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Rona Parish #7
Unfinished Portrait
Bereft of the three people she has held most dear - her mother, her daughter and her husband Dermot, who wants a divorce - Celia is on the verge of suicide. Then one night on an exotic island she meets Larraby, a successful portrait painter, and through a long night of talk reveals how she is afraid to commit herself to a second chance of happiness with another person, yet is not brave enough to face life alone. Can Larraby help Celia come to terms with the past or will they part, her outcome still uncertain?
'In Celia we have more nearly than anywhere else a portrait of Agatha.' Max Mallowan, Agatha Christie's second husband.
'In Celia we have more nearly than anywhere else a portrait of Agatha.' Max Mallowan, Agatha Christie's second husband.
342 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1934
144 people are currently reading
4193 people want to read
About the author
Mary Westmacott
23 books671 followersPseudonym used by
Agatha Christie
to write her dramatic novels about relationships.
Associated Names:
Мэри Вестмакотт (Russian)
Мері Вестмакотт (Ukrainian)
Associated Names:
Мэри Вестмакотт (Russian)
Мері Вестмакотт (Ukrainian)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
April 16, 2011
Oh my god. What an amazing novel.
It's so clearly autobiographical if you know the basic facts of Christie's life and that's why it's so fascinating in this way that horrifies you with its ruthless psychological detail but also imbues you with a sort of ... responsibility, a commitment to see it through because this is, as her second husband says on the back of my book, "nearly than anywhere else a portrait of Agatha."
So because you're so wrapped up in the awful intimacy and inescapable authenticity of the story, the way Christie suddenly pulls back and twists the end in pure literary triumph ... just totally thumped me in the chest with awe. Holy mother of brilliant writing, omg.
I had a feeling at the start of the novel that this story was going to break my heart. I knew it would make me very sad in that piercing way Christie has. But I totally did not expect the joyful sense of resolution I feel now.
Oh man. What a legend Christie is. To take her life and make a small careful literary triumph out of it. Perfectly unassuming and all the more precious for it. And that title! All the better when you know what Christie did find after.
*sighs happily*
It's so clearly autobiographical if you know the basic facts of Christie's life and that's why it's so fascinating in this way that horrifies you with its ruthless psychological detail but also imbues you with a sort of ... responsibility, a commitment to see it through because this is, as her second husband says on the back of my book, "nearly than anywhere else a portrait of Agatha."
So because you're so wrapped up in the awful intimacy and inescapable authenticity of the story, the way Christie suddenly pulls back and twists the end in pure literary triumph ... just totally thumped me in the chest with awe. Holy mother of brilliant writing, omg.
I had a feeling at the start of the novel that this story was going to break my heart. I knew it would make me very sad in that piercing way Christie has. But I totally did not expect the joyful sense of resolution I feel now.
Oh man. What a legend Christie is. To take her life and make a small careful literary triumph out of it. Perfectly unassuming and all the more precious for it. And that title! All the better when you know what Christie did find after.
*sighs happily*
April 7, 2023
I saw a totally different side of Agatha Christie and I am glad I did. Very beautifully written.
January 31, 2019
Being an Agatha Christie fan, I’ve been meaning to read the six non-crime novels she wrote under the name of Mary Westmacott. This is my second one.
Unfinished Portrait is very much Christie’s life, vaguely disguised. Having read her autobiography, you can totally see the similarities. It is a heart-breaking tale, especially when you realise you’re seeing into her heart and soul. Even without this aspect, it is a worthy read, the study of a life.
Personally, I preferred Absent In The Spring, another character study, but that one completely bowled me over. This is more than likely because I had no inkling where Agatha was going with that one, while here, I knew what was going to happen. Still, I’m happy I read it.
Unfinished Portrait is very much Christie’s life, vaguely disguised. Having read her autobiography, you can totally see the similarities. It is a heart-breaking tale, especially when you realise you’re seeing into her heart and soul. Even without this aspect, it is a worthy read, the study of a life.
Personally, I preferred Absent In The Spring, another character study, but that one completely bowled me over. This is more than likely because I had no inkling where Agatha was going with that one, while here, I knew what was going to happen. Still, I’m happy I read it.
May 27, 2023
I don't think I'll be rushing to read another Mary Westmacott any time soon.
Unfinished Portrait is based very obviously on Agatha Christie's real life - her father's early death leaving her mother struggling for cash, her bad first marriage, her own difficulties in finding a place for herself in the world. It's all there but having read Lucy Worsley's superb biography of Ms Christie this book really held nothing new.
In the end I was irritated by the fictional Celia's utter hopelessness and inability to read people. I figure that a lot of women made marriages that were deeply unsatisfactory for one reason or another simply so that they had some form of security that a single life did not offer back at the beginning of the 20th century.
