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The Curiosities
The follow-up to Susan Gloss’s successful debut, Vintage, is a charming mid-western story of artists, inspiration, and how to reinvent your life with purpose and flair
Nell Parker has a PhD in Art History, a loving husband named Josh, and a Craftsman bungalow in Madison, WI. But her last pregnancy ended later in the second trimester, and rather than pausing to grieve, she pushes harder for testing and fertility treatments. Urging Nell to apply for jobs, Josh believes his wife needs something else to focus on other than a baby that may never be.
Finding a job turns out to be difficult for an art historian . . . until Nell sees the ad seeking a director for a new nonprofit called the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony. The colony is the brainchild of the late, unconventional society dame Betsy Barrett, who left behind her vast fortune and a killer collection of modern art to establish an artist-in-residency program to be run out of her lakeside mansion. The executor of Betsy’s estate simply hands Nell a set of house keys and wishes her luck.
Nell dives into the new role and discovers that while finding artists to fill the three residency slots is easy, managing their eccentric personalities is not. There’s Odin, a young metal sculptor, who keeps the other residents awake with his late-night welding projects. And Annie, a dreadlocked granny known for her gritty photography, whom Nell is almost certain is dealing pot out of the basement “studio.” Lastly, Paige, an art student from the university, takes up residence in the third-floor turret, experimenting with new printing and design techniques, as well as leading a string of bad boyfriends upstairs when she stumbles home late at night.
Despite all the drama, Nell finds something akin to a family among the members of the creative community that she’s brought together. And when her attraction to Odin begins to heat up, Nell is forced to decide what will bring her greater joy—the creative, inspired world she’s created, or the familiar but increasingly fragile one of her marriage.
Nell Parker has a PhD in Art History, a loving husband named Josh, and a Craftsman bungalow in Madison, WI. But her last pregnancy ended later in the second trimester, and rather than pausing to grieve, she pushes harder for testing and fertility treatments. Urging Nell to apply for jobs, Josh believes his wife needs something else to focus on other than a baby that may never be.
Finding a job turns out to be difficult for an art historian . . . until Nell sees the ad seeking a director for a new nonprofit called the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony. The colony is the brainchild of the late, unconventional society dame Betsy Barrett, who left behind her vast fortune and a killer collection of modern art to establish an artist-in-residency program to be run out of her lakeside mansion. The executor of Betsy’s estate simply hands Nell a set of house keys and wishes her luck.
Nell dives into the new role and discovers that while finding artists to fill the three residency slots is easy, managing their eccentric personalities is not. There’s Odin, a young metal sculptor, who keeps the other residents awake with his late-night welding projects. And Annie, a dreadlocked granny known for her gritty photography, whom Nell is almost certain is dealing pot out of the basement “studio.” Lastly, Paige, an art student from the university, takes up residence in the third-floor turret, experimenting with new printing and design techniques, as well as leading a string of bad boyfriends upstairs when she stumbles home late at night.
Despite all the drama, Nell finds something akin to a family among the members of the creative community that she’s brought together. And when her attraction to Odin begins to heat up, Nell is forced to decide what will bring her greater joy—the creative, inspired world she’s created, or the familiar but increasingly fragile one of her marriage.
368 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2019
100 people are currently reading
3927 people want to read
About the author
Susan Gloss
3 books293 followersSusan Gloss is the author of the novels VINTAGE and THE CURIOSITIES. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she majored in English and Spanish, and the University of Wisconsin Law School. She lives with her family in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
March 27, 2019
“Art is like life. It’s fragile, but that doesn’t mean you should never take a risk.”
It always feels serendipitous when a novel lands itself in your hands at just the right moment in life, at a time when you can truly connect and appreciate the journey painted across the pages.
My first experience with Susan Gloss’s work proof positive that there’s solidarity to be found in our shared experiences and vulnerabilities. Putting a voice to the things that haunt us the most can often be healing.
Gloss introduces readers to Nell, a woman with a PhD in art history struggling to identify her next move in life; especially if motherhood is out of the question. The tragic loss of Baby Girl Parker, followed by three unsuccessful and very expensive rounds of IVF, find Nell overcome with grief, drowning in debt, and continuously lying to her husband’s face. Until the opportunity to be the director of an artist’s colony lands in her lap and provides a reprieve of sorts.
“It’s a cruel joke of nature, really, that our bodies are ready for babies long before our brains.”
I’m not sure if there is a string of words more fitting to my life. For some women, motherhood is a no-brainer. For others, like myself, it takes a bit more time to sign your name on the dotted line for the adventures parenthood promises. Once the decision is solidified—adding a little to the mix now a definite want—it can be defeating and humbling when conception doesn’t happen instantaneously. Suddenly noticing every pregnant woman and newborn baby within a mile radius is par for the course, I guess. And one of the reasons, aside from the similarity in our ages, that I found myself connecting with Nell. Gloss takes things a step further, exploring heartbreaking loss, grief and the reality that there is a way through . . . together.
What I found interesting was how Gloss juxtaposed the two very different women at the heart of the story; Nell, who ached for nothing more than to be a mother and Betsy, who never had the desire, opting instead to travel the world with her husband and immersing herself in local art scenes. Upon her death, Betsy bequeathed her home, art collection and fortune to provide residencies to artists looking for a time out. And in a twist of fate, hope and a much-needed lifeline to Nell.
While the majority of the story is told from Nell’s perspective, Betsy and the three artists selected for the inaugural year of the residency, each take turns at the helm. Weighed down with art supplies and emotional baggage, Odin, Paige, and Annie form a connection with Nell and one another—the creative community becoming a family. Their artistic prowess and shared stories the catalyst for healing.
The flow of Gloss’s words, and the relatable woes each character brings to the storyline, work in conjunction to ensnare the reader. Brace yourself for the myriad of emotions at play here. There were a few times I had assumed the author glossed (excuse the pun *wink*) over things, only for her to reveal the full story at a more fitting time. Much like life, the story comes out in due time, when things feel right.
