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Pictures at an Exhibition
Can a collection of war-time letters hold the key to happiness?
London, 1942
With bombs raining down on London, the National Gallery's most treasured paintings have been hidden away. The authorities have decided that only one masterpiece will be displayed each month. And each month, Daisy Milton writes to her cousin Elizabeth to tell her about the paintings, her life - and the man she loves.
London, present day
A terrible tragedy has left Claire's marriage to Rob in tatters and there seems little hope of reconciliation. Then she finds Daisy's letters, written to Rob's grandmother, and gradually, picture by picture, month by month, Daisy's world in the 1940s becomes more real to Claire than her own. Slowly, too, she begins to notice intriguing parallels between both their lives.
But Daisy is from another time, and unless Claire can find a way to make sense of the past, she risks losing everything that she cares about in the present.
London, 1942
With bombs raining down on London, the National Gallery's most treasured paintings have been hidden away. The authorities have decided that only one masterpiece will be displayed each month. And each month, Daisy Milton writes to her cousin Elizabeth to tell her about the paintings, her life - and the man she loves.
London, present day
A terrible tragedy has left Claire's marriage to Rob in tatters and there seems little hope of reconciliation. Then she finds Daisy's letters, written to Rob's grandmother, and gradually, picture by picture, month by month, Daisy's world in the 1940s becomes more real to Claire than her own. Slowly, too, she begins to notice intriguing parallels between both their lives.
But Daisy is from another time, and unless Claire can find a way to make sense of the past, she risks losing everything that she cares about in the present.
392 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 19, 2021
I loved this book, even though it might be considered 'chick-lit' I guess, being all about relationships.
The story is split between modern and wartime London. A young woman in modern London, Claire, is sent a bunch of letters from a solicitor in Canada, which were sent during the war by Claire's boyfriend's grandmother (Daisy) to her cousin, Elizabeth, who has moved to Canada to avoid the Blitz.
The background is that during the war the National Gallery had to hide away all the art in case it got bombed but they displayed one major painting per month so that the people could still enjoy some art. (I believe this is true - thank you Lord Clark for arranging that!)
Daisy visits the gallery every month to look at the latest painting on display, then writes to Elizabeth to describe it, also relating the theme of the painting to her own life. As she reads the letters in modern London, Claire cannot help but relate her own relationship problems to the paintings so she goes to the National Gallery to view them. She also builds up a 'relationship' with Daisy in her mind, feeling like they have an affinity.
The letters are one a month, as the pictures are revealed, but stop after a few months, so Claire tries to find out why.
The amazing thing about this book is that the meaning of the paintings is described, so reading the book is not only entertaining but almost like a light-hearted art history lesson, which I found fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
There is also a QR code for each chapter so you can scan it on your phone and it takes you to the National Gallery website and you can see the paintings and relate to them as you read! Fantastic. As I didn't have a smart phone at the time I went on the website on my laptop and printed them off, which made reading the book so much more interesting.
I think this is an unusual and very clever way to present a story and for me it really worked, hence 5 stars. :-)
The story is split between modern and wartime London. A young woman in modern London, Claire, is sent a bunch of letters from a solicitor in Canada, which were sent during the war by Claire's boyfriend's grandmother (Daisy) to her cousin, Elizabeth, who has moved to Canada to avoid the Blitz.
The background is that during the war the National Gallery had to hide away all the art in case it got bombed but they displayed one major painting per month so that the people could still enjoy some art. (I believe this is true - thank you Lord Clark for arranging that!)
Daisy visits the gallery every month to look at the latest painting on display, then writes to Elizabeth to describe it, also relating the theme of the painting to her own life. As she reads the letters in modern London, Claire cannot help but relate her own relationship problems to the paintings so she goes to the National Gallery to view them. She also builds up a 'relationship' with Daisy in her mind, feeling like they have an affinity.
The letters are one a month, as the pictures are revealed, but stop after a few months, so Claire tries to find out why.
The amazing thing about this book is that the meaning of the paintings is described, so reading the book is not only entertaining but almost like a light-hearted art history lesson, which I found fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
There is also a QR code for each chapter so you can scan it on your phone and it takes you to the National Gallery website and you can see the paintings and relate to them as you read! Fantastic. As I didn't have a smart phone at the time I went on the website on my laptop and printed them off, which made reading the book so much more interesting.
