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The Glimpse
Liza Baker, a rising star in the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist era, finds herself sidelined when she gets pregnant, and decides to have the child. Yet, against conventional wisdom, she's convinced she can have a successful career and be a good mother to her daughter, Rouge.
She takes a job teaching at a college and comes up against the harsh realities of the male-dominated art world. Unable to build a successful career, she watches as her former lover, whose work resembles hers, skyrocket to fame. Liza develops a drinking problem and often brings home artist lovers she's met in the city. When Rouge meets Ben Fuller, one of Liza's discarded lovers who subsequently fosters Rouge talent in photography, the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship takes on the added charge of a competition between the two, one that Liza tries to sabotage.
THE GLIMPSE is a moving, unsentimental tale of the charged New York art world of the 1950s and the relationship between a mother and daughter as they grapple with their relationship that becomes pivotal to their artwork.
She takes a job teaching at a college and comes up against the harsh realities of the male-dominated art world. Unable to build a successful career, she watches as her former lover, whose work resembles hers, skyrocket to fame. Liza develops a drinking problem and often brings home artist lovers she's met in the city. When Rouge meets Ben Fuller, one of Liza's discarded lovers who subsequently fosters Rouge talent in photography, the complexity of the mother-daughter relationship takes on the added charge of a competition between the two, one that Liza tries to sabotage.
THE GLIMPSE is a moving, unsentimental tale of the charged New York art world of the 1950s and the relationship between a mother and daughter as they grapple with their relationship that becomes pivotal to their artwork.
314 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2021
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33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 27, 2021
The Glimpse is a novel that delves into the intricacies and angst that undoubtedly burns through some relationships - maybe none more so than mother and daughter. At its core, this story explores the notion that being a mother doesn’t mean being perfect; it comes down to love, sacrifice and sheer will. Through her cast of captivating characters, Lis Bensley confronts the reality that haunts us all - each and every one of us is rife with cracks and flaws, no matter how well we hide it from prying eyes. That’s just life.
The Glimpse is Lis Bensley’s tale of an artist who falls into the hands of an unscrupulous men and finds herself in the usual predicament. A rising star among Abstract Expressionist artists, Liza Baker, was passionate about her work. She finds herself sidelined when she becomes pregnant and decides to have a child. She is, however, convinced that she can have a successful career and a good relationship with Rouge, her daughter.
A new job at a college exposes her to the harsh realities of a male-dominated art world. Having failed to launch a successful career, she watches as her former lover, whose work looks similar to hers, becomes famous. As Rouge begins to nurture her talent in photography with Ben Fuller, one of Liza's ex-lovers, the mother-daughter relationship becomes more complex as a competition arises between the two.
Through 'The Glimpse', Author Lis Bensley presents a compelling glimpse at New York art world of the 1950s, one of the most fascinating and progressive time, and a mother-daughter relationship. The story of Liza’s life is one of betrayal, the meaning of forgiveness, and the relationships between mothers and daughters. It’s about the role of women in a male-dominated society and profession.
Lis Bensley writes with passion and verve in this impeccably researched novel, full of details and rich descriptions of Abstract Expressionist era. The women here are a disparate group of unconventional, stand out complex characters, that are well developed and who I invested in. The Glimpse is a terrific read that immerses the reader in the period of US history and the norms, expectations and attitudes of the time, with the drama enhanced by the beautiful location with its wilderness. It touches on issues of misogyny, exploitation, and hard lives, with a moving and heart-warming narrative that resonates with our contemporary world where the hard won rights of women can no longer be taken for granted. Additionally, it serves as a salutary reminder of just what an impact art can make to individuals and the world.
What struck me the most about this journey was the author’s ability to change my entire perspective - meaning, my thoughts and feelings in the beginning of the story were vastly different from the time I turned that final page. It’s akin to pure magic when you pick up a book from an author you haven’t read before and find yourself caught up in what can only be described as book ecstasy. What I didn’t anticipate was this level of character development, the level of intricate detail and the multifaceted beings that I wanted nothing more than to surround myself with.
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is powerful, emotional, questioning, unique story. If you are looking for something to read that is delightful, charming, with many layers of depth, this is a book you will love. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the life of an artist and perhaps historical fiction lovers in general.
The Glimpse is Lis Bensley’s tale of an artist who falls into the hands of an unscrupulous men and finds herself in the usual predicament. A rising star among Abstract Expressionist artists, Liza Baker, was passionate about her work. She finds herself sidelined when she becomes pregnant and decides to have a child. She is, however, convinced that she can have a successful career and a good relationship with Rouge, her daughter.
A new job at a college exposes her to the harsh realities of a male-dominated art world. Having failed to launch a successful career, she watches as her former lover, whose work looks similar to hers, becomes famous. As Rouge begins to nurture her talent in photography with Ben Fuller, one of Liza's ex-lovers, the mother-daughter relationship becomes more complex as a competition arises between the two.
Through 'The Glimpse', Author Lis Bensley presents a compelling glimpse at New York art world of the 1950s, one of the most fascinating and progressive time, and a mother-daughter relationship. The story of Liza’s life is one of betrayal, the meaning of forgiveness, and the relationships between mothers and daughters. It’s about the role of women in a male-dominated society and profession.
