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seekaygee 's review for:
The English Masterpiece: A Novel
by Katherine Reay
DID NOT FINISH: 48%
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really tried to like this book. Especially coming off of a drawing class where I studied and attempted to make a copy of a Monet, I found the characters' discussion of learning by forging masters' works very interesting. Similarly, I enjoy art and history, and it's clear the author really loves and knows quite a lot about the subject. That said, the occasional insertion of mini-lessons on history, both of art and war, while relevant, kept me from ever getting fully immersed in the story. Perhaps it's also because I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction (largely do to a history of reading the genre for school and being inundated with lessons that similarly take me out of the story itself), but at times there were several historical figures whose names I didn't specifically know. I could infer what their roles in WWII were based on context, but it also made me feel as though I may not be intelligent enough to "get" the story if I couldn't follow every single mention. I can't think of a particular time I've ever felt rather condescended to by a book, aside from the occasional dry textbook I may have had in school.
The two main characters also frustrated me. While they did gain more dimensionality as the story progressed, I simply became more and more confused by their backstories as things unraveled. Once it was revealed (I believe) who the forgery was completed by a bit before halfway through the book, I felt some vindication for being correct in my assumption, slightly annoyed that the revelation had come so early, and unsure of what to think about how it changed what I'd previously read. Perhaps it is meant to be some big plot twist, but it sadly fell flat for me.
Truly, however, my decision to stop reading came very shortly after a surprise appearance of Pierce Brosnan. That name drop itself startled me enough, and forced me to examine if I truly cared to discover how the rest of the story unfolded when I was so dissatisfied with the progression of the main characters.
I will attempt to pick this up at a later date, and I believe anyone who is either in the art world or loves art history will find this book very interesting. While it did not capture my imagination in the way I'd hoped it would, I know The English Masterpiece will be a source of joy for many readers who'd like a little mystery in their art.
Current rating: 2 stars
I really tried to like this book. Especially coming off of a drawing class where I studied and attempted to make a copy of a Monet, I found the characters' discussion of learning by forging masters' works very interesting. Similarly, I enjoy art and history, and it's clear the author really loves and knows quite a lot about the subject. That said, the occasional insertion of mini-lessons on history, both of art and war, while relevant, kept me from ever getting fully immersed in the story. Perhaps it's also because I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction (largely do to a history of reading the genre for school and being inundated with lessons that similarly take me out of the story itself), but at times there were several historical figures whose names I didn't specifically know. I could infer what their roles in WWII were based on context, but it also made me feel as though I may not be intelligent enough to "get" the story if I couldn't follow every single mention. I can't think of a particular time I've ever felt rather condescended to by a book, aside from the occasional dry textbook I may have had in school.
The two main characters also frustrated me. While they did gain more dimensionality as the story progressed, I simply became more and more confused by their backstories as things unraveled. Once it was revealed (I believe) who the forgery was completed by a bit before halfway through the book, I felt some vindication for being correct in my assumption, slightly annoyed that the revelation had come so early, and unsure of what to think about how it changed what I'd previously read. Perhaps it is meant to be some big plot twist, but it sadly fell flat for me.
Truly, however, my decision to stop reading came very shortly after a surprise appearance of Pierce Brosnan. That name drop itself startled me enough, and forced me to examine if I truly cared to discover how the rest of the story unfolded when I was so dissatisfied with the progression of the main characters.
I will attempt to pick this up at a later date, and I believe anyone who is either in the art world or loves art history will find this book very interesting. While it did not capture my imagination in the way I'd hoped it would, I know The English Masterpiece will be a source of joy for many readers who'd like a little mystery in their art.
Current rating: 2 stars