Customer Comments

Art Librarian has commented on (6) products.

Bring Up the Bodies (A John MacRae Book) by Hilary Mantel

Art Librarian, January 12, 2013

I'm a self-confessed historical fiction nut, but this one (and its predecessor, Wolf Hall) elevated the genre to unexpected heights. The flow and excellence of the language, the details of life in Tudor England, the machinations of politics and life at court, and the knife-sharp characterizations of both well-known and lesser players are all exquisitely portrayed. I wait with bated breath the conclusion of the trilogy.

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HHhH by Laurent Binet

Art Librarian, August 5, 2012

A unique combination of historical events and a fascinating analysis of where fact and creativity merge and diverge. I read with rapt attention Binet's ruminations on his creative process and obsession with this story and what to put in and what to leave out. Excellent.

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The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt

Art Librarian, January 1, 2012

Simply written, yet complex. Dramatic and at the same time deeply funny. The presentation of violence is almost banal, but makes you pay attention to the time in which it takes place and the brothers' decisions and moral conflicts. One of the best I have ever read - and well deserving of all the accolades it's received.

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Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife by Sam Savage

Art Librarian, September 21, 2011

This is an odd little book, sad and imaginative, hopeful and inspiring. Anyone who loves the escapism one can find in books and who has to cope with the rigors and trials of urban life can likely relate to this tale.

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Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Art Librarian, January 7, 2011

Rich and full of details. Although some critics have complained about the novelistic qualities of the book, I think it makes it more readable and more compelling. I'm glad to get the Elizabeth Taylor image of Cleopatra out of my memory, now that I've read this.

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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)

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