pickI was unenthusiastic when I saw this on the #WPNF25 longlist: really, another famous dead white guy? So I dragged my feet on picking it up. But once I did, I struggled to put it down because the writing is SO good. There are some issues with some bits near the end being slotted in not quite so seamlessly, but overall I really enjoyed this.
pickThis was great! I have little interest in the French Impressionists, and knew very little about Gauguin (most of which turned out to be inaccurate), but this was highly interesting and superbly entertaining as well as informative. What a character! What a life! The book also includes a lot of prints and photos of artwork, on high quality paper. I'm sad this didn't make the shortlist for the #WomensPrizeNF
pickLast but one from the #wpnf25 longlist. (Half of Tracker to go)
This started off well, but became quite repetitive. I also don‘t feel that the author achieved what she set out to do. At the start she said that newly discovered papers have refuted the negative review of Gauguin, but didn‘t really demonstrate that to me.
I didn‘t know much about him prior to this - other than that I understood that he was a colonialist who liked young girls. ⬇️
pickThis was a really thorough biography of Paul Gauguin with his beautiful paintings printed throughout. Written almost without sentiment but not dry. I found it really immersive. In some ways he was ahead of his times in terms of the way he viewed certain things. The chapter on Gauguin and Van Gogh was interesting and the ones on his early life too - how it wasn‘t until a bit later in life he became interested in painting. #wpnf25
So pleased this was next to come up from my library holds for #wpnf25 - such a gorgeous book and really interesting so far.
I capitulated and ordered a print copy of this book from the Women‘s Prize longlist. #wpnf25
I had a digital copy on BorrowBox but I‘m trying not to read on my iPad as it makes my eyes sore. I read a few pages and decided it was worth buying, and I‘m glad I did.
It‘s so heavy, due to the thick, shiny, white paper and the images are beautiful. And it smells nice too! 🤪
pickThis did a great job of showing the ways Van Gogh and Gauguin were able to inspire, influence, learn from, teach, and compete with each other during the 9 weeks they lived together, and how it changed and informed each of their work during that period and also going forward. This interplay between artists is something I‘ve always been fascinated by, so I loved reading about this! BUT I found the writing style challenging. 👇🏼
Settling in for a #hyggehour of history and paintings. It‘s been a tough week here, so I‘m looking forward to an hour of just relaxing.
I‘m about to start my #bookspin book. I chose it from a “this spine is calling to me” category, but when I opened it I was surprised by my favorite endpapers of all time! I wonder if I should have a “fun endpapers” category 🤔 @TheAromaofBooks
I got “this spine is calling to me” again! this time for my #bookspin slot, and I decided on The Yellow House. My #doublepin was something from my #auldlangspine list. I just started The Vaster Wilds yesterday morning, but I‘m already drawn in. @TheAromaofBooks
