Težnost ptic

by Tracy Guzeman, Tanja Goršič (translator)

Prvenec pisateljice Tracy Guzeman opisuje življenjsko zgodbo, kjer se sedanjost vseskozi prepleta s preteklostjo, ki je ni mogoče pokopati. Stare skrivnosti silijo na površje in štiriinštirideset let po tem, ko nadarjeni mladi slikar Thomas Bayber prvič sreča Alice in Natalie Kessler, umetnik razkrije, da obstaja še nikoli videno delo Sestri Kessler – gre za provokativno sliko, na kateri so upodobljeni mladi umetnik Thomas, ter sestri Alice in Natalie. Ko slikar poprosi svojega starega zaupnika, Dennisa Fincha, ki je profesor umetnostne zgodovine, in Stephena Jamesona, ekscentričnega mladega overovatelja umetnin, da prodata sliko, se tudi njuna pot poveže z ostalimi, ko ju potegne v vrtinec spletk, prikritih informacij in starih ran.

Poglavja v zgodbi se prepletajo v času – v njih pa sledijo razkritja o preteklosti sester z novimi sledmi, ki jih Finch in Jameson odkrivata na poti iskanja manjkajočih slik in sester. Delo Težnost ptic v sebi spoji dramatično vojno, ki jo bijeta sestri, skrivnost izginule umetnine in bridkost izgubljene ljubezni v presunljivo elegijo, ki (bo bralce) ... pustila brez sape.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Book Club, Art, Contemporary, Historical

372 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2013

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel begins a bit slow. I almost abandoned it. The characters are intriguing, so I continued, for which I’m glad I did. It picks up in the middle and becomes very engaging at the end. It’s a story of two sisters and the art world. I learned a lot about art appraisal and portrait/art forensics. The story begins in the summer of 1963 at a family summer lake cabin. Two sisters, one 14, Alice and one 17, Natalie meet an exotic neighbor, Thomas, who is an up and coming artist. Alice is interested in ornithology and books, while Natalie is a conniving and manipulative teen. Both girls find Thomas to be intriguing. Thomas persuades the family to sit for a formal portrait. An event happens that summer that redefines the family’s life. Through the story, the reader finally learns of events that transpired which shaped the course of devastation. There are many twists and turns, and a couple of surprises. It’s a story of familial dedication and manipulation, of deceit, of love and kindness, of compassion and forgiveness. It’s a shame it starts so slowly. I like the idea of the story and LOVED the ending. This is Tracy Guzemans’s first novel. Not bad for a first novel.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 A family lake house, two sisters, and a young painter living next door, who comes from a wealthy family that will not accept painting as a reliable job source. This is a quiet book, a book about things under the surface, of paintings and human hearts. About wrong decisions made that affect the future of all of them.

This book drew me in, the prose is wonderful at times, the moments shared between the characters are poignant. Misunderstandings are a the forefront of most of what happens in this novel, some tragic, some just a spur of the moment decision. I think the characters we come to know the most are Finn and Alice. The other characters we know only through the lens of others.

I learned much about the art world, the steps to authenticating the painting and the cut throat world of the appraisers and sellers. Found that fascinating. Some of the story seemed to drag a bit and this caused the story to drag in spots. All in all I enjoyed this book with beautiful cover, enjoyed the quietness and the unraveling.

I loved this quote, "The estimation of an artist's talent is often based on his ability to render both light and shadow. If you have any choice in the matter, spend your time seeking the former."
Words that should fit us all whether we are painters or not.

[Cassondra Windwalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. The prose lilts, dips, and soars like the flight of the birds whose images run through its pages. A haunting story of the power of love, that however flawed and mysterious, must indelibly change the fate of all who experience it. Every chapter left me aching for the next. The grief bound in this book's pages was tied up with grace, so that rather being overwhelmed by sadness, the reader is bouyed by hope. These characters will stay with you long after you have finished the text, familiar spirits who will remind you of a quiet nobility in the human spirit, a nobility that is defined rather than diminished by the frailties and vices of the vessel.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel tries to straddle the line between literary and commercial fiction. What the publishing gods have deemed upmarket fiction. Unfortunately for THE GRAVITY OF BIRDS, it probably tries a little too hard, and therefore doesn’t do either as effectively as if it just picked one and flew above the treetops. Instead, it crash landed into a cactus, and I was left picking needles out of my butt.