Lis Bensley writes with passion and verve in this impeccably researched novel, full of details and rich descriptions of Abstract Expressionist era. The women here are a disparate group of unconventional, stand out complex characters, that are well developed and who I invested in. The Glimpse is a terrific read that immerses the reader in the period of US history and the norms, expectations and attitudes of the time, with the drama enhanced by the beautiful location with its wilderness. It touches on issues of misogyny, exploitation, and hard lives, with a moving and heart-warming narrative that resonates with our contemporary world where the hard won rights of women can no longer be taken for granted. Additionally, it serves as a salutary reminder of just what an impact art can make to individuals and the world.
What struck me the most about this journey was the author’s ability to change my entire perspective - meaning, my thoughts and feelings in the beginning of the story were vastly different from the time I turned that final page. It’s akin to pure magic when you pick up a book from an author you haven’t read before and find yourself caught up in what can only be described as book ecstasy. What I didn’t anticipate was this level of character development, the level of intricate detail and the multifaceted beings that I wanted nothing more than to surround myself with.
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is powerful, emotional, questioning, unique story. If you are looking for something to read that is delightful, charming, with many layers of depth, this is a book you will love. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the life of an artist and perhaps historical fiction lovers in general.
March 8, 2022
After facing a life-altering event, a budding artist escapes to a small-town life to raise her daughter born out of wedlock and navigates inspiration and redemption in Bensley’s poignant novel.
Liza Baker, a rising star in the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist era, leaves everything behind to raise her daughter Rouge singlehandedly after she unexpectedly gets pregnant. She takes a job teaching at a college, but her failed dream of making it big in the art leaves her restless. When Rouge meets Ben Fuller, one of Liza's discarded lovers, the teen finds a new passion in photography. Feeling threatened, Lisa takes an unexpected step, sabotaging her already struggling relationship with her daughter.
It’s a moving tale, starting with Lisa’s navigation of the 1950’s art world, continuing through her struggles as she tries to find a balance between her art and parental terrors, Ben’s entry, and Rouge’s emotional maelstrom. There are also shared moments of wonder and joy for a mother and daughter attuned to art and quietness of small-town and each other.
Lisa has a vibrant presence. She’s no saint, just a full-throated, flesh-and-blood woman who redefines independence and her own self while embracing motherhood. She recognizes her need to stay connected to art, her ongoing struggle between her dream of making it big in the art world that she abandoned and the responsibility of Rouge, and Rouge’s unreconciled feelings for Ben. Rouge, with her turmoil, sensitivity, and passion comes alive on the pages. Reserved, intellectual, and steady Ben, though doesn’t get much space in the story but makes his presence known anyways.
Bensley demonstrates that she knows as much about art and photography as she seems to know about intricacies of familial relationships: she is particularly adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details. Rouge and Ben’s relationship unfolds slowly, and the letters they exchange are pivotal to their connection.
Timelines alternating among the past and present, both recent and long ago, add tension and depth to a multifaceted narrative that touches on the gender inequalities in the art world of the era and how the patriarchy shaped women artists’ lives in the 1950s. At the same time, Bensley writes about the intricacies of motherhood and adolescent drama with a soft touch that feels natural and easygoing.
Beautifully written and carefully crafted, this profound meditation on familial relationships, individual angst, independence, motherhood, personal dreams, and sacrifice makes for a must-read.
Liza Baker, a rising star in the burgeoning Abstract Expressionist era, leaves everything behind to raise her daughter Rouge singlehandedly after she unexpectedly gets pregnant. She takes a job teaching at a college, but her failed dream of making it big in the art leaves her restless. When Rouge meets Ben Fuller, one of Liza's discarded lovers, the teen finds a new passion in photography. Feeling threatened, Lisa takes an unexpected step, sabotaging her already struggling relationship with her daughter.
It’s a moving tale, starting with Lisa’s navigation of the 1950’s art world, continuing through her struggles as she tries to find a balance between her art and parental terrors, Ben’s entry, and Rouge’s emotional maelstrom. There are also shared moments of wonder and joy for a mother and daughter attuned to art and quietness of small-town and each other.
Lisa has a vibrant presence. She’s no saint, just a full-throated, flesh-and-blood woman who redefines independence and her own self while embracing motherhood. She recognizes her need to stay connected to art, her ongoing struggle between her dream of making it big in the art world that she abandoned and the responsibility of Rouge, and Rouge’s unreconciled feelings for Ben. Rouge, with her turmoil, sensitivity, and passion comes alive on the pages. Reserved, intellectual, and steady Ben, though doesn’t get much space in the story but makes his presence known anyways.
Bensley demonstrates that she knows as much about art and photography as she seems to know about intricacies of familial relationships: she is particularly adept at developing the characters through subtle but significant details. Rouge and Ben’s relationship unfolds slowly, and the letters they exchange are pivotal to their connection.
Timelines alternating among the past and present, both recent and long ago, add tension and depth to a multifaceted narrative that touches on the gender inequalities in the art world of the era and how the patriarchy shaped women artists’ lives in the 1950s. At the same time, Bensley writes about the intricacies of motherhood and adolescent drama with a soft touch that feels natural and easygoing.
Beautifully written and carefully crafted, this profound meditation on familial relationships, individual angst, independence, motherhood, personal dreams, and sacrifice makes for a must-read.
