EC2
09-09-2008, 07:55 AM
Just put this one down. Actually I had to take it back to the library and I hadn't finished it, but I wasn't desperate to, so I didn't renew. I had read about two thirds of it - plus the ending!
It's a great fat read of a novel and could do with some of that fat trimming off as there's a lot of self indulgence there.
The book is about a painting stolen by the Nazis during the war. Various people are claiming it as theirs and although the artist is a mundane 18thC hack, this particular painting is of higher quality and there's a mystery surrounding it, particularly as Hitler desired it for his personal collection. When the protagonist, Ruth, and her sidekick Myles begin investigating the background, sinister things start to happen. There's a fascinating thriller behind the flab and if only an editor had got their hands on this and 'killed the darlings' it would have been a much better read. The novel does have strong page turning quality despite the waffle, but 450 pages should have seen it done rather than 700. There are some rather beautiful descriptions of the effect of light streaming through windows etc that are like paintings in themselves. 3 stars.
It's a great fat read of a novel and could do with some of that fat trimming off as there's a lot of self indulgence there.
The book is about a painting stolen by the Nazis during the war. Various people are claiming it as theirs and although the artist is a mundane 18thC hack, this particular painting is of higher quality and there's a mystery surrounding it, particularly as Hitler desired it for his personal collection. When the protagonist, Ruth, and her sidekick Myles begin investigating the background, sinister things start to happen. There's a fascinating thriller behind the flab and if only an editor had got their hands on this and 'killed the darlings' it would have been a much better read. The novel does have strong page turning quality despite the waffle, but 450 pages should have seen it done rather than 700. There are some rather beautiful descriptions of the effect of light streaming through windows etc that are like paintings in themselves. 3 stars.