The structure proved a little confusing, with the movement between time periods, and I was prone to forget who I was, or where I was for brief periods of time (sometimes a wee bit longer). This was certainly a literary element, as I end up more confused and discombobulated when I read “more serious” works than when I read the high-octane commercial fiction. What can I say? My brain likes to be entertained, and I feed it generous helpings of the good stuff.

Not that this novel lacked an entertainment factor. It just might not have been what Tracy Guzeman intended, as I wanted to throttle Thomas Bayber within an inch of his life for being a self-indulgent ass. Note to readers who are not artists, we are not all like this. Some of us (surprise surprise) actually have a soul. The other source of entertainment was a “Who’s on First?” sketch between Finch and Jameson that made me want to slap my head and then get on a plane in the middle of a blizzard.

As for the other characters, I was less than impressed, except for a cameo appearance near the end of the novel. The cameo setting—New Mexico land of the sand and vast openness—proved a rather beautiful side trip during which I could have indulged myself further, had I just been given the opportunity to do so.

While some might call this a mystery, or hear it marketed as such, and then proceed to be disappointed when it’s not, I’d say this is more of a coming of age or contemporary fiction tale that had more of a literary spin than it knew what to do with. In other words, this book had an identity crisis, and I’m not sure I can really help this novel solve its problems. But someone smarter than me can probably make a better effort at identifying its feathers.

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got me out of my reading slump! It hooked me in right from the beginning. I loved the different narrators and the split timeline and I couldn’t wait to find out how everyone was tied together.

[Melissa Crytzer Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naturally, with the word “birds” in the title, I was drawn to this book. And with descriptions such as this, it certainly didn’t disappoint:

A breeze stirred the branches, and she saw the brilliant yellow head and underparts standing out like petals of a sunflower against the backdrop of leaves; the undertail, a stark white. His beak was long, pointed and black; his shoulders a mossy green, a blend of the citron yellow of his head and the flat slate of his feathers. He had a black dot of an eye, a bead of jet set in a field of sun. Never had there been anything so perfect. When she blinked he disappeared, the only evidence of his presence a gentle sway of the branch. It was a sort of magic, unveiled to her. He had been hers, even if only for a few seconds.

And yes, this passage is reflective of some of the beautiful symbolism throughout this tale of a complicated sister relationship from childhood into adulthood.

Aside from its lush prose, this debut wasn’t just about birds. It also was about art, secrets, love and family. And at its heart was a mystery – or perhaps multiple mysteries – expertly woven into a very literary, character-driven story. The characters were so real, so flawed, and so relatable, I couldn’t help but care for them.

While the book gets off to a gentle start reminiscent of much literary fiction –urging the reader, through beautiful language and characterization, to learn more about the complicated pasts and present situations of the key players – the ending is a full-blown a roller coaster ride with its twists and turns. I did see one of the surprises coming, but I certainly didn’t catch them all. So many wonderful secrets and surprises!

If you enjoy literary fiction and enjoy a mystery twist, this book is for you. I’m looking forward to future work by this talented author.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover of The Gravity Of Birds is truly beautiful, I loved the colours and the scene in the picture caught my attention straight away. I also was caught by the tagline “That summer, everything changed”….it had me intrigued instantly – What had changed? Who was affected? It made me very keen to start reading!

The Gravity Of Birds begins with two sisters, Alice and Natalie. Alice is a dreamer, whilst Natalie is very headstrong girl. Whilst on a holiday with their family, Alice is drawn in by Thomas, a painter. Thomas offers to do a painting for them, but by the end of the summer, their lives have been changed. Decades later Thomas is now a very famous artist, and it comes to light that there is a portrait of himself with Alice and Natalie, but the two sisters have disappeared. Will Thomas let the past stay there, or use the painting to resurrect the past?…

I thoroughly enjoyed The Gravity Of Birds! The writing is so delicately and beautifully worded, I managed to completely lose myself in this story.

