was a dream read for me. Like Knausgaard when he gets all philosophical there were some parts of this (e.g. Violet’s treatises) that didn’t engage me as much as the general narrative, but by the end I could see how everything fit together.
suffelini's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25