This historical novel is based on the true story of the painters and occultists Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. Both women had to break away froThis historical novel is based on the true story of the painters and occultists Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. Both women had to break away from their famous partners in order to become icons in their own right. What connected them were the tarot cards, which are the driven force in this story.
France, 1939. At the International Exposition of Surrealists in Paris, paintings of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington hang near each other. That’s how the two women meet and become friends. Leonora ignites Remedios’ interest in tarot cards. They take lessons together. But with Nazis approaching Paris, they flee separately to the French Riviera in hopes of escaping the country.
In Mexico, both women reunite, and continue their passion for tarot cards, which they feel helps them reach their full potential.
This story involves a dynamic female friendship and collaboration between two great artists. They break the shackles from their famous men and become the two greatest collaborators of the surrealist movement.
It is not a straight forward storytelling. Within a chapter there is a card, and under the name of the card is the name of the person relating the story in the following pages. It took me a few chapters to figure it out. At first it takes away from the flow, once, I figured it out, I was engaged by the additional voices in the story.
It’s interesting to get the backstory of the tarot cards. At the same time, I wished there was a bit more of the effect of the cards on their painting. Their artistic side is a minor part in this story comparing to tarot. The big part of the story is the self-discovery of Remedios Varo, which involves the friendship with another great artist and the tarot cards.
Overall, it is a fascinating story and the way it is presented is very unique.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Booth reimagines complex lives of a very talented family of stage actors and the family behind one of the most infamous figures in American history: JBooth reimagines complex lives of a very talented family of stage actors and the family behind one of the most infamous figures in American history: John Wilkes Booth.
In 1822, after a short courtship, Mary Ann agrees to follow Junius to America. They settle in a cabin outside Baltimore. Junius, as a celebrated Shakespearean actor, is gone 9 months of every year, leaving the growing family in the hands of Mary Ann.
The story begins with Rosalie, the oldest daughter, who relates the family events, while setting the stage for the historical background. Her father leases some slaves, but besides paying the lease, he also pays the wages as he believes that every human being should be paid for the labor.
In May 1838, the ninth child is born and is named John Wilkes. Instead of leaving a legacy for who he was - a noted actor from a prominent theatrical family, he stains his name with his own action.
Two years later, after the tenth child is born, the family trades the farm life for the city life in Baltimore. And that’s when the story starts weaving snippets from the life of Abraham Lincoln. At the time, he is a state congressman in Illinois. The vignettes about Lincoln are very short and yet very powerful. With a few sentences, readers get a picture of a man who rose from very humbling beginnings to the presidency.
Edwin, who also becomes one of the leading actors of his time, is good at mimicry and acting, which at first is done behind his father’s back at hotel’s cellar. At fourteen, he is sent on the road to accompany his father to keep him out of trouble and pretty much to save the whole family financially.
The novel skillfully reflects the complex characters of this intricate family. The father is a talented actor, drawing large crowds, but he is irresponsible with his actions and with managing money, leaving the mother to sell produce from a stall in order to provide for family. The contrast between two brothers John and Edwin is evident. John is popular among boys and runs with a gang, who call themselves the Baltimore Bully Boys. Edwin is of more delicate nature, who is the one who gets beat up. John’s rebellious nature trends throughout his life and is well-reflected in the story.
The poignant writing touches upon human emotions and with layers reveals feelings of children towards the father. Despite the father’s faults, the children appreciate his storytelling and artistry, which brings color and vibrancy to their life. He is missed greatly, when sickness claims him.
Booth is a riveting historical novel vibrantly portraying its members on stage and behind the curtains with many triumphs and scandals, set against the boiling point of secession and civil war.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com ...more
Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist.
London, 1937. Leonora studies art in London, not sLeonora Carrington (1917-2011) was a British-born Mexican artist, surrealist painter, and novelist.
London, 1937. Leonora studies art in London, not something her father approves. She is introduced to “these Surrealists – not studying, but living their art.” One of them is Max Ernst, married and twice her age. She is captivated by his persona. When Max’s work is being seen as an immoral mind and having “bad influence on the good people of London,” he needs to leave London. When “Hitler declares Modern Art degenerate,” Peggy Guggenheim makes a bold move to support the Modern Art and the artists fleeing to safety. In Paris, despite the women not being able to fully join the movement of Surrealism, Leonora attends their meetings; followed by display of her paintings. She should be happy, but she feels some emptiness. A heart stolen by a man.
Southern France, 1940. Max once welcomed in France, now not so much. “Writers, artists, Jews.” All wanted by the Nazis. “They were enemies in a country that had welcomed them, a country they’d come to love.” From a camp, through an ordeal on a train, now on his feet, Max is making his way home, to freedom and to Leonora.
