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tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
5.0
This book is incredible. I got an advanced copy from Penguin's First to Read program and was in love from the first page to the last. Webb has the ability to weave in historical elements seamlessly, give the reader snippets of French culture as if it is nothing at all, all while writing a compelling and passionate story.
But don't let the title lead you to believe the passion is exclusively romantic. The struggle Camille faces in being a female artist, the way she does whatever she can to continue pursuing her art, instilled in me a deep appreciation for early female artists. I had no idea this woman existed before reading this book, and her depiction here now leaves me grateful for her work.
The storytelling is stunning, descriptions and world building enable the reader to be fully immersed in both time and place. This is the first of Webb's books that I've read.
It will by no means be the last.
But don't let the title lead you to believe the passion is exclusively romantic. The struggle Camille faces in being a female artist, the way she does whatever she can to continue pursuing her art, instilled in me a deep appreciation for early female artists. I had no idea this woman existed before reading this book, and her depiction here now leaves me grateful for her work.
The storytelling is stunning, descriptions and world building enable the reader to be fully immersed in both time and place. This is the first of Webb's books that I've read.
It will by no means be the last.
dynila's review against another edition
5.0
*DISCLAIMER* I was provided a free copy of this book for review purposes by the publisher.
*LOVE*
The only reason this book took me a while to devour was that the 3rd party app I was using on my Fire to read my ARC kept crashing. Otherwise this would have been a lost weekend book -- lost because I spent the whole weekend on the couch devouring it.
If you love historical fiction (and history) there's a bit of post-Napoleonic French politics. If you love art or literature, the name-dropping delicious, from the title character and her lover to Monet, Hugo, and Balzac.
This was a perfect book for me. I love history, art, and learning new things. I was unfamiliar with Camille Claudel prior to reading this book and am very glad to have met her.
The writing was spare in places, but rich and passionate when talking about art and the feeling that creating and viewing art engendered in the characters. It was soft - I didn't notice the writing, just the story.
Except for the bears... Webb's copyeditor is apparently unaware that one does not 'bear' one's soul. It was an error primarily noticeable for its consistency since the incorrect word is used every time. That or I totally missed some epic large carnivorous mammal metaphor...
I was moved by how well Webb wrote Camille's mental illness. I felt her feelings, her confusion over the conflicting signals her brain was sending and receiving and it really made the narrative feel authentic to me.
The only real objection I have is the jump at the end of the book from 1898 to 1913. I know, from Wikipedia-ing Claudel, what happened in those years, but I would've liked a little more narrative segway from one time period to the other in the character's life. That, or leave out the 1913 bit altogether and stop at the end of the affair.
Still, a wonderful book with a well-written story whose language occasionally shifts into the lyrical. A solid 4 star read.
*LOVE*
The only reason this book took me a while to devour was that the 3rd party app I was using on my Fire to read my ARC kept crashing. Otherwise this would have been a lost weekend book -- lost because I spent the whole weekend on the couch devouring it.
If you love historical fiction (and history) there's a bit of post-Napoleonic French politics. If you love art or literature, the name-dropping delicious, from the title character and her lover to Monet, Hugo, and Balzac.
This was a perfect book for me. I love history, art, and learning new things. I was unfamiliar with Camille Claudel prior to reading this book and am very glad to have met her.
The writing was spare in places, but rich and passionate when talking about art and the feeling that creating and viewing art engendered in the characters. It was soft - I didn't notice the writing, just the story.
Except for the bears... Webb's copyeditor is apparently unaware that one does not 'bear' one's soul. It was an error primarily noticeable for its consistency since the incorrect word is used every time. That or I totally missed some epic large carnivorous mammal metaphor...
Spoiler
I was moved by how well Webb wrote Camille's mental illness. I felt her feelings, her confusion over the conflicting signals her brain was sending and receiving and it really made the narrative feel authentic to me.
The only real objection I have is the jump at the end of the book from 1898 to 1913. I know, from Wikipedia-ing Claudel, what happened in those years, but I would've liked a little more narrative segway from one time period to the other in the character's life. That, or leave out the 1913 bit altogether and stop at the end of the affair.
Still, a wonderful book with a well-written story whose language occasionally shifts into the lyrical. A solid 4 star read.
jnicewinter's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
golden_lily's review against another edition
3.0
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
Was Camille Claudel insane?
