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book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Emily Carr was a pioneering painter, choosing as her subject the lush landscape and pre-European history of British Columbia. She focused her efforts first on recording the incredible art of the First Nations clans, especially as expressed in their totem poles, but soon expanded to capturing the spirit of the place - the serenity, power and life’s blood of the centuries-old forests that surrounded her. The path she chose was not an easy one. She refused to conform to the expectations of the white Vancouver society into which she was born. She fought her sisters for the money she needed to paint as she felt she must. She suffered negative reviews and scorn of her countrymen for her focus on native peoples. She pushed her way into art studios in France to learn the techniques she would need to capture the spirit of her beloved forests. She refused to compromise her vision, and finally achieved the recognition she deserved.
Vreeland paints a vivid portrait of Emily. She had a wealth of information from which to draw her novel’s characters. Carr, herself, left volumes of journals and narrative sketches, chronicling her efforts to understand, preserve and celebrate the land and the rich culture of its tribal people. I was captured from the first paragraph. There are passages in the novel that are breathtaking, powerful, urgent, serene and/or heartbreaking. I felt Emily’s frustration, elation, confusion, compassion and joy.
I’ve visited Canada many times, going to art museums in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Montreal. Reading the book I can only think that I never saw Carr’s work in all those visits. How could I forget something so evocative and powerful? This novel makes me want to visit “the forest primeval” again, and to see Emily Carr’s paintings.
Vreeland paints a vivid portrait of Emily. She had a wealth of information from which to draw her novel’s characters. Carr, herself, left volumes of journals and narrative sketches, chronicling her efforts to understand, preserve and celebrate the land and the rich culture of its tribal people. I was captured from the first paragraph. There are passages in the novel that are breathtaking, powerful, urgent, serene and/or heartbreaking. I felt Emily’s frustration, elation, confusion, compassion and joy.
I’ve visited Canada many times, going to art museums in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Montreal. Reading the book I can only think that I never saw Carr’s work in all those visits. How could I forget something so evocative and powerful? This novel makes me want to visit “the forest primeval” again, and to see Emily Carr’s paintings.
somanybookstoread's review
3.0
I don't have much to say about this one. It was handed to me by someone who loved it but I just can't say this slow-moving 400+ pager did much for me. I don't recommend it (and am really in need of a GOOD read!).
mschrock8's review against another edition
3.0
"I don't get a paper. Times were better when everyone went 'round shouting things to each other."
This book makes me want to spend more time outside.
This book makes me want to spend more time outside.
kathieboucher's review
4.0
This would be a 4 1/2 star book. Really enjoyed the story of painter Emily Carr and her life spent striving to distill the essence of her British Columbia surroundings in her art. I'll be hunting down more books about her....
retiredlibrarylady's review
4.0
Historical/biographical fiction about Emily Carr. Slow moving and depressing, especially about the (once again) terrible treatment of the indigenous people by the European-Canadians. Interesting characters.
marie_gg's review
5.0
I LOVED this beautifully written, evocative biographical novel about Canadian painter Emily Carr, who preserved native art and culture in her richly imagined paintings.
alundeberg's review
3.0
Susan Vreeland is as enthusiastic about Emily Carr as Emily is about painting totem poles in British Columbia in the early 20th century, but she needs an editor. Vreeland really did her research to bring this relatively unknown artist to life, but the writing is uneven, especially in the first third of the novel. There are errors in time and often her characterization veered into caricature of Emily, the native people, and the nay-sayers of modern art. As I read I often thought that this is a white woman writing about a white woman who depicts native peoples, and it felt bound to what a "white woman ought to feel". That said, I read the whole book. Carr's life is interesting and what she did to record a lost way of life (at the hands of white people) is impressive, and her art is incredible. It's too bad that the story of her life was not given as much care and attention to detail.
beetree's review
2.0
The cover attracted me at the library so I grabbed it. I tried, got about 150 pages in, but it just wasn't grabbing me.
steller0707's review
2.0
I picked up this book in anticipation of seeing the Emily Carr exhibit at the AGO in Toronto. Although the writing itself is not inspiring, nonetheless, it has heightened my interest in seeing these paintings "in person." Despite her artistic training in England and France, she developed her own distinctive style. Though not in the famous Canadian Group of Seven, she shows an affinity with them and their love of the Canadian wilderness.
angobstarr229's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed "Girl in Hyacinth Blue" and thought "Passion of..." was pretty good too so I had high expectations. But there just wasn't enough of a story for me to really get into this one. I just wanted the book to be over and when I finally finished it, I felt unfulfilled. I was more interested in Sophia's character than Emily's.