*Thank you to William Morrow for providing a review copy.
July 19, 2018
Grief makes for powerful stories because it is so personal. Even when two people lose the same loved one, their experiences are not the same. Perhaps it is the finality of death that makes it so; we grieve for a future that like all futures, is wholly personal and, because of death, forever lost. How we move forward after losing someone says so much about who we are, and who we might become.
In The Curiosities, Nell's response to her late miscarriage is complex. Her desire for a child consumes her and leads her to hide from her husband the vast sums she has borrowed in their pursuit of parenthood. But her financial straits also lead her to a job as manager of a nascent artist's colony, and it is through this work Nell must find her future--one way or another.
Gloss weaves Nell's story with that of Betsy Barrett, the deceased arts patron who founded the colony. Betsy's life, lived without apology on her own terms, is a clever counterpoint to Nell's struggles. Gloss also uses Betsy's narrative to frame the work of the three artists in the colony, each of whom present challenges for Nell, each other and themselves. As a reader, I loved the structure of the book. As a writer, I admired Gloss's skill in pulling it all together.
The Curiosities is full of gorgeous, perceptive descriptions of art and its creation; you will feel the angst, triumph and joy. And I'm a tough old bird but Nell's story brought me to tears, darn it! Wonderfully written, with memorable characters and deep emotional insights, it was an absorbing, satisfying read--with a perfect ending.
In The Curiosities, Nell's response to her late miscarriage is complex. Her desire for a child consumes her and leads her to hide from her husband the vast sums she has borrowed in their pursuit of parenthood. But her financial straits also lead her to a job as manager of a nascent artist's colony, and it is through this work Nell must find her future--one way or another.
Gloss weaves Nell's story with that of Betsy Barrett, the deceased arts patron who founded the colony. Betsy's life, lived without apology on her own terms, is a clever counterpoint to Nell's struggles. Gloss also uses Betsy's narrative to frame the work of the three artists in the colony, each of whom present challenges for Nell, each other and themselves. As a reader, I loved the structure of the book. As a writer, I admired Gloss's skill in pulling it all together.
The Curiosities is full of gorgeous, perceptive descriptions of art and its creation; you will feel the angst, triumph and joy. And I'm a tough old bird but Nell's story brought me to tears, darn it! Wonderfully written, with memorable characters and deep emotional insights, it was an absorbing, satisfying read--with a perfect ending.
April 29, 2019
I loved "Vintage" and gave it fours stars when I read it back in 2014 and kept my eye out to see when Susan Gloss would publish another book. Unfortunately, I found this follow-up to "Vintage" to be disappointing. This book doesn't do a good job of linking all of the stories to each other. Artists living together in a "colony" didn't help link things since they were all going through so many things and felt like roommates that passed in the night. It didn't help that one of the POVs we get is from a character who has passed away. I just felt jumbled the entire time I read this and ended up disliking most of the characters too.
"The Curiosities" follows Nell Parker who after dealing with losing her baby in the second trimester, throws herself into fertility treatments leaving her and her husband (without his knowledge) deeply in debt. Nell finds a job hoping that she can start chipping away at their debt. She ends up getting a job as a director of a new artist's retreat. For readers who read "Vintage" we know that the character that did this was Betsy. Nell ends up focusing on her new artists that are staying at the mansion turned colony. The other characters are Paige (young and self absorbed), Annie (older and self absorbed) and Odin (harboring romantic feelings towards Nell).
Nell suffered a devastating loss and I thought the one scene we get to show her and her husband holding their daughter as she dies was heartbreaking. If we had gotten more of that maybe I would have liked Nell more. She lies to her husband and seems to be entertaining thoughts about Odin (that name you guys). Her husband Josh felt more present to me as a character and I wish we had gotten some POVs with him as well.
Annie was a jerk. I hated her whole story-line. Her studying addiction series sounded pretentious as hell. The fallout from it seemed like an after thought to other characters though. How no one went off on her is baffling.
Paige was boring. She meets a guy she likes him and then runs away from it. Ho-hum.
Odin was just there. I found myself skimming his chapters.
The writing wasn't as engaging as it was in Vintage. Gloss does the same thing here she did with calling out who is "speaking" by chapter and including some information on art while doing that. In "Vintage" she included description of clothes, hats, etc. and when they were first bought and sold. The flow was awful in this one. Probably because I found myself only really caring about Betsy's POV chapters. I wish that Gloss had included more from the characters she introduced us to in Vintage. We only see a brief scene that includes Violet.
The setting of Madison doesn't get a lot of play in this one unfortunately. We have Paige going to college and there's a little bit here and there. However, most of the book takes place in Betsy's old mansion now turned colony. We hear a lot about how beautiful it is and the art work, but I couldn't picture it very well which was a shame.
The ending leaves things on a slightly hopeful note for Nell. I just didn't much care by the time the end came about what becomes of the other characters.
I tend to only talk about price when I am disappointed in a book and this costing $14.99 was too much. Especially for a follow-up. The last book was $11.99 and I recall thinking that was too high. Considering how lackluster this was I am going to just pass on any more books from Gloss unless I can borrow from the library.
"The Curiosities" follows Nell Parker who after dealing with losing her baby in the second trimester, throws herself into fertility treatments leaving her and her husband (without his knowledge) deeply in debt. Nell finds a job hoping that she can start chipping away at their debt. She ends up getting a job as a director of a new artist's retreat. For readers who read "Vintage" we know that the character that did this was Betsy. Nell ends up focusing on her new artists that are staying at the mansion turned colony. The other characters are Paige (young and self absorbed), Annie (older and self absorbed) and Odin (harboring romantic feelings towards Nell).
Nell suffered a devastating loss and I thought the one scene we get to show her and her husband holding their daughter as she dies was heartbreaking. If we had gotten more of that maybe I would have liked Nell more. She lies to her husband and seems to be entertaining thoughts about Odin (that name you guys). Her husband Josh felt more present to me as a character and I wish we had gotten some POVs with him as well.
