9 Comments
User's avatar
N.J. (Nancy) Mastro's avatar

I loved Claude and Camille, and I'm reading The Vow right now. Both are awesome books!

Expand full comment
Terri Lewis's avatar

Wonderful. I'm an impressionist enthusiast. Giverny? OMG. Musee d'Orsay, etc. But you are right - in "traditional painting," the portraits draw me. The Kauffman portrait of the archeologist is haunting (and The Vow excellent as you say.) I also read your link to Caillebotte, a painter I didn't really know. What a story. I'm saving the Bazille link for later.

Expand full comment
Andrea Ezerins's avatar

What a great review of both books. I'm going to add them to my TBR.

Expand full comment
John Doble's avatar

Beautifully written, as always. I feel like Terrri Lewis about Monet and the Impressionists.

Expand full comment
John immerwahr's avatar

If you live in the Washington, DC, area, you might want to go to the National Gallery to see their amazing show - the Impressionist moment. It will put you in the mood for the Monet novel. But hurry up, the exhibition closes soon.

Expand full comment
Joan Fernandez's avatar

Your reviews are so lovely, Martha Jean. I've read The Vow and agree with you on all counts on the portrait of Kaufmann. And I'm a big Monet fan, having visited Giverny and also Claude was in the first version of my novel (but then was edited out in the revised book). I love your reviews.

Expand full comment
Stephanie Freese's avatar

jean- loved this discussion for many reasons- i will share it with our nassau county museum of art book club leader!

Expand full comment
Stephanie Cowell's avatar

Stephanie, if the book club would like to read it, I'd be happy to visit by phone or zoom when they meet. Thanks very much! - Stephanie

Expand full comment
Jude Berman's avatar

Stephanie, I would be delighted to join in any book club discussion of The Vow!

Expand full comment