The novel moves backwards and forwards between time, and with the focus shifting from one character to another. Although this sounds confusing, Tracy Guzeman wrote it in such a way that it flowed effortlessly and seamlessly from one section to the next.

I found the two sisters completely fascinating. I particularly enjoyed reading about Alice and Natalie’s background stories and learning about what had happened to them in the past. Alice and Natalie were the main reason that I was so gripped to the novel, I was desperate to read on because I genuinely cared about them. I constantly wanted to find out more about their journey and to discover the truth about what had happened.

It was a very emotional read, I went through a wide range of feelings and became very involved with the story. I felt such a connection with a few of the characters and I was up late at night turning the page. The descriptions of the scenes were very vivid and realistic, I could picture every moment in my mind and I felt as though I was actually there in the scenes watching the events unfold in front of me.

I don’t want to spoil the story because it is one of those novels where you unravel more details as you progress through the story, and the details come out at exactly the right moment. What I will say is that they story surprised me, it touched me and I was still thinking about the characters long after I had turned the last page. There is a huge air of mystery in this novel and I particularly enjoyed gleaning little bits of information at a time which slowly built up to the bigger picture.

The Gravity Of Birds is a beautifully written and emotional story which is both rich in detail and with a collection of intriguing characters that you will want to know more about. I was drawn into this compelling novel from the beginning and I would thoroughly recommend it. The Gravity Of Birds had me captivated…this is a truly special story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found out about 'The Gravity of Birds' by Tracy Guzeman through an email for new literary fiction from amazon.com. I was drawn to this particular book because of the title and the cover art. Reading the synopsis put me off because I have never been a fan of stories revolving around several characters that span scores of years. I'm older and I just don't feel that I can learn or even be surprised by anything people and characters in books do or don't do. I just don't care anymore, unfortunately for me. Still, as I said, I liked the title and cover art and you can laugh if you feel so inclined, but liking the cover art has always been an indication that I will also like the story. So I downloaded a sample to my kindle. I loved it right away. And I loved it to the very end. This book never dragged in it's narrative. It never became boring. Tracy has a gift with words. Her prose seems sparse and yet lyrical. She knows how to say just enough to make you pay attention and savor the words so that you don't miss a nuance. And you have to do that when you read this book. She doesn't always reveal the mysteries of the story. She hints and perhaps teases the reader to pay attention. This jaded reader loved her technique. This story had me in tears. And I had sympathy for all the characters. This is Tracy's only book so far and I hope she will write and publish another one soon. I am definitely a fan! Please read this book!

[Jess The Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars.

This story follows the lives of Alice and Natalie Kessler, and the events of the summer during their adolescence which changed their lives forever. Alice and Natalie met the talented older painter, Thomas Bayber when they were teenagers, whilst on holiday with their parents at the lake, and he wants to paint family portraits for them, all the while with the sisters forming an interest in him.

The story jumps to the present day, where Thomas is now a renowned artist, who unveils his work of the Kessler sisters, which has never before been released, and asks his old colleagues to go on a search for the missing paintings and the sisters whom he has not had contact with in decades.

The story follows the hardships that the sisters have faced over the years, the regrets, the heartbreak, the resentment and the deep dark secrets.

The story line was very intriguing, but I just wasn't sure that the structure of the book worked all that well for me. The jumping around in the timelines was a bit oddly pieced together, and I think I really would have enjoyed it more if it had been pieced together differently.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed the story for sure! I definitely wanted to know what happened and was intrigued by the characters and the mystery surrounding them all. There was a little too much description for me which would cause me to want to skip over paragraphs. Aside from that it was very good.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A love story that is less about love than about the spaces between what is seen and not seen. What lies beneath the surface is as important in The Gravity of Birds as what is evident. Sisters, a family, both torn apart and held together by their interactions with the artist Thomas Bayber. There are too many traps here for the reviewer. Anything I could say would be a spoiler.