Annie was a jerk. I hated her whole story-line. Her studying addiction series sounded pretentious as hell. The fallout from it seemed like an after thought to other characters though. How no one went off on her is baffling.
Paige was boring. She meets a guy she likes him and then runs away from it. Ho-hum.
Odin was just there. I found myself skimming his chapters.
The writing wasn't as engaging as it was in Vintage. Gloss does the same thing here she did with calling out who is "speaking" by chapter and including some information on art while doing that. In "Vintage" she included description of clothes, hats, etc. and when they were first bought and sold. The flow was awful in this one. Probably because I found myself only really caring about Betsy's POV chapters. I wish that Gloss had included more from the characters she introduced us to in Vintage. We only see a brief scene that includes Violet.
The setting of Madison doesn't get a lot of play in this one unfortunately. We have Paige going to college and there's a little bit here and there. However, most of the book takes place in Betsy's old mansion now turned colony. We hear a lot about how beautiful it is and the art work, but I couldn't picture it very well which was a shame.
The ending leaves things on a slightly hopeful note for Nell. I just didn't much care by the time the end came about what becomes of the other characters.
I tend to only talk about price when I am disappointed in a book and this costing $14.99 was too much. Especially for a follow-up. The last book was $11.99 and I recall thinking that was too high. Considering how lackluster this was I am going to just pass on any more books from Gloss unless I can borrow from the library.
February 7, 2019
This is an exquisite book about the resilience of the human spirit. Nell takes a job as the director of an artist colony that is left in a trust by Betsy Barrett. There are three artists in residence, Paige, Annie and Odin. This is their story. Each chapter is told in the alternating voices of each character. To me, this worked beautifully. I felt that I knew each character and they captivated me. The characters are superbly developed and true to life. I could feel their grief, pain and hope. This is a book about the intricate bonds that tie us together as human beings. It is about letting people in despite our flaws. It is about pain, loss and grief and how together we can heal. We just have to let people in. This book touched me on such a deep level. I absolutely loved this book. I would like to leave you with my favorite quote: "Art is like life. It's fragile, but that doesn't mean you should never take a risk." Highly recommended read.
January 7, 2019
A richly layered tale of the intersection of five very different lives, The Curiosities uniquely depicts how each step in the journey leads us where we're ultimately meant to be. Page by page, Gloss proves that the beauty of life-like art-is often revealed to us a little at a time.
February 5, 2019
Five very different and complicated stories are told within the pages of The Curiosities by Susan Gloss. All are contained by the talented, yet somewhat broken and resilient Nell. Its a beautiful snapshot into each life. I would love for every character to have a shining moment as captain in books to come from this author. This is my first read by Susan Gloss so I am not familiar with her previous works, but that is about to change. What a wonderful way to be introduced.
~Tanja
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~Tanja
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July 23, 2019
I'm not sure I've ever read a book that takes place in my city. Recognizing my hometown in this novel was probably my favorite thing! From the little idiosyncrasies about Madison (like biking in the winter) to the street names and places, I loved that I got to see this place take center stage. I also loved that the focus of the book is about what makes a life full, about heart-wrenching loss in so many forms, and about making a full life in spite of that loss. Each character is dealing with some aspect of a broken life and learning how to mend those broken pieces. In that respect it was beautiful. I particularly felt attached to Nell and both her struggle with infertility and the loss of her late term pregnancy.
My complaint with the book is that we didn't get a chance to see the characters spend enough time with one another to feel that the family bond we're told they share by the end of the book is real. I'm not sure I really bought their connection by the end. But, overall I still enjoyed the book! And I thought the story being told through the lens of art was an interesting choice and one I haven't seen used much before.
My complaint with the book is that we didn't get a chance to see the characters spend enough time with one another to feel that the family bond we're told they share by the end of the book is real. I'm not sure I really bought their connection by the end. But, overall I still enjoyed the book! And I thought the story being told through the lens of art was an interesting choice and one I haven't seen used much before.
February 17, 2019
As many of you know, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to read more books outside my comfort zone. I do read a lot of women’s fiction, but I often pass on books that have anything to do with pregnancy loss or infertility.
Not necessarily because it’s a sensitive subject, but more because I often find that it’s incredibly heavy and when I read, I want something happy. This book caught me a little unaware when it came to its subject matter, but that was mostly my fault.
This cover looks so happy and colorful. Just looking at this cover made me think spring. I have also seen a lot of hype for this book on my social media, and mainly my Facebook group, Bloom Tall Poppy Writers. This author is a Tall Poppy Writer and when I saw this book up for review, I eagerly jumped at it for these two reasons. I didn’t really know what it was about—just that I wanted to read it.
Had I actually read the description, I probably would have passed, but I didn’t and that was a stoke of luck.
This is an incredible book. Beautiful and well written don’t even begin to describe how wonderful this book is. But forewarning, this book is heavy and does discuss difficult subject matter that might be triggers for some such as pregnancy loss and infertility. But, this book takes this difficult subject matter and creates a stunning story of the human spirit.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how well Gloss contrasted her two main female characters. There is Nell who wants nothing more than to have a baby, and then you have Betsy on the opposite end of the spectrum, who never wanted children. I thought this was such a powerful way to highlight similarities and flaws within the characters.
Even though this was an emotional and heavy story, I loved watching the healing that took place throughout the story. There was part of me that was overwhelmed by the story but another part that just couldn’t put it down. The author should be proud of her ability to take a sensitive subject and make it enjoyable and beautiful.
This is most definitely a story about grief, loss, and how to move on. I have seen a number of other reviewers comment on how the themes of the book worked so well together and I would completely agree. It’s interesting to see how some people process grief and I was completely sucked into this story and cycle of grief and moving on. The ending is a little ambiguous but I think it works for this kind of story.
I haven’t read anything by Gloss before but I was very moved by this book and enjoyed it so much. I am looking forward to reading more by her. She is one to watch!
