Annette's Book Spot: art

Showing posts with label art. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Book Review: The Blue, by Nancy Bilyeau @Tudorscribe @EndeavourQuill

The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau book cover and review

I thoroughly enjoyed Bilyeau's Johanna Stafford Series, so when I was offered the chance to read The Blue, it was an easy decision. I was not disappointed.

Genevieve Planché wants to be an artist. But in 18th century London, a woman artist can do nothing but paint on silk or "the most seductive of commodities," porcelain. When Genevieve makes a serious social blunder, her grandfather makes arrangements to send her away to a porcelain factory in Devon.

Her encounter with Sir Gabriel Courtenay changes everything. He promises her that if she will help him steal the formula for a new blue color from the porcelain factory, he will help her get to Venice where she can be tutored by real artists and pursue her dream.

Genevieve doesn't want to be a spy but agrees to the arrangement because she is so desperate to get out of this life she is being forced to lead. She has no idea what she is getting herself into.

You wouldn't think the pursuit of a new shade of blue would serve as such compelling reading. But Bilyeau manages to keep the tension mounting and the hopelessness sustained. Genevieve becomes a sympathetic character, mired deeper and deeper in what turns out to be much more than a theft of a formula for blue. And there is a believable romance which complicated the situation even more.

I was enlightened about the politics of the war between France and England (not sure which one--The French & Indian War?), the porcelain industry and its competitive nature, the difficulty in producing the color blue, and the plight of the Huguenot refugees, as Genevieve is one of them. All the while being connected to the characters and drawn into their plight.

I wish there had been a historical note included. I did some research on porcelain and the color blue after I finished The Blue. I wanted to know how much of the history was accurate. UPDATE: The author has informed me that historical notes will be included in the final copy. Yay!

Bilyeau is a given for me. And historical fiction is my fav...so...I was destined to enjoy The Blue. If you are a fan of 18th-century history, I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.

Published by Endeavour Quill, December 3, 2018
eARC obtained from the publisher
430 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Book Review: Da Vinci's Tiger by L. M. Elliott

Da Vinci's Tiger is a fictionalized historical account of Ginevra de' Benci who is the subject of Leonardo Da Vinci's first painting, the only Da Vinci that exists in the United States.

The story is Elliott's take on how that painting might have been created. Ginevra is a real character, as are most of the characters in Da Vinci's Tiger. The author supposes that there may have been a romantic interest between the Genevra and Leonardo.

Da Vinci's Tiger is also a study of what it was like to be a woman in the 1400s. The politics involved in arranged marriages and the existence of Platonic lovers--no, I'm not kidding. Genevra was chosen by the ambassador from Venice, Bernardo Bembo, to be his Platonic lover. This means he admired her and would give her gifts and pay her attention as if courting her, but the relationship is platonic. As it should be, since Genevra is married. Her husband was honored that Genevra was chosen. How weird. So Elliott speculates that it was Bembo that commissioned Leonardo to paint Genevra.

We are given a taste of several other aspects of the time: jousting, life in a convent, how art was created. It all adds a richness to the story. Genevra wrote poetry, and the only line of poetry of hers that still exists is I beg your pardon, I am a mountain tiger. Hence the name of the book.

Da Vinci's Tiger is a well researched fictional account and includes an afterward from the author about the factual information she started with.

I wouldn't say Da Vinci's Tiger is riveting or fast paced. It's a relatively short book that held my interest mostly because I was interested in the subject. I did have trouble keeping the characters straight at first (this tends to be a weakness of mine, so it might not be an issue.) The Italian names that all sounded the same challenged me. I'm not sure this will be an easy sell to the average teenager, however art students should really enjoy Da Vinci's Tiger. Maybe if they've read any of Elliott's other books they would be interested.

Published by Katherine Tegen, November 10, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
304 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Book Review: I'll Give You the Sun, by Jandy Nelson @jandynelson

I ended up loving I'll Give You the Sun, but it was touch-and-go there for awhile.

The story is told from the alternating points of view of twins, Noah and Jude. Noah is a very talented artist, and is struggling with his homosexuality. Jude is a free spirit, and doesn't care as much about art. She's the popular one. They have the usual strong bond that twins have, but theirs is a bumpy road.

There are lots of issues and secrets among them and their family. The twin's bond is never broken, but it is certainly weak at times. The story not only changes points of view, but time frames. Noah tells his part from a couple years earlier. I had some trouble with this -- wondering why something happened, and them remembering, "Oh yea, he doesn't know XXX because YYY hasn't happened yet." It is a very unique way to tell the story.

At first, it seems like this story is going in about ten different directions, and it is. It's a good thing that Nelson is a brilliant writer, because honestly, I wouldn't have put up with the discomfort if not. I just felt like I was on the surface of this book -- not able to sink in. But, I could read Nelson's beautiful writing forever, even if there's no story at all. There IS a story in I'll Give You the Sun, but it doesn't become very clear until about the last 1/3 of the book. And then, POW, do things clear up!

