.

.

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Currently reading...

and loving it! So far, I've learned that Robert Oliver is a famous artist who has tried to attack a painting titled Leda with a knife.  He didn't succeed and is placed in a psychiatric facility.  He won't talk with anybody, exhibits aggressive behavior, and rereads old letters frequently.  His new shrink is determined to help him.  He wants to figure out why Robert attacked the painting and who the woman is in Robert's drawings.  In a bid to learn more about his patient, Marlow has contacted Robert's ex-wife.  He's driven to her home and is listening to her talk about how she first met Robert.  Meanwhile, Marlow is also having a friend of his translate the French letters that Robert obsessively reads - yep, turns out they are in French.

I'm enjoying the story and really looking forward to learning more about the reason behind Robert's attack on Leda (or attempted attack).  Plus, what do the letters have to do with him?  Why won't he talk to anyone?  Why is he so angry?  Also, why is Marlow so attached to this case? Is it because he's also an artist?  What is his attraction to Kate (Robert's ex)? I have theories already, but I'm trying to ignore them.  I want to see where Kostova takes the story.  Its slow-going, but its so interesting that I can't help but get caught up in it.  And, I love the vivid, colorful, and rich descriptions - they are so mesmerizing.  I have to admit that they make me want to visit an art museum, which I just love.

And now, I'm off to continue reading The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. Happy reading!!

5 comments:

Ti said...

I listened to this one on a long drive back from San Diego and the kids were in the car. Some very colorful language woke my kids up from a nap! I remember it clearly... not so much the book though.

Lark said...

I loved Kostova's The Historian, and I have a copy of The Swan Thieves (borrowed from my sister), but I haven't found time to read it yet...because it sounds a little complicated and like a book I need to be able to read all at once, so I don't get lost or confused. Is it? I'm glad you're enjoying it; hopefully the end is as good as the beginning!

Nadia said...

Ti, LOL! Some books are like that :)

Lark, I loved The Historian:) So far this one is so slow going, that you can't help but stay on track with the story lines. I think you'd enjoy it, but definitely carve out time to devote to it - its that kind of read.

Lisa said...

I listened to this one a while ago (a year?) and honestly could not remember what it was about at all until I started reading your post. Even now, I can't recall at all how it ended. Some of that did have to do with only being able to listen to it while I was driving and I don't think a lot of books stick with me as well that way. It is much slower going than The Historian which I read years ago and still remember well.

Nadia said...

Lisa, I have a feeling this is a book that I'm not going to remember years from now and I think it has to do with its slow pace. I feel like its taking me forever to read it. I'm enjoying it, but not in the same way I enjoyed The Historian - which I can still remember. So, I definitely understand where you are coming from :)