Unfinished Portrait gives quite a bleak view of a young woman's life and I suppose it us heartening to know that Agatha herself was far more dynamic and confidant in her writing abilities than Celia is.
Either way not a book I'd have picked up had it not been part of the Read Christie 2023 Challenge so onwards to the next book.
Unfinished Portrait is based very obviously on Agatha Christie's real life - her father's early death leaving her mother struggling for cash, her bad first marriage, her own difficulties in finding a place for herself in the world. It's all there but having read Lucy Worsley's superb biography of Ms Christie this book really held nothing new.
In the end I was irritated by the fictional Celia's utter hopelessness and inability to read people. I figure that a lot of women made marriages that were deeply unsatisfactory for one reason or another simply so that they had some form of security that a single life did not offer back at the beginning of the 20th century.
Unfinished Portrait gives quite a bleak view of a young woman's life and I suppose it us heartening to know that Agatha herself was far more dynamic and confidant in her writing abilities than Celia is.
Either way not a book I'd have picked up had it not been part of the Read Christie 2023 Challenge so onwards to the next book.
June 7, 2023
Agatha Christie (1890-1976), here writing under her penname Mary Westmacott, married her first husband Archibald Christie in 1914. In 1919, she had her first and only child, a daughter. Divorcing in 1928, following the breakdown of her marriage and the death of her mother in 1926, she made international headlines by disappearing for eleven days. These are the facts that lie at the basis for this story, a semi-autobiographical work of fiction.
Reading this, I’ve had trouble distinguishing between fact and fiction. Problem number one. This sent me time and time again to search the net.
The story is told by a famed artist whom the central character, a stand-in for Agatha, meets one night on a voyage abroad. She spills out her heart and sorrows to the unknown stranger. He writes here in this story of what she has told him. She is ? I find this setup an unnecessary gimmick. Here we have problem number two! Despite that I do believe talking about a problem helps, the artist is not a writer, and yet it is in the art of writing that we observe how he excels!
The prose is topnotch! Christie’s lines capture events, feelings and humor. All are superbly rolled together! Celia is the central character. She plays the part of Agatha. Her grannie’s ideas are antiquated, but you cannot help but laugh on listening to what spills from her lips. She has a ferocity that is invigorating. I had less trouble slipping into grannie’s shoes than Celia’s / Agatha’s! Honestly, I could scarcely relate to Agatha, she is so utterly meek, timid and opinionless. This is peculiar because in Christie’s autobiography, which I have also read and absolutely adore, the opposite is true! Is it a matter of different age perspectives? I’m not sure.
The fictional of the tale is what gives me trouble. The writing is superb. Maybe others wll not notice this, but I love how Christie plays with words, and I see humor when others seem to miss it totally. I’m giving the story three stars because I do like it. I’ve enjoyed chuckling and marveling at Christie’s ability of getting ideas into words.
The audiobook I listened to from Audible is narrated by Lewis Hancock. His narration is worthy of five stars. He captures wonderfully the nationality, sex and age of the person speaking. He’s got French down pat! I mean, his variations in voice could not be better. I seriously think it better to listen to this than to read it—the narration is that good!
Don’t get me wrong. I have definitely enjoyed this book, but this doesn’t stop my head from analyzing and figuring out what seems a little bit off kilter. I’m a terribly picky reader and don’t hand out many stars in my rating of books!
Recommended to me by my dear friend Cleo. Due to my poor vision, I have difficulty finding good books. Thank you, Cleo. (((((Cleo)))) Please continue to recommend them to me.
*********************************
I highly recommend Agatha Christie: An Autobiography. This I gave a whopping five stars! Also Come, Tell Me How You Live, which I gave four stars. She writes under her husband's name in the latter, i.e. Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Mary Westmacott novels:
*Absent in the Spring 4 stars
*Unfinished Portrait 3 stars
*Giant's Bread TBR
*A Daughter's a Daughter TBR
*The Burden TBR
*The Rose and the Yew Tree TBR
Reading this, I’ve had trouble distinguishing between fact and fiction. Problem number one. This sent me time and time again to search the net.
The story is told by a famed artist whom the central character, a stand-in for Agatha, meets one night on a voyage abroad. She spills out her heart and sorrows to the unknown stranger. He writes here in this story of what she has told him. She is ? I find this setup an unnecessary gimmick. Here we have problem number two! Despite that I do believe talking about a problem helps, the artist is not a writer, and yet it is in the art of writing that we observe how he excels!
