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Learning to See: A Novel of Dorothea Lange, the Woman Who Revealed the Real America by Elise Hooper
lilbt2003's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.25
bridget_h's review against another edition
3.0
The story was missing a little something, but I love reading about various times in California history and culture so that was a definite win for me.
chelswillread's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed learning about pieces of our country's history that I don't often see discussed. She led quite a life!
karnaconverse's review
3.0
A tribute to the artist and a commentary about—and recognition of—women's roles during the 1920s and 30s
Dorothea Lange is probably best known as the photographer of "Migrant Mother," originally titled "Destitute Pea Pickers in California, Mother of Seven." The photo was first published in a San Francisco newspaper in 1936 and has long been one of many iconic images associated with the Depression and Dust Bowl years. This fictionalized account of Lange's life imagines her conversations and innermost thoughts as she strives to establish a career in a male-dominated business.
Hooper begins her story in 1918 when, at age 22, Lange and a friend left New York with plans to land in Hawaii. In San Francisco, a pick-pocket steals their savings, forcing them to stay there and subsequently build their lives and careers. Trained as a studio photographer, Lange quickly finds her way into the artist community and it doesn't take long for her to impress them with her skills. She secures introductions to the wealthy and is soon the photographer of choice for the city's elite.
But the concept of woman as wife, mother, and artist/business owner was rare in the 1920s and 30s. Hooper's narrative focuses on this conflict and the messages women heard during this time period. She juxtaposes those messages and the sadnesses Lange endured in a failed marriage and the nearly lifelong estrangement from her two sons against her career and success in capturing some of the most iconic images of the rural poor and the wartime internment of Japanese Americans.
Hooper made it easy to both celebrate--and cry--with Lange.
Migrant Mother: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/50989
Dorothea Lange is probably best known as the photographer of "Migrant Mother," originally titled "Destitute Pea Pickers in California, Mother of Seven." The photo was first published in a San Francisco newspaper in 1936 and has long been one of many iconic images associated with the Depression and Dust Bowl years. This fictionalized account of Lange's life imagines her conversations and innermost thoughts as she strives to establish a career in a male-dominated business.
Hooper begins her story in 1918 when, at age 22, Lange and a friend left New York with plans to land in Hawaii. In San Francisco, a pick-pocket steals their savings, forcing them to stay there and subsequently build their lives and careers. Trained as a studio photographer, Lange quickly finds her way into the artist community and it doesn't take long for her to impress them with her skills. She secures introductions to the wealthy and is soon the photographer of choice for the city's elite.
But the concept of woman as wife, mother, and artist/business owner was rare in the 1920s and 30s. Hooper's narrative focuses on this conflict and the messages women heard during this time period. She juxtaposes those messages and the sadnesses Lange endured in a failed marriage and the nearly lifelong estrangement from her two sons against her career and success in capturing some of the most iconic images of the rural poor and the wartime internment of Japanese Americans.
Hooper made it easy to both celebrate--and cry--with Lange.
Migrant Mother: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/50989
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
Dorothea Lange and her best friend escape from life in New York with dreams of adventure. When the adventure is cut short they end up in San Francisco and have to make a life. Dorothea finds her way into the photography community and makes the right connections to open a portrait studio. In a time when most women stay home she builds a life, a business, and a family with artist Maynard Dixon. When the Depression hits the United States she makes difficult decisions to survive. But those decisions lead her to seeing the world in a new way and taking the photographs she is known for. A story of a strong woman that makes difficult choices for her art and her life.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Thank you to William Morrow for providing an ARC for my honest review.
neumanzoo's review
2.0
When I started Learning to See, I knew very little about Dorothea Lange. When I finished the book, I knew very little about Dorothea Lange. This entire memoir was about narration not meaningful dialog. More time was spent describing a bracelet than the death of her husband. It was like Elise Hooper went into such minuscule detail in the first half of the book, that she ran out of steam for the end and just smashed it altogether. The last three chapters went something like this "some stuff happened, and some other stuff happened, and Maynard died, the end." I feel like I was robbed of being able to learn about a fascinating woman. I'll have to find another book on her life to try to learn more about her, and less about how she ate an apple or how she liked to play records. 2-stars
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
MASTERFUL
I count the author as one of my bookish friends and I’m so grateful she entrusted me with review copies of her novels ❤️
.