I think this is an unusual and very clever way to present a story and for me it really worked, hence 5 stars. :-)
June 19, 2012
I enjoyed this book immensely and particularly enjoy stories with a dual time frame. This book very cleverly wove Claire’s present day life with Daisy’s war time one. I did prefer the character of Daisy to Claire and in truth would have been quite happy if more of the book had been solely about Daisy and her life. I found Claire to be in the main, an unsympathetic character, wallowing in misery and being rude and ungracious to those around her. She vents her misery on her husband Rob and, in my opinion, holds him unfairly responsible for the tragedy they suffered, although by the end, I did find myself warming to her a little. Their marriage is virtually at breaking point when Claire starts to read the letters sent to Rob as part of his grandmother’s estate (his grandmother was Elizabeth, the recipient of Daisy’s letters).
I loved reading Daisy’s letters to Elizabeth, although I would have liked to have seen some of Elizabeth’s responses to these letters. We learn very little about Elizabeth and she remains a shadowy figure throughout the book. Daisy’s description of life during the war years was captivating and her lively character really shone through the pages, although as the war drags on and hardships increase, you can see her character changing and maturing. I don’t have a suitable phone to look at the pictures via an app but enjoyed looking them up on the internet to compare my view of the portrait to Daisy’s description.
I don’t know how Claire managed to restrain herself to opening just one letter a month - I would have opened them all at once - I was so intrigued by Daisy’s musings. Claire becomes obsessed with the letters and with Daisy’s life and the latter part of the story details her attempts to find out more about her. The parallels, or co-incidences, however you regard them, between the two women’s lives made the story even more interesting and Daisy’s love story definitely bought a lump to the throat.
This was an excellent debut and a book that I couldn’t put down. I would certainly be keen to read more by this author.
I loved reading Daisy’s letters to Elizabeth, although I would have liked to have seen some of Elizabeth’s responses to these letters. We learn very little about Elizabeth and she remains a shadowy figure throughout the book. Daisy’s description of life during the war years was captivating and her lively character really shone through the pages, although as the war drags on and hardships increase, you can see her character changing and maturing. I don’t have a suitable phone to look at the pictures via an app but enjoyed looking them up on the internet to compare my view of the portrait to Daisy’s description.
I don’t know how Claire managed to restrain herself to opening just one letter a month - I would have opened them all at once - I was so intrigued by Daisy’s musings. Claire becomes obsessed with the letters and with Daisy’s life and the latter part of the story details her attempts to find out more about her. The parallels, or co-incidences, however you regard them, between the two women’s lives made the story even more interesting and Daisy’s love story definitely bought a lump to the throat.
This was an excellent debut and a book that I couldn’t put down. I would certainly be keen to read more by this author.
June 27, 2021
Zo'n boek waarin je naar de hoofdpersoon wilt schreeuwen en haar een mep in de juiste richting zou willen geven... Hierdoor 3 sterren ivp 4.
September 3, 2013
Ugh. I really wanted to like this book. I liked the idea of it – use the historical story of how paintings in London's National Gallery were stored in Wales during WWII for safety, but brought back one per month later in the war to offer Londoners a snippet of culture and optimism amidst the dreary war experience, and toss in a contemporary tale of a marriage in trouble and the young wife's growing fascination with a woman who saw all these paintings in London in the 1940s.
And yet, I HATED the main characters, both the whining wife and her annoying husband, and had no interest in what would happen to either of them. Sure, the wife feels she's suffered an incredible loss – and she has, not minimizing it – but her desire to make her husband suffer too, was so petty that it made me think they were useless people, and really unlikable characters. We kept being told how the protagonist had pushed away her friends in the aftermath of her loss, but who on earth would have befriended her in the first place?!
I'm amazed – with all the books on my 'to read' shelf, and the fact that I read at turtle pace – that I put up with these characters for the entire book. At some point I just felt I needed to know did they all die in a car crash that would serve them right? Spoiler: they did not, and the story ends happily, a more admiring reader might say.