Read
May 18, 2022THE GLIMPSE is an emotional and at times disturbing study of a single mother trying to come to terms with her career, her family, station in life and self-image ... This book provides great imagery and scenery of its time and venues, and a fascinating look into the mind and thought process of an artist. If it’s a gripping, deeply moving, contemplative, well-written narrative that you’re after, look no further.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/04/14/singl...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2022/04/14/singl...
August 8, 2021
Bensley writes so eloquently about what it means to be an artist, what it means to create. I also really appreciated her depiction of the love between a mother and daughter, especially and most importantly when that relationship is complicated.
July 29, 2021
via my blog:https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐨, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
There are two sentences towards the end of the novel that I love, “Daughter, mother. Such difference in the forms, yet such similarities.” It stayed with me. It’s 1951 and Liza Baker is studying art at The Han’s Hofmann School, under the “modernist of Europe.” The new work has changed so much in the art world, full of courage and energy she flows with, that fills her with passion. Liza feels awake and alive knowing that she has “found her community”, at last! She wants nothing more than to shed the life her father led, a respected doctor in New Hampshire, having a colorless, bland, ordinary existence. A place of rules and falling into line, never searching for meaning, never questioning. She still feels shocked that she was accepted, that her work is good enough.
Hank, fellow student and lover, is just one of many men that reminds her of her place. Women don’t become great artists without a far greater sacrifice than men. Women can’t have love nor a family and still expect to burst onto the scene like a shooting star. Such things stifle talent and creativity if you’re a female and you dare to make a name for yourself. Yet, she does it! She and Hank are both selected for an exhibition, drawing in a big crowd, she has impressed a very important artist and naturally Hank is left in a cloud of jealousy and unfair assumptions. She is on top of the world and then bam, it’s 1966 and the reader meets Rouge, her daughter.
Rouge’s feelings for her mother are evident immediately, all too familiar with her mother’s drinking and the sleepless nights spent attempting to create art. Worse, Rouge is disgusted by the many lovers that tumble out of bed and out the door. She is shocked when one of her mother’s men, Ben Fuller, makes her acquaintance. A photographer, she is dismayed to realize he is likable. More, he has quite a bit to teach her. She couldn’t have invented this man, nor the importance he will have in her life and the feelings he will evoke between she and her mother. She doesn’t see eye to eye with Liza when it comes to her creations, and her mother has stopped asking for her opinions. Rouge has always dealt with her mother’s passing depressions but through Ben, the world of photography is opened and she may well discover a gift of her own. Something to make her feel alive, to escape being Liza’s daughter.
There was a choice, when Liza got pregnant, she could make it all go away and run through all the doors opening before her or have the child, teach and raise her while making art. She chose Rouge, and nursed the pain of watching Hank rise in a world that should have been her own. Now witness to Rouge’s growing talent, there is envy, she has the freedom to walk any path, unlike Liza. Rouge doesn’t want to share this thing between she and Ben with Liza, and yet somehow, as always, she is at the center! A suggestion about who her subject should be stings her budding ego, but she accepts the invitation and it will lend clarity to her relationship with her mother. Liza is good at disappointing her girl, and risks ruining Rouge’s turn at art.
The beauty of this book is the knowledge of art in all it’s stages and forms but more important are the ever changing forms of mother (Liza) and daughter (Rouge). Light lends clarity to more than paintings, so does space- that enhances or subtracts. The hunger for our dreams and crashing into a wall of reality, the ‘self-sabotage’, it’s all here. The fact that motherhood is a threat to talent, certainly in the 50’s, is evident in every thought and interaction Liza shares. That when you have the demands of a child/pregnancy you aren’t free to sell yourself, your image is already loaded with judgement and meaning. You don’t have the luxury of time to ‘play the scene’ and make connections. I’m not an artist, my kids both are, but it truly takes a lot of drive and self promotion in any field relating to the arts, even now. The art scene, dominated by men, is impossible enough without ‘being saddled with a child’, the thought of the times. Maybe life won’t be what she once envisioned, Liza knows about failure, feels like she is failing Rouge too but sometimes life offers us other chances. It’s a beautiful book about the fight to fuel your dreams while juggling motherhood, a career. It is also about the distance between mothers and daughters, the need to push away and create the woman you want to be. Mistakes, choices, sacrifice, love and coming into one’s own.
Published June 28th, 2021
Available Now
Matador
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐳𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐠𝐨, 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐨𝐰. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.
There are two sentences towards the end of the novel that I love, “Daughter, mother. Such difference in the forms, yet such similarities.” It stayed with me. It’s 1951 and Liza Baker is studying art at The Han’s Hofmann School, under the “modernist of Europe.” The new work has changed so much in the art world, full of courage and energy she flows with, that fills her with passion. Liza feels awake and alive knowing that she has “found her community”, at last! She wants nothing more than to shed the life her father led, a respected doctor in New Hampshire, having a colorless, bland, ordinary existence. A place of rules and falling into line, never searching for meaning, never questioning. She still feels shocked that she was accepted, that her work is good enough.
Hank, fellow student and lover, is just one of many men that reminds her of her place. Women don’t become great artists without a far greater sacrifice than men. Women can’t have love nor a family and still expect to burst onto the scene like a shooting star. Such things stifle talent and creativity if you’re a female and you dare to make a name for yourself. Yet, she does it! She and Hank are both selected for an exhibition, drawing in a big crowd, she has impressed a very important artist and naturally Hank is left in a cloud of jealousy and unfair assumptions. She is on top of the world and then bam, it’s 1966 and the reader meets Rouge, her daughter.
