Customer Reviews

For the Love of Art

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A great summer beach read that can be read anywhere, anytime by anyone. The characters are interesting and you'll get to know them from multiple perspectives. The setting is fabulous, makes me want to jump in the car and catch the next ferry to "the Vineyaaahd" as they say in "Bahston." The plot snakes its way through the book, weaving the characters and the island through a twisting ride. Buy two copies because you'll want to share it with more than just one person right away as each character will remind you of someone you know.

For the Love of Art is heartwarming, inspiring, intriguing and best of all, set on the island of Martha's Vineyard...a cozy mystery that should be on every beachgoers list this summer. You will fall in love with the characters and all their fatal flaws and in the end you will, well, you will just "get it"! I highly recommend this book!!!

Janet Goodfriend's FOR THE LOVE OF ART, for me was slow getting into the story. Told from several points of view with little indication from scene to scene who is telling the story until you've read a few paragraphs. I love a good mystery with a strong theme, but bouncing around from character without a map takes the fun out of reading.
Two women at change points in their lives agree to join a third to scout out a travel get-a-way to Martha's Vineyard for mothers. Great start, but the first day of their arrival a painting is stolen from a gallery while they are dancing among some statues. From this point on (60 pages into the book) the story picks up speed and becomes a fun summer read.
Nash Black,author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH

Here is a literary novel loaded with suspense, until the final point of view reveals the motive behind an art heist as one that goes straight through an island's heart. It is superbly written and genuinely original, a book you will not want to put down but one to savor nonetheless. Themes surrounding education, environment, and support for the arts, news media and family are prevalent and thought provoking. Even among the rich and inviting culture of Martha's Vineyard, it is easy to identify beyond this New England region and into Anytown, USA. Though serious matters emerge through each uniquely challenged character, at times they propel the story forward with audible bursts of laughter.

Mothers still need a bit of time to themselves, but some retreats aren't all that relaxing. "For the Love of Art" tells the story of three mothers and friends as they spend their time in Martha's Vineyard and get embroiled in an art theft plot with plenty of unusual and fascinating characters surrounding them. A story of adventure in middle age, "For the Love of Art" is not to be overlooked.

What a wonderful story. I was hooked in the first few pages and after a few chapters I totally fell into the rythm of the author's style of building characters. Towards the end I couldn't wait to start a new chapter. I accidentally left my copy at a youth football field halfway through and had to go order another one because I just had to find out what happened! I finished it on vacation and, after having read one too many "dark" books (book club!) with unsatisfying endings, I realized it left me happy. Thanks Janet Goodfriend!

I appreciated the colorful characters and scenic descriptions of Martha's Vineyard. I also enjoyed the way the mystery concluded. A fun book - I highly recommend it!

I especially enjoyed the back stories for the various characters. Watching everyone coming together at the end of the book was fascinating.

No need to be a New Englander or beachgoer to thoroughly enjoy this book. For The Love of Art is a very good story told with humor and intelligence. The characters are fun, interesting and believable. Three friends, while vacationing together on Martha's Vineyard, become accidently embroiled in a mystery which in the end, is solved simply, but smartly. I've been telling everyone I know to read this book and I look forward to future books by Janet Goodfriend.

A must for moms, educators and literature enthusiasts willing to go along this spiraling ride to meet some interesting characters and view life on the Vineyard as not typically seen from a tourist's eye. Authentic details give it lots of local flavor, but poignant subjects easily translate to fit that of many American lives. There is much to enjoy and puzzle over, and although the tale comes to a full sunny circle, there leaves a lick of cynicism with regard to the efforts to support the arts and public education. Read this clever novel and become part of the solution.