And yet, I HATED the main characters, both the whining wife and her annoying husband, and had no interest in what would happen to either of them. Sure, the wife feels she's suffered an incredible loss – and she has, not minimizing it – but her desire to make her husband suffer too, was so petty that it made me think they were useless people, and really unlikable characters. We kept being told how the protagonist had pushed away her friends in the aftermath of her loss, but who on earth would have befriended her in the first place?!
I'm amazed – with all the books on my 'to read' shelf, and the fact that I read at turtle pace – that I put up with these characters for the entire book. At some point I just felt I needed to know did they all die in a car crash that would serve them right? Spoiler: they did not, and the story ends happily, a more admiring reader might say.
July 3, 2013
I enjoyed much of this book. Three stars may seem a bit low after saying that, but I am beginning to find the split time sequence device wearying. Claire's tragedy is so immense that I wanted to know what happened to those who caused it. Of course, there isn't space or plot structure to follow that through.
Where the book really scored for me was in the description of the paintings. I loved Daisy's letters giving us her thoughts on the choices. I thought the depiction of Daisy and Richard's love affair - two people outside reality - was a triumph.
Where the book really scored for me was in the description of the paintings. I loved Daisy's letters giving us her thoughts on the choices. I thought the depiction of Daisy and Richard's love affair - two people outside reality - was a triumph.
November 22, 2014
Een wat mager verhaal met een redelijk onsympathieke hoofdpersoon. Wat mij boeide was de beschrijving van de schilderijen in the National Gallery. Ik heb ze opgezocht en meegekeken. Daarvoor een extra ster.
July 16, 2013
Een boek vol oorlog, vriendschap en liefde...
September 3, 2021
About half way through I was convinced I'd be giving this book 2 stars, purely because I can't stand infidelity plotlines. I did still feel Claire was a not particularly sympathetic character and poor Rob was very long suffering - I kept wondering why on earth no one seemed to suggest Claire get some therapy or counselling as she clearly desperately needed it. However the weaving together of the two womens' stories with the monthly art works was a really great idea. I did find some of the writing a little over flowery and detailed.
Trigger warning for miscarriage - this was really quite graphic.
Trigger warning for miscarriage - this was really quite graphic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2021
Claire komt dankzij de oma van haar man aan brieven van een jonge vrouw Daisy geschreven in 1942. de brieven helpen haar om te gaan met het verlies van haar baby. je leert door de brieven Daisy beter kennen maar ook Claire. een ontroerende roman.
February 27, 2022
Een boek dat in het verleden en heden plaatsvind.
Het verhaal zelf vond ik oké , maar niet hoogdravend. Drie sterren.
Maar door de goede beschrijvingen van de schilderijen krijgt het een extra ster van mij en zo kom ik toch op 4 sterren uit.
Het verhaal zelf vond ik oké , maar niet hoogdravend. Drie sterren.
Maar door de goede beschrijvingen van de schilderijen krijgt het een extra ster van mij en zo kom ik toch op 4 sterren uit.
February 11, 2018
Na een hoofdstuk het boek terzijde gelegd. Kon me niet boeien ....
Want to Read
October 1, 2022I learned of this book via this post: https://booksplease.org/2022/10/01/si...
April 13, 2012
Claire and Rob’s marriage is strained to almost breaking point. The tragedy that occurred is causing Claire to drive them apart. Everything and everyone else has stepped quietly away from the couple, the only thing that Claire can now focus on is the letters that are left to her husband Rob by his grandmother, Elizabeth.
Some sixty years earlier, Elizabeth is sitting out the war in Canada because her husband is Canadian, away from the bombing, the destruction, the shortages; her only link to life back home is through the letters that her cousin Daisy sends her. Daisy embarks on a project to get her through days working in some war ministry as a typist. She decides to go the National Gallery once a month and see the painting that is displayed. As all paintings had been removed because of war, the one picture a month becomes an event. Daisy describes these in detail to Elizabeth as if she was there to see them, but also about how her life is changing. Everything is shared in the letters and it is these letters that come into the hands of Claire.
Claire uses the same focus as a project to get her through the tragedy.
As Claire views the pictures monthly as Daisy has described them, she becomes all consumed in Daisy’s story as she tries to fill in the gaps with what she wants to happen. It becomes this which is the focus for Claire and she embarks on a rather dangerous encounter when her head and heart are working in opposing directions. Life cannot be directed to happen in the way Claire wants, and most of all she should know that. I am not sure whether Claire actually understands this by the end of the book?
