A compelling story, learned a bit about the art ...
928936
A compelling story, learned a bit about the art world and the process of forgery and the life and challenges of a struggling artist.
4607993
I received an advance copy in exchange for this review.  I thought the story was a good one, but it was a bit wordy in places and that made some of the dialogue difficult to follow.  The story itself, however, is interesting, compelling, and worth the read.
3487713
While this is pretty in depth and a long book, it is definitely one that will hold the reader's interest once you get into it.  I'll admit, for the first few chapters I had my doubts, but once it got me, I couldn't put it down.  The story could have been helped by a more cohesive and orderly writing style, it tended to jump about a bit, and was sometimes hard to follow.  The actual case and story behind the story is really engrossing and eye opening.  There's a lot more to the National Park Service, their environmental policies, and human and animal safety than what we would imagine.  For that reason alone, it's an educational read.  Lots here to think about, somewhat disturbing.  However, I was glad I had a chance to read it, it's not a story or a viewpoint you would learn about any other way.
1404860
The importance of the arts could not be better advocated than this compelling story woven with the bitter reality that exists in the poor neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro.  The reader is given a clear background of the conditions, both current and the necessary historical context, to explain how the gripping sounds of AfroReggae is succeeding in reaching across ethnic, racial, and class barriers in Brazil.  This promising success story is an interesting book for music enthusiasts, visitors of this area of Brazil, non-profit organizations, and those believing in the power of the arts, particularly music, to enable positive change in communities whether affluent or poor.  One improvement to suggest is a glossary of terms be added to the back of the book to help those that take a more leisurely time in their reading.  All terms needing explanation are given clearly at the bottom of each page, but this can be cumbersome to look for if coming back to the book after several days.
3709225
I'm not a collector of comics. I
Occasionally buy graphic novels that I think are compelling, and I actually almost bought this a few months ago. Last second I changed my mind because I saw it was autobiographical and thought, "meh."

On a whim, I picked this up on Black Friday, and I'm glad I did. What I got was one of the better books I've read in a while (not graphic novels, just books in general). The connection felt to the author is significant, and the identification of the villains that exist in all of our minds is poignant. In the end, this is a hero's story, one that serves as a reminder that we are all capable of finding the hero that exists alongside those villains in our mind... And realizing the truth that even at our worst times, the hero never left our side. Compelling story, great artwork, and if you're even considering grabbing this, consider it no more.
3770943
David Petersen is an excellent artist.  But it not just the art is good, but the story is compelling as well.  It is a story about greed, love, sacrifice, and adventure.
2628978
The local setting helped make this a compelling story. The history components were well done. His stubborn faith a mystery to me. The editing could have been a bit tighter.
744934
Though I do not generally read novels (or seldom finish them), I found this story compelling and quite quickly became interested in the characters and how things would develop. It became one of those stories where I looked forward to getting back to reading it and finished the book in a couple of days (unusual for me). It is a well told story with interesting characters written in a relaxed but very historically informative style. I recommend it as a very entertaining read.
3906243
A very interesting and compelling story. Apparently based on true events, but at times it appears more fiction than truth. On the other hand, sometimes, reality, can be more complex and intriguing than anything that Hollywood may be able to come out with.
1536500
This is a compelling story.

Though certainly not a requirement, those with prior military and/or law enforcement experience with find this book particularly enjoyable.
2411653
I enjoyed this very much.  Both the history and the story were fascinating.  I learned a few things from it.
2171804
Part 2 of Art Spiegelman's semi-biographical retelling of his father's experiences prior to and during World War 2, where he started as an upper middle-class jewish business owner, and ended as a survivor of not only Auschwitz but Dachau concentration camps. Using only his wit and savvy, he was able to obtain food and survive, separated from his new bride, and finally able to reunite with her after the war.

Told in the distinctive style portraying Jews as mice, Nazis as cats and Poles as pigs (and, I think, Americans as dogs), the entire story is depicted as a series of flashbacks with Art interviewing his father, whose second wife has recently left him. Art and his wife Francoise must visit and take care of Vladek, and Art takes advantage of the time to learn more and more about the darkest period of Vladek's life.