The way everything and everybody end up entwined together is so entertaining. I don't want to say too much about the plot at all. You just need to experience this book as it unfolds. Be patient. Enjoy the prose, and it will all be worth it.

I think it's impossible that I will every love a book as much as The Sky is Everywhere, Nelson's other book, but I'll Give You the Sun is a book I will be recommending widely.

Published by Dial, September 16, 2014
Copy obtained from the library
371 pages

Rating: 4.5/5

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Book Review: A Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller

Historical fiction about a teen who wants to break the mold that society has prescribed for her. The premise of A Mad Wicked Folly says "win," and the book certainly delivers.

17-year old Victoria wants nothing more that to be an artist. A trained painter. What's the problem? Well, it's 1909 in London. Women are supposed to marry, run a household, and plan parties for their husbands.

A Mad Wicked Folly is about Victoria's struggle -- her absolute determination no matter how bad the odds -- to go to college to study art. She attended art classes on the sly while in France at her boarding school, but after posing nude for the artists in her class, she gets found out and is sent home.

Her reputation in ruins, as well as her father's reputation, she tries to appear to be what her family wants. She becomes engaged to an acceptable man and hopes that he won't care that she doesn't want to be the typical wife. On the sly, she is preparing a portfolio so she can apply to art school

Victoria gets involved with the women's suffrage movement because she wants to draw these women at their protests. She eventually gets deeper into the organization, helping create art for their posters and murals. She also meets a friendly police officer, who becomes one of her art subjects.

To put it simply, things blow up in Victoria's face, and that's pretty much all I'll say about this plot of A Mad Wicked Folly.

I have nothing bad to say about A Mad Wicked Folly. The pacing of the story kept me swept up. There was always a new challenge or obstacle, and the pages flew by. I loved Victoria -- even though I felt she was naive at times -- she's only 17. She's very spunky, resourceful, and very daring! I felt her frustrations. It is unbelievable how women were thought of in those times. Things aren't perfect now, but we've certainly come a long way.

The author's notes at the end of the book speak to the historical accuracy of the novel and make this book a great study of the time period, and in particular the women's suffrage movement. But, the story is so entertaining, you don't even realize you are learning a lot about history. That's just how I like my history lessons. And I think teens will enjoy A Mad Wicked Folly too. I can't wait to recommend this one.

Published by Viking Juvenile, January 23, 2014
Copy obtained from the library
420 pages

Rating: 5/5

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Book Review: Inferno, by Dan Brown

Inferno delivers as expected. An intricate, artistic, and exciting adventure for Robert Langdon as only Dan Brown can create.

If you haven't read The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, or The Lost Symbol you should! But is isn't necessary to have read those to enjoy Inferno.

I loved this book. I'm just going to give you a few reasons why (really, why I love ALL of these books.) The writing is great -- very easy to read. The plot is great...the characters...you get the idea. But here's what's special:

These books make me want to travel. I have the illustrated editions of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, and they are great! The way Brown describes all the buildings and art, it just makes me want to see them in person. I've been to Venice (one of the stops in Inferno) and it was awesome to be able to picture these places. My husband read Inferno and actually looked many of the settings up on the internet while reading. These books kind of make me feel smart. And, they make me want to be smarter.

Langdon is a great sleuth. The clues are cryptic, and have to do with Dante's Inferno (which I now need to read). The way he deciphers the clues, step by step, is incredible. And, I like that he doesn't always get it correct the first time.

The ending of Inferno is totally unexpected. I really loved it, because Brown took a risk. And, as usual, there's a lot of food for thought here. Basically, the main premise of Inferno is that the world is becoming overpopulated, and if we don't do something about it humans as a species will become extinct. If that doesn't get you thinking....

Usually once a character has been depicted in a movie, when I read the book I picture the actor that portrayed the character in the movie. (Like Morgan Freeman for Alex Cross). Even though I've seen The Da Vinci Code several times, for some reason, I kept picturing Harrison Ford instead of Tom Hanks. Don't know why...

I recommend these books to everyone, from teens to adults. Inferno, as are all of the Robert Langdon books, is definitely worth your time.

Published by Doubleday, May 14, 2013
Personal copy
461 pages

Rating: 5/5

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Book Review: Dying to Know You, by Aidan Chambers

I'm not sure how to categorize Dying to Know You. It's a contemporary, but after that....? I guess the best assignation is "coming of age" because the characters do grow quite a bit, and that's the main outcome of Dying to Know You.

The narrator is an elderly author who is never named. His doorbell rings one day and a young man, Karl, asks him for help. Karl's girlfriend, Fiorella, has asked him to write the answers to 50 questions, so she can get to know him better. What she doesn't know is that Karl is dyslexic, and writing is almost an impossible task for him. So Karl goes to Fiorella's favorite author to ask him to help Karl write his answers.