An interesting novel which in places is rather slow, although I think this may be the intention to appreciate the plot and the paintings? The author moves between Claire and Daisy well, and I actually like Daisy more as a character, she had her flaws but was ultimately trying to survive the choices she had made as well as a war. Claire on the other hand I disliked, there was something so grating about her, as if she was the only person tragedy had ever touched and relentless blame on everyone else (she was not to blame either) was rather wearing by the end. I sensed that it would always be some sort of ulcer eating away at her for the rest of her marriage to Rob. That left me feeling rather sad.
A part epistolary novel with the letters that Daisy writes, I found this part of it interesting, as I like such novels, but felt rather cheated that I was only getting one side, I would have liked to have read the replies by Elizabeth, much more than I enjoyed Claire’s role in the book.
The clever use of technology to be able to scan a QR code to reach the paintings which are referred to at each chapter beginning was somewhat of a distraction, should I be looking at the painting as it is being described in the novel or not? In the end I looked them up at the end and I recommend the author’s website and see all the paintings there so you have an idea.
This is an interesting debut novel which perhaps does not follow a normal path, in terms of conclusion but it seemingly takes a long time to get there as well. For me the novel had simply too much going on, as if the author wanted to pack in many ideas. I would have preferred more the story set in the Second World War, the letters between the two women, and the art that was being displayed in the National Gallery after having been removed to a more secure setting. To me that has plenty of potential.
Nonetheless an interesting book and I would not rule out reading more from this author in the future.
Some sixty years earlier, Elizabeth is sitting out the war in Canada because her husband is Canadian, away from the bombing, the destruction, the shortages; her only link to life back home is through the letters that her cousin Daisy sends her. Daisy embarks on a project to get her through days working in some war ministry as a typist. She decides to go the National Gallery once a month and see the painting that is displayed. As all paintings had been removed because of war, the one picture a month becomes an event. Daisy describes these in detail to Elizabeth as if she was there to see them, but also about how her life is changing. Everything is shared in the letters and it is these letters that come into the hands of Claire.
Claire uses the same focus as a project to get her through the tragedy.
As Claire views the pictures monthly as Daisy has described them, she becomes all consumed in Daisy’s story as she tries to fill in the gaps with what she wants to happen. It becomes this which is the focus for Claire and she embarks on a rather dangerous encounter when her head and heart are working in opposing directions. Life cannot be directed to happen in the way Claire wants, and most of all she should know that. I am not sure whether Claire actually understands this by the end of the book?
An interesting novel which in places is rather slow, although I think this may be the intention to appreciate the plot and the paintings? The author moves between Claire and Daisy well, and I actually like Daisy more as a character, she had her flaws but was ultimately trying to survive the choices she had made as well as a war. Claire on the other hand I disliked, there was something so grating about her, as if she was the only person tragedy had ever touched and relentless blame on everyone else (she was not to blame either) was rather wearing by the end. I sensed that it would always be some sort of ulcer eating away at her for the rest of her marriage to Rob. That left me feeling rather sad.
A part epistolary novel with the letters that Daisy writes, I found this part of it interesting, as I like such novels, but felt rather cheated that I was only getting one side, I would have liked to have read the replies by Elizabeth, much more than I enjoyed Claire’s role in the book.
The clever use of technology to be able to scan a QR code to reach the paintings which are referred to at each chapter beginning was somewhat of a distraction, should I be looking at the painting as it is being described in the novel or not? In the end I looked them up at the end and I recommend the author’s website and see all the paintings there so you have an idea.
This is an interesting debut novel which perhaps does not follow a normal path, in terms of conclusion but it seemingly takes a long time to get there as well. For me the novel had simply too much going on, as if the author wanted to pack in many ideas. I would have preferred more the story set in the Second World War, the letters between the two women, and the art that was being displayed in the National Gallery after having been removed to a more secure setting. To me that has plenty of potential.
Nonetheless an interesting book and I would not rule out reading more from this author in the future.
July 20, 2016
The concept was brilliant, the execution less so.
Concept: A woman struggling with the emotional aftermath of a miscarriage finds healing through art. She reads letters written by a single woman in war-time London which centre around the monthly exhibition of one painting at the National Gallery, and goes to see those same paintings herself, in the process finding peace.