The prose is topnotch! Christie’s lines capture events, feelings and humor. All are superbly rolled together! Celia is the central character. She plays the part of Agatha. Her grannie’s ideas are antiquated, but you cannot help but laugh on listening to what spills from her lips. She has a ferocity that is invigorating. I had less trouble slipping into grannie’s shoes than Celia’s / Agatha’s! Honestly, I could scarcely relate to Agatha, she is so utterly meek, timid and opinionless. This is peculiar because in Christie’s autobiography, which I have also read and absolutely adore, the opposite is true! Is it a matter of different age perspectives? I’m not sure.
The fictional of the tale is what gives me trouble. The writing is superb. Maybe others wll not notice this, but I love how Christie plays with words, and I see humor when others seem to miss it totally. I’m giving the story three stars because I do like it. I’ve enjoyed chuckling and marveling at Christie’s ability of getting ideas into words.
The audiobook I listened to from Audible is narrated by Lewis Hancock. His narration is worthy of five stars. He captures wonderfully the nationality, sex and age of the person speaking. He’s got French down pat! I mean, his variations in voice could not be better. I seriously think it better to listen to this than to read it—the narration is that good!
Don’t get me wrong. I have definitely enjoyed this book, but this doesn’t stop my head from analyzing and figuring out what seems a little bit off kilter. I’m a terribly picky reader and don’t hand out many stars in my rating of books!
Recommended to me by my dear friend Cleo. Due to my poor vision, I have difficulty finding good books. Thank you, Cleo. (((((Cleo)))) Please continue to recommend them to me.
*********************************
I highly recommend Agatha Christie: An Autobiography. This I gave a whopping five stars! Also Come, Tell Me How You Live, which I gave four stars. She writes under her husband's name in the latter, i.e. Agatha Christie Mallowan.
Mary Westmacott novels:
*Absent in the Spring 4 stars
*Unfinished Portrait 3 stars
*Giant's Bread TBR
*A Daughter's a Daughter TBR
*The Burden TBR
*The Rose and the Yew Tree TBR
August 5, 2019
The second romantic novel Christie wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott. It gives a very vivid description of the life and times of Agatha Christie, the then prevalent customs and society’s view towards women in particular. It is a story of Celia though Christie’s husband Max Mallowan says in the jacket-“In Celia we have more nearly anywhere else a portrait of Agatha”. Seen through these lens, the novel becomes an interesting read because the reader gets an insight into Christie’s own fears and view of life. Good read.
March 9, 2011
This was the second book I've read by Agatha Christie writing under her pen name. It seems she used this alternate identity to write a different type of book than the mystery/thrillers that she was so famous for. Knowing a little about her own life I wonder if these "anonymous" writings reflect her own unhappiness in her first marriage (her husband was unfaithful). I understand she only used this pen name in the earlier part of her career. Overall I found the book rather gloomy and in the end I was left a little confused about the overall message she was trying to convey. The bottom line for me was that it really doesn't mean good things for a book when you are relieved to finish it!
April 5, 2019
This was such a difficult story to read because I knew it was based on Agatha Christie herself, her own life and feelings. And how Archie Christie truly hurt her so deeply in the end, at the worst time he could possible do it. Also how he just seemed to be blind to anything but his own thoughts and feelings. It really tore at my heart.
There is a strange connection between "Unfinished Portrait", a Harley Quin short story called; "Man from The Sea" and "Towards Zero. " I read them one after another. They all have a suicide attempt that is stopped, in two of the stories the place for it is exactly the same and in two of the stories, the same philosophy against suicide is the same. Has anyone else pondered this? I never read it in an article or a book about Christie.
I thought it very interesting too, that she incorporated her own nightmare of the gun man, and the interesting twist she gave it. I will not add any spoilers to this review but if you want to know how Agatha Christie felt about what happened to her in 1926, this is the book to read.
There is a strange connection between "Unfinished Portrait", a Harley Quin short story called; "Man from The Sea" and "Towards Zero. " I read them one after another. They all have a suicide attempt that is stopped, in two of the stories the place for it is exactly the same and in two of the stories, the same philosophy against suicide is the same. Has anyone else pondered this? I never read it in an article or a book about Christie.
I thought it very interesting too, that she incorporated her own nightmare of the gun man, and the interesting twist she gave it. I will not add any spoilers to this review but if you want to know how Agatha Christie felt about what happened to her in 1926, this is the book to read.
March 25, 2018
Review later.
September 12, 2021
Bardzo dobrze spędziłam czas przy tej książce.
May 10, 2021
This is basically Agatha Christie's autobiography, but stopped before she knew she would be happy again. It's bleak 😭 but it's from the heart. I would recommend reading her actual autobiography instead of this, for a better sense of closure.
May 20, 2023
"Nobody realized how humble this pretty girl was feeling—how bitterly conscious of her social defects."
My pick for May’s Read Christie 2023.