Her family certainly thought so, having the sculptor forcibly committed for the last thirty years of her life. However, the press, the hospital, and her friends disagreed. She was passionate, angry even, but no one but her brother saw a reason for her to be committed. This makes Rodin’s Lover’s decision to spend seventeen years depicting the sculptor’s descent into schizophrenia something of a strange choice.
Belle Époque France isn’t a time period I generally read, though I am familiar with the art. I was immediately fascinated with the conflict between the modern artist and her traditionalist mother, as well as Camille’s clashes with teachers and fellow students who viewed female artists as hobbyists. Yet, Camille’s mother doesn’t just disapprove of her art; she hates her child. They have a few confrontations over the next two decades, but I still don’t feel I understand why.
The focus of the novel is too broad. Scenes feel disconnected from the whole, skipping between days and months with no transition. In one scene, Rodin will be despairing of ever finishing Balzac, much less by his deadline, in the next, he’ll be at a party celebrating the opening of the monument. Camille will suffer a schizophrenic episode and vow to never see Rodin again, but in the next scene, she’ll see him at an exhibition months later and throw herself into his arms. It’s dizzying.
Paris isn’t an exceptionally large city, and the art scene was relatively small, but at a point, all of the famous people who continually turn up feels forced and inorganic. “Edmond Baziere said”, “I am Joseph Archambault”. “Émile Zola had shown”. Jules Dalou, whom Rodin did sculpt, is mentioned by his full name a dozen times, despite being a main antagonist. I had a similar issue with the last novel I read of the literati. It’s as if the author wants to show they did their research so much they fail to work the characters in naturally.
On the positive side, I found the romance sexy. The prose does tip to purple, but I found it to work considering the characters are immensely passionate artists. Their initial romance was a bit too “love at first sight”, but their connection grew to a place where the declarations of love felt appropriate. While I’m personally sceptical that Camille was nearly as ill as portrayed, Webb does a phenomenal job of depicting her slow spiral into madness. It takes an otherwise difficult character and gives her some much needed redemption and the reader a healthy dose of empathy.
The Eternal Idol
1889
by Auguste Rodin
Regardless of her sanity, Claudel is a difficult character. She’s certainly driven, but to the point of obsession, belittling others’ interests and dreams for not aligning with her own. She alienates everyone she comes in contact with. She’s prone to fits of temper, destroying her things and others’. She’s jealous, banishing Rodin’s other female students and repeatedly demanding he leave his wife. Yet she is redeemable. The final chapters are heart breaking and truly made me wonder what could have been done to save Camille from herself.
Unfortunately, I found Rodin’s Lover to be overlong and fitful. It’s hard to cover seventeen years in enough detail, without feeling like things are being drug out, and in this case I don’t think the balance worked. There are individual scenes that I liked a lot, but as a whole I’m not sold on this look at a fascinating woman’s life.
Dawn
1900-1908
by Camille Claudel
Was Camille Claudel insane?
Her family certainly thought so, having the sculptor forcibly committed for the last thirty years of her life. However, the press, the hospital, and her friends disagreed. She was passionate, angry even, but no one but her brother saw a reason for her to be committed. This makes Rodin’s Lover’s decision to spend seventeen years depicting the sculptor’s descent into schizophrenia something of a strange choice.
Belle Époque France isn’t a time period I generally read, though I am familiar with the art. I was immediately fascinated with the conflict between the modern artist and her traditionalist mother, as well as Camille’s clashes with teachers and fellow students who viewed female artists as hobbyists. Yet, Camille’s mother doesn’t just disapprove of her art; she hates her child. They have a few confrontations over the next two decades, but I still don’t feel I understand why.
The focus of the novel is too broad. Scenes feel disconnected from the whole, skipping between days and months with no transition. In one scene, Rodin will be despairing of ever finishing Balzac, much less by his deadline, in the next, he’ll be at a party celebrating the opening of the monument. Camille will suffer a schizophrenic episode and vow to never see Rodin again, but in the next scene, she’ll see him at an exhibition months later and throw herself into his arms. It’s dizzying.