In the first half of the story, we get to know the Surrealist movement and its artists. Surrealism “was about breaking rules, living as no one had dared to live.” They rejected a rational vision of life in favor of the juxtaposition of uncommon imagery. Such artists as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso make only a brief appearance in this story. I wished they were a bigger part of this story, adding more vibrancy as the story slows down in the middle. It feels stagnant for a moment.
In the second half, once Peggy Guggenheim takes part in the story it picks up in pace. Her appearance adds verve. She is an art collector, bohemian and socialite.
Leonora has some hallucinations and at some point is taken to an asylum. I wished that this part of her life was just mentioned rather than given a small chunk of this story. When I read about artists I want them to be remembered for their creativity rather than what personally inflicted them. Nevertheless, I applaud the author for creative way of showing it.
This story is very ambitious, dealing with a complex artistic movement, complex characters, and complex historical setting of WWII, where some of those artists were Jews. It encompasses a lot and at some moments slows the pace in the second half.
Overall, I did enjoy this story and getting to know Surrealism better and its artists. The writing is certainly of a talented writer.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Raphael Santi of Urbino (1483-1520) rises from a small town to the mightiest ceilings of the Vatican, becoming the master painter at the Vatican and tRaphael Santi of Urbino (1483-1520) rises from a small town to the mightiest ceilings of the Vatican, becoming the master painter at the Vatican and to be known for capturing “a man’s soul with the flick of a brush.” Together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, they become the great masters of the High Renaissance.
Raphael inherits his talent from his father. He is orphaned at the age of eleven and at his father’s deathbed, he promises to become the greatest artist in history. This only makes him being obsessed with perfection.
Florence, 1504. Michelangelo is commissioned for a painting, which puts painters of Florence into a rage. How such a “lowly stonecutter” can be commissioned for such “an important painting?”
As the story unravels, through the voice of Raphael we learn his thoughts and how obsessed he is with perfection. He looks at Masaccio’s fresco of Holy Trinity and admits that not one painter has achieved the way to perfection as Masaccio did. At least not yet. And “Michelangelo was not aiming for perfection, but he had given me one of the keys to achieving it.”
After finishing his commission of Lamentation of Christ, he gets papal summons to Rome.
At the Vatican, he works in close proximity to Michelangelo, sparking some rivalry.
As French army invades Italian peninsula, and as it often happens in dire times, nemeses find a common ground to save their art. Presenting a touching conversation between those two artistic icons.
When the Expulsion of Heliodorus fresco by Raphael is unveiled, the pope announces, “As you painted the world, so it became.” It seems as he paints miracles, so they arrive in the world. The peninsula is miraculously saved from the French.
Raphael’s work to perfection is very vivid through his observation of other artist’s works: Leonardo’s light, Botticelli’s vividness of figures, and Michelangelo’s capture of life; and through his own work of fresco painting, through its trial and error of perfecting its technical process, and with “creating the design, perfecting the perspective, balance, harmony.”
With great skill, the author paints beautiful portrait of a remarkable artist’s journey of self-discovery. From obsession with perfection, through rivalry with Michelangelo to understanding the core of success “that the only person I needed to chase, catch, and best…was me.”
The rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo is a prominent part of the story. But when in strenuous need they support each other as they see it beneficial long term or maybe because they did want to compete with the best to become the best.
For the readers of historical fiction, especially those who love art, this is one of those books that you treasure greatly. It makes a much richer experience to look at Raphael’s paintings now knowing the story of this painter of perfection, how he strove to get there; to achieve what we admire now with such awe.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....more
Camille Claudel (1864-1943) was a French sculptor, recognized for the originality and quality of her work. She had experimented with materials, “demonCamille Claudel (1864-1943) was a French sculptor, recognized for the originality and quality of her work. She had experimented with materials, “demonstrating her immeasurable talent for crafting with difficult materials.”
France, 1881. Camille Claudel studies are progressing well. Upon finishing her studies, her mother expects her to find a husband and end the absurd of being an artist.
She persuades her father to hire an art tutor. And the new tutor persuades the father to enroll Camille at a school of art in Paris, as females are allowed to attend this school.
Her “works show violent contrast, light and its absence, and an intimacy all her own. The very antithesis of Rodin’s style.” He “prefers harmony in his silhouettes and musculature.”
Auguste Rodin becomes her tutor. “At last she had met someone as consume with sculpture as she was.”
He is an accomplished artist and a skilled teacher, who falls in love with her. She tries to resist him as there is Rose Beuret, his partner. But he hasn’t been intimate with her for years. He just feels he can’t turn his back on her. They share a son.