The theme for this month is betrayal and, when I saw Unfinished Portrait listed as the official pick for May, I was beyond thrilled. I've been curious about the works Agatha Christie wrote under her pseudonym, Mary Westmacott, for some time now.
I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it, so I'll simply say that I can't wait to read more of the books Christie wrote and published under her pseudonym.
My pick for May’s Read Christie 2023.
The theme for this month is betrayal and, when I saw Unfinished Portrait listed as the official pick for May, I was beyond thrilled. I've been curious about the works Agatha Christie wrote under her pseudonym, Mary Westmacott, for some time now.
I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't read it, so I'll simply say that I can't wait to read more of the books Christie wrote and published under her pseudonym.
December 10, 2021
Χαμηλών τόνων στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος του αυτό το κοινωνικό μυθιστόρημα της Agatha Christie (aka Mary Westmacott) μα τόσο ενδελεχές στην απεικόνιση της κεντρικής της ηρωίδας που δεν μπορούσα παρά να το αγαπήσω (όσο κι αν ήθελα να μην μείνει ατελές το πορτρέτο αυτής της τόσο αγαπημένης ηρωίδας).
Αξία έχουν τα λόγια του δεύτερου συζύγου της Agatha, Max Mallowan, σχετικά με το Ημιτελές Πορτρέτο :
"Ένα μείγμα μυθοπλασίας και πραγματικών γεγονότων και προσώπων. Ο χαρακτήρας της Σίλια [η κεντρική ηρωίδα] αποτελεί ό,τι πλησιέστερο έχουμε σε ένα ψυχολογικό πορτρέτο της Άγκαθα."
Αξία έχουν τα λόγια του δεύτερου συζύγου της Agatha, Max Mallowan, σχετικά με το Ημιτελές Πορτρέτο :
"Ένα μείγμα μυθοπλασίας και πραγματικών γεγονότων και προσώπων. Ο χαρακτήρας της Σίλια [η κεντρική ηρωίδα] αποτελεί ό,τι πλησιέστερο έχουμε σε ένα ψυχολογικό πορτρέτο της Άγκαθα."
January 8, 2019
I felt a bit cheated as this book is 90% Christie’s autobiography, which I read in 2018.
But, still I will give it 4 stars because I loved the biography and I think Christie really wanted to share something personal with this book. When you read this, you can be sure that Celia IS Agatha.
Only after chapter 10 the descriptions of her life begin to deviate a bit from her bio.
Chapter 18 is mostly very new. I guess this is what really happened to Christie in real life. Here the descriptions of the torment she lived are more detailed. Maybe because she wrote this just a few years after he abandoned her, and she was still bitter? In her bio, the dedicates just 2 pages to whole divorce and nervous breakdown topic.
I assume that when this book got published, it was still a secret that Mary Westmacott and Agatha Christie were the same person.
But, still I will give it 4 stars because I loved the biography and I think Christie really wanted to share something personal with this book. When you read this, you can be sure that Celia IS Agatha.
Only after chapter 10 the descriptions of her life begin to deviate a bit from her bio.
Chapter 18 is mostly very new. I guess this is what really happened to Christie in real life. Here the descriptions of the torment she lived are more detailed. Maybe because she wrote this just a few years after he abandoned her, and she was still bitter? In her bio, the dedicates just 2 pages to whole divorce and nervous breakdown topic.
I assume that when this book got published, it was still a secret that Mary Westmacott and Agatha Christie were the same person.
November 17, 2012
I’ve always been really curious about Agatha Christie’s work as Mary Westmacott so I decided to start by reading an Unfinished Portrait.
First of all let me just say that I’ve always been a great fan of her work and for that reason my expectations towards this book were high - unfortunately they weren’t met. I didn’t like the main character – thought she was too submissive and naïve – and the writing was a bit dry. The plot wasn’t that appealing; I kept hopping that something interesting would happen but it didn’t.
Reading this book was a bit of a challenge but I managed to finish it; I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you more accustomed to her crime novels.
First of all let me just say that I’ve always been a great fan of her work and for that reason my expectations towards this book were high - unfortunately they weren’t met. I didn’t like the main character – thought she was too submissive and naïve – and the writing was a bit dry. The plot wasn’t that appealing; I kept hopping that something interesting would happen but it didn’t.
Reading this book was a bit of a challenge but I managed to finish it; I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if you more accustomed to her crime novels.
February 6, 2017
had it been possible, I would have given it 4.5 stars - this book gives a very good idea of whom Agatha Christie was - just loved it
July 15, 2019
This book is based on Agatha Christie’s early life. If you read her autobiography first, you can see clearly how connected the two books are!
