Customer Reviews

The Girl in the Green Glass Mirror

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

 

 

Oh, wow, I was impressed with this book. Two stories which turn out to be related, alternate. We open in a London insane asylum, 1844. In the middle of a scene remeniscent of the beginning of Amadeus, the artist Richard Dadd is painting the details of an insect's wing. Probably most Americans and people without an art history background have not heard of Dadd, but he was real and his work was fascinating. It's worth taking a look at some of his pictures on the web. He was put away for life after killing his father in the middle of a delusion (he was schizophrenic). Much of his best work was done while confined in mental hospitals. In present day London, art appraiser Catherine has been left by her husband Robert. In the course of her work, she meets John, who has a house full of art and collectibles and antiques. They begin a relationship that eventually leads back to Richard Dadd. The stories are well told, the descriptions are exquisite, and the author treats characters having major mental illnesses with sensitivity, although she also makes them realistic. One remarkable scene has Dadd being transferred from a hospital where he's been for 20 years to another institution outside London. It's his first time out and his first trip on a train. It's a Rip van Winkle kind of sensation; yet Dadd carefully notes every detail for future works because he knows he wont get the chance to see it again. This book is just so interesting and really a pleasure to read. I felt I learned quite a bit, and that's something for a novel. Highly recommended.

A great book by an author I knew nothing about previously. Wonderful characterization, beautiful descriptive detail, and a great story line. I loved the inclusion of some art historical elements as well.

This was a very interesting book. And I would certainly like to see more of Richard Dadd's paintings! I just love books inspired by art. They are so fascinating! I enjoyed the rather horrific parts about Dadd's time in Bedlam as well. It was just such a fascinating book! And a very fast read. All in all, sad, but very good. Its only real flaw was that there was something... missing... from the characters. I did like the rather mythical romance though.

I had grabbed this book while passing thru a bookstore out of sheer desperation for something to read, and it has turned out to be a wonderful literary surprise. The author brings her characters to life, even the artist, Dadd, takes on a whole new meaning. I'm now anxious to learn more about him. But even more, I am looking forward to reading more of Elizabeth McGregor's books. She has an extraordinary talent in keeping readers interested, even as the story of both Dadd and the primary characters changes from one minute to the next.

I strongly recommend this for a really good read.

I read this for our bookclub. I am a fan of Richard Dadd and was looking forward to this book. I was disappointed, however. The characters are not particularly sympathetic and the two parts of the book (the ongoing romance between John and Catherine; Helen's sinking pathetically into serious mental illness; Catherine and Robert's peculiar breakup--intercut with the peeping into Richard Dadd's psyche) just didn't work really well as an integrated whole. The pace was a bit slow, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, though the ultimate payoff did not make it worthwhile. Not a terrible book by any means, but not very memorable. If you are interested in Dadd, by all means take a look.

This may possibly be a good book - I found it so boring I gave up after reading only a third of it. Maybe I missed the good part. Although I am a compulsive reader (who ELSE reads the side of cereal boxes?), I couldn't force myself to finish it.

Received in a very timely manner, book was new and I certainly enjoyed reading it. I would buy from this vendor again.