Execution: None of the characters are particularly likeable. The protagonist, Claire, blames her husband for the miscarriage, constantly punishing him, to the point that their marriage is at breaking point. She was waiting to meet him when she was mugged, and since he cancelled their date for dinner with a client and then turned his phone off, she struggled with the ordeal on her own.
Understandable that she has some resentment toward him, understandable she is struggling getting to work in the mornings, feeling interested in people's children who she once saw as future playmates for her own, understandable she doesn't feel like socialising much.
Less understandable is her constant refusal to work at the marriage that is under such pressure, effectively cutting her husband out, and her choices to sabotage her life as she
The husband one feels sorry for, but why on earth doesn't he put his foot down? Insist they go to counseling, join a group for parents who have lost a baby, etc?
The letters ostensibly written in the 1940s do not seem to hold any real flavour of the speech or written language of the time. Daisy is a fairly selfish individual, who
The best part is the descriptions of the artwork. If there had been more art and less people the book would probably be better.
Concept: A woman struggling with the emotional aftermath of a miscarriage finds healing through art. She reads letters written by a single woman in war-time London which centre around the monthly exhibition of one painting at the National Gallery, and goes to see those same paintings herself, in the process finding peace.
Execution: None of the characters are particularly likeable. The protagonist, Claire, blames her husband for the miscarriage, constantly punishing him, to the point that their marriage is at breaking point. She was waiting to meet him when she was mugged, and since he cancelled their date for dinner with a client and then turned his phone off, she struggled with the ordeal on her own.
Understandable that she has some resentment toward him, understandable she is struggling getting to work in the mornings, feeling interested in people's children who she once saw as future playmates for her own, understandable she doesn't feel like socialising much.
Less understandable is her constant refusal to work at the marriage that is under such pressure, effectively cutting her husband out, and her choices to sabotage her life as she
The husband one feels sorry for, but why on earth doesn't he put his foot down? Insist they go to counseling, join a group for parents who have lost a baby, etc?
The letters ostensibly written in the 1940s do not seem to hold any real flavour of the speech or written language of the time. Daisy is a fairly selfish individual, who
The best part is the descriptions of the artwork. If there had been more art and less people the book would probably be better.
January 19, 2012
Inhalt: Claire hat ihr heißersehntes Baby verloren und seit diesem Augenblick ist ihr Leben leer und zudem werden die Spannungen zwischen ihr und ihrem Mann immer größer, da sie ihm die Schuld daran gibt, da er im entscheidenden Augenblick nicht da war, wo er hätte sein müssen und nicht tat, was er ihrer Meinung nach hätte tun müssen. Daraufhin versinkt Claire in immer tiefere Depressionen, bis sie durch einen Zufall Briefe einer anderen Frau aus einer anderen Zeit findet. Während des Zweiten Weltkriegs besuchte Daisy monatlich die National Gallary und schrieb über die Bilder, die ihr Kraft in dieser unruhigen Zeit spendeten.
Durch Daisys Briefe findet auch Claire den Mut, Schritt für Schritt in ein neues Leben zurückzukehren und aus der Krise und Depression auszubrechen.
Meinung: Der Autorin ist es auf vortreffliche Weise gelungen sowohl die Gefühle Daisys, wie auch die Claires zu beschreiben. Zum einen sehr bildhaft und prägend und zum anderen sehr intensiv. Insbesondere die negativen Gefühle, wie Zorn, Wut, Enttäuschung und Trauer sind sehr gut herausgestellt.
Neben der Darstellung der Gefühlswelt, sind die Beschreibungen und Deutungen der Werke aus der National Gallary ganz besonders, da sie, wenn auch nicht bis in die vollkommende Tiefe der Bilder, sehr zutreffend sind und die Gefühle der Protagonistinnen widerspiegeln. Zudem sind sie mindestens so bildhaft, wie die Gemälde selbst.
Auch die Wandlung der Charaktere innerhalb der Geschichte sind sehr gut dargestellt, denn sowohl Claire macht eine Entwicklung durch, wie auch Daisy und Claires Mann Rob eine Wandlung erleben.