April 17, 2023
Unfinished Portrait este cel de-al doilea roman scris de Agatha Christie sub pseudonimul de Mary Westmacott și cartea aleasă pentru luna aprilie pentru #provocareaAgathaChristie
Publicat în 1934, volumul deapănă povestea de viață a Celiei, ce în urma unui divorț dureros se gândește la sinucidere. În timpul unui sejur pe o insulă exotică, îl întâlnește pe Larraby, un pictor specializat în portrete, căruia îi povestește copilăria, adolescența, mariajul eșuat și urmările sale.
Cartea este inspirată chiar de viața autoarei, așa că romanul ia forma unei lecturi semi-autobiografice, în special în ceea ce privește prima ei căsnicie.
Începutul a fost mai greuț pentru mine, dar cea de-a doua parte e plină de reflecții intime a unei relații unde aprecierea curge doar dintr-o parte. Narațiunea este fluidă, iar personajele înțesate în atribute reale. Mesajul din spatele deciziilor protagonistei prinde culoare și sens pe cum înaintezi în lectură, dezvăluind un destin împovărat de iubirea oarbă pentru un soț indiferent.
Publicat în 1934, volumul deapănă povestea de viață a Celiei, ce în urma unui divorț dureros se gândește la sinucidere. În timpul unui sejur pe o insulă exotică, îl întâlnește pe Larraby, un pictor specializat în portrete, căruia îi povestește copilăria, adolescența, mariajul eșuat și urmările sale.
Cartea este inspirată chiar de viața autoarei, așa că romanul ia forma unei lecturi semi-autobiografice, în special în ceea ce privește prima ei căsnicie.
Începutul a fost mai greuț pentru mine, dar cea de-a doua parte e plină de reflecții intime a unei relații unde aprecierea curge doar dintr-o parte. Narațiunea este fluidă, iar personajele înțesate în atribute reale. Mesajul din spatele deciziilor protagonistei prinde culoare și sens pe cum înaintezi în lectură, dezvăluind un destin împovărat de iubirea oarbă pentru un soț indiferent.
February 7, 2011
**vague spoilers**
Very interesting to read a Christie "romance", not that there's much romance in it. Great insight into human behaviour in the context of the social structure of the time (1930s).
The best thing about the book is the contrast between Celia's cosetted dreamworld of a childhood, where she was shielded from everything, had nannies and staff running after her and a doting mother, and her bleak adult life; poor, married to an emotionless husband with a daughter who turns out like her "sensible" father rather than her "silly" mother.
The ending is a bit rushed but I thought it was clever how the "Gun Man" of her childhood nightmares came back into the conclusion of the book.
Overall, a very well-written story which proves that Christie wasn't just the Queen of Crime. After reading Unfinished Portrait, I will now go out of my way to find more Westmacott novels to enjoy.
Very interesting to read a Christie "romance", not that there's much romance in it. Great insight into human behaviour in the context of the social structure of the time (1930s).
The best thing about the book is the contrast between Celia's cosetted dreamworld of a childhood, where she was shielded from everything, had nannies and staff running after her and a doting mother, and her bleak adult life; poor, married to an emotionless husband with a daughter who turns out like her "sensible" father rather than her "silly" mother.
The ending is a bit rushed but I thought it was clever how the "Gun Man" of her childhood nightmares came back into the conclusion of the book.
Overall, a very well-written story which proves that Christie wasn't just the Queen of Crime. After reading Unfinished Portrait, I will now go out of my way to find more Westmacott novels to enjoy.
July 12, 2021
It took me a while to get into this one, but I'm very glad I pushed through. The story starts with Celia, on the edge of committing suicide. She meets the painter Larabby, and tells him about her life. The book itself is Larabby's written portrait of Celia. He narrates the story of her life: beginning with her youth, her adolescent years and so on goes through all the stages of her life until the age of 39 (the moment they meet). When you finally start to feel happy for Celia, her life turns around. The question remains what effect the meeting with Larabby will have on Celia.
The story is very beautifully written. It's also very interesting because of the image it gives of women's role in society in the early twentieth century.
Three stars because the beginning chapters were a bit dragging in my opinion, for sure compared to the other Westmacott novels. Either way a great read.
The story is very beautifully written. It's also very interesting because of the image it gives of women's role in society in the early twentieth century.
Three stars because the beginning chapters were a bit dragging in my opinion, for sure compared to the other Westmacott novels. Either way a great read.
April 1, 2024
Düzü, Aqata Kristinin başqa adla qeyri-detektiv əsərlər yazdığını bilmirdim. Yaxşı mənada təəccübləndim və araşdırma qabiliyyətimə şübhə ilə yanaşdım.
