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I Always Loved You A Novel Robin Oliveira Books

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I Always Loved You A Novel Robin Oliveira Books

Mary Cassat has been in Paris studying art but now has to decide whether to stay or return to Philadelphia in America to assume a more staid life, waiting to be married and perhaps painting a canvas now and then. The latter is not appealing and yet is because of her disappointment with her own artistic style. This feeling of malaise has two sources, her father Robert’s incessant criticism and negativity and the rejection of one of her paintings by the Paris Salon where exhibits of famous artists are accepted and displayed yearly. However, Mary’s perspective is about to dramatically change when she is introduced to the Impressionist painter, Edgar Degas.
The essence of the relationship between the two artists can best be described as mercurial with passions flaring between deep respect and love and scornful arguments laced with sarcastic innuendos. Beyond this mental and emotional essence, however, was the passion that drove both of them to learn to “see” in a realistic way and to convey that onto the canvas. Mary was then invited to join the new group of artists who were painting in the new style called “Impressionism,” a name Degas despised as he wanted to be known as a realist, not an Impressionist. They then began to exhibit their newly stylized paintings in their own yearly showing. The reactions from the critics was absolutely scathing and Degas tried to warn Mary about the public reception her art works would receive, a fact later to be woefully true and overwhelming to Mary’s artistic and emotional sensibilities. This, it most powerfully says, is what forces an artist to decide whether he or she cares more for one’s art or public accreditation via great reviews. Mary learns, like Degas had, that one must first develop a hard skin to endure the public evisceration of Impressionists. Not very nice at all but which builds artistic characteristics that certainly do deserve public acclaim.
The novel also covers the triangular love of the Manet brothers with Bertholde Morisot, a consuming fire that always eluded satisfaction and which consumed the wife of Edward Manet who never stopped dreaming he would return to her forever. Interspersed into this story is a conversation in which Mary finally asks Degas if he loved her and he refuses to answer. For art, in the form of painting and sculpture, is his great and singular love; yet the result of this cold response is devastating to Mary. As much as the two try to separate, one is always drawn back by the other, influencing each other’s art and ways of seeing reality.
I Always Loved You: A Novel: is an intriguing look at a very famous artistic period that changed the face of culture forever. Because of the effect of this art on history and viewers, many accepted and forgave these temperamental artists of many overt and covert slights to famous and not so famous individuals. Mary’s sister, Lydia, is perhaps the most honest person in the lot, her vision and perspective of the group being the most realistic and serving as a Greek chorus, when shared, warning all to abandon their immense egos and see things “as they are.” That remains the focus of artistic perspective for Degas and Cassat well into and well after their many reunions and separations. While specific paintings are not entitled, the reader may recognize several well-known works of both artists as well as those of their artist friends!
I Always Loved You is a noteworthy and recommended fictional portrait of artists struggling to create something new in a pivotal historical and artistic period!


Tags : Amazon.com: I Always Loved You: A Novel (9780670785797): Robin Oliveira: Books,Robin Oliveira,I Always Loved You: A Novel,Viking,0670785792,Biographical,Historical - General,Literary,Biographical fiction.,FICTION Historical.,Painters;Fiction.,AMERICAN HISTORICAL FICTION,FICTION Biographical.,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - General,Fiction Biographical,Fiction Historical,Fiction Literary,Fiction-Coming of Age,Fiction-Historical,France,GENERAL,General Adult,Painters,United States,bisacsh

I Always Loved You A Novel Robin Oliveira Books Reviews

This fictional novel presents the complicated relationship between beloved painters Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. The author gives a fine portrait of their entwining personalities and the painting scene in Belle Epoque Paris, specifically the years from 1877 to 1883. The story is well researched and presents a vivid picture of Cassatt and Degas as well as other famous painters of the time striving to create exciting new ways of presenting images on canvas using color and mood. We see into their circles of contemporaries, including Manet, Pissaro, Monet, Morisot, Cezanne, Renoir, Caillebotte and writers Maupaussant and Zola.

Of course this era presented less opportunities for women to express themselves in salons, not least in painting circles, and Mary had to push herself to speak up, but when she did it was with determination that her ideas be recognized. This won her respect from some, but not all, including Degas who was of two minds and loved to banter. Outwardly he never doubted his vision and painted with seeming abandon. But when they each retruned to their studios, they worked and reworked ideas, leaving little time to resolve their differences. Over some years, however, they were able to open themselves to one another's criticisims, positive and negative, and share ideas without too much rancor. This is an unusual love story, beautifully told.
This is a fabulous book that I have recommended to many friends, especially artists. It depicts a time and place that was bubbling with excitement and change.

The author does an exceptional job of "getting inside the heads" of the main characters (artists), and it.is especially well written.

Since the book's ending gets a bit lengthy, my one suggestion to readers is this when you've read to about the 90% of the book, stop and save the last 10% for a time when you can read it to completion ... like the next day. I, unfortunately, read from about the 85th percentile straight though to the ending; I simply could not stop, reading into the wee hours, finally finishing it about 400 a.m. And when I did finish it, I was so consumed with emotion that I couldn't get to sleep.
This historical novel entranced me. Beautifully written by Robin Oliveira. It takes the reader back to the Glory years of the Paris art world at the close of the 19th century, when the Impressionist movement was coming into vogue. The main protagonist is American artist, Mary Cassatt who comes to live in Paris and is recognized as a compatriot of the likes of Manet, Monet, and Degas. Her family comes to live in Paris also and the tale brings in the story of their lives. The relationship between Cassatt and Edger Degas is the highlight and the author keeps you guessing until the final page. For anyone who loves art, especially the Impressionist movement, this novel is for you.
Did the "other shoe ever drop"? Nope, don't think so. All the reviews I read correctly (in my opinion) praise the setting in Paris and its famous artist inhabitants whose names the author freely drops. The story about the conflicts between the realism and impressionist schools is interesting and shows a great deal of research by the author, but that is the SETTING for the story which is about Mary and Edgar. Reading it was like waiting for the phone to ring, and it never does. Hard for me to believe two expressive and emotional people tiptoe around each other for years and years and years without resolving anything - except possibly regret at the end.
I thought the side and lengthy stories about Berthe and Edouard, Lydia, and Mary's friend whose name I have forgotten make the book feel ponderous. In short I did not think the background was sufficient to overcome its shortcomings.
Mary Cassat has been in Paris studying art but now has to decide whether to stay or return to Philadelphia in America to assume a more staid life, waiting to be married and perhaps painting a canvas now and then. The latter is not appealing and yet is because of her disappointment with her own artistic style. This feeling of malaise has two sources, her father Robert’s incessant criticism and negativity and the rejection of one of her paintings by the Paris Salon where exhibits of famous artists are accepted and displayed yearly. However, Mary’s perspective is about to dramatically change when she is introduced to the Impressionist painter, Edgar Degas.
The essence of the relationship between the two artists can best be described as mercurial with passions flaring between deep respect and love and scornful arguments laced with sarcastic innuendos. Beyond this mental and emotional essence, however, was the passion that drove both of them to learn to “see” in a realistic way and to convey that onto the canvas. Mary was then invited to join the new group of artists who were painting in the new style called “Impressionism,” a name Degas despised as he wanted to be known as a realist, not an Impressionist. They then began to exhibit their newly stylized paintings in their own yearly showing. The reactions from the critics was absolutely scathing and Degas tried to warn Mary about the public reception her art works would receive, a fact later to be woefully true and overwhelming to Mary’s artistic and emotional sensibilities. This, it most powerfully says, is what forces an artist to decide whether he or she cares more for one’s art or public accreditation via great reviews. Mary learns, like Degas had, that one must first develop a hard skin to endure the public evisceration of Impressionists. Not very nice at all but which builds artistic characteristics that certainly do deserve public acclaim.
The novel also covers the triangular love of the Manet brothers with Bertholde Morisot, a consuming fire that always eluded satisfaction and which consumed the wife of Edward Manet who never stopped dreaming he would return to her forever. Interspersed into this story is a conversation in which Mary finally asks Degas if he loved her and he refuses to answer. For art, in the form of painting and sculpture, is his great and singular love; yet the result of this cold response is devastating to Mary. As much as the two try to separate, one is always drawn back by the other, influencing each other’s art and ways of seeing reality.
I Always Loved You A Novel is an intriguing look at a very famous artistic period that changed the face of culture forever. Because of the effect of this art on history and viewers, many accepted and forgave these temperamental artists of many overt and covert slights to famous and not so famous individuals. Mary’s sister, Lydia, is perhaps the most honest person in the lot, her vision and perspective of the group being the most realistic and serving as a Greek chorus, when shared, warning all to abandon their immense egos and see things “as they are.” That remains the focus of artistic perspective for Degas and Cassat well into and well after their many reunions and separations. While specific paintings are not entitled, the reader may recognize several well-known works of both artists as well as those of their artist friends!
I Always Loved You is a noteworthy and recommended fictional portrait of artists struggling to create something new in a pivotal historical and artistic period!