Reviews by Alison (24)
Fascinating insight into Picasso the man and the artist
Life with PicassoI was curious to know more about Francoise Gilot, the author of this book, after reading The Paris Muse, the novel about Picasso’s previous lover Dora Maar. Life with Picasso is a dense and fascinating account of the ten years Francoise Gilot spent with Picasso and an insight into the art world, Picasso’s friends and contemporaries such as Matisse and Braque, Picasso’s work and his thinking. But it is also an account of the life of Francoise, a talented painter, a fiercely intelligent and independent woman. Caught between the two sides of Picasso - the genius artist and adoring lover and the vicious and abusive man - she finally left him, the only woman to do so.
Seductively absorbing
Stone Yard DevotionalHard to believe that the story of a muddled woman retreating from the world to stay in a small convent in a bleak environment somewhere in Australia could be so absorbing. But there is it, this sparse and simple life laid out with an intense and highly attuned focus of attention on the minutiae of life and emotions in a totally seductive way.
A moving and life affirming memoir
The Year of Facing FireSouth African author Helena Kriel is a Hollywood script writer whose lively, colourful and slightly eccentric family lives in Joburg. When her beloved brother Evan is diagnosed with HIV/aids she returns home to be with him in the family home on his final journey. This is not a morbid book, it is a beautifully and eloquently told story, radiating love and life. Vulnerable and real, Helena turns the family tragedy into the stuff of life. Her descriptions of Joburg, Los Angeles and India radiate sensitivity and poetry. I enjoyed this book way more than I expected.
Oh my goodness, this irritated me, BUT…….
Seeing Other PeopleI finished it and 300 pages later, in the last 30 pages, the story untangled. The plot didn’t work for me, it was not realistic, but what Mike Gayle does do well is give an excellent description of the agony experienced by fathers who, thanks to separation or divorce, no longer live with their children. He is a good writer and writes about ordinary people with empathy and insight. Though in my view not his best book he certainly opens up the possibility of interesting discussions about relationships.