What lies beneath the surface is as important in The Gravity of Birds as what is evident. Sisters, a family, both torn apart and held together by their interactions with the artist Thomas Bayber. The search for a lost masterwork. Here we have the beauty and the intellect, deception and discovery, strength within weakness. A near perfect, beautifully written debut that refuses to be put down until all the pieces are drawn together, many in unexpected ways.


There is much here about art, and artifice, but also about the multi-dimensional experience of life, of what we choose to grasp - of ourselves, and of others - and what we inevitably remain blind to either by choice or by inattention.

[Margi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued after the first chapter, unfortunately the book went downhill from there. I found there were too many minor characters that I just did not care about. I wanted to find out about the painting as the unraveling of art history is usually quite interesting, but not here. I found this novel tedious. There were a few good chapters; when Alice gets caught in the rain, but overall, not what I thought it would be. I do think the author has a great grasp on character writing. I felt like I could picture them, just didn't care enough to read their atory.

[Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is it sometimes easier to write what you did not like about something, versus what you did like? Like is hard to encompass sometimes, it just is.

Here are some of my fav reviews:
“The Gravity of Birds is one of those rare, exquisitely written novels that haunt you long after you’ve finished the last page. Guzeman writes of both the fragility of the human spirit and its inner strength. The book unfurls like a hidden canvas, soaked with color, emotional longing, and a desire to make sense of what is often too painful to be said without the assistance of art. It is a novel not to be missed.”
—Alyson Richman, best-selling author of The Lost Wife

“Upon opening Tracy Guzeman’s debut novel, “The Gravity of Birds,” readers are immediately drawn into the plot. Much like the paintings that the book describes, it is the details that hold our attention: the secrets we learn about the characters that make us care about them…It is only at the end, when the puzzle is completed, that we see all the pieces Guzeman so cleverly layered into the story.”
—The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Tracy Guzeman’s The Gravity of Birds is part mystery, part psychological drama and intriguing love story. This is a stunning debut. It’s a brilliant tale, written in evocative language, and every page is pure seduction. I want to scream from the rooftops: read this book!”
—Ellen Sussman, author of the New York Times bestseller French Lessons

A lovely, mesmerizing novel. The Gravity of Birds combines the drama of warring sisters, the mystery of a missing painting, and the sorrow of lost love into a haunting elegy that will, like the artwork it describes, leave you breathless. The paintings and characters that Tracy Guzeman creates will seep into your imagination and take up permanent residence, changing the way you think about art.”
—Tiffany Baker, author of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County and The Gilly Salt Sisters

“Riveting debut”
—Good Housekeeping

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gravity Of Birds
by
Tracy Guzeman

My thoughts after reading this book...

This is a book about losses. Aching, blinding, heartbreaking life altering losses. This lovely book with its beautiful writing is about pain and sadness. It is also about lies and separation and choices...all of these made both with love and without love. The sadness in this book is heartbreaking because it can not be undone or made better. It's the kind of sadness that feels as though it could have been avoided if everyone involved had just been real and honest. But they weren't because something held them back...some part of them that made them bitter...unfeeling...afraid.

This novel takes place in the present and also in the past...a past that was about 35 years ago. It is the story of Thomas Bayber...an incredibly talented artist...and his relationship with Natalie and Alice Kessler...two sisters he met one summer when they both had lake houses next door to each other. He was in his thirties...they were young...Natalie almost ready for college...Alice still in high school. Alice was at the threshold of a disease...rheumatoid arthritis...that would be with her forever. Natalie was beautiful, moody, free. Over time they both were involved with Thomas. Both relationships were traumatic, secretive, damaging.

In the present time, Thomas has not painted in over 20 years and has requested that a friend of his find pieces of one of his unknown works. That means finding the Kessler sisters because they have these paintings. They might not even know that they have the paintings and that these works are a part of a triptych. Thomas wants the paintings sold together and to do this Natalie and Alice must be found. Enter Finch and Stephen...kind of an odd fellow duo whom Thomas charges to find the sisters.