“Natamam portret” əsərində Seliya adlı bir qadının həyat hekayəsindən bəhs edilir. Bu hekayədə nə Ceyn Eyrin dramı var, nə də Elizabet Bennetin ironiyası. Sən demə, sadə, şablon həyatdan da, sadəlövh insanın dünyanın o biri üzünü gördükcə böyüməsindən də maraqlı və oxunaqlı roman yazmaq olarmış. Süjeti laxlamır, inamla irəliləyir və məntiqi sonuna çatır.
İki əsr öncə İngiltərədə yaşayan həmcinsimin müasir dövrün insanına yad olmayan problemlərdən əziyyət çəkdiyini görmək növbəti dəfə ilahi ədalətə deyil, ilahi komediyaya inamımı artırdı.
Sonda nə deyə bilərəm? Natamam portretlərin bir gün sərgiləri bəzəməsi, yarımçıq talelərin bir gün həyata qarışması diləyi ilə.
“Natamam portret” əsərində Seliya adlı bir qadının həyat hekayəsindən bəhs edilir. Bu hekayədə nə Ceyn Eyrin dramı var, nə də Elizabet Bennetin ironiyası. Sən demə, sadə, şablon həyatdan da, sadəlövh insanın dünyanın o biri üzünü gördükcə böyüməsindən də maraqlı və oxunaqlı roman yazmaq olarmış. Süjeti laxlamır, inamla irəliləyir və məntiqi sonuna çatır.
İki əsr öncə İngiltərədə yaşayan həmcinsimin müasir dövrün insanına yad olmayan problemlərdən əziyyət çəkdiyini görmək növbəti dəfə ilahi ədalətə deyil, ilahi komediyaya inamımı artırdı.
Sonda nə deyə bilərəm? Natamam portretlərin bir gün sərgiləri bəzəməsi, yarımçıq talelərin bir gün həyata qarışması diləyi ilə.
November 18, 2022
Pewien malarz spacerował po egzotycznej wyspie. W pewnym momencie zauważa kobietę i zwraca uwagę na jej rysy twarzy. Bardzo szybko wyczuwa, że ona chce popełnić samobójstwo, więc podchodzi do niej. Odwiódł ją od pierwotnego zamiaru i skłania Celie do zwierzeń na temat swojej przeszłości, co trwało całą noc. Postanowił wszystko zapisać.
To była ciekawa lektura. Trudno jest nie lubić Celie, która jest bardzo delikatną oraz wrażliwą dziewczynką, a potem kobietą. Przyglądamy się jej życiu od kiedy miała trzy latka. Poznajemy jaką miała relację z matką, bratem, ojcem, nianią czy innymi rówieśniczkami. Możemy zaobserwować jak jej wyobrażenia o życiu oraz miłości zderzają się z rzeczywistością, a to bolesne zderzenie ze ścianą. Autorka daje też nam do namysłu jak dzieciństwo oraz ludzie, którzy nas otaczają wpływają na odbiór różnych rzeczy już w dorosłym życiu.
Nie jestem fanką tego typu obyczajówek. Zwykle one są dla mnie nudne, a fabuła bardzo się przeciąga. Jednak tutaj czułam się bardzo zaciekawiona, a wszystkie elementy tej historii układałam sobie niczym puzzle, żeby stworzyć pełny obraz sytuacji i żeby przede wszystkim zrozumieć skąd to wszystko się wytworzyło. To powolny proces, więc trzeba się uzbroić w cierpliwość i metodycznie przesuwać się rozdział za rozdziałem.
To była ciekawa lektura. Trudno jest nie lubić Celie, która jest bardzo delikatną oraz wrażliwą dziewczynką, a potem kobietą. Przyglądamy się jej życiu od kiedy miała trzy latka. Poznajemy jaką miała relację z matką, bratem, ojcem, nianią czy innymi rówieśniczkami. Możemy zaobserwować jak jej wyobrażenia o życiu oraz miłości zderzają się z rzeczywistością, a to bolesne zderzenie ze ścianą. Autorka daje też nam do namysłu jak dzieciństwo oraz ludzie, którzy nas otaczają wpływają na odbiór różnych rzeczy już w dorosłym życiu.
Nie jestem fanką tego typu obyczajówek. Zwykle one są dla mnie nudne, a fabuła bardzo się przeciąga. Jednak tutaj czułam się bardzo zaciekawiona, a wszystkie elementy tej historii układałam sobie niczym puzzle, żeby stworzyć pełny obraz sytuacji i żeby przede wszystkim zrozumieć skąd to wszystko się wytworzyło. To powolny proces, więc trzeba się uzbroić w cierpliwość i metodycznie przesuwać się rozdział za rozdziałem.
March 4, 2021
And so the great Agatha Christie project comes to an end. This is the last of her Mary Westmacott novels, at least in the order that I read them in, and it was a pretty fitting end because it’s basically the quintessential Westmacott novel, with everything that that entails.
