When it came time to select books for our book club to read this year, I proposed this one after hearing great things about it. And I really thought that the three members in the group who are art history lovers and docents at the Milwaukee Art Museum would really get into this. Everyone loved the idea of this book, and somehow I was assigned to be the discussant for the group meeting. I'm definitely in over my head on the subject of art history, but I will say that it was one of the most enjoyable books that I've read in a long time! So I'm excited to talk with the experts about it.
The novel moves to different places and different times. It starts in Manhattan in the 1950's, then Amsterdam in the 1600's, and then to Sydney in 2000. We learn about a painting by Sara de Vos in the 1600's that ends up in the home of a wealthy man named Marty who lives in Manhattan. And then we follow that painting and the people who come in contact with it up until 2000. The book is very well written and has some of those "saveable quotes" that we love so much, BT.
I think this book especially appealed to me now because it's a long way from chick lit - it's a really good novel - but it also doesn't get into some of the heavy topics of previous books I've read for my club. And so it was a nice break. Highly recommend this one. - June