Rouge’s feelings for her mother are evident immediately, all too familiar with her mother’s drinking and the sleepless nights spent attempting to create art. Worse, Rouge is disgusted by the many lovers that tumble out of bed and out the door. She is shocked when one of her mother’s men, Ben Fuller, makes her acquaintance. A photographer, she is dismayed to realize he is likable. More, he has quite a bit to teach her. She couldn’t have invented this man, nor the importance he will have in her life and the feelings he will evoke between she and her mother. She doesn’t see eye to eye with Liza when it comes to her creations, and her mother has stopped asking for her opinions. Rouge has always dealt with her mother’s passing depressions but through Ben, the world of photography is opened and she may well discover a gift of her own. Something to make her feel alive, to escape being Liza’s daughter.
There was a choice, when Liza got pregnant, she could make it all go away and run through all the doors opening before her or have the child, teach and raise her while making art. She chose Rouge, and nursed the pain of watching Hank rise in a world that should have been her own. Now witness to Rouge’s growing talent, there is envy, she has the freedom to walk any path, unlike Liza. Rouge doesn’t want to share this thing between she and Ben with Liza, and yet somehow, as always, she is at the center! A suggestion about who her subject should be stings her budding ego, but she accepts the invitation and it will lend clarity to her relationship with her mother. Liza is good at disappointing her girl, and risks ruining Rouge’s turn at art.
The beauty of this book is the knowledge of art in all it’s stages and forms but more important are the ever changing forms of mother (Liza) and daughter (Rouge). Light lends clarity to more than paintings, so does space- that enhances or subtracts. The hunger for our dreams and crashing into a wall of reality, the ‘self-sabotage’, it’s all here. The fact that motherhood is a threat to talent, certainly in the 50’s, is evident in every thought and interaction Liza shares. That when you have the demands of a child/pregnancy you aren’t free to sell yourself, your image is already loaded with judgement and meaning. You don’t have the luxury of time to ‘play the scene’ and make connections. I’m not an artist, my kids both are, but it truly takes a lot of drive and self promotion in any field relating to the arts, even now. The art scene, dominated by men, is impossible enough without ‘being saddled with a child’, the thought of the times. Maybe life won’t be what she once envisioned, Liza knows about failure, feels like she is failing Rouge too but sometimes life offers us other chances. It’s a beautiful book about the fight to fuel your dreams while juggling motherhood, a career. It is also about the distance between mothers and daughters, the need to push away and create the woman you want to be. Mistakes, choices, sacrifice, love and coming into one’s own.
Published June 28th, 2021
Available Now
Matador
November 10, 2021
The author paints pictures in words with the skill of an old master and all the originality of abstract expressionism. This is a book full of life and passion.
The setting shifts between the New York art world in the 1950s and the Hudson Valley in the 1960s.
Liza paints big gutsy things but cannot sell them. Rouge is her teenage daughter. Ben was a one night stand for the mother and a mentor for her daughter's talent as a photographer. Through him they must both find salvation.
A powerful exploration of love in all its many forms.
The setting shifts between the New York art world in the 1950s and the Hudson Valley in the 1960s.
Liza paints big gutsy things but cannot sell them. Rouge is her teenage daughter. Ben was a one night stand for the mother and a mentor for her daughter's talent as a photographer. Through him they must both find salvation.
A powerful exploration of love in all its many forms.
December 31, 2021
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley felt hopeful even in the darkest of times. It is one of those books that starts out as a small flame. And as the smoke becomes a raging inferno, the story gets under your skin, and instead of going to the lungs, it aims straight for the heart.
Lis Bensley's The Glimpse, for me, was about more than the storyline though that was certainly interesting. What resonated with me was Lis Bensley's depiction of relationships. The relationships between mothers and their children, the relationships between friends, and the complicated relationships between family members. Author powerfully explored these relationships and wasn't afraid to showcase how at times we seem to hurt those we love the most because of our own unhappiness, apprehension or feelings of inadequacy. I loved how flawed and real the relationships were in this novel. This is a story that unfolds as the lives of the characters unravel. The characters were well written and complex. They all had layers to them, that were skilfully peeled away as Lis Bensley weaves her story.
The plot is dramatic, riveting, and heart-wrenching. I loved the idea of a tale that mixes the power of art with the power of women and the fear so many had of both. The book also speaks eloquently to the racial divide, classism, and more. I found many parts to be so touching and others very powerful. This is a book that speaks to you on a variety of levels. It was a wonderful book that I happily recommend to anyone looking for a historical fiction that’s not devoid of depth.
Lis Bensley's The Glimpse, for me, was about more than the storyline though that was certainly interesting. What resonated with me was Lis Bensley's depiction of relationships. The relationships between mothers and their children, the relationships between friends, and the complicated relationships between family members. Author powerfully explored these relationships and wasn't afraid to showcase how at times we seem to hurt those we love the most because of our own unhappiness, apprehension or feelings of inadequacy. I loved how flawed and real the relationships were in this novel. This is a story that unfolds as the lives of the characters unravel. The characters were well written and complex. They all had layers to them, that were skilfully peeled away as Lis Bensley weaves her story.