Christie’s Westmacott books leave the murder mystery stuff behind and focus instead on the relationships between people. How that actually works in practice can vary quite a lot and some of them are much better than others. This one was towards the better end, although I’m not particularly convinced about the overall setup to the book, the gimmick in which it’s presented as an unfinished portrait of a person’s life, a bit like an unfinished painting.
There’s not too much to say about this one because all of the goodness comes from the subtleties of the interactions between the different characters. It’s not a fast-paced novel, although it does feel like one if you’re able to get the Agatha Christie signature edition, which is a beautiful artefact in its own right.
I can understand why people don’t read the Westmacott books, but I do think that they’re worth giving a try, especially if you’re a fan of more introspective fiction that holds up a mirror to the reader and sees if they’re found wanting. It’s like literary fiction, except easier to read. And yes, there’s a little romance there. It’s just not the overriding premise, with it factoring in instead in the same way that love generally plays a part in life.
So would I recommend this one? Well, it depends. To a general reader, probably not. To an Agatha Christie fan, though, it’s definitely worth giving at least one of her Westmacott novels a go, and this is as good a book to pick up as any of them. It’s also just the right length, lasting for just long enough to stop it from getting dull. So yeah.
Christie’s Westmacott books leave the murder mystery stuff behind and focus instead on the relationships between people. How that actually works in practice can vary quite a lot and some of them are much better than others. This one was towards the better end, although I’m not particularly convinced about the overall setup to the book, the gimmick in which it’s presented as an unfinished portrait of a person’s life, a bit like an unfinished painting.
There’s not too much to say about this one because all of the goodness comes from the subtleties of the interactions between the different characters. It’s not a fast-paced novel, although it does feel like one if you’re able to get the Agatha Christie signature edition, which is a beautiful artefact in its own right.
I can understand why people don’t read the Westmacott books, but I do think that they’re worth giving a try, especially if you’re a fan of more introspective fiction that holds up a mirror to the reader and sees if they’re found wanting. It’s like literary fiction, except easier to read. And yes, there’s a little romance there. It’s just not the overriding premise, with it factoring in instead in the same way that love generally plays a part in life.
So would I recommend this one? Well, it depends. To a general reader, probably not. To an Agatha Christie fan, though, it’s definitely worth giving at least one of her Westmacott novels a go, and this is as good a book to pick up as any of them. It’s also just the right length, lasting for just long enough to stop it from getting dull. So yeah.
October 17, 2023
The ending of this book had me in a daze, I was mind blown!!!!! It was so mysterious, I still have questions and yet it answered just enough of the questions to know what happened!! I want to know more about our narrator Larraby - like a portrait painter who can't paint anymore? Intriguing.
Loved the image of the Gun Man throughout the narrative.
I started reading this not realizing it was largely based off Christie's life and then started realizing it as I was reading. It definitely felt very personal and Christie's most thorough examination of a character. Larraby described Celia as someone who lives " by the inner vision" and I think that is a good way to describe Christie too.
What jumped out at me, among many other things, about Celia's narrative is the unique creativity of her mother which was obviously passed down to Celia/Agatha and also that this time period really put women in shitty situations where they literally knew nothing about married life, real life, employment skills, etc, so they were completely at the mercy of whatever dude they married. You see this Celia, her naivety is her biggest issue, but also kind of tied into her imagination/"inner vision". Her mother and grandmother try to warn her about "the men" but she doesn't listen.
I thought Christie's depiction of Dermot (Archie character) was interesting because it wasn't like he was total trash all the time, but there were subtle flaws here and there that showed his real character. He felt like a real person because you could see how it was not obvious at all times that he was a jerk deep down.
ANYWAY shoutout to Agatha Christie for finding happiness in her second marriage and becoming so wildly successful with her books that the only reason anyone even remembers her first husband is because of her.... ✊✊
Loved the image of the Gun Man throughout the narrative.
I started reading this not realizing it was largely based off Christie's life and then started realizing it as I was reading. It definitely felt very personal and Christie's most thorough examination of a character. Larraby described Celia as someone who lives " by the inner vision" and I think that is a good way to describe Christie too.
What jumped out at me, among many other things, about Celia's narrative is the unique creativity of her mother which was obviously passed down to Celia/Agatha and also that this time period really put women in shitty situations where they literally knew nothing about married life, real life, employment skills, etc, so they were completely at the mercy of whatever dude they married. You see this Celia, her naivety is her biggest issue, but also kind of tied into her imagination/"inner vision". Her mother and grandmother try to warn her about "the men" but she doesn't listen.