Things don't go as planned, of course. The story moves at a steady, although somewhat slow, pace. There are some unexpected twists, but this is a contemplative story -- no "shockers" here.

Dying to Know You is a lovely story, and it's beautifully written. I never really wanted to put it down, but I did become a little impatient to know, "When is something going to happen?" Well, it's not about what happens, it's about the effect on the characters. Karl is trying to find out why we are who we are. He's dealing with the death of his father and trying to build a relationship with Fiorella. The way it all turns out is very special, and that's all I'll say because I don't want to give specifics.

A couple of irrelevant comments: I don't know where the title came from. Also, Karl loved to fish for trout. I guess that's what translated to goldfish on the cover. (Although it is a really cute cover.)

My teen book club is reading Dying to Know You for February. This is one of the few books we've read that I haven't suggested -- they picked it. I can't wait to hear what they have to say. I see Dying to Know You as having limited appeal to teens. I know teens that will read it, but I don't think it will be picked up by many of them. Good thing it has that cover -- that will help.

Published by Amulet Books, April 1, 2012
Copy obtained from the library
275 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 3/5

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Book Review: Zero by Tom Leveen @tomleveen

Zero is a typical coming-of-age story of a teen during a really difficult period. But, typical is not a bad word in this case. The characters are edgy, and Leveen has written a realistic story that tugged at my heart.

Zero (a nickname she gave herself, which gives you an idea about her self-esteem) has had her world fall apart. After graduation, she and her best and only friend have a falling out. We aren't sure what happened until much later in the book, but we are given hints that this was very traumatic.

She also got accepted to her dream school, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but then doesn't qualify for a scholarship, so now she can't go.

And, her father is drinking heavily and he and her mother do nothing but scream and shout when they are at home together. Little bit of stress?

Zero goes to see a band in a club and is instantly attracted to the drummer because of his eyes. She actually strikes up a conversation (not typical for Zero) and slowly a relationship begins.

I liked the romance in Zero. This isn't you typical insta-love. Mike (the drummer) has recently had a breakup, and Zero has never had a relationship before and is understandably hesitant. But Mike seems to know what to say and do to get Zero to think about herself and make plans for the future.

Zero is a talented artist and a huge fan of Salvador Dali. Dali quotes begin every chapter, adding to the charm of Zero.

I would never have guessed what caused the disagreement with Zero and her friend Jenn. This was a unexpected and unique twist.

All of Zero's issues come to some sort of resolution, although not the way you might guess. This isn't a "happily ever after" perfect ending, but it's pretty hopeful and realistic. Zero makes a big decision at the end, and even though I knew which was the BEST decision, I kind of wanted her to decide the other way. That makes an ending enjoyable!

About that cover -- maybe I missed it, but I don't remember anyone having a Mohawk in the book. Just sayin'.

Teens who enjoy contemporary romance stories, and especially those interested in music or art, should be handed Zero. It's not an earth-shattering book that will stick with me forever, but it is definitely worth the read.

Published by Random House, April 24, 2012
Copy won from RandomBuzzers
296 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Book Review: The Bungalow, by Sarah Jio

The Bungalow was a great mix for me--historical fiction wrapped up in a breathtaking romance.

In 1942, Anne decides to join up and become a nurse in the army. She ends up in Bora-Bora. She is with her best friend, Kitty, but left her fiance at home after postponing the wedding for a year.

A lot happens to Anne and Kitty during their year on the island. Yes, there's horrible injuries to deal with, and lots of them. But there's also romance, accidental pregnancy, unexplained violence, deceit, and even murder.

The war-time details aren't specific. Guadalcanal is mentioned, and heavy fighting and casualties are part of island life, but the book isn't really about the war.

The bungalow, is a small cottage right in the jungle off the beach where Anne and her lover, Westry, meet. The natives think the bungalow is cursed, and anyone who enters will have much bad luck. Anne and Westry don't believe these tales. However, there is a beautiful painting left in the bungalow, and they wonder if maybe a famous French artist lived in the bungalow at one point.

The war story is wrapped by a current-day story, where a mysterious letter arrives and asks Anne (now in her 80s) to return to the island to help solve a murder. This prompts Anne to tell her grand daughter the story of her time in Bora-Bora and her experiences after the war.

Jio writes beautifully and smoothly. It's really a joy to read, and I became wrapped up in these lives. Yes, things end up a little too nicely, and there is a little too much coincidence, but after all, this is a feel-good romance -- and it made me feel good (although a few tears were shed.)

This is really a novel for adults, but mature teen girls who love a warm, romantic story may enjoy this one.

Published by Plume, December 27, 2011
eBook obtained from NetGalley for review
320 pages

Rating: 4/5