Well Worth the Time

Entirely enthralling historical novel about Renoir, his famous painting and the lives of each of the models who posed for "Luncheon of the Boating Party". By the end of the book you care for each of the characters and hope the story will never end. An entertaining insight into the "modern life" of impressionistic-era France, this well-researched tale will leave you wanting more. Do yourself a favor and carry a copy of the painting with you when you listen, so you can identify each model and follow the references Vreeland makes to the landscape, still life and mysterious 14th figure within the painting.

8 people found this helpful

great book- great narrator

Great audio book-- in part because Karen White, the narrator is so perfect for this book. This book brings alive Paris in the 1880's still recovering from the Prussian war. It had great detail intertwined with a great love story. Overall, a great audio book. The listener needs an appreciation of Impressionist art to get the full benefit from it, however.

6 people found this helpful

Superb

So entertaining and full of history of art, persons, a country, war, peace and French culture.

Full of love and passion. Emotion of all kinds depicted so well as to elicit them by myself.

I enjoyed this book and learned so much including that which it inspired me to research via Internet images and You Tube documentaries. Not that the book lacked. Rather it caused me to want more. I had so much fun. It's a rich story too as I found myself able to go back and re-listen to parts. I rarely do this ever. There are after all so many books and so little time!

2 people found this helpful

Writing in the Impressionist Style

Would you try another book from Susan Vreeland and/or Karen White?

Yes

What could Susan Vreeland have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

An image of the painting with the characters names, like a map.

Would you be willing to try another one of Karen White’s performances?

yes

Could you see Luncheon of the Boating Party being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

yes movie

Any additional comments?

Read this as you would view an impressionist painting. Capture the essence of the book through fast reading and lingering on the areas that truly interest you. This is not an "easy read." She really captures the intensity of what it feels like to be an artist and more specifically a painter. I say this from personal knowledge, I am a painter and an MFA.

2 people found this helpful

La Vie Moderne

This is a great imaginative journey into the Paris of the impressionists. It could be better. Some of the characters are annoying. The history is clunky. The relationships are sometimes overwrought.

However, the hero- Renoir- is intriguing, funny and compelling. When he is around the book is great. Most of his friends are lovable. The real stars are French food, Paris and the materials Renoir and the others used to create wonderful paintings. So if you think you like (or could like) Paris, food and art, I would give it a go. If not, my commiserations. I've listened twice and can't quite decide if I really like it.

2 people found this helpful

bad narration

The story is OK but the narrator drove me to distraction. The fake french accent was appalling.

4 people found this helpful

A Bit Disappointing

I downloaded this book on the strength of Vreeland's other art-oriented novel (really a collection of interrelated short stories), The Girl in Hyacinth Blue, and because of my interest in the impressionist painters. It starts off slowly and doesn't get much better. The author is undoubtedly trying to replicate the feel of a warm, lazy day on the Seine, just as the painting does, but the style gets old quickly. It also seems that she is impressed with her own research on painting (too many repetitions of colors: rose madder, Prussian blue, etc., over and over and over--I just wanted to SEE the painting after all that). While there are a lot of characters, most of them remain slight and superficial. Go to the Phillips, see the famous painting, and read a biography of Renoir. You'll learn more and enjoy it more.

14 people found this helpful

Something An Art Historian Might Love

As an artist myself, I was anxious to read about Renoir and this great painting. While the story was interesting, it got bogged down from time to time with what I thought were needless descriptive passages that felt pretentious and frankly got somewhat boring. Still I was interested in Renoir’s thought process while painting, and was glad I choose audio so I could up the speed a bit to listen to it!

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful story of a beautiful painting

I really enjoyed this book. I am enriched knowing about the passion of Renoir for painting & learning about the lives of the models who posed. Any admirer of Impressionism will want to read this work. I highly recommend it.

1 person found this helpful

Great book!

Story was enthralling. Loved it! Having the photo of the painting while I read this was great fun and the painting came alive.