This also means that Alice will find out the truths and lies that Natalie has peppered their lives with. Once Alice is free of Natalie the lies that Natalie told are revealed. Sounds simple but the truth will change Alice for the rest of her life.

What I loved about this book...

The unraveling of Natalie and Alice's relationship was delicious. Natalie was hateful to Alice for so many years. She was dishonest, hateful, and truly mean.
I wanted to shake Alice...she seemed so gullible...she never doubted Natalie and just accepted her words as truth. I also loved Finch and Stephen...recently widowed history professor and quirky art authenticator...they were tasked by Thomas to find the Kessler sisters and the missing pieces of the painting. Plus Stephen is even more a part of this mystery than he even knows.

Final thoughts...

I loved this book...perhaps it's one of my favorites this year. The past and present intermingle within this fine book and it reads like an unputdownable mystery. I did not want it to end.

[Allyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written and melancholy debut. All about the choices we make and how they affect our lives. Filled with descriptive imagery and three dimensional characters each with their own flaws this is a book that you won't soon forget. Jumping betweent past and present I was sorely tempted to skip chapters and read on, especially during Alice's segments, but restrained myself and everything was revealed in time. A step above the average novel I was captivated within the first chapter and had to unravel all the bitter secrets contained within. Highly recommended. Not particularly light reading but well worth every minute.

[May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a great deal. I can't say I loved it because I found so much of it sad:
the sadness of a single decision and the long term ramifications, the sadness of grudges held close and the lives ruined as a result, the sadness of a lifetime of lies, the sadness of lives limited by chronic illness. Yet, Tracey Guzeman offers threads of light and love... if only each character will open up to them.
I found this book well written and truly enjoyed!

[M.K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prose in Tracy Guzeman's debut novel is wonderfully evocative. The story twists and turns in unexpected ways as memorable characters take the lead in relating it. I found the ending quite satisfying and enjoyed the author's final surprise. A page turner.

[Amina Hujdur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Napokon roman po mom ukusu 🥰👌

[Lianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book from a contest held on Twitter by @HistoricalFix. This review in its entirety was originally posted at eclectictales.com: http://www.eclectictales.com/blog/201...

I thought The Gravity of Birds was interesting and was quite strong at the beginning in presenting the two storylines: that of the Kessler sisters and the arrival of Thomas Bayber in their lives, and the contemporary story with an elderly Thomas seeking out the sisters. It left me wondering what what happened to the Kessler sisters, what was really going on between them as the rift was palpable even at the start, etc. The book was also interesting on touching on themes of art, the drive to create, and art criticism, all of which were pretty strong early in the novel. Core to this novel however is the theme of family and the notion of how strong the bonds of blood are when faced with illness and personal tragedy, disappointment and resentment.

Having said that, the novel sort of ambled in the latter half of the novel. I’m not sure if it was the time that I finished reading the book, but one minor problem I was having throughout the novel was my sense of time within the story. Most chapters indicate the year in which events in the chapter are taking place, either in the past or the present, but a) sometimes the 1960s/1970s events feel like they could take place in the early 20th century, and b) some of the chapters are missing dates when the shift has turned from Alice to Dennis and Stephen. Also, while I don’t mind that the emphasis shifted towards the mystery in the second half with the two storylines merging, it physically felt like the novel moved away from the earlier themes of art and self.

