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The Swan Thieves

Elizabeth Kostova

Start date: June 1, 2010

Finish date: September 30, 2010

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What Members Thought

May 22, 2009 Kathy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-covers, highly-recommend, favorites, favorite-authors, art-fiction, a-through-z-challenge-2010

Elizabeth Kostova has to be one of the most talented contemporary authors around. In The Historian and now The Swan Thieves she is able to create epic stories that elevate the reader to levels of storytelling with passion and intelligence interwoven into the characters and plot. I know people talk about weaving stories, but Kostova is a master weaver, taking the threads of the story and connecting them into a finished product of beauty and brilliance that the reader has to own. But, of course, t ...more

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Feb 08, 2010 Bookmarks Magazine rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mar-apr-2010

Kostova's first novel, The Historian, achieved instant commercial and literary success when it was published in 2005. Unfortunately, critics were decidedly less enthused with her latest offering. Although several were impressed with the descriptions of the painting process and the depiction of the 19th century, most found the novel hampered by wooden, indistinguishable characters and the lack of a firm editorial hand. The critic from the Oregonian summed it up rather neatly, stating, "There's a ...more

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Dec 26, 2009 Alison rated it liked it · review of another edition

An exquisitely written novel.

After an attempted attack on a painting in the National Gallery of Art, Robert Oliver, a middle aged artist, is admitted to a psychiatric hospital under the care of Dr. Marlowe. Oliver speaks little at their first meeting, and then not at all for a full year afterward. During that year, it is up to Dr. Marlowe to investigate why Oliver is there, what provoked his attack, and how he can help Oliver overcome his suffering. What Marlowe fails to realize is that he is ab An exquisitely written novel.

After an attempted attack on a painting in the National Gallery of Art, Robert Oliver, a middle aged artist, is admitted to a psychiatric hospital under the care of Dr. Marlowe. Oliver speaks little at their first meeting, and then not at all for a full year afterward. During that year, it is up to Dr. Marlowe to investigate why Oliver is there, what provoked his attack, and how he can help Oliver overcome his suffering. What Marlowe fails to realize is that he is about uncover a century old secret that drove Oliver to madness. Will it do the same to him as well?

Elizabeth Kostova, critically acclaimed writer of debut novel, The Historian, delicately weaves a story together that spans centuries and continents, all held together by the common thread of art. Kostova's descriptions of several works of art leap off the page. I was afraid that I would miss something of this novel because I am no expert in art history. With her guidance, the author walks us through the National Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and works from small towns in France, all the while giving the reader exactly the images we need without the desire to run to the internet for actual photos. Her words are art in and of themselves.

This is not a quick read, I warn you. It may take Kostova several pages to set a scene, but she moves the plot along by switching narrators and transporting us to and from the 19th century. About half way through the novel, I knew where the story would end up, but I wasn't completely sure of how Marlowe was going to find his way there. It was somewhat predictable, which made it difficult to turn the pages at times. As long as I held onto my patience and appreciated the beautiful writing, I was engrossed.

In a word, this novel is about obsession. I may not have been flying through the pages, and at one point was disappointed by the predictability, but after I finished The Swan Thieves, I found myself thinking about the novel in the car, at the gym, while cooking dinner, and picking up toys. In the end, I think I might be the one obsessed.

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Sep 20, 2009 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, read-in-2010

I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of The Historian so I was a bit hesitant to read Elizabeth Kostova's new novel. However, I'm so glad that I gave it a chance because I enjoyed it MUCH MORE than her first novel! Although this novel had its flaws, I thought it was much better executed than The Historian and I enjoyed reading it. After the Historian, I felt ehhhh, even asking myself why the heck did I stick with that book so long. I felt unsatisfied. But, this book was very satisfying to m I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of The Historian so I was a bit hesitant to read Elizabeth Kostova's new novel. However, I'm so glad that I gave it a chance because I enjoyed it MUCH MORE than her first novel! Although this novel had its flaws, I thought it was much better executed than The Historian and I enjoyed reading it. After the Historian, I felt ehhhh, even asking myself why the heck did I stick with that book so long. I felt unsatisfied. But, this book was very satisfying to me. I felt like it was certainly worth the effort and that I left it happy to have spent time in the world she creates in The Swan Thieves.

I thought that the writing in this novel was luscious, some of the passages were truly beautiful. I even wrote a few down to come back to later. That doesn't happen often for me. Some of the writing was repetitious but most of it was just beautiful, in my opinion.

I enjoyed the story itself quite a bit. It was complicated and meandering and yet I loved the journey. I don't know very much about art or painting but I found the description of the craft to be fascinating as presented in this novel. It made me want to head to our local art museum and take an art class. This coming from a girl who cannot draw a stick figure without a ruler!

I though that Kostova's rich language really added to the narrative, giving the characters and places from the novel life to the point that they seemed to float effortlessly off of the page! I loved the interplay of the two stories and trying to figure out as the novel went along how all of the pieces came together. I love how all of the layers came together so effortlessly in the end.

All in all, I found this novel to be rich, deep, and full of life. I enjoyed the mystery, intrigue and suspense. This novel was much quieter than The Historian, more insular and deliberate.

The few flaws for me were not that big of a deal. They did not take away from the experience of the book. I felt that the novel was much longer than it needed to be. Some of the writing was repetitive and unnecessary. The feel of formality that I think is fairly recognizable in The Historian is also here in this novel. It made it feel very cold at times when I think it could have used a tiny bit more warmth.

Overall, however, I was pleasantly surprised with this book and recommend it! ...more

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May 23, 2013 Melissa marked it as dnf

I really liked The Historian even though it had a few issues so I really tried to like Kostova's next book.

Just...eh, though. I can't get into it enough to finish it. ...more

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Apr 03, 2010 Laura rated it liked it

Excellent writing, but 561 pages! I found the story wasn't as compelling a read as "The Historian." I must confess to 'skimming' the final quarter of the book just to get to the ending. ...more

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Mar 25, 2010 Joye rated it it was amazing

I am an artist & found this book fascinating. Loved the art history element and the descriptions of the artists and theirind set.

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Dec 21, 2009 Janet rated it really liked it

Kostova writes beautiful prose. The premise of this book, a handsome, angst ridden artist with psychiatric problems who attacks a painting draws you right in and keeps your interest throughout. My only criticism would be that there is a little too much going on with the various paintings and painters so that I got confused towards the end. But overall, I thought it was a wonderful, mysterious work of art.

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