The plot is dramatic, riveting, and heart-wrenching. I loved the idea of a tale that mixes the power of art with the power of women and the fear so many had of both. The book also speaks eloquently to the racial divide, classism, and more. I found many parts to be so touching and others very powerful. This is a book that speaks to you on a variety of levels. It was a wonderful book that I happily recommend to anyone looking for a historical fiction that’s not devoid of depth.
December 31, 2021
There are some books when you finish, you just sit motionless with blank face, feeling speechless, resuming your awkward position for hours and then you turn back into your life after getting frozen by a magical dramatic literary wand’s power. The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is one of that kind. It's a brilliant epic historical drama set in the New York art world of the 1950s.
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley, in fact, becomes a story largely about redemption, the hypocrisy of male dominated art world, and the beauty of mother-daughter relationship. This is Abstract Expressionist era of 1950s, male dominated and wholly dismissive of the fallen woman. Lis Bensley is brave enough to tackle the subject and point out the tenets involved in shaming and shunning both these women and their children is remarkable.
Lis Bensley succeeds at writing a captivating story with fascinating characters and thought-provoking themes. The themes of repentance and redemption were done to perfection and the main character, Liza Baker, is truly an exemplary heroine. The books portray her intense social conscience and depicts a variety of conflicts, thus creating a fresh reading experience with book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great historical read with wonderfully descriptive writing and characters that you will not soon forget.
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley, in fact, becomes a story largely about redemption, the hypocrisy of male dominated art world, and the beauty of mother-daughter relationship. This is Abstract Expressionist era of 1950s, male dominated and wholly dismissive of the fallen woman. Lis Bensley is brave enough to tackle the subject and point out the tenets involved in shaming and shunning both these women and their children is remarkable.
Lis Bensley succeeds at writing a captivating story with fascinating characters and thought-provoking themes. The themes of repentance and redemption were done to perfection and the main character, Liza Baker, is truly an exemplary heroine. The books portray her intense social conscience and depicts a variety of conflicts, thus creating a fresh reading experience with book. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a great historical read with wonderfully descriptive writing and characters that you will not soon forget.
December 31, 2021
The Glimpse is a well-written historical drama, focusing on the relationships of Liza Baker with the people around her, especially with her daughter Rouge. This book is full of fantastic and interesting characters. I was easily able to invest fully in each of their lives and backgrounds. When good things happened to them, I rejoiced and when bad things happened to them, my heart broke. When they were angry or mistreated, I raged right along with them. Being able to empathize/sympathize like that tells me I am reading some well developed characters.
Intensely complex, multi layered, and intricately plotted The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is a profoundly complicated and jarring read about motherhood, freedom, and the human experience. This book had so many good things going for it such as likeable characters, life challenges met with courage and resiliency, a strong sense of community...but most of all, motherhood.
The author Lis Bensley has the uncanny ability and insight to look deep inside the workings of the often complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. I highly recommend this book for historical fiction fans, mid-20th Century American History buffs, and anyone who just loves a great story.
Intensely complex, multi layered, and intricately plotted The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is a profoundly complicated and jarring read about motherhood, freedom, and the human experience. This book had so many good things going for it such as likeable characters, life challenges met with courage and resiliency, a strong sense of community...but most of all, motherhood.
The author Lis Bensley has the uncanny ability and insight to look deep inside the workings of the often complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. I highly recommend this book for historical fiction fans, mid-20th Century American History buffs, and anyone who just loves a great story.
October 1, 2021
An absorbing page-turner about a talented young woman in the art scene of 1950s New York and her fraught relationship with the daughter she raises as a single mother.
Organized in alternating chapters, Bensley’s novel gives about equal time to the narration by her two main characters—Liza, a fiercely autonomous artist, and her teenage daughter Rouge—Bensley’s The Glimpse shuttles back and forth in time between the 1950s and the 1960s, as well as between the two women’s perspectives. In one sense, the novel is about how sexism reverberates through the life of a brilliant woman artist and that of the daughter for whom she gives up the connections of the New York art scene and a chance at renown. But readers familiar with the artistic process—and laypersons alike—will also appreciate Bensley’s detailed descriptions of the act of painting itself. The artist’s absorption in the process of making their art—whether it is applying gesso to a fresh canvas or pulling a print from developer—translates to the reader’s investment in physical process of the attempt to capture “the glimpse of the emotion…the essence of what sparked the content” of a work of art.
The first 1950s section gives the point of view of Liza, a fiercely and sexually liberated young painter in the Abstract Expressionist vein who is eager to learn and compete in the art world but also genuinely talented as she seeks and seizes elusive glimpses of inspiration. In the course of her quest to find her voice as an artist, we are treated to absorbing scenes of socializing, one-upmanship, and drunken revelry among artists both up-and-coming and established—many of them set in the iconic Cedar Tavern, the bar on the edge of Greenwich Village that became a gathering place for artists from Robert Motherwell to Jackson Pollock. Bensley’s economically written scenes set in the Cedar Tavern or in galleries feel authentic and alive to the reader and effectively showcase the gendered power dynamics of the art world. Notably, Liza is aware of—but not crushed by—the sexism around her and unabashedly pursues sexual gratification and artistic self-realization on her own terms. Yet among the most moving, psychologically subtle, and beautifully written passages are those where Liza is painting alone, nursing momentary epiphanies about the “glimpse” of the essence she tries to capture in her abstract paintings.