Despite of this, I did enjoy reading The Gravity of Birds. The story of Alice and Natalie and Thomas had me completely enthralled, as well as Dennis and Stephen’s attempts to find out what happened back then. Speaking of which, the Dennis and Stephen dynamic was quite interesting to read at first especially as their road trip started off rather hilariously. But I felt like their respective character stories weren’t as strong as they could be (though Dennis’ personal backstory was much more interesting and fleshed out), probably just because the main story was just too intriging to digress to other characters that weave in and out of the main story. I would recommend The Gravity of Birds to readers of historical fiction.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this as I‘d heard a bit about it. While the story was interesting and the prose at times was well written, even beautiful at times, ultimately I was left somewhat dissatisfied. This was one of those books that was interesting enough to not give up on and to keep reading to see where it was going, yet not that interesting that I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Largely for me I think the man problem was the characters. Even though, they were all well drawn, the problem was I didn’t particularly like any of them.
Thomas was the type of artist who has a natural genius but thinks of no-one but himself and his art. Natalie was equally as selfish in her own way and Alice didn’t grab me either. Add to them Finch and Stephen who set out to try and do the bidding of Thomas and find the two missing panels of the triptych and it makes for a lot of uninspiring characters. I also got tired of what seems to be the current trend for telling stories in different periods of time. Unless exceptionally well done, I’m really over this device. I felt I was being pulled backwards and forwards like a marionette into the different time frames, when I’d have rather have stayed with one. The visual description of New Mexico was beautiful. Ultimately it is a novel about choices and the consequences of those choices. It did become more interesting towards the end.
Maybe the big problem was the novel was not as good as I was anticipating but others may have different opinions. It is however a debut novel so it will be interesting to see what comes next.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/26 - Won in First Reads giveaway on Goodreads.

4/27 - Received this book in the mail today.

5/8 - Totally loved this book. It wasn't "amazing" like Goodreads says when I hover over the 5 star rating, but it was really good and really well done. I liked (and didn't like) the characters. I was drawn into the story (although it was a bit slow at the beginning) and then there were the few twists that I did not anticipate that really kicked the story and interest factor into gear for me. There's a lot of detail in the book, the painting and the ornithology (study of birds) that are heavily detailed and referenced frequently, so either the author did her research well or she already knows these subjects well. I could visualize the settings described and the people so well and was totally immersed in the lives of the characters and Stephen and Finch's search for the Kessler sisters. Fabulous, clean book with no foul language that I can recall. A debut book by this author. I look forward to anything she writes in the future.

[Becky Loader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel as if I know all the characters in Guzeman's book. She made them all visible, with their faults and foibles intact, and I was right there with them in the story. Told in chapters that correspond to different years in the development of the plot, the book unfolds quickly as a complex intertwining of places, personalities, sibling rivalry, art, deceit, and reconciliation. Two sisters and a talented young artist meet at a lake cabin, and the moment is electric. I loved the symbol of the grosbeak. Great read!

The mark of a good author is characters who make the reader feel as if they are real people. The mark of a great author is a good ending. Writers often know the ending before they write the story/book, and I think Guzeman is in this company of writers. I can just imagine how she crafted the story to come around to the ending she wanted. I have this picture in my mind of one of those huge boards you see in television crime shows where the detectives hang up pictures, news clippings, and other clues. Excellent. I hope she writes more books.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate books of fiction by how well I am entertained by them. This one was hard to put down, it had some mystery to it, a lot of interaction among just a few main characters, and was even funny at times. I liked the authors style, many layers all coming to together at the end, so will look for more from her.

[Melliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's my review. I upped my rating from four to five stars after a second read, 10 years later.

https://bookadept.com/2024/01/17/the-...

[Bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baš me se dojmila. Trebalo mi je malo dulje da je pročitam ali samo zbog nedostatka vremena. Odlični likovi, sjetna i melankolična priča, baš me je ponijela. Uživala sam.

[Ms.pegasus · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are events and moments of epiphany that change the course of not just one life but many. Chapter One opens at one of those junctures. It is the summer of 1963. Fourteen year old Alice Kessler, ever watchful of both birds and adults, explores the awakening of her own sexual curiosity. She also recognizes the first symptoms of what will become a debilitating disease. At the same time her seventeen year old sister Natalie, the beauty of the family, has shifted abruptly and inexplicably from mischievous confederate and co-conspirator to sullen Fury. The third person introduced is 28 year old Thomas Bayber, a promising painter who exudes such magnetic charm even the reader is beguiled.