Her first title THE OTHER ALCOTT was a natural hit for me given the subject matter ~ Louisa May Alcott’s sister, Amy. However, I had never even HEARD of Dorothea Lange before reading LEARNING TO SEE and now I’m absolutely obsessed with this groundbreaking photographer. Hooper writes historical fiction about fascinating women and does what so many other writers avoid ~ writing the REAL woman. Not a romantic fluffy version. And that is everything to me.
.
I’ll (probably) share a more in-depth review of LEARNING TO SEE closer to the 1.22.19 pub date, but for now just know it’s fabulous, fascinating and an intense look at United States in the 1920s - 1940s. Covering the Great Depression and internment of Japanese Americans, it taught me so much. 5 feminist stars!
.
If you read this genre, pre-order or request from your library now! And you can read THE OTHER ALCOTT while you wait.
I count the author as one of my bookish friends and I’m so grateful she entrusted me with review copies of her novels ❤️
.
Her first title THE OTHER ALCOTT was a natural hit for me given the subject matter ~ Louisa May Alcott’s sister, Amy. However, I had never even HEARD of Dorothea Lange before reading LEARNING TO SEE and now I’m absolutely obsessed with this groundbreaking photographer. Hooper writes historical fiction about fascinating women and does what so many other writers avoid ~ writing the REAL woman. Not a romantic fluffy version. And that is everything to me.
.
I’ll (probably) share a more in-depth review of LEARNING TO SEE closer to the 1.22.19 pub date, but for now just know it’s fabulous, fascinating and an intense look at United States in the 1920s - 1940s. Covering the Great Depression and internment of Japanese Americans, it taught me so much. 5 feminist stars!
.
If you read this genre, pre-order or request from your library now! And you can read THE OTHER ALCOTT while you wait.
siobst's review against another edition
2.0
Just couldn’t relate and it was much more than the generational differences. For one, I didn’t see the need or justification for her to leave her kids with strangers so she could pursue her photography career. Later when her adult son was angry and disassociating from the family I empathized much more with him. Plus I listened to it on audio and find this narrator grating.
crystalbrutlag's review against another edition
Note - I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'd heard of Dorothea Lange, but didn't know much about her, when I first heard of this book. I loved the premise, though. I think one thing our society is lacking is the ability -- and the willingness -- to see others. So I knew this was a book I needed to read.
I loved following Dorothea and learning about the struggles she overcame throughout her life. She had a dream and she really pursued it. I also loved how she used art to help others. Art is so powerful -- whether it's photography or painting or music or writing -- and sometimes we downplay its importance, but it can definitely be used to help people see what others are going through.
However, I found the book to lack a little something. I usually do with historical fiction that spans such a long period of time for one person, so that's definitely a taste thing for me. I also wondered if the finished copy would have some of her photographs, but my mom actually bought a copy of the book and it doesn't have any. I thought it would be nice to have some to accompany the story.
Overall, a good story. It just 100% my taste.
I'd heard of Dorothea Lange, but didn't know much about her, when I first heard of this book. I loved the premise, though. I think one thing our society is lacking is the ability -- and the willingness -- to see others. So I knew this was a book I needed to read.
I loved following Dorothea and learning about the struggles she overcame throughout her life. She had a dream and she really pursued it. I also loved how she used art to help others. Art is so powerful -- whether it's photography or painting or music or writing -- and sometimes we downplay its importance, but it can definitely be used to help people see what others are going through.
However, I found the book to lack a little something. I usually do with historical fiction that spans such a long period of time for one person, so that's definitely a taste thing for me. I also wondered if the finished copy would have some of her photographs, but my mom actually bought a copy of the book and it doesn't have any. I thought it would be nice to have some to accompany the story.
Overall, a good story. It just 100% my taste.
churrocaitie's review
3.0
I went back and forth on the rating of this book. It had such good parts, but I also longed for more.
I do understand the intention was to draw us into Dorothea Lange’s story in an embellished way, I just ultimately wished it were paced better. We don’t even get to her famous photo years until halfway through the book, and even then we barely touch on the extent of it all.
I loved the story of her, and the way this was written. Made me feel like I was in her head in the 20s of SF.
Now I’ve gotta find a digestible, good biography of Lange. Great writing by Elise Hooper. Just wished this were a longer book.
I do understand the intention was to draw us into Dorothea Lange’s story in an embellished way, I just ultimately wished it were paced better. We don’t even get to her famous photo years until halfway through the book, and even then we barely touch on the extent of it all.
I loved the story of her, and the way this was written. Made me feel like I was in her head in the 20s of SF.
Now I’ve gotta find a digestible, good biography of Lange. Great writing by Elise Hooper. Just wished this were a longer book.