This is not really an inspirational story, but it's a fascinating one. After a short time, you forget that the portrayal of the characters is done with animals, and lose yourself in the telling. This is a fascinating story, well-illustrated and constructed. A must-read.
1171260
Not the easiest read, but damn a cool story.
4014937
Great cover art, a tour de force to match the quality of the narrative  within.  The "split" personality pictured on the cover is Billy,  nee Dorothy, Tipton, a small-time musician who lived and worked as a man  for over 50 years.
I'm not a big fan of biographies, so it takes a lot  for me to pick one up.  I found Middlebrook's story of Billy so compelling  that it was hard for me to put this biography down until I finished  it.
Middlebrook has been criticized for using too much conjecture, but  she is always scrupulous about letting the reader know when she is doing  just that.  Her exhaustive research about the life of musicians -- and  lesbians -- in the first half of this century allow this conjecture, I  believe, because Billy left very little of herself behind when she died a  decade ago.  A few photos, a few letters, and a number of people who knew  her as either or both Billy and Dorothy survive; Middelbrook builds an  intriguing narrative from these remnants and scraps of Billy's life.  Nonbiog reader that I am, I am now looking forward to reading Middlebrook's  _Anna_Sexton_, too.
A postscript: I thought Middlebrook was very adroit  in using 3rd person pronouns -- he, she -- in such a way as to keep the  reader clear throughout the book on just which side of Billy's psyche and  persona was being described at any given moment in time.
4610848
This story was fascinating to me in several ways. First, the technological aspect, questioning the functionality of the penial gland with regard to higher consciousness and human potential. It didn't seem so fictional to my taste - and I think it poses some salient ideas. Secondly, the transition between past and present, the allusion to past lives, was nicely done. Third - the detailed description of the portion which takes place in Egypt, during the time of Cleopatra and Ceasar, and the author's presentation of the beauty and culture of Alexandria, along with the spiritual touch - nice. Overall, I was taken by the story, and I am interested to know the outcome of the two parallels. The only minor downside is at the beginning of the book, which takes place in Prague, it was a little confusing what was happening - but eventually the author tied it together nicely. One last point - the colorful verse when describing the Egyptian period was beautifully contrasted to the rather stark, terse and digitalized prose used for the modern times - ironically showing that "modern" times with all its technological advances was woefully missing any depth of culture - as if technology had rendered mankind as quite minimalistic. Overall, I think this series will be a hit. Definitely worth the read!
3459587
I'm not an art connoisseur by any stretch, although I do have my tastes and don't mind the occasional museum stroll. I love history and I love a good story. When you combine art, history and terrific storytelling, you come out with a book like "The Art Detectives" by Philip Mould.

The book is structured around 6 specific paintings, and the mysteries that surround/surrounded them. Mould is a fantastic writer. He's clear, concise and sometimes poetic. It's an odd thing to focus on when considering a work of non-fiction, but his writing is as expressive and pronounced as anything I've read recently.

Mould avoids the pretension, condescension and patronizing tone that one might expect from a book on high art. And surprisingly, each story is a strong tale in and of itself. At their best, they are very personal, human and touching. At their worst, they're simply good mysteries that Mould unravels layer-by-layer with a blending of personal insight, relevant experiences, historical background and significance. And it all flows beautifully through his solid prose and storytelling abilities.

The strongest tale is of Moulds' meetings with an eccentric hoarder named Earle Newton. The story ranges from their first interactions, to their first and subsequent visits. Newton is more of an "ammasser" than he is a collector, and the real heart of the narrative is Newton's wackiness and the impact of his hoarding on his family.

Family is also at the heart of a story that centers on a well known art deception (and recovery) of a Norman Rockwell painting. After subtle clues circulate around Rockwell's "Break Home Ties", two brothers hunt for the truth of whether their father owned a real Rockwell, and whether or not he knew it was a fake.

Mould does an amazing job of making art history accessible and interesting. All of his stories involve the detective work required to identify what is genuine and authentic from what is a pretender. Mould is both eloquent and passionate in "Mystery of the Missing Gainsborough" and "The Rembrandt in Disguise". Tudor England is the focus of "A Queen in Distress", and colonial Caribbean in "A Winslow Homer Lost and Found" as Mould turns art and history into compelling mysteries.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it to readers of history, mysteries and certainly art.

Note: I received "The Art Detectives" as part of the Goodreads First Read program.
1778379
While the story of how persecuted people are used to lead their persecutors to Christ is not rare in History, what I didn't realize is that it happens in the least likely of scenarios and to the least likely of people. This book was informative, the story moved fast, was disturbing (when it recounts some of the atrocities), compelling and convicting. I was able to read a preview copy and am looking forward to this being made into a movie.