See my full review here
Not necessarily because it’s a sensitive subject, but more because I often find that it’s incredibly heavy and when I read, I want something happy. This book caught me a little unaware when it came to its subject matter, but that was mostly my fault.
This cover looks so happy and colorful. Just looking at this cover made me think spring. I have also seen a lot of hype for this book on my social media, and mainly my Facebook group, Bloom Tall Poppy Writers. This author is a Tall Poppy Writer and when I saw this book up for review, I eagerly jumped at it for these two reasons. I didn’t really know what it was about—just that I wanted to read it.
Had I actually read the description, I probably would have passed, but I didn’t and that was a stoke of luck.
This is an incredible book. Beautiful and well written don’t even begin to describe how wonderful this book is. But forewarning, this book is heavy and does discuss difficult subject matter that might be triggers for some such as pregnancy loss and infertility. But, this book takes this difficult subject matter and creates a stunning story of the human spirit.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how well Gloss contrasted her two main female characters. There is Nell who wants nothing more than to have a baby, and then you have Betsy on the opposite end of the spectrum, who never wanted children. I thought this was such a powerful way to highlight similarities and flaws within the characters.
Even though this was an emotional and heavy story, I loved watching the healing that took place throughout the story. There was part of me that was overwhelmed by the story but another part that just couldn’t put it down. The author should be proud of her ability to take a sensitive subject and make it enjoyable and beautiful.
This is most definitely a story about grief, loss, and how to move on. I have seen a number of other reviewers comment on how the themes of the book worked so well together and I would completely agree. It’s interesting to see how some people process grief and I was completely sucked into this story and cycle of grief and moving on. The ending is a little ambiguous but I think it works for this kind of story.
I haven’t read anything by Gloss before but I was very moved by this book and enjoyed it so much. I am looking forward to reading more by her. She is one to watch!
See my full review here
April 27, 2020
This is an enjoyable book but nothing really special.
After a failed pregnancy, Nell is hied as the director of a residential Artist’s Colony that was created to foster artistic talent. It’s founder, Betsy Barrett, left her sizable estate for it’s creation. The book follows the lives of Nell, Betsy (when she was alive) and the artists Paige, Odin and Annie. Each has to find their way in the world, surviving the ups and downs that life hands them.
The characters are interesting but not necessarily well portrayed. I have to say I didn’t like Paige all that much. The story is just OK. Women’s fiction light. There is not any real depth to the story, or to the writing. I had really liked the author’s other book, Vintage, so this one was a bit of a letdown. But it’s not a bad story and others may like it more than I did.
After a failed pregnancy, Nell is hied as the director of a residential Artist’s Colony that was created to foster artistic talent. It’s founder, Betsy Barrett, left her sizable estate for it’s creation. The book follows the lives of Nell, Betsy (when she was alive) and the artists Paige, Odin and Annie. Each has to find their way in the world, surviving the ups and downs that life hands them.
The characters are interesting but not necessarily well portrayed. I have to say I didn’t like Paige all that much. The story is just OK. Women’s fiction light. There is not any real depth to the story, or to the writing. I had really liked the author’s other book, Vintage, so this one was a bit of a letdown. But it’s not a bad story and others may like it more than I did.
February 7, 2019
The Curiosities is a poignant story of love and loss, grief and recovery. Told from several points of view, the author has woven their stories together in such a way that connects us to them. The story takes place at an artist’s retreat, run by a young woman who has suffered great loss, as have the artists in residence. Parts of the story are told in flashbacks, enhancing our understanding of these characters and their struggles. By the end of the book, my heart had expanded with love for the characters and the possibilities what their futures held.
January 31, 2019
This novel reached into my chest gripped my heart and held on. A book of growing, grief, forgiveness and love.
Great characters. Page turning story.
This is one of the most beautiful books ive read!
Great characters. Page turning story.
This is one of the most beautiful books ive read!
February 8, 2020
"Art is like life. It's fragile, but that doesn't mean you should never take a risk."
Nell Parker has a PHD, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home and another negative pregnancy test.
After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl who lived for a very short time and four failed IVF treatments, her husband and her decide to take some time off. Nell needs to find something to keep her occupied and she also needs to find a way to make money to pay off the mountain of debt that their IVF treatments have cost; which she has kept hidden from her husband, Josh.
When she sees an advertisement in the newspaper for a director position at the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony, she decides to inquire about the job. Less than 48 hours after seeing the advertisement, she is hired and begins working. The Colony was established by the late Betsy Barrett and was meant to serve as an escape for a select group of artists to be able to work on their newest projects. Prior to Betsy’s death she chose three artists to come and live in the colony; Odin, Paige and Annie.
Each artist is different in their own way. There’s Odin who focuses on metal-work to keep his mind off of an unforgettable heartbreak. Paige who seems to focus on anything and everything, especially her phone. And Annie, well she has a surprise photography project that she is working on and it may cause quite a stir.
When I first saw The Curiosities by Susan Gloss in the bookstore, I was immediately drawn to the cover of the book. While I don’t have much of an artistic side, I have always been drawn to the arts. I love the way that it allows for every person to express themselves in different ways. When I read the synopsis of The Curiosities, I was drawn in even more. I saw that the novel is the follow-up to Susan Gloss’s debut novel, Vintage, and chose to read Vintage first. Which I read and loved, it gave me all the good feelings. One of my favorite characters from Vintage was Betsy Barrett- it seemed like there was so much more to her story and I wanted to know what it was. In fact, through all of the glimpses of the characters’ lives in Vintage, I was disappointed that Betsy never had her own chapter. But, Susan Gloss didn’t let me down. She devoted a book to the life of Betsy Barrett and it was wonderful.
While I did find The Curiosities to be a bit slow at first, really, it was just the author setting the background of each character and their backgrounds are important. I was fascinated by this book and found myself utterly caught up with all of the characters- wanting to know more. At one point during the book, I found that I was crying through each individual’s chapter (on more than one occasion); their grief seemed so real to me.
