Stephanie Jane recenzis The Art of Traveling Strangers de Zoe Disigny
A wonderfully rewarding novel
4 steloj
The Art of Traveling Strangers was a wonderfully rewarding novel to read and I am delighted to have had this opportunity to review a copy. Leading character, Claire, has such an infectious enthusiasm for the historic artworks that she and Viv go to see that I frequently found myself wishing that I could follow in their footsteps, together with such a knowledgeable guide. I hadn't considered myself a Renaissance or Medieval art fan prior to reading The Art of Traveling Strangers, but now I think I just never had the right teacher!
I loved both Claire and Viv as characters to spend time with. Neither is actually particularly likeable as a person, but the complexity and depth that Disigny gives to each one made them feel convincingly authentic and I really appreciated being able to watch how each helped the other to overcome their personal demons. This novel is set …
The Art of Traveling Strangers was a wonderfully rewarding novel to read and I am delighted to have had this opportunity to review a copy. Leading character, Claire, has such an infectious enthusiasm for the historic artworks that she and Viv go to see that I frequently found myself wishing that I could follow in their footsteps, together with such a knowledgeable guide. I hadn't considered myself a Renaissance or Medieval art fan prior to reading The Art of Traveling Strangers, but now I think I just never had the right teacher!
I loved both Claire and Viv as characters to spend time with. Neither is actually particularly likeable as a person, but the complexity and depth that Disigny gives to each one made them feel convincingly authentic and I really appreciated being able to watch how each helped the other to overcome their personal demons. This novel is set in the 1980s and clever details, such as European currencies prior to the Euro and unashamed eating of foie gras, gave the story its historical credentials, however the problems that Claire and Viv struggled to overcome are just as pertinent today. Claire's toxic relationship with her husband rang especially true with me so I could completely empathise with her difficulty in breaking free.
While The Art of Traveling Strangers does explore challenging issues surrounding personal identity and the best way for each of us to be ourselves, it manages to do do in a very readable and engaging way. My own struggle while reading was to make myself stop and set the book aside from time to time. Disigny's writing so swept me up into Viv and Claire's adventure that I became deeply invested in these characters and didn't want to leave them for a moment. I highly recommend this book for fans of Italian-set novels or of art history, for readers who enjoy stories about women finding their true selves, and for road trip fans. If you have ever fancied going on an Italian art tour, The Art of Traveling Strangers could be inspirational.