I thought Christie's depiction of Dermot (Archie character) was interesting because it wasn't like he was total trash all the time, but there were subtle flaws here and there that showed his real character. He felt like a real person because you could see how it was not obvious at all times that he was a jerk deep down.
ANYWAY shoutout to Agatha Christie for finding happiness in her second marriage and becoming so wildly successful with her books that the only reason anyone even remembers her first husband is because of her.... ✊✊
March 24, 2019
Very interesting basis for a book--the story is written by a painter who attempts to create a "portrait" of a subject. The subject is a woman named Celia and the story basically follows the story of her life. I really liked the themes that came out through Celia's naivety and almost childish understanding of people in conjunction with the nightmare of the "Gun Man." The final realization about who the Gun Man really is was quite thought-provoking!
Also, really think about the person you're going to marry, people!! That seems to be a common theme in the Mary Westmacott's--can't help but think it's Christie's way of thinking about her own first marriage.
Also, really think about the person you're going to marry, people!! That seems to be a common theme in the Mary Westmacott's--can't help but think it's Christie's way of thinking about her own first marriage.
July 3, 2020
What a wonderful book on which to complete my love affair with Agatha Christie. I’ve finally read them all. A bittersweet event!
Was this autobiographical? We’ll never know. I have read her life story and there seems to be a lot of similarities. She was a very complicated woman.
Again, I was floored by her crude, distasteful references to Jews and African-Americans. It is appalling even though it was written in 1934.
Was this autobiographical? We’ll never know. I have read her life story and there seems to be a lot of similarities. She was a very complicated woman.
Again, I was floored by her crude, distasteful references to Jews and African-Americans. It is appalling even though it was written in 1934.
August 24, 2025
I keep thinking that this story didn't need to exist. Apparently it's somewhat autobiographical which explains its existence but it's just so... blah. The premise is that an unnamed man who was somehow injured in the war and with his own demons, spots a woman, Celia, sitting alone on top of a cliff and he just knows she's about to commit suicide. He's determined that she doesn't and spends the rest of the day and night talking to her about her life and what led her to this point. And then he writes down the narrative of her story up to this point. There's the implication that her life story is tragic, life shattering, etc but it turns out to be the most banal story in the world. I won't spoil it but trust me, you wouldn't be missing out on any great plot twists even if I did. The whole thing is remarkably predictable, commonplace and uninteresting. I guess this is what you might call a "character study" type of story as nothing really happens, there's no real plot, the whole book is just the recounting of Celia's life from early childhood until the age of 39. The problem for me, is that Celia is a poor choice of character to write a character study on: she's a wet noodle and uninteresting in every way.
It was well written, of course, which is why I didn't DNF it, but I probably should have. I loved all the other Westmacott stories I read but this one I struggled with from start to finish and it took me 3 tries to even start it. I should've taken that as a sign to leave it alone.
It was well written, of course, which is why I didn't DNF it, but I probably should have. I loved all the other Westmacott stories I read but this one I struggled with from start to finish and it took me 3 tries to even start it. I should've taken that as a sign to leave it alone.
March 21, 2023
My first novel by Agatha Christie that's written under her Westmacott pen name. And what a novel it is!
It takes place in First WW era England and tells the life story of a woman, from childhood to adulthood. The characters the author creates and describes are astoundingly complex and sophisticated, original yet somehow familiar. I've had my gripes about her character writing before - the shallow, throwaway characters that occupy many of her other novels - but this is next level. You can feel Christie's mastery in this, her raw talent for capturing scenes and people, and effortlessly making them come to life. If I didn't know any better, I'd think this novel almost autobiographical.
While this type of fiction is definitely not my usual fare, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The Queen of Crime is full of surprises after all.
It takes place in First WW era England and tells the life story of a woman, from childhood to adulthood. The characters the author creates and describes are astoundingly complex and sophisticated, original yet somehow familiar. I've had my gripes about her character writing before - the shallow, throwaway characters that occupy many of her other novels - but this is next level. You can feel Christie's mastery in this, her raw talent for capturing scenes and people, and effortlessly making them come to life. If I didn't know any better, I'd think this novel almost autobiographical.
While this type of fiction is definitely not my usual fare, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The Queen of Crime is full of surprises after all.
May 6, 2022
Unfinished Portrait follows a woman named Celia from childhood to her late 30s, and apparently it's a good reflection of Agatha Christie herself. I definitely prefer her crime/mystery novels since they have a stronger plot, but this wasn't bad for a slower book outside of her normal genre.
The blatant racism (multiple n-words and all) was jarring. I guess that's to be expected in a book written by a wealthy white English woman in the 1930s, but it still feels gross to read.
The blatant racism (multiple n-words and all) was jarring. I guess that's to be expected in a book written by a wealthy white English woman in the 1930s, but it still feels gross to read.
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