Sehr intensiv sind auch die Beschreibungen und Erfahrungen Daisys während des Kriegs, auch wenn diese nie direkt, sondern immer in der Briefform Daisys an den Leser herangetragen werden.
Eindeutig ein sehr gefühlvolles Buch, das einen eindeutig zum Nachdenken bringt, da es so viele Dinge anspricht über die es sich nachzudenken lohnt und einem im Herzen erreicht, wenn man sich auf die Geschichte einlassen mag, denn sie ist vor allen Dinge sehr traurig erzählt.
Durch Daisys Briefe findet auch Claire den Mut, Schritt für Schritt in ein neues Leben zurückzukehren und aus der Krise und Depression auszubrechen.
Meinung: Der Autorin ist es auf vortreffliche Weise gelungen sowohl die Gefühle Daisys, wie auch die Claires zu beschreiben. Zum einen sehr bildhaft und prägend und zum anderen sehr intensiv. Insbesondere die negativen Gefühle, wie Zorn, Wut, Enttäuschung und Trauer sind sehr gut herausgestellt.
Neben der Darstellung der Gefühlswelt, sind die Beschreibungen und Deutungen der Werke aus der National Gallary ganz besonders, da sie, wenn auch nicht bis in die vollkommende Tiefe der Bilder, sehr zutreffend sind und die Gefühle der Protagonistinnen widerspiegeln. Zudem sind sie mindestens so bildhaft, wie die Gemälde selbst.
Auch die Wandlung der Charaktere innerhalb der Geschichte sind sehr gut dargestellt, denn sowohl Claire macht eine Entwicklung durch, wie auch Daisy und Claires Mann Rob eine Wandlung erleben.
Sehr intensiv sind auch die Beschreibungen und Erfahrungen Daisys während des Kriegs, auch wenn diese nie direkt, sondern immer in der Briefform Daisys an den Leser herangetragen werden.
Eindeutig ein sehr gefühlvolles Buch, das einen eindeutig zum Nachdenken bringt, da es so viele Dinge anspricht über die es sich nachzudenken lohnt und einem im Herzen erreicht, wenn man sich auf die Geschichte einlassen mag, denn sie ist vor allen Dinge sehr traurig erzählt.
June 26, 2012
A collection of wartime letters link the two main protagonists in this story.
In the present day, Claire is grieving following a tragedy which creates marital disharmony. Whilst in the 1940's Daisy Milton writes letters to her cousin Elizabeth, to tell her about life in wartime London, and about the paintings she loves to view every month in the National gallery. When Claire gains access to Daisy's letters,she becomes immersed in the past, and without realising gains hope for the future. The story gets off to a rather slow start, and at first it seems like nothing is happening, but gradually the story evolves into a nicely written dual time narrative.
I loved the idea of a painting a month and felt that this added extra interest to the story, particularly with the addition of QR codes at the start of each chapter, so that those with smart phones could use the QR app to view the paintings.
Noli Me Tangere by Titian is one of the first paintings featured in the story, and is so beautifully described, that even without the picture in front of you, you can visualise the scene between the risen Christ and Mary Magdalene.
This is Camilla Macpherson's debut novel - I enjoyed reading it and look forward to more of her books in the future.
In the present day, Claire is grieving following a tragedy which creates marital disharmony. Whilst in the 1940's Daisy Milton writes letters to her cousin Elizabeth, to tell her about life in wartime London, and about the paintings she loves to view every month in the National gallery. When Claire gains access to Daisy's letters,she becomes immersed in the past, and without realising gains hope for the future. The story gets off to a rather slow start, and at first it seems like nothing is happening, but gradually the story evolves into a nicely written dual time narrative.
I loved the idea of a painting a month and felt that this added extra interest to the story, particularly with the addition of QR codes at the start of each chapter, so that those with smart phones could use the QR app to view the paintings.
Noli Me Tangere by Titian is one of the first paintings featured in the story, and is so beautifully described, that even without the picture in front of you, you can visualise the scene between the risen Christ and Mary Magdalene.
This is Camilla Macpherson's debut novel - I enjoyed reading it and look forward to more of her books in the future.
December 23, 2013
Each chapter of this story begins with a painting. There are two strands to the narrative; one in the present day featuring Claire, and one in the past which is told via letters written by Daisy Milton to her cousin Elizabeth, letters that have been found now by Claire. She is trying to come to terms with a very sad loss in her life and these letters, to her partner Rob's grandmother, open up a past world to her.