Meanwhile, sections from the daughter’s point of view subtly convey her experience as the child of a parent who suffers from depression, where the household “weather” can shift with the parent-artist’s emotional state. The reader senses that Rouge has had to grow up fast, sometimes playing caretaker to her mother. At times Rouge has to clean up after her mercurial mother’s relationship messes—for example, awkwardly conversing with a one-night-stand whom Liza has unceremoniously dumped to go paint in her studio. And at times she endures the disapproving gaze of townfolk in the small upstate New York town to which Liza has decamped to raise her child. On the other hand, Rouge’s sections also reveal Liza’s love for her daughter and how she introduces Rouge to art and creativity throughout her young life—an exposure that develops (no pun intended) Rouge’s discovery of an art form of her own. Without spoiling too much--suffice it to say that steering her way through the tensions of young adulthood as the child of a brilliant and self-absorbed artist feeds into Rouge’s productive struggle in ways that are a total pleasure to read.
Once we take on board the background concerns in the first section, the novel builds to a well-paced, absorbing narrative that sustains unbroken attention. Finally, the uplifting ending leaves the reader feeling happy for the main characters but (thankfully) resists the impulse to tie up every loose end (no spoilers). Bensley evokes a richly imagined world and leaves the reader satisfied and wanting more…
Organized in alternating chapters, Bensley’s novel gives about equal time to the narration by her two main characters—Liza, a fiercely autonomous artist, and her teenage daughter Rouge—Bensley’s The Glimpse shuttles back and forth in time between the 1950s and the 1960s, as well as between the two women’s perspectives. In one sense, the novel is about how sexism reverberates through the life of a brilliant woman artist and that of the daughter for whom she gives up the connections of the New York art scene and a chance at renown. But readers familiar with the artistic process—and laypersons alike—will also appreciate Bensley’s detailed descriptions of the act of painting itself. The artist’s absorption in the process of making their art—whether it is applying gesso to a fresh canvas or pulling a print from developer—translates to the reader’s investment in physical process of the attempt to capture “the glimpse of the emotion…the essence of what sparked the content” of a work of art.
The first 1950s section gives the point of view of Liza, a fiercely and sexually liberated young painter in the Abstract Expressionist vein who is eager to learn and compete in the art world but also genuinely talented as she seeks and seizes elusive glimpses of inspiration. In the course of her quest to find her voice as an artist, we are treated to absorbing scenes of socializing, one-upmanship, and drunken revelry among artists both up-and-coming and established—many of them set in the iconic Cedar Tavern, the bar on the edge of Greenwich Village that became a gathering place for artists from Robert Motherwell to Jackson Pollock. Bensley’s economically written scenes set in the Cedar Tavern or in galleries feel authentic and alive to the reader and effectively showcase the gendered power dynamics of the art world. Notably, Liza is aware of—but not crushed by—the sexism around her and unabashedly pursues sexual gratification and artistic self-realization on her own terms. Yet among the most moving, psychologically subtle, and beautifully written passages are those where Liza is painting alone, nursing momentary epiphanies about the “glimpse” of the essence she tries to capture in her abstract paintings.
Meanwhile, sections from the daughter’s point of view subtly convey her experience as the child of a parent who suffers from depression, where the household “weather” can shift with the parent-artist’s emotional state. The reader senses that Rouge has had to grow up fast, sometimes playing caretaker to her mother. At times Rouge has to clean up after her mercurial mother’s relationship messes—for example, awkwardly conversing with a one-night-stand whom Liza has unceremoniously dumped to go paint in her studio. And at times she endures the disapproving gaze of townfolk in the small upstate New York town to which Liza has decamped to raise her child. On the other hand, Rouge’s sections also reveal Liza’s love for her daughter and how she introduces Rouge to art and creativity throughout her young life—an exposure that develops (no pun intended) Rouge’s discovery of an art form of her own. Without spoiling too much--suffice it to say that steering her way through the tensions of young adulthood as the child of a brilliant and self-absorbed artist feeds into Rouge’s productive struggle in ways that are a total pleasure to read.
Once we take on board the background concerns in the first section, the novel builds to a well-paced, absorbing narrative that sustains unbroken attention. Finally, the uplifting ending leaves the reader feeling happy for the main characters but (thankfully) resists the impulse to tie up every loose end (no spoilers). Bensley evokes a richly imagined world and leaves the reader satisfied and wanting more…
December 31, 2021
The Glimpse by Lis Bensley is a story of resilience, of strong women who have faced with their own challenges but find solace in art and bonding together in a town that doesn’t accept them. It's a smart, but often scathing look at entitlement coupled with the endless dynamic layers between mother and child.
The writing is exquisite and easily draws you in. It feels like you're alongside the character, watching the abuse and emotional heartache pouring from the scene. Lis Bensley has such a gift for writing characters with depth.
The Glimpse was a superb work of historical fiction as well and was a perfect balance of both facts and story, which never felt burdensome. It is a riveting story of an extraordinary, courageous and determined woman and highlights the importance of arts in people's lives. If you enjoy historical fiction from Abstract Expressionist era, I'd say definitely give this one a go!