Paris isn’t an exceptionally large city, and the art scene was relatively small, but at a point, all of the famous people who continually turn up feels forced and inorganic. “Edmond Baziere said”, “I am Joseph Archambault”. “Émile Zola had shown”. Jules Dalou, whom Rodin did sculpt, is mentioned by his full name a dozen times, despite being a main antagonist. I had a similar issue with the last novel I read of the literati. It’s as if the author wants to show they did their research so much they fail to work the characters in naturally.
On the positive side, I found the romance sexy. The prose does tip to purple, but I found it to work considering the characters are immensely passionate artists. Their initial romance was a bit too “love at first sight”, but their connection grew to a place where the declarations of love felt appropriate. While I’m personally sceptical that Camille was nearly as ill as portrayed, Webb does a phenomenal job of depicting her slow spiral into madness. It takes an otherwise difficult character and gives her some much needed redemption and the reader a healthy dose of empathy.
The Eternal Idol
1889
by Auguste Rodin
Regardless of her sanity, Claudel is a difficult character. She’s certainly driven, but to the point of obsession, belittling others’ interests and dreams for not aligning with her own. She alienates everyone she comes in contact with. She’s prone to fits of temper, destroying her things and others’. She’s jealous, banishing Rodin’s other female students and repeatedly demanding he leave his wife. Yet she is redeemable. The final chapters are heart breaking and truly made me wonder what could have been done to save Camille from herself.
Unfortunately, I found Rodin’s Lover to be overlong and fitful. It’s hard to cover seventeen years in enough detail, without feeling like things are being drug out, and in this case I don’t think the balance worked. There are individual scenes that I liked a lot, but as a whole I’m not sold on this look at a fascinating woman’s life.
Dawn
1900-1908
by Camille Claudel
100pagesaday's review against another edition
5.0
Camille Claudel aspires to be an artist, a profession in which women did not often practice in 1890's France. With a disapproving mother, but supportive father, the family moves to Paris so Camille can attend an art school which will accept women under the advice of sculptor Alfred Boucher, who sees a great talent in Camille. With schooling, Camille's talent flourishes but she also becomes obsessed with her work. When her tutor, Alfred Boucher must leave, he asks Auguste Rodin to take over instruction for Camille. At this point, Camille's work becomes inspirational, but a love affair with Rodin causes her to loose her grip with reality.
I wasn't quite sure that I would enjoy the subject matter of this book, but I liked the time period that Rodin's Lover was set in and I enjoyed Becoming Josephine, so I gave it a try. I ended up loving it. I was completely captured by Camille's character. She is a little wild and fiercely independent, she does not care at all for the standards of women at her time. At first, she just seems like a woman born into the wrong time period. As Camille begins to become absorbed in her artwork and she begins an affair with Rodin, we see a gradual dissent into illness. There is a created tension of what Camille believes and what is actually happening that adds a layer of suspense. In addition to just learning about Camille's life, I was also thrown into Belle Epoque Paris as Camille and Rodin visit different Salons and encounter other artists of the time. Most of all, after reading this book I appreciated learning about Camille's life and was inspired to look at more of her artwork.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
I wasn't quite sure that I would enjoy the subject matter of this book, but I liked the time period that Rodin's Lover was set in and I enjoyed Becoming Josephine, so I gave it a try. I ended up loving it. I was completely captured by Camille's character. She is a little wild and fiercely independent, she does not care at all for the standards of women at her time. At first, she just seems like a woman born into the wrong time period. As Camille begins to become absorbed in her artwork and she begins an affair with Rodin, we see a gradual dissent into illness. There is a created tension of what Camille believes and what is actually happening that adds a layer of suspense. In addition to just learning about Camille's life, I was also thrown into Belle Epoque Paris as Camille and Rodin visit different Salons and encounter other artists of the time. Most of all, after reading this book I appreciated learning about Camille's life and was inspired to look at more of her artwork.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
kiperoo's review against another edition
5.0
As a Rilke scholar and Rodin/Claudel fan, I was really looking forward to reading this book, and it did not disappoint. So well researched with such visceral details! The author really brought both artists' passion to create to life, and pulled us deep into Claudel's head as she became as successful as a female artist could at the time and as she fell in love. The romantic tension between the two sculptors made this story a real page-turner, and despite knowing the tragic outcome in advance, I couldn't wait to see it play out from Claudel's side. So well done!
virginiacjacobs's review against another edition
2.0
This is the story of Camille Claudel, a real-life sculptor and Rodin's lover. I though it was a historical fiction, but the level of drama then led me to believe it was simply fiction. I did some research on the subject, and it turns out Camille suffered from schizophrenia (it really is historical fiction. with a lot of bodice-ripping and drama). Unfortunately, I didn't think Camille's mental health was handled well in the book, and really just made Camille look crazy. This book could have been so much more.
mrs_george's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a copy.