Chapter Two opens 44 years later. It is now 2007; Bayber is 72. His early talent blossomed with his first solo show in 1967 and currently all of his works are in the hands of major museums and a select few private collectors. The art historian Dennis Finch was drawn to Bayber at that first solo showing and has dedicated his professional life to Bayber, culminating in his magnum opus, a catalogue raisonné of Bayber's work. However, inexplicably, Bayber stopped painting 20 years ago, lives in squalor despite Finch's considerable financial aid, and is ailing. Also, inexplicably, he now summons Finch, his only friend, and reveals the existence of a previously unrevealed work painted in his youth. It is a portrait of the Kessler sisters as they were that summer and he has inserted his own youthful self-portrait into the center of it. Bayber persuades Finch to act as commissioned sales agent for the piece — if he can locate two missing panels that would complete the work.

The main characters are Alice Kessler, Dennis Finch and Stephen Jameson, the authenticator Bayber requests to assist Finch. I loved the exchanges between Finch and Jameson. Finch is an introspective father-figure, dealing with the death of his wife Claire nearly a year ago. He still imagines Claire's voice with its moral clarity, gently chiding or encouraging him as the situation shifts. His loss triggers thoughts of aging and bouts of regret about his professional devotion to Bayber, a devotion that isolated him in his study or drew him into the heady gravitational pull of Bayber's brilliance — repeated choices to exclude Claire. Nevertheless, he enjoyed a happy life with her, and they had a daughter, now married and solicitous of Finch's health.

Bayber is portrayed in unflattering terms. Claire even went so far as to hint Finch was his enabler. Yet, the chapter introducing the elderly Bayber reveals a sensitive and perceptive intelligence. He counters Finch's reluctance to be drawn back into his orbit: “Thomas seemed to sense his discomfort, and smiled. 'The best way to slow the march of time, Denny, perhaps the only way, is to throw something unexpected in its path.'” (p.32) Even in this diminished state Thomas Bayber still exudes a beguiling charm.

Jameson is Finch's opposite, so impulsive he lacks the wit to hide from his boss the relationship he is having with the boss' wife. The disclosure sent his once promising career into a tailspin. He now works in the bottom level of a second tier auction house. He embarks on the search for the missing panels with the eagerness of a puppy, oblivious to whatever unruly furrows he may leave in his wake. Jameson displays his own array of eccentricities. He recites nursery rhymes to focus his concentration when studying a piece for authentication. He resorts to complex mnemonics to recall mundane details like someone's name but has no problem rattling off the minutiae of characteristics and release dates for a rare set of 21 porcelain birds produced as limited editions by the Royal Worcester Company. Guzeman excels at creating dialog and launches this 'odd couple' on a road trip in search of the Kessler sisters, who dropped out of sight in 1972, nine years after that pivotal summer, and are believed to possess the missing panels. She even has some subtle fun. Finch refuses to fly, an anxiety tick he developed when his wife collapsed and died at an airport.

The book alternates between two timelines, the present (2007) and the past (between 1963 and 1972); 1972 was the date of a second critical juncture. This discontinuous narrative structure pits the author's desire to create suspense against an opportunity to maximize the emotional impact of the story. The timeline is critical, but difficult to follow. Readers accustomed to taking notes while they read will definitely want to note the years key events occur. The real strength of the book is the emotional ambivalence of the characters. That ambivalence is apparent only on a second reading after all the surprises have been revealed. Only then do significant gestures stand out: Thomas' hand guided by the arthritic Alice as he asks her to imagine and paint a flock of birds in flight; the sketch of the Kessler family in 1963; Alice and Natalie's abrupt move in 1972, and Bayber's pleasure when Jameson deduces that two panels are missing. Whereas Alice resolutely ascends from the past, Guzeman conjoins past and present with delicate poignancy.