I found this an enjoyable, engaging debut novel, which was innovative in including QR codes for each of the paintings that are a key part of the story. Reading this novel left me with a desire to visit the National Gallery and view at least some, if not all, of the paintings included in the novel, which I have since done, and it was wonderful coming face to face with the works that are featured in the novel, thinking about the part they played and getting my own perspective on them too.
I found this an enjoyable, engaging debut novel, which was innovative in including QR codes for each of the paintings that are a key part of the story. Reading this novel left me with a desire to visit the National Gallery and view at least some, if not all, of the paintings included in the novel, which I have since done, and it was wonderful coming face to face with the works that are featured in the novel, thinking about the part they played and getting my own perspective on them too.
August 29, 2016
I was engrossed in this book for almost an entire transatlantic flight--actually finished it an hour before landing.
I was worried at first that it would be a novel about a marriage imploding--a theme done to death most times. But this book is different. It is hopeful, insightful and opened me to the world of art appreciation. I have always enjoyed looking at art but this book has made me see that there is more to appreciating art and I am now going to look up every painting mentioned.
The premise intrigued me when I saw it on the bookshelf in Dublin: a young woman grieving after a miscarriage escapes her grief and her problems with her husband by following the path of a series of letters written during World War II about paintings at the National Gallery. The writer is a mysterious woman whom Claire, the protagonist, knows nothing about at first. It is a rich story, treating old themes in a very new way. I really enjoyed it.
I was worried at first that it would be a novel about a marriage imploding--a theme done to death most times. But this book is different. It is hopeful, insightful and opened me to the world of art appreciation. I have always enjoyed looking at art but this book has made me see that there is more to appreciating art and I am now going to look up every painting mentioned.
The premise intrigued me when I saw it on the bookshelf in Dublin: a young woman grieving after a miscarriage escapes her grief and her problems with her husband by following the path of a series of letters written during World War II about paintings at the National Gallery. The writer is a mysterious woman whom Claire, the protagonist, knows nothing about at first. It is a rich story, treating old themes in a very new way. I really enjoyed it.
January 13, 2013
Enjoyed the duel time frame and reading about the pictures that were displayed at the National Gallery during WW2. Was ahead of the plot at times, which is very unusual for me. I found the first few chapters unbelievably sad but it was to the author's credit that I didn't hate Claire. Claire and Rob's marriage has been rocked by a tremendously sad event and the healing process involves letters between one of Rob's distant relatives and his grandmother. Liked the ending.
March 10, 2014
O carte scrisa bine, placuta la citit într-o faza usor nostalgica, asta în cazul în care va intereseaza lumea emotionala a doua femei - Claire, care e demoralizata sufleteste din cauza unei pierderi si Daisy care povesteste prin scrisori (descoperite de Claire), despre viata sa în anii '40 (...) povesti de viata, dragoste, suferinta, paralele între aceste doamne, arta si ceva istorie. Cei interesati de pictura vor întîlni si cîteva opere de arta.
January 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this book with its reference to artwork and a modern day / historical story alongside. I have no interest in art but found myself looking up the paintings and enjoying the descriptions more once I'd seen the painting. I love books that switch between history and modern day so enjoyed the story too.
May 12, 2013
A very enjoyable read. More thoughts pending. Thank you to Ms. Macpherson for sending it. Much appreciated, thank you.
March 3, 2016
Gelezen in de Nederlandse vertaling onder de titel Brieven uit Londen.
October 30, 2013
moeilijk om in het verhaal te geraken en er ook in te blijven
May 10, 2014
Good. The main character is not very likeable at the beginning, but you begin to root for her to make the right choices after the first big one.
March 19, 2015
Voor mij leek het een boek waar geen einde aan kwam. Vond de hoofdpersoon een vervelend mens. Het concept van de schilderijen bekijken vond ik wel leuk maar verder werd ik er een beetje moe van.
February 29, 2016
This is in general not the kind of literature I read. However, connecting the story through paintings keeps you hooked.
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May 12, 2025The book that really got me back into reading!
July 23, 2012
Light pleasant reading perfect for a weekend away
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews