Name: The Crimson Portrait
ISBN: 9780316785280

Jody Shields

Set in England during World War I, this haunting love story by the author of the bestselling "The Fig Eater" makes unforgettably real the ravages of love and war.

A Novel

The Crimson Portrait

Interesting concept that can be a bit of a struggle to read at points as it can be very wordy. The ending felt slightly rushed and could have benefited from better pacing but interesting exploration of the desperation that comes with grief and love.

Ashley

Dorian Avers

If I was being honest, I'd give this book a one star. I thought the cover was beautiful and the premise sounded dark and twisted. Unfortunately, there was so much, but still so little going on in this book. It took me nearly a year to finish. There are some beautiful moments of prose, but they're smothered by undeveloped, dislikeable characters and stiff conversation. I felt nothing for anyone in this novel. It was like reading Hemingway, like this felt like a classic, but that's not a compliment. I wish Shields would've decided on one focus: the creepiness and selfishness of the mask, the highs and lows of medicine, or the suffocation of a war without end, like there were so many places this could've gone and had some depth and emotion, but it never did. I wish I would've read the Fig Eater first because that is rated better, but this really discourages me from picking up another one of her books.

Quotes:
* "Remember me, but forget my fate." (109)
* "You create your own ghosts...Imagine that we occupy your house as if it were a stage. The characters will make their bows and take their leave when the performance is over." (173)
* "Work is our entire experience of each other" (178)
* "I once thought pleasure revealed the truth of a body...Now I know the wounded body is the most truthful." (178)
* "I'm a sleepwalker who fears the evening" (232)

The Crimson Portrait A Novel

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