Artistically driven and emotionally developed characters. Rodin is much older than Camille, but he can’t control his heart, which develops feelings for his student. A very talented student, whom he honestly wants to see succeed. And it’s his actions that speak for that.
She is blunt and unapologetic. She does as she pleases. She has low tolerance for being told what to do, asking makes a difference. She certainly knows how to propel herself in a man’s world.
As long as historical romance (especially love triangle) is written with a good taste, then I don’t mind reading it. And this one certainly is. It explores their relationship and how it affected their careers. It also reveals her struggle with mental illness.
Also enjoyed brief encounters with other artists and writers including Victor Hugo and Emile Zola.
Relished this richly imagined story told with intelligent prose.
P.S. Also by this talented writer, highly recommend Becoming Josephine.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter and printmaker, who lived much of her adult life in France, where she first befriended Edgar Degas anMary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an American painter and printmaker, who lived much of her adult life in France, where she first befriended Edgar Degas and later exhibited among the Impressionists.
This story begins with Mary at the age of 33. She has been back in Paris for the last two years. As her paintings continue to be rejected for exhibitions, she has been contemplating if she should listen to her father and move back to the States.
As she is contemplating, an acquaintance of hers introduces her to Edgar Degas, of whom she’s been a huge admirer. What she doesn’t know is that four years earlier he saw a painting of hers, which showed talent. And he wanted to meet her as well.
Degas introduces her to his circle of friends, which include Manet, Monet, Pissaro, Renior and Caillebotte. He also invites her to join their next exhibition. An Exhibition, which they started in order to break away from the traditional Salon.
The long awaited exhibition comes and as Degas’ reviews are flattering, reviews of Mary’s work are brutal.
This isn’t the only dilemma she is facing. She is questioning if Degas is capable of love. One moment he can be generous, the other he is crude.
Degas doesn’t know how to talk about love or how to express it. What he is good about is sketching naked women. He has those sketches hidden in a drawer. What would world think of him if he exposed them?
This moving story is of love, friendship, struggle, and understanding; beautifully crafted through the art and its exhibitions; touching upon human emotions and making a lasting impression as Impressionists did with their paintings.
Judith Leyster (1609-1660) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. She was one of the first two women to be admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guildJudith Leyster (1609-1660) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. She was one of the first two women to be admitted to the prestigious Haarlem artist’s guild as it is not clear who was the first woman (some sources point to Sara van Baalbergen). “She was the only woman who attained master status and operated her own workshop in the city at that time. (…) The limited contemporary documentation on her life makes it difficult to know much about her training and career.”
“Judith likely studied in Frans de Grebber’s workshop – quite possibly because he had a daughter a few years older who also painted.” Therefore, the author invented the friendship between Judith and Maria.
The story starts with Judith being apprenticed at Frans de Grebber, where she is best friends with his daughter Maria. At the age of 24, she dreams about having her own workshop, working on her own commissions, but she cannot do this unless she is a member of the guild. She applies to be admitted to the artist’s guild as she dreams of being an accomplished artist. Her ambition leads her to gaining the title of the master, which allows her to host apprentices in her own studio, which is a potential source of income.
On the other hand, Maria under her father’s wing could have had an easier path to becoming an accomplished artist. But her heart is not in painting, but in devotion to God.
I was confused about Maria’s story. I understand the point of her devotion in a country where the faith is banned to reflect religious situation of the time period. But this didn’t enrich the story, rather made it confusing. The pages given to Maria in this book should have been used solely on Judith’s story.
Judith’s story in this book concentrates on her struggle of attaining the title and having her own workshop as a woman in a world controlled by men. Through her struggle, the author skillfully presents the rules of the Guild. Only in the epilogue, it is mentioned her marriage to Jan Miense Molenaer, an artist himself and their five children. This in any way does not undermine the story. The concentration of the story on the struggle is an excellent approach.
This is a story of a fictional main character, Saskia, whose heart gets mesmerized by a historical character of a famous woodcarver, Grinling Gibbons.This is a story of a fictional main character, Saskia, whose heart gets mesmerized by a historical character of a famous woodcarver, Grinling Gibbons. He is born and raised in Rotterdam to English parents in the 17th century. His studies take him to Italy. Afterwards, he makes his way to England. His intricate woodwork gets him noticed by the King Charles II. And these are true facts. The rest of the characters and events are fictional. Because of that the only part I was looking forward to was reading about him. However, Saskia turned out to be a very interesting character.
Saskia is a young woman who learns about herbs from her mother and their usage for beauty products. She also displays talent for drawing. She knows her place in social class as well as what she wants from life. Her love interest isn’t mutual. Nevertheless, she stands her ground in pursuing her ambitions.