Another problem I had with the book is that Alice Kessler, although sympathetic, is far less interesting than any of the other characters, including Natalie. Her disability and victimhood overshadow the precocious intelligence and sensitivity she displays in that first chapter. Even her lifelong passion for ornithology affects the reader in an abstract way. She speaks of species and plumage. Contrast that to the passage describing Finch's first encounter with Bayber's paintings: “...Standing in front of the work, it was impossible not to see the talent behind it, and not to be shocked.” (p.24) That shock sucks the air from his lungs, banishes the impulse to analyze, and silences the crowd pressed around him. If anything, the passage recalls the art critic Robert Hughes' exhilarating narrative in his book, SHOCK OF THE NEW.

The plot leans dangerously toward melodrama with its coincidences and unanticipated revelations. To appreciate this book, focus on the characters and affecting dialogue.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A fairly enjoyable audiobook. One of the few instances where a split narrative actually contributed to the story instead of annoying me. All the characters are terrible people, but they are interesting terrible people. The look inside the art world was interesting too. Not sure I would read this book again, but I would definitely read more by Guzeman, if she ever writes more.

[isobelle evjen · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. this is one of the best books i’ve ever read. it was so hard to put down because the story unfolded piece by piece until i could see the full picture. the characters were amazing and the story itself was shocking and meaningful. i’m so sad it’s over 🥲

[Lee Ann Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely and compelling exploration of personalities and events intertwined and layered with and through beautiful language. The characters are full and rich. Some of the events come off as slightly unlikely though not unbelievable. Rich with the complexities of relationships between sisters.

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and appreciated how much of it had to do with art and artists. Being married to an artist, the book really resonated with me despite the fact that my husband's personality is not at all like the protagonist's.

The central character in this book is Thomas Bayber, an artist of great renown but who has not painted anything for over twenty years. He is in his seventies and living as a recluse in a dark and dingy apartment in New York City. Supposedly, all of his paintings are accounted for and reside in the great museums with a few in the homes of some very wealthy collectors. Thomas decides to call Dennis Finch, a well-known art historian and expert on Bayber's work to his home. Finch has supported Bayber by paying his rent and his bills for years. Finch works as a writer and professor and is in mourning for the recent death of his beloved wife, Claire. Along with Dennis Finch, Bayber calls Stephen Jameson, a strange and socially awkward man who is an expert on the authentication of art. He tells them that there is a painting of his that no one has ever seen and that has been unaccounted for. Dennis can not believe it because he has catalogued all of Bayber's work. However, the painting is unveiled in Thomas's apartment and, with time, they realize that it is part of a triptych. The painting is a disturbing portrait of the Kessler family, primarily the two daughters, Natalie and Alice. Bayber gets Finch to promise to find the other two parts of the triptych and this leads to a search for the people who are painted in the portrait. Because it is a portrait primarily of Natalie and Alice, the thought is that they would have the answer as to the location of the missing two panels.

The portrait's disturbing qualities come from the way the two young girls are situated in the painting, both of them looking like they are involved in some intimate way with Thomas. Alice is about fourteen in the painting and Natalie, her older sister, is eighteen years old. Alice is an intense, intelligent and loving girl who loves ornithology and studies it in college. She knows all the birds that flock near their summer rental which is right next door to Bayber's. Natalie is cold and harsh with something like rage seething beneath the surface. Though very beautiful at first glance, she spells trouble. Shortly after they finish college, their parents die and they leave their Connecticut home immediately. By this time, Alice has come down with rheumatoid arthritis which is very debilitating and painful.

Dennis and Stephen decide that the way to find the triptych is to find Natalie and Alice. Thus begins a country-wide search. They both believe that it may not be the two panels of the painting that are most important to Thomas, but rather the finding of the Kessler sisters. What Thomas's relationship was to them is not known but it is obvious that he has very strong feelings for them. This is unusual for a man who has never had an long-term relationships with women and does not seem to care about other people.

The book is a debut novel but it is written with panache. I never for a second found anything to suggest that the author was a novice at writing. She has had short stories published but this is her first novel. It is fully realized with wonderful characterization and a fascinating plot that kept me on my toes for the whole ride. I highly recommend this novel, especially for anyone with an interest in art and artists.