What Susan Gloss did was give her readers a glimpse of all the tragedies that life can throw at you. The unfairness of age, illness, loss, death and even of love. What I appreciated most of all about this book is that Betsy Barrett was connected in different ways to each character- she left a piece of herself behind for each of them to discover. And while, in the beginning, it seemed that none of the artists had a connection to one another; in the end, what connected them all was their love of art.
I encourage you to pick up this book and give it a whirl.
Nell Parker has a PHD, a wonderful marriage, a beautiful home and another negative pregnancy test.
After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl who lived for a very short time and four failed IVF treatments, her husband and her decide to take some time off. Nell needs to find something to keep her occupied and she also needs to find a way to make money to pay off the mountain of debt that their IVF treatments have cost; which she has kept hidden from her husband, Josh.
When she sees an advertisement in the newspaper for a director position at the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony, she decides to inquire about the job. Less than 48 hours after seeing the advertisement, she is hired and begins working. The Colony was established by the late Betsy Barrett and was meant to serve as an escape for a select group of artists to be able to work on their newest projects. Prior to Betsy’s death she chose three artists to come and live in the colony; Odin, Paige and Annie.
Each artist is different in their own way. There’s Odin who focuses on metal-work to keep his mind off of an unforgettable heartbreak. Paige who seems to focus on anything and everything, especially her phone. And Annie, well she has a surprise photography project that she is working on and it may cause quite a stir.
When I first saw The Curiosities by Susan Gloss in the bookstore, I was immediately drawn to the cover of the book. While I don’t have much of an artistic side, I have always been drawn to the arts. I love the way that it allows for every person to express themselves in different ways. When I read the synopsis of The Curiosities, I was drawn in even more. I saw that the novel is the follow-up to Susan Gloss’s debut novel, Vintage, and chose to read Vintage first. Which I read and loved, it gave me all the good feelings. One of my favorite characters from Vintage was Betsy Barrett- it seemed like there was so much more to her story and I wanted to know what it was. In fact, through all of the glimpses of the characters’ lives in Vintage, I was disappointed that Betsy never had her own chapter. But, Susan Gloss didn’t let me down. She devoted a book to the life of Betsy Barrett and it was wonderful.
While I did find The Curiosities to be a bit slow at first, really, it was just the author setting the background of each character and their backgrounds are important. I was fascinated by this book and found myself utterly caught up with all of the characters- wanting to know more. At one point during the book, I found that I was crying through each individual’s chapter (on more than one occasion); their grief seemed so real to me.
What Susan Gloss did was give her readers a glimpse of all the tragedies that life can throw at you. The unfairness of age, illness, loss, death and even of love. What I appreciated most of all about this book is that Betsy Barrett was connected in different ways to each character- she left a piece of herself behind for each of them to discover. And while, in the beginning, it seemed that none of the artists had a connection to one another; in the end, what connected them all was their love of art.
I encourage you to pick up this book and give it a whirl.
February 1, 2019
"The Curiosities” is a novel divided into chapters that are told from the point of view of the individual characters living and working in an artist colony in Madison, Wisconsin. Nell Parker, who lives in Madison and has a PhD in art history, is the somewhat reluctant director of the colony, which was created at the behest of Betsy Barrett, the woman that envisioned the colony. After the recent loss of her preterm baby, Nell and her husband, Josh, an attorney, have been floundering while undergoing a round of infertility treatments. (The true cost of which Nell keeps to herself.) Nell took the job as a respite from her reoccurring thoughts of her tragedy, and also because she simply needs the money. Chose for her degree and not her managerial savvy, she is thrust into her role when the executor of Betsy’s will slaps the keys of a huge, old mansion on the edge of Madison into her hand and drives off.
Nell and the residents of the colony, (Including deceased benefactor Betsy Barrett) all have their stories revealed in their chapters. There is Paige, the offbeat recent art-school grad, Annie, an older artist of some past renown, and Odin, a young metal sculptor with his own tragic loss looming over his work. The first round of residents were chosen by Betsy before she died, and Nell’s job is essentially to keep them happily ensconced in the mansion while also tending to a myriad of other duties.
While Nell finds herself busily consumed with the activities at the newly minted "Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony,” her marriage continues its’ downward slide until fate, in the form of an arrest at the mansion, allows her to see her buttoned-up husband in a new light.
The story flows quite naturally around the characters in the book, and although I liked the arc of the novel, for some reason Betsy’s’ first chapter not being introduced until the fifth chapter threw me off. I liked that the background and history could be established with this character, however I would have preferred it happened earlier in the book, maybe as part of the Prologue. That is just my opinion, of course, and I quickly moved on from the thought as the story progressed.
The title caught my eye with this book. I think it could have derived from the descriptions of items cataloged by Nell that she found in mansion, but could easily apply to the characters as well, a curious mix of ages and personalities that blend to provide a satisfying and charming read.
Bookish and Proud
Nell and the residents of the colony, (Including deceased benefactor Betsy Barrett) all have their stories revealed in their chapters. There is Paige, the offbeat recent art-school grad, Annie, an older artist of some past renown, and Odin, a young metal sculptor with his own tragic loss looming over his work. The first round of residents were chosen by Betsy before she died, and Nell’s job is essentially to keep them happily ensconced in the mansion while also tending to a myriad of other duties.
While Nell finds herself busily consumed with the activities at the newly minted "Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony,” her marriage continues its’ downward slide until fate, in the form of an arrest at the mansion, allows her to see her buttoned-up husband in a new light.
The story flows quite naturally around the characters in the book, and although I liked the arc of the novel, for some reason Betsy’s’ first chapter not being introduced until the fifth chapter threw me off. I liked that the background and history could be established with this character, however I would have preferred it happened earlier in the book, maybe as part of the Prologue. That is just my opinion, of course, and I quickly moved on from the thought as the story progressed.