The writing is exquisite and easily draws you in. It feels like you're alongside the character, watching the abuse and emotional heartache pouring from the scene. Lis Bensley has such a gift for writing characters with depth.
The Glimpse was a superb work of historical fiction as well and was a perfect balance of both facts and story, which never felt burdensome. It is a riveting story of an extraordinary, courageous and determined woman and highlights the importance of arts in people's lives. If you enjoy historical fiction from Abstract Expressionist era, I'd say definitely give this one a go!
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October 26, 2021A captivating and timely book. Impeccably researched and, thus, absent of interruptions due to historical or geographical errors. The writing is rich with art processes and studio environments.
August 9, 2021
Review by Marianna Houston
The Glimpse is a great read--- I loved the context of the 1950’s art world and how the comments and vision for the visual artists aligned with aspects of their lives, “the first line gets its meaning from its relation to the second line.”
Lis Bensley‘s characters were drawn with a specificity that kept me engaged and rooting for each one of them—Liza, Tess, Rouge, Ben and even Hank.
The drama of mother and daughter held me as well as the coming of age of daughter as well as the possibility of a career breakthrough for Liza.
This a novel that has an engaging plot and, at the same time, makes a powerful statement about the dilemma of female artists and their liberty to include motherhood in the turbulent journey to acknowledgement, success and recognition as a significant artist.
The Glimpse is a great read--- I loved the context of the 1950’s art world and how the comments and vision for the visual artists aligned with aspects of their lives, “the first line gets its meaning from its relation to the second line.”
Lis Bensley‘s characters were drawn with a specificity that kept me engaged and rooting for each one of them—Liza, Tess, Rouge, Ben and even Hank.
The drama of mother and daughter held me as well as the coming of age of daughter as well as the possibility of a career breakthrough for Liza.
This a novel that has an engaging plot and, at the same time, makes a powerful statement about the dilemma of female artists and their liberty to include motherhood in the turbulent journey to acknowledgement, success and recognition as a significant artist.
July 19, 2021
There are so many things to love about this book! I didn't want it to end.
You will fall in love with the characters that Lis Bensley so beautifully creates and feel privileged to journey with them through their struggles as artists, women, mother and daughter. Vivid detail transports you to the New York art scene of the 1950's Abstract Expressionist movement. I reveled in Bensley's descriptions of her characters' insights into their craft, as they grew and changed throughout the story. This is a rich novel that offers us a glimpse into the world of art, human relationships and ourselves. I will read this one over and over.
You will fall in love with the characters that Lis Bensley so beautifully creates and feel privileged to journey with them through their struggles as artists, women, mother and daughter. Vivid detail transports you to the New York art scene of the 1950's Abstract Expressionist movement. I reveled in Bensley's descriptions of her characters' insights into their craft, as they grew and changed throughout the story. This is a rich novel that offers us a glimpse into the world of art, human relationships and ourselves. I will read this one over and over.
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July 24, 2021When historical references are utilized by an author of fiction it is critical that they be accurate, such as it is in The Glimpse by Lis Bensley. Bensley's research is impeccable. Also, Bensley having been an art writer for years, gives the reader true pictures of the mechanics of art making. Given these two strengths, this timely story of a mother and daughter is carried on an authentic foundation. It is a pleasure to read a complex weave of motherhood, ambition, a daughter's passage through adolescence and a passion for the creative life, while knowing the author writes with veracity on her subjects.
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July 28, 2021Bensley's writing is captivating with vivid descriptions of the struggles of a talented painter in the NY Abstract Expressionist scene. She brings to life elements of art history by building detailed scenes of place from Manhattan to upstate NY. Through the development of her characters, she conveys the struggles of a woman trying to succeed in the male dominated art scene. Writing about the painter's process in juxtaposition to the photographer's while interweaving mother-daughter dynamics and psychological suspense, her book rang true and reminded me of some of my own experiences as a painter, photographer, and mother. It made such an impact that I couldn't put it down.
July 20, 2021
I am not an artist, but loved diving into this complex and powerful novel about two artists--mother and daughter--one driven to paint and the other newly discovering her passion for photography. Lis Bensley perfectly captures the rigor and passion of the creative process and the complex weaving of love, devotion and competition across generations. I loved this book and couldn't wait to return to it every day. Every time I had a gap in my day, I returned to the beautiful world Bensley created. I savored this story until the very last page.
August 6, 2021
New York of the 1950's, Abstract Expressionism and the struggle of a brilliant woman artist in a male dominated milieu. A conflicted mother-daughter relationship rooted in the artist's choice to raise a child, causing her to lose professional footing in an already fraught environment. Lis Bensley gets it right. The repartee between artists and the politics of the art world feel especially authentic. Add to that one of the best names for a major character (Rouge) and the canvas is complete. The Glimpse is a winner.
July 22, 2025
The Glimpse is a searing, unflinchingly honest exploration of the razor-thin line between artistic passion and personal sacrifice. Lis Bensley captures the atmosphere of the 1950s New York art scene with a rich, immersive narrative that is as visually vibrant as it is emotionally complex.
