Do you ever have those moments where you just can’t finish a book? It’s been like that for me, and not necessarily because the books were bad. It’s just that I haven’t been able to truly focus, or to find a book that really hooks me.
It was like that with a book called The Master of Verona, by David Blixt. It’s about Dante, but there’s a lot of Shakespearean elements in it. It’s been reviewed pretty well, and the writing is good, but I couldn’t bring myself to read past page 35. Same with a book by Vanora Bennett called Portrait of an Unknown Woman. It features Thomas More’s adopted daughter. Since I love fiction (and non) set in this period, I began reading this with high expectations. But my attention wasn’t completely caught by it. Ever had a moment such as this?
I’m having better luck with Susan Vreeland’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, about Renoir and the famous painting of the same name. I’m about halfway through right now, and I’ll tell you what I think when I finish.
It was like that with a book called The Master of Verona, by David Blixt. It’s about Dante, but there’s a lot of Shakespearean elements in it. It’s been reviewed pretty well, and the writing is good, but I couldn’t bring myself to read past page 35. Same with a book by Vanora Bennett called Portrait of an Unknown Woman. It features Thomas More’s adopted daughter. Since I love fiction (and non) set in this period, I began reading this with high expectations. But my attention wasn’t completely caught by it. Ever had a moment such as this?
I’m having better luck with Susan Vreeland’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, about Renoir and the famous painting of the same name. I’m about halfway through right now, and I’ll tell you what I think when I finish.
Comments
I'm glad to hear you are enjoying Vreeland's book. I just finished her book Life Studies which is a collection of short stories and thought it was a great read. Luncheon is on my wish list. Hope the reading blues go away!