Very well written, engaging, captures the essence of a truly meaningful story! I was impressed with how she makes you care about the characters.
I picked this up because I had enjoyed another book by the same author, A Vintage Affair. The Very Picture of You was not as engaging, but used a similar story construct. The main character, Ella, is a portrait painter. She learns a great deal about her subjects through the intimacy of painting their portraits. The "twist" about her parents was quite evident from early on in the story, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I read this book with a certain amount of trepidation after reading unflattering reviews, but I shouldn't have worried. I found the book immediately involving and enjoyed the read. I thought I had it all figured out but surprise...I didn't! My biggest criticism was that the ending felt a little abrupt and too pat for such an intriguing storyline. The insights into the act of portraiture were utterly fascinating.
The art of painting a portrait was interesting, but not the characters. I read this after enjoying "Vintage Affair", but this one fell flat. The story lines were far fetched, esp. when none of the separate story lines were believable or I just had a difficult time caring.
Enjoyable novel about "Where the eye sees the brushstroke, the heart sees the truth.
At thirty-five, Gabriella Ella Graham is a successful portrait artist in London. She captures the essential truth in each of her subjects facesa tilt of the chin, a glint in the eyeand immortalizes it on canvas. But closer to home, Ella finds the truth more elusive. Her father abandoned the family when she was five, and her mother has remained silent on the subject ever since. Ellas sister, Chloe, is engaged to Nate, an American working in London, but Ella suspects that he may not be so committed. Then, at Chloes behest, Ella agrees to paint Nates portrait.
From session to session, Ella begins to see Nate in a different light, which gives rise to conflicted feelings. In fact, through the various people she paintsincluding an elderly client reflecting on her life and a woman dreading the prospect of turning fortyElla realizes that there is so much more to a persons life than what is seen on the surface. And as her portraits of Nate and the others progress, they begin to reveal less about their subjects than about the artist herself."
At thirty-five, Gabriella Ella Graham is a successful portrait artist in London. She captures the essential truth in each of her subjects facesa tilt of the chin, a glint in the eyeand immortalizes it on canvas. But closer to home, Ella finds the truth more elusive. Her father abandoned the family when she was five, and her mother has remained silent on the subject ever since. Ellas sister, Chloe, is engaged to Nate, an American working in London, but Ella suspects that he may not be so committed. Then, at Chloes behest, Ella agrees to paint Nates portrait.
From session to session, Ella begins to see Nate in a different light, which gives rise to conflicted feelings. In fact, through the various people she paintsincluding an elderly client reflecting on her life and a woman dreading the prospect of turning fortyElla realizes that there is so much more to a persons life than what is seen on the surface. And as her portraits of Nate and the others progress, they begin to reveal less about their subjects than about the artist herself."
