Customer Reviews

All We Know of Love

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I nabbed a friend's pre-pub copy of this book because part of the story takes place in Florence and I like to read books that take place in Italy. My all time favorite novel is still Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Dreams" and anyone else who enjoyed that should like this book. This author knows how to weave a tale with some interesting characters and I grew quickly attached to the artist that is the main character. This is delightful reading as Schneider has a magnificent grasp of poetic language that makes it easy to feel immersed not only in the landscape but in the emotions that drives the artist through her process of resolving her grief and coming to terms with her art. I also liked the way the story moves back and forth between the past and the present. I'm looking forward to more from this author.

I went from being put off at the beginning of the book by the protagonist's vision of the Virgin Mary to being totally drawn in by this character's travails. Ultimately, despite a shaky and improbable start, the book is affecting and rings true. Schneider won me over with her exploration of the complexity and fragility of relationships and her descriptions of an artist's compulsion to create. Her characters are rich, well-drawn, and compelling. All in all, this was a moving well-written novel. I look forward to Schneider's next book.

I just stayed up all night and finished this magical book! Jo, the main character, is well-drawn and complex, as are her relationships. The story has several levels that are echoed in the settings - I especially liked Florence as a haven and a place of transformation. The language is rich, at times funny, and always right on target. Brava, Katie Schneider!

It's a pleasure to find a novel with a spiritual theme that resonates truly and completely. I found the theme of an artist's development to be rich and true. The characters were complex and driven and I found the romance quite believable. Also the setting in Florence was wonderfully described by a writer who surely loves the city. This is a remarkable work for a first novel. The shifts in time and switches from present to past tense were a bit jarring, but eventually the style won me over.

I don't think that it is particularly the story that I love about this book , though it is a good story. The way the book is written, in this lovely, lyrical prose is captivating and engaging. This book is a wonderful rainy-day treat...and it will remain on my bookshelf for years to come.

I bought this book twice and liked it enough to give my copies away before I got past the first chapter. I finally bought a third copy and was rewarded to get to finish it myself. Schneider writes with beautiful prose and sensitivity. It is obvious she is an artist, in addition to being a writer. I have since given two more copies to friends, and recommended it to a friend's book club. I am sure this writer will go far!

All We Know of Love is a beautiful, incredibly well written story. As another reader noted, only what is absolutely necessary is stated. Well said. It's refreshing to not have to wade through paragraphs of needless description, flowery details and inconsequential character history. I love Jo and appreciate that this isn't another of those "chick" books where female characters whine about men and their non-existent love lives. This story is about authentic relationships and how relationships from the past influence those in the present. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next novel from Katie Schneider!

It's only been minutes since I've closed the book, WHAT WE KNOW OF LOVE, by Katie Schneider. It's her debut novel, but it has been sitting on my to-be-read pile for months, so maybe she has published another since. I hope so.
It's a lovely novel about a woman who had been raised by her beloved grandfather after her mother died in a car accident. She's an artist. She grows up in Spokane, Washington, but at the urging of her first true love, she goes to Italy because there's nothing more for her at home. She meets a cellist, Chad, with whom she becomes romantically involved. But before the relationship progresses toward romance, she is part of a triangle, another friend, Walter is their companion. Walter is secretive and hides certain aspects of his life from his friends. When the truth is revealed, it's revealed in an explosive argument which destroys one of Jo's sacred paintings.
The story switches between Spokane and Italy, between past and present. As the story progresses, it's like putting together a magnificent puzzle. And although the story comes to a satisfying ending full of hope and promises of love, it was sad to finally finish the novel.
~Rita Marie Keller
author of Living in the City
ISBN: 1-59113-202-9

At first I thought this book was going to be a struggle to get through. The writing seemed choppy to me. But as Joanna develops the choppy writing is very much like her mental state. I felt as the story progressed the writing always reflected Joanna's temperment and feeling. The story was good. I would have liked to see Joanna work some more things out in her mind, and thus related it to the reader. The absolution from all the troubles seems to be too easy without hearing her work it out for herself. I am not sure if I agree with other reviewers about this author being comparable to Barbara Kingsolver. But I don't like to generalize and compare with other books, each stands alone in my mind.

I guess I am completely unlike the other reviewers because I really didn't think this novel was wonderful. I didn't feel as if eastern Washington was well described and I've been there many times. Florence I don't know about but I didn't get a sense of the city or the people there.
I did read to the end which had me give the book a 3. I didn't find the writing beautiful maybe because I had just read what I call beautifully written, The Rose Grower.
This novel was all right but not great.