The story brings only a brief insight of Grinling Gibbons. I hoped to learn a bit more about him and his intricate woodwork, which he became famous for. Nevertheless, the author still creates a pretty interesting story with fictional characters; except, towards the end the story could be better developed. It feels rushed through. Some parts read like a list rather than a story. Some parts from the ‘list’ could be dropped and the left parts could be better developed. And for that reason I gave it 4 stars. ...more
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) was described as one of “the three great ladies” of Impressionism alongside Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt (I Always LoBerthe Morisot (1841-1895) was described as one of “the three great ladies” of Impressionism alongside Marie Bracquemond and Mary Cassatt (I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira).
“Paris in the 1860s: a magnificent time of expression, where brilliant young artists rebel against the stodginess of the past to freely explore new styles of creating – and bold new ways of living.”
1868: While studying the Italian painters at Louvre, Berthe Morisot meets Edouard Manet. It gives her so much hope at the age of 27, which is already considered long past marriageable age. Only to be crushed, when she finds out he is married.
When asked to pose for him, Berthe’s mother is appalled as she is not a common model. But Berthe finds it hard to resist Manet. When Manet and Degas make arrangements for a show independent of the Salon, she offers her help.
Then a war with Prussia forces many artists to pick up guns instead of paintbrushes. Some escape to London. Manet insists on Morisot family to leave Paris for safety. But they resist.
The war even further tests the relationship between Manet and Berthe. She finds consolation by corresponding with her friend Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, who has feelings for her, but for her it’s pure friendship.
The author beautifully paints a portrait of a complex and very talented woman who refuses to bend to the 19th century convention. The feelings, the pain of broken heart and frustration are very real; well-presented.
Berthe Morisot became one of the world’s greatest artists, but her paintings through which she achieved the fame did not come through in this story. Even though, this is the part I’m missing in this story, I still have enjoyed the storyline and the prose tremendously. ...more
Paris, 1878: Lydia Cassat is ill, dying of Bright’s disease. Thus, she has lots of time to think. At the same time, her sister, Mary Cassat, asks her Paris, 1878: Lydia Cassat is ill, dying of Bright’s disease. Thus, she has lots of time to think. At the same time, her sister, Mary Cassat, asks her to pose for another painting. While Lydia poses, again she has a lot of time to reminiscent about life. Her thoughts drift a lot to some places in the US. Even when they walk the Parisian streets up to Mary’s studio, Lydia drifts with her thoughts, intertwining the Parisian streets with the places in the US, and because of that the story feels very scattered.
It is a small book, only 162 pages long, the goal should be to pull a reader into this story from page 1. But on page 38 (end of chapter 1), the story continues to be all over the place.
With the presence of Degas in Chapter 2 the story gains the much needed guidance.
The premise of the story is very interesting, centered around five of Mary’s paintings of Lydia. However, the story doesn’t have a good flow. It is pretty choppy most of the time. I couldn’t get into this story.
P.S. Highly recommend a novel about Mary Cassatt: I Always Loved You by Robin Oliveira....more
Claude Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter and founder of a new movement called Impressionism derived from the title of his painting Impression, whClaude Monet (1840-1926) was a French painter and founder of a new movement called Impressionism derived from the title of his painting Impression, which was exhibited in 1874 in the first of the independent exhibitions mounted by Monet and his associates.
This story starts with him at the age of 17. He is failing at school and getting estranged from his father.
What makes sense to him at this point is to take an older painter’s offer of Eugene Boudin and study painting with him. Hid dream of being caricaturist has to be put on hold.
The same summer his mother passes away and he throws himself at painting with Boudin for the next three years.
He continues his art schooling in Paris. There, he meets Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne, and Edouard Manet. The last one “was the only one of them who had already gained some public recognition.”
When he needs to clear his head, he goes for a walk by the River Seine. One day, while on his walk he decides to enter a bookshop. There he sees a young woman with red hair, the one he saw at a train station four years earlier. He asks her to model for his new painting of picnickers.
Camille becomes his love and his greatest muse.
Once his painting of The Woman in the Green Dress becomes success, his father admits “that perhaps he had been wrong to stand against his gifted son.”
After many struggles, Monet and his artist friends put an exhibit, after which they become recognized as Impressionists. At last, a name was born, Impressionism, to their struggles to be recognized.
The book skillfully-depicts painters’ struggle to achieve recognition as most of them during their time were not recognized. It also, beautifully presents love of hardship and friendship lasting through good and bad times with the love of his life as well as his friends.
Vincent van Gogh, 1853-1890, was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western artVincent van Gogh, 1853-1890, was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. His suicide at 37 followed years of mental illness and poverty.
This novel beautifully weaves a story of his personal struggle and artistic talent. ...more
Loading...
