Journal Entry 1 by Zmrzlina from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA on Wednesday, April 09, 2003

This is the second copy I've registered. The first is an uncorrected proof, which doesn't have the cover art. This looks like the real thing. It appeared on my desk at work as an advance reader, but no indication of that on the book itself. So, since mojosmom is a huge fan of the painting that inspired the book, and I had already promised her the proof, I am sending this one instead. I'll read the proof later and release it locally, probably at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where lots of Sargents live. 

Journal Entry 2 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Wednesday, April 16, 2003

Thank you, zmrzlina!! Not much is known about the details of Virginie Gautreau's life, so it will be interesting to see how Gioia Diliberto has managed to write a novel about it! I'll let you know. 

Journal Entry 3 by mojosmom from Chicago, Illinois USA on Saturday, November 08, 2003

Journal Entry 4 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Thursday, November 20, 2003

I'm so excited! Received this today from mojosmom, along with a lovely, elegant postcard. I'm a Singer Sargent fan and I always make a point of "visiting" his works when I'm at the MFA in Boston. I've wanted to read this book for a long time. I'll be sure to journal it when I do. And if you'd like to let me know what you thought of Strapless, I'd be most interested, since I don't know anything about that book.
Thank you! 

Journal Entry 5 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Friday, November 28, 2003

TBR. Reserved for mmz18407. 

Journal Entry 6 by fsr44 from Pawtucket, Rhode Island USA on Sunday, December 07, 2003

An interesting book, but it misses the mark. My theory on why the main character didn't really come alive is based on the Author's Notes. The author quotes a source who knew Virginie Gautreau describing her as "a cold, narcissist of great vanity and little conversation". The author dismisses this because she sees a different person in Sargent's painting, "one who was vain, of course, but also sexy and high-spirited". So, in essence, the author's assessment, based solely on the painting, counted for more than the testimony of someone who had actually known the woman in question. That is certainly the author's right, however, the Virginie I read about somehow never "matched up" to the portrait, in my estimation. However, I looked up a print of Sargent's Dr. Pozzi, and interestingly, it was the image I had in my head after reading about his character. It's a shame "Madame X" didn't match up the same way. 

Journal Entry 7 by fsr44 at n/a in n/a, By Post -- Controlled Releases on Monday, December 08, 2003

Released on Monday, December 08, 2003 at n/a in n/a, By Post Controlled Releases.

It started life as a RABCK and a RABCK it shall remain. Going out to mmz18407. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 8 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Wednesday, January 21, 2004

I' m not sure if mmz18407 read this or not but she RABCKed it to me. I have a couple bookrings to read ahead of this, but I should get to it soon. I really want to read Strapless too! Maybe if one of us gets it we could start a bookring with the same people? :) I'll journal again sometime soon. 

Journal Entry 9 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Tuesday, April 20, 2004

This book did not impress me much. I didn't hate it but, after enjoying The Passion of Artemisia, The Girl With The Pearl Earring, and The Girl In Hyacinth Blue I had such higher expectations. I feel like I really didn't get to know Virginie very well. To tell the truth, I didn't care about her childhood (which the author seems to have made up anyway). I was more interested in the painting and the scandal caused by it. All in all the book was good enough to waste a few hours reading though. :) Thanks so much for sharing!!! 

Journal Entry 10 by fizzfred from Sacramento, California USA on Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Sending to "MissQ" (via "CariAnne"). I hope you enjoy your Las Vegas vacation. I hope you enjoy the book too! 

Journal Entry 11 by MissQ from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada on Sunday, May 02, 2004

Thanks fizzfred! The book made it safely to Las Vegas and then on to me. I'm looking forward to it. 

Journal Entry 12 by MissQ from Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I finished this off last night. I enjoyed it more than the previous reviewers I think because I had never heard of the painting or Virginie before reading this book. I had no preconceived notions of her or her "story". I guess I just approached this as a fictional story...and it was, just based loosely on a real-life person.

I'm not sure if Virginie/Mimi was as vain and shallow as most real reports of her say or if she was more like the book but I like her as the book character. I think maybe that's why Diliberto made her more likeable so we could identify more with her. There were times when I thought she brushed people off a bit too abruptly but generally she seemed like the typical rich woman of the time.

It was very interesting to learn all about the art world at that time and things that happened in the late 1800s. I don't usually like historical novels but this one did keep my interest. With that said though, it took me a while to read it (I started before Christmas) so I guess it wasn't the kind of book I couldn't put down.

This was another book I started reading through the Dear Reader e-mails. Thanks for giving me the chance to finish it fizzfred! 

Journal Entry 13 by MissQ at The Post Office in A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, August 19, 2006

Released 5 yrs ago (8/15/2006 UTC) at The Post Office in A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent from Portland, Maine to pinklady60 during my trip. 

Journal Entry 14 by pinklady60 from San Diego, California USA on Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Thanks so much, MissQ, for checking out my wishlist and offering this book to me. I'm looking forward to reading it. 

Journal Entry 15 by pinklady60 from San Diego, California USA on Sunday, October 29, 2006

The highly fictionalized account of the life of Virginie Gautreau, the subject of a portrait by John Singer Sargent, which was unveiled at the 1884 Paris Salon. It was his most famous and scandalous portrait, but one which almost destroyed his career. It is now considered one of the artist’s best works and was his personal favorite.

Like MissQ before me, I read about this book and this portrait for the first time through the Dear Reader website, so had no expectations about the artist or the subject. After reading the book, I really can’t wait to see this painting, now displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
 

Journal Entry 16 by pinklady60 at Kaiser Medical Offices - 4405 Vandever in San Diego, California USA on Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/14/2008 UTC) at Kaiser Medical Offices - 4405 Vandever in San Diego, California USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left on a table in the first floor Radiology waiting room.