The title caught my eye with this book. I think it could have derived from the descriptions of items cataloged by Nell that she found in mansion, but could easily apply to the characters as well, a curious mix of ages and personalities that blend to provide a satisfying and charming read.
Bookish and Proud
February 2, 2019
fullsizeoutput_3b95.jpegLinda’s Book Obsession Reviews “The Curiosities” by Susan Gloss, William Morrow, February 5, 2019
Susan Gloss, Author of “The Curiosities” has written an intriguing, and entertaining novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Nell Parker has a PhD in Art History, and her husband Josh is an attorney. They had lost a daughter very early in Nell’s pregnancy, and after several rounds of fertility treatments that produced no results, Nell would like to try again, but Josh has had enough. There is tension and friction in their marriage. Nell looks for a job and finds one as a director in a not for profit Center for Artists. Nell is in charge of three artists that have gotten residencies.
The three artists live in the mansion, and have different interests in their creative process and art. Each of the artists has their own set of problems to work out, but each is extremely talented. Nell is there to over-see what goes on, and does go home at night. Nell also has some secrets she is keeping from her husband.
I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friendship, communication, honesty, emotional support, love and hope. This is also a story of artists, creativity, growth, and friendship. I would recommend this story for those readers who enjoy dramatic stories. I received an ARC from Edelweiss for my honest review.
Susan Gloss, Author of “The Curiosities” has written an intriguing, and entertaining novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes back to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.
Nell Parker has a PhD in Art History, and her husband Josh is an attorney. They had lost a daughter very early in Nell’s pregnancy, and after several rounds of fertility treatments that produced no results, Nell would like to try again, but Josh has had enough. There is tension and friction in their marriage. Nell looks for a job and finds one as a director in a not for profit Center for Artists. Nell is in charge of three artists that have gotten residencies.
The three artists live in the mansion, and have different interests in their creative process and art. Each of the artists has their own set of problems to work out, but each is extremely talented. Nell is there to over-see what goes on, and does go home at night. Nell also has some secrets she is keeping from her husband.
I appreciate that the author describes the importance of family, friendship, communication, honesty, emotional support, love and hope. This is also a story of artists, creativity, growth, and friendship. I would recommend this story for those readers who enjoy dramatic stories. I received an ARC from Edelweiss for my honest review.
February 9, 2019
I admit it - if a book has quirky characters; it probably will score a homerun with me. Throw in an underdog, a rebel and a mother hen and the game is won! This one is a winner!
Susan Gloss has created characters who are grieving and trying to regain normalcy in their lives again. Some of that grief is so heart tugging.
Nell has experienced devastating loss and decides to try to gain some sense of control over her life by finding a job. She's hired as the Director of an artists colony. The author literally shines in creating a truly eccentric, eclectic band of artists. Each arrives not only with their creative projects but also with some interesting 'baggage' as well.
Susan Gloss is a new author to me but this introduction was wonderful. I definitely will read her previous novel, Vintage, soon.
Nell has the key to the mansion so feel free to enter and get to know The Curiosities. You'll be so very glad that you did.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. #williammorrow #tallpoppywriters
Susan Gloss has created characters who are grieving and trying to regain normalcy in their lives again. Some of that grief is so heart tugging.
Nell has experienced devastating loss and decides to try to gain some sense of control over her life by finding a job. She's hired as the Director of an artists colony. The author literally shines in creating a truly eccentric, eclectic band of artists. Each arrives not only with their creative projects but also with some interesting 'baggage' as well.
Susan Gloss is a new author to me but this introduction was wonderful. I definitely will read her previous novel, Vintage, soon.
Nell has the key to the mansion so feel free to enter and get to know The Curiosities. You'll be so very glad that you did.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own. #williammorrow #tallpoppywriters
January 16, 2019
Thanks to the publisher, via Edelweiss, for an e-galley for honest review.
I was really moved by this story. Susan Gloss wrote about grief and finding a new way after loss really well, and I loved the connections between the art pieces and what was happening in each individual's life that drew them to make or connect to that work. The book is split across 5 perspectives, though, and I wanted a little bit more from each of them (though better that then being overwhelmed and disliking any of the voices).
TW for miscarriage/infant loss (definitely teared up on the treadmill reading Nell's experience).
I was really moved by this story. Susan Gloss wrote about grief and finding a new way after loss really well, and I loved the connections between the art pieces and what was happening in each individual's life that drew them to make or connect to that work. The book is split across 5 perspectives, though, and I wanted a little bit more from each of them (though better that then being overwhelmed and disliking any of the voices).
TW for miscarriage/infant loss (definitely teared up on the treadmill reading Nell's experience).
March 19, 2019
So good. This book has so man6 different layers. I confess that it handles grief in a way that really appealed to me. I got it!
June 1, 2020
I enjoyed this story just as much as Gloss’ previous novel, Vintage! And as a “born and bred and never left” WI resident, the Madison, WI setting is near and dear to my heart.
January 19, 2019
Speechless! That’s what this book left me! This book leads you through a journey of loss, grief and being able to slowly move on. Like a picture in a museum that’s painted with fine art strokes, Susan Gloss paints us a story of 5 ppl who come from unlikely backgrounds yet all end up becoming some unique form of family for Nell. In the end this book will leave you not only speeachless but with a heartfelt love for Nell! I was given this arc for my honest review.
February 12, 2019
4.5 Stars for this ARC!
This book has so many layers to it! I thought I knew where it was going at the beginning, but I got so much more! Everyone has a story, and these characters told theirs beautifully, and were so real and raw.
Nell, for me is the most relatable. Anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with infertility and loss can relate to the monthly roller coaster of hope, mood swings, and feelings of defeat and failure. Although my outcome was much happier and no where near as intense as Nell’s, I so could relate. Brought back many memories and long talks. Very real portrayal.