Liza Baker is a protagonist we don’t often see flawed, fiercely determined, and deeply human. Her choice to pursue motherhood in an era where doing so was essentially artistic suicide sets the tone for a life filled with both love and bitterness. Bensley does a brilliant job of portraying the suffocating, male-dominated world of Abstract Expressionism, where Liza’s ambition is slowly and systematically crushed.
What’s most compelling is the novel’s subtle transition of focus from Liza to her daughter Rouge. Their relationship is raw and tangled competitive yet codependent, loving yet quietly hostile. The introduction of Ben Fuller as a bridge (and barrier) between mother and daughter is a masterstroke. Their triangular dynamic adds layers of emotional tension, all while examining what it means to create, to love, and to lose yourself in the process.
This novel doesn’t offer neat resolutions or sentimental redemption. Instead, it lingers like a striking piece of modern art making you confront the uncomfortable truth that sometimes the people who love us most can also be the ones who hold us back. A stunning achievement.
Liza Baker is a protagonist we don’t often see flawed, fiercely determined, and deeply human. Her choice to pursue motherhood in an era where doing so was essentially artistic suicide sets the tone for a life filled with both love and bitterness. Bensley does a brilliant job of portraying the suffocating, male-dominated world of Abstract Expressionism, where Liza’s ambition is slowly and systematically crushed.
What’s most compelling is the novel’s subtle transition of focus from Liza to her daughter Rouge. Their relationship is raw and tangled competitive yet codependent, loving yet quietly hostile. The introduction of Ben Fuller as a bridge (and barrier) between mother and daughter is a masterstroke. Their triangular dynamic adds layers of emotional tension, all while examining what it means to create, to love, and to lose yourself in the process.
This novel doesn’t offer neat resolutions or sentimental redemption. Instead, it lingers like a striking piece of modern art making you confront the uncomfortable truth that sometimes the people who love us most can also be the ones who hold us back. A stunning achievement.
July 22, 2025
Lis Bensley has delivered a deeply intelligent and hauntingly beautiful novel in The Glimpse. Set against the vibrant yet unforgiving landscape of 1950s New York, this is a story that doesn’t just examine art, it dissects the emotional anatomy of the artist herself.
Liza Baker is one of the most complex characters I’ve encountered in contemporary fiction. Her struggle is not just against societal expectations, but against her own self-destructive tendencies and emotional contradictions. The novel does a fantastic job of portraying how women, especially artists, were expected to choose between career and family, a false binary that leads Liza down a road of regret and resentment.
What makes the novel extraordinary, however, is how it handles the evolving relationship between Liza and her daughter Rouge. Their bond is fraught with rivalry, admiration, pain, and an unspoken yearning for validation. When Ben Fuller enters their lives as a shared connection, the story takes on a dangerous edge, blurring lines of mentorship, desire, and betrayal.
Bensley’s prose is razor-sharp yet graceful, her storytelling emotionally nuanced and unafraid to delve into the darker corners of ambition and motherhood. This is not a comforting read but it is a necessary one. If you’re looking for a novel that challenges you emotionally and intellectually, The Glimpse is a must-read.
Liza Baker is one of the most complex characters I’ve encountered in contemporary fiction. Her struggle is not just against societal expectations, but against her own self-destructive tendencies and emotional contradictions. The novel does a fantastic job of portraying how women, especially artists, were expected to choose between career and family, a false binary that leads Liza down a road of regret and resentment.
What makes the novel extraordinary, however, is how it handles the evolving relationship between Liza and her daughter Rouge. Their bond is fraught with rivalry, admiration, pain, and an unspoken yearning for validation. When Ben Fuller enters their lives as a shared connection, the story takes on a dangerous edge, blurring lines of mentorship, desire, and betrayal.
Bensley’s prose is razor-sharp yet graceful, her storytelling emotionally nuanced and unafraid to delve into the darker corners of ambition and motherhood. This is not a comforting read but it is a necessary one. If you’re looking for a novel that challenges you emotionally and intellectually, The Glimpse is a must-read.
March 23, 2023
This was a good read. Interesting view of the art world in the 50's as well as the complexities of mother daughter relationships...
June 6, 2022
When I started reading this book, I could tell right away that it was very well-written. With art being a major theme of the book, however, I was afraid it wouldn’t hold my interest. But that was not an issue.
The story seems to move slowly, yet a lot is happening at the same time. It starts with Liza, a passionate young artist with hopes and dreams for her future, and it flips back and forth with the story of Liza’s daughter Rogue about 15 years later.
What happens when a woman chooses to compromise her dreams and bring a new life into the world? Will Liza ever know what it’s like to achieve success as an artist? Will Rogue ever feel loved after being raised by a single mom who spends all of her time in her studio creating art, getting drunk, and sleeping with random men?
The drama that unfolds between mother and daughter is thought-provoking when a man comes into their lives and changes their perspective on everything.
The story seems to move slowly, yet a lot is happening at the same time. It starts with Liza, a passionate young artist with hopes and dreams for her future, and it flips back and forth with the story of Liza’s daughter Rogue about 15 years later.
What happens when a woman chooses to compromise her dreams and bring a new life into the world? Will Liza ever know what it’s like to achieve success as an artist? Will Rogue ever feel loved after being raised by a single mom who spends all of her time in her studio creating art, getting drunk, and sleeping with random men?
The drama that unfolds between mother and daughter is thought-provoking when a man comes into their lives and changes their perspective on everything.
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