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There's nothing wrong with this at all. It's a nice, witty escape, not badly-written, and certainly a vivid period piece. Pleasant, historical gossip.
It's a strange day when the little girl whose christening dress you made starts bossing you around. p. 105
It took a week and two pieces of caramel cake for me to forgive Gustav. p. 127
I love you, I didn't say. Instead I suggested we have lunch. I had brought smoked mackerel and rye bread. p. 171
At parties like this Berta didn't mingle; she sat in a ...more
It's a strange day when the little girl whose christening dress you made starts bossing you around. p. 105
It took a week and two pieces of caramel cake for me to forgive Gustav. p. 127
I love you, I didn't say. Instead I suggested we have lunch. I had brought smoked mackerel and rye bread. p. 171
At parties like this Berta didn't mingle; she sat in a ...more

I loved this book, but not as much as 'The Wayward Muse', the other book I read by Elizabeth Hickey
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Very interesting book about the intersecting lives of Gustav Klimt, the most famous painter from Vienna and Emilie Floge his lifelong companion and friend who was a famous dress designer. Set in Vienna during the late 1800s early 1900s, it describes the artistic scene during those years. Many other famous people are part of it including Adele Bloch Bauer - who is the Woman in Gold from last years movie with helen Mirren. A nice introduction to the artistic history of Vienna.

Interesting for the background on Klimt, but weak in characterization - Emilie never seems as though she could be a real person. The first-person narration seems oddly cold and distant, lacking the emotional warmth that you'd except from the more intimate perspective.
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Oct 03, 2010
MichelleCH
marked it as to-read

Mar 04, 2011
Gaijinmama
marked it as to-read

Feb 08, 2013
O'Rissa
marked it as to-read

Sep 01, 2014
Diane
marked it as to-read

Oct 10, 2015
Felicia follum
marked it as to-read

Nov 13, 2015
Kathleen Valentine
marked it as to-read

Apr 02, 2017
Terri
marked it as own