Besty, maybe on the other end of the spectrum, is ahead of her time. She makes no apologies for it. I loved her! Her love of all things art leads her to set up a residency for three artist to work on their craft. The first year artists are hand picked by Betsy. Nell takes the job as the Director of this non profit art program. She takes the job as the way to get out of a sticky situation. We meet Paige, Annie and Odin, all talented artists running from life.
All these characters tell their stories with no urgency, slowly unfolding each, till the author finally shares with us in her time, how they intersect. The ending....for me was perfect! Make sure you take time to look up the art described at the beginning of each chapter.
Thanks to Edelweiss, Ms Gloss and #tallpoppywriters for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
This book has so many layers to it! I thought I knew where it was going at the beginning, but I got so much more! Everyone has a story, and these characters told theirs beautifully, and were so real and raw.
Nell, for me is the most relatable. Anyone who has dealt with or is dealing with infertility and loss can relate to the monthly roller coaster of hope, mood swings, and feelings of defeat and failure. Although my outcome was much happier and no where near as intense as Nell’s, I so could relate. Brought back many memories and long talks. Very real portrayal.
Besty, maybe on the other end of the spectrum, is ahead of her time. She makes no apologies for it. I loved her! Her love of all things art leads her to set up a residency for three artist to work on their craft. The first year artists are hand picked by Betsy. Nell takes the job as the Director of this non profit art program. She takes the job as the way to get out of a sticky situation. We meet Paige, Annie and Odin, all talented artists running from life.
All these characters tell their stories with no urgency, slowly unfolding each, till the author finally shares with us in her time, how they intersect. The ending....for me was perfect! Make sure you take time to look up the art described at the beginning of each chapter.
Thanks to Edelweiss, Ms Gloss and #tallpoppywriters for this ARC. All opinions are my own!
January 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel. The unique characters (and a chance to see characters from the Vintage book). I loved the theme of finding yourself. and the past/present narrative.
August 25, 2018
It's been way too long of a wait for a new book by Susan Gloss but I am happy to tell you that the wait is over and the new book is fantastic! It has everything needed to make a good novel - great characters, friendship, loss and love plus the added descriptions of paintings and sculptures.
Nell takes a job as the director of an artist's colony. Even though she has a PhD in art history, she hasn't worked in several years while she and her husband go through several rounds of fertility treatments. Betsy Barrett had set up the artists colony in her will and after he death, the first group of artists arrived for an in-residency program. Nell and Betsy are total opposites - Nell lives her entire life around the dream of being a mother, Betsy was childless by choice. Nell is not sure what she wants to do with her life while Betsy was a strong determined woman who lived her life on her own terms. The three artists who arrive for the first in-residency program give Nell a chance to learn her new role. Not only do the artists work in different mediums but they are totally different types of people, all with lots of personal baggage. Will helping these three artists realize their potentials help Nell to recover from her heartbreak and become more inspired with her life or will it make her even more fragile?
I enjoyed all the art references in this book and getting to know the various artists - they were a very eccentric group of people. I especially enjoyed Nell as she tried to turn her life around and discover the person that she really wants to be.
Thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Nell takes a job as the director of an artist's colony. Even though she has a PhD in art history, she hasn't worked in several years while she and her husband go through several rounds of fertility treatments. Betsy Barrett had set up the artists colony in her will and after he death, the first group of artists arrived for an in-residency program. Nell and Betsy are total opposites - Nell lives her entire life around the dream of being a mother, Betsy was childless by choice. Nell is not sure what she wants to do with her life while Betsy was a strong determined woman who lived her life on her own terms. The three artists who arrive for the first in-residency program give Nell a chance to learn her new role. Not only do the artists work in different mediums but they are totally different types of people, all with lots of personal baggage. Will helping these three artists realize their potentials help Nell to recover from her heartbreak and become more inspired with her life or will it make her even more fragile?
I enjoyed all the art references in this book and getting to know the various artists - they were a very eccentric group of people. I especially enjoyed Nell as she tried to turn her life around and discover the person that she really wants to be.
Thanks to Edelweiss for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
December 19, 2017
This novel tells the story of two very strong women.
Elizabeth Barrett, a philanthropist and lover of all things artistic. Elizabeth has recently died, and has left her fortune, and her home and all its art and furnishings, in Trust, to be used to fund an "artists colony" for 12 months of peace and creativity for those selected to participate.
Nell Parker has an advanced degree in art, a husband who teaches law at the University, and is at loose ends, when she sees an item in the Classifieds seeking a "Director" for this fledgling undertaking.
She is accepted for the position, and so begins the love affair between Nell and Elizabeth, and between Nell and the artists. Through the art and furnishings of the house, we get to know those who lived, and who live, and who work in this most wonderful setting.
Don't miss this one!
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Wm Morrow pub date 08/07/18
Elizabeth Barrett, a philanthropist and lover of all things artistic. Elizabeth has recently died, and has left her fortune, and her home and all its art and furnishings, in Trust, to be used to fund an "artists colony" for 12 months of peace and creativity for those selected to participate.
Nell Parker has an advanced degree in art, a husband who teaches law at the University, and is at loose ends, when she sees an item in the Classifieds seeking a "Director" for this fledgling undertaking.
She is accepted for the position, and so begins the love affair between Nell and Elizabeth, and between Nell and the artists. Through the art and furnishings of the house, we get to know those who lived, and who live, and who work in this most wonderful setting.
Don't miss this one!
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and Wm Morrow pub date 08/07/18
March 7, 2019
Driven by an eclectic mix of characters navigating dreams, disappointments, and second chances, THE CURIOSITIES is, at its heart, a celebration of creativity, self, and finding your own way. Thoroughly satisfying, from the first page to the last! (I was fortunate to read an early copy of the author's manuscript prior to publication.)
December 22, 2017
Featuring a cast of characters as varied as the art they create, Susan Gloss’s THE JOY COLLECTOR is about chasing dreams, second chances, and the gift of redemption. Enchanting and heartfelt!
October 29, 2018
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the ARC.