I first learned of Camille Claudel in 2006 when my English professor had a guest speaker do a presentation on her and Rodin. I'm still really unsure how that related to our English lesson but I was hooked. Her art just spoke to me. I had a blog at the time and I wrote a huge post on their love affair, Camille's mental illness and of course, the art. I wrote how I wanted to learn more about the pair but unfortunately it's taken me this long. As soon as I saw this on Netgalley, I requested it and crossed my fingers I would snag a copy. It helped fill the gaps of the bare bones story I knew. At first I was worried that the author made Camille so unlikeable but it just showed how early her mental illness had started. A great story that has led me to want to know more...and kick myself for being in Paris TWICE and not visiting the Rodin museum. I've already let my family know, that we will be going on our next trip.
I first learned of Camille Claudel in 2006 when my English professor had a guest speaker do a presentation on her and Rodin. I'm still really unsure how that related to our English lesson but I was hooked. Her art just spoke to me. I had a blog at the time and I wrote a huge post on their love affair, Camille's mental illness and of course, the art. I wrote how I wanted to learn more about the pair but unfortunately it's taken me this long. As soon as I saw this on Netgalley, I requested it and crossed my fingers I would snag a copy. It helped fill the gaps of the bare bones story I knew. At first I was worried that the author made Camille so unlikeable but it just showed how early her mental illness had started. A great story that has led me to want to know more...and kick myself for being in Paris TWICE and not visiting the Rodin museum. I've already let my family know, that we will be going on our next trip.
bkish's review against another edition
3.0
I am probably returning this book to our San Francisco library after reading a few chapters. Why? It is very interesting and there is a lot of dialogue around Camille Claudel and I find it contrived. I like what she says and of course we dont know if she said that. So I am reading something that is too for me fictional.
I wish someone could turn back time and create a tale of her rejecting Rodin. Would she then have been institutionalized and not able to continue as a sculptress?
Its written okay yet not much depth
Well I did read this and it is okay. It is all fiction though and we dont know what happened with Camille Claudel and Rodin. We do know she sculpted worked with him was his lover and she was institutionalized for most of her life by her brother.
to be continued...
I wish someone could turn back time and create a tale of her rejecting Rodin. Would she then have been institutionalized and not able to continue as a sculptress?
Its written okay yet not much depth
Well I did read this and it is okay. It is all fiction though and we dont know what happened with Camille Claudel and Rodin. We do know she sculpted worked with him was his lover and she was institutionalized for most of her life by her brother.
to be continued...
misses_london's review against another edition
4.0
I knew nothing about Camille Claudel before reading this novel. Likewise, I didn't know who Auguste Rodin was. But the summary of the book looked interesting, and I was fortunate enough to receive the novel in exchange for a fair review. I am so pleased I did.
The author brings the historical characters to life and very convincingly draws the reader into the troubled mind of Camille Claudel, a French artist from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and that of her famous tutor. I've since read other biographical accounts of her life and understand that there is/was no clear consensus on the severity of her mental state. We'll never know at this point, but Heather Webb's version is written very convincingly. I particularly liked the way the author depicts its slow development.
I love it when a book inspires me to research further to learn more about the subject matter as I have done after finishing "Rodin's Lover". Webb's first book is straight away being added to my "to read" list.
I received this book as a Library Thing Early Reviewer, but that did not influence my review.
The author brings the historical characters to life and very convincingly draws the reader into the troubled mind of Camille Claudel, a French artist from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and that of her famous tutor. I've since read other biographical accounts of her life and understand that there is/was no clear consensus on the severity of her mental state. We'll never know at this point, but Heather Webb's version is written very convincingly. I particularly liked the way the author depicts its slow development.
I love it when a book inspires me to research further to learn more about the subject matter as I have done after finishing "Rodin's Lover". Webb's first book is straight away being added to my "to read" list.
I received this book as a Library Thing Early Reviewer, but that did not influence my review.