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A review by caffeinereadreview
The Art of Traveling Strangers by Zoe Disigny
3.0
Wouldn't we all like to escape to Europe after some kind of heartbreak?
Blurb-
It’s the 1980s, and art historian Claire Markham reels from a series of heartbreaking losses. Desperate to escape her shattered reality, she becomes an art guide in Europe for quirky stranger Viv Chancey and embarks on a life-changing journey through the art-filled cities of Milan, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Siena, Rome, and Paris. Once abroad, Claire tries to hide her woes by focusing on Viv’s art education, but Viv—who is not who she seems—has a different learning experience in mind. Frustrated and wanting to reimagine her life, Claire embraces the idea of reality as illusion and finds herself slipping into the tales of art and history. When threatened with one more crushing loss, Claire must learn from the spirit of her eccentric companion and the lessons from the art they encounter to take charge of her life or lose the most precious thing in it. The Art of Traveling Strangers is a journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment inspired by the great art masterpieces of Italy and France. It’s a tale of female bonding and the amazing powers of perception. After all, reality, like art, is just an illusion.
First off the descriptions of the places and the works of art were **chefs kiss** great. I understand the setting of the 80s is likely due to the author's time spent doing tours in Europe and she’s pulling from her experiences but there were some bits and pieces that I thought could have been addressed differently for today's readers. The female characters were not as likable as I hoped they’d be so I wasn't really invested in their bonding and journey as I’d like to have been.
Overall it was a nice read, especially if you enjoy traveling or art history.
Thank you NetGalley and Zoe Disigny for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb-
It’s the 1980s, and art historian Claire Markham reels from a series of heartbreaking losses. Desperate to escape her shattered reality, she becomes an art guide in Europe for quirky stranger Viv Chancey and embarks on a life-changing journey through the art-filled cities of Milan, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Siena, Rome, and Paris. Once abroad, Claire tries to hide her woes by focusing on Viv’s art education, but Viv—who is not who she seems—has a different learning experience in mind. Frustrated and wanting to reimagine her life, Claire embraces the idea of reality as illusion and finds herself slipping into the tales of art and history. When threatened with one more crushing loss, Claire must learn from the spirit of her eccentric companion and the lessons from the art they encounter to take charge of her life or lose the most precious thing in it. The Art of Traveling Strangers is a journey of self-discovery and personal empowerment inspired by the great art masterpieces of Italy and France. It’s a tale of female bonding and the amazing powers of perception. After all, reality, like art, is just an illusion.
First off the descriptions of the places and the works of art were **chefs kiss** great. I understand the setting of the 80s is likely due to the author's time spent doing tours in Europe and she’s pulling from her experiences but there were some bits and pieces that I thought could have been addressed differently for today's readers. The female characters were not as likable as I hoped they’d be so I wasn't really invested in their bonding and journey as I’d like to have been.
Overall it was a nice read, especially if you enjoy traveling or art history.
Thank you NetGalley and Zoe Disigny for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.