January 28, 2019
Nell is holding onto a shoebox filled with art gallery catalog pages and photos of people she doesn’t even know. Standing in front of a house in the Mansion Hill Historic District of Madison, Wisconsin, overlooking Lake Mendota; she’s wondering how she ended up here! Nell and husband, Josh, are struggling mightily with the early delivery and death of their baby daughter, and now the costly journey of IVF, in hopes of another baby, has them deep in debt. As Nell takes the job of director of Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony, she becomes entangled in the lives of the three residents that the benefactor, Elizabeth Barrett, had chosen before her death. The new “artists in residence” will be: Paige Jewell, a young college student whose art medium of preference changes along with the men she’s dating; Odin Sorenson, sculpture of metal, in his own level of grieving; and Annie Beck, already famous but needing to revive her name in the Art World. Coming together from three totally different backgrounds, Nell is challenged to form a family where there are three dysfunctional adults-each with their own dreams, hoping to find fulfillment at the Mansion Hill Artists’ Colony. By the way, the residency for each artist is 6 months.
The reader will come to know the characters and really be “pulling” for each one in their own set of struggles. Susan Gloss does an amazing job revealing the “inside” feelings of Nell and Josh with their so very different approaches to dealing with death and then infertility. So real that I feel like she has a “microscope of feelings” at her fingertips. Book clubs will be discussing for hours.
I particularly enjoyed the art references at the beginning of each chapter, and then to read how the piece connected with the characters or plot, was so eye opening. Extremely well described, but I still longed for a photo of the art work.
The topics of death, grieving and infertility are certainly heavy and so personal, but recovery, reconciliation, and reunions will leave you with a full heart; and maybe a new found urge to find an art gallery to explore! Maybe a local art gallery or museum would be a fitting place for your book club discussion.
The reader will come to know the characters and really be “pulling” for each one in their own set of struggles. Susan Gloss does an amazing job revealing the “inside” feelings of Nell and Josh with their so very different approaches to dealing with death and then infertility. So real that I feel like she has a “microscope of feelings” at her fingertips. Book clubs will be discussing for hours.
I particularly enjoyed the art references at the beginning of each chapter, and then to read how the piece connected with the characters or plot, was so eye opening. Extremely well described, but I still longed for a photo of the art work.
The topics of death, grieving and infertility are certainly heavy and so personal, but recovery, reconciliation, and reunions will leave you with a full heart; and maybe a new found urge to find an art gallery to explore! Maybe a local art gallery or museum would be a fitting place for your book club discussion.
February 5, 2019
The Curiosities follows the life of Nell, a young woman with a Ph.D. in art history, who has recently suffered a miscarriage followed by a series of failed IVF attempts. Nell's husband Josh has overcome his feelings of loss by throwing himself into his work. And he's having great success as a junior faculty member in the University of Wisconsin, Madison Law School. Nell, however, is struggling, not least because she is ashamed to have hidden the significant credit card debt she has accrued for her IVF treatment from Josh. But more than that, she feels at a loss, since the entire past eighteen months of her life has revolved around trying to have a successful pregnancy. In that time, peers who graduated with her have moved on to positions at the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, the Smithsonian Advisory Committee to the White House and two have landed tenure-track positions at good institutions. Nell feels that all she has to show for the past eighteen months are credit card bills she can't pay, IVF articles from PubMed she can't bear to read, and lost opportunities. Thus, she's surprised that when she interviews for a position as the head of Betsy Barrett Foundation's non-profit, the Mansion Hill Artist's Colony, she is hired on the spot. Working at The Colony, as the residency program is called, marks a turning point in Nell's life. As Nell finds her way out of her grief and loss, her relationships with Paige, Odin and Annie, the first three artists selected to live in the Barrett House as artists in residence, help her reconnect to her sense of purpose and worth and define who she is regardless of her status as wife or mother.
This is a quiet, lovely book about overcoming loss, filled with interesting characters, and rich descriptions of the artists. I enjoyed the open ending of the book, which provides the clear sense that, no matter what, Nell is fine just as she is.
I received a Digital Review copy of this book from William Morrow via Edelweiss, along with a paper review copy, in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2019
Thanks to William Morrow and TLC Book Tours for the free copy in exchange for my honest review
This was one of those moments where I needed a thriller cleanse. THE CURIOSITIES by Susan Gloss was just what I needed! This was my introduction to Susan Gloss and this will not be the last book I pick up of hers.
This is a very engrossing and emotional novel. I was amazed at how effortlessly Gloss was able to weave together these paralleling stories and characters while also giving them all their moments to shine. Nell is our main character and the one that holds together all the other unique and eclectic cast we meet. Loved seeing this set in Wisconsin – my neighbor state! The mannerisms were a perfect representation of mid-westerners and she set the scene very well.
Gloss covers an array of emotions and captures the struggles experienced by the different characters. They are all very relatable and felt authentic – we experiencing their grief, hope, and resilience along beside them. If you’re looking for a captivating contemporary fiction, then this is perfect for you. The writing was fluid and the story unfolded in front of us in real time. Highly recommend for those that love art and seeing into the minds of artists of all kinds.
This was one of those moments where I needed a thriller cleanse. THE CURIOSITIES by Susan Gloss was just what I needed! This was my introduction to Susan Gloss and this will not be the last book I pick up of hers.
This is a very engrossing and emotional novel. I was amazed at how effortlessly Gloss was able to weave together these paralleling stories and characters while also giving them all their moments to shine. Nell is our main character and the one that holds together all the other unique and eclectic cast we meet. Loved seeing this set in Wisconsin – my neighbor state! The mannerisms were a perfect representation of mid-westerners and she set the scene very well.
Gloss covers an array of emotions and captures the struggles experienced by the different characters. They are all very relatable and felt authentic – we experiencing their grief, hope, and resilience along beside them. If you’re looking for a captivating contemporary fiction, then this is perfect for you. The writing was fluid and the story unfolded in front of us in real time. Highly recommend for those that love art and seeing into the minds of artists of all kinds.
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