This book is supposed to be a droll comedy about art. Just what I need to cheer me up!

Not much cheer in this plot. Awful things happened to Martin, and all because he wasn't honest when he spotted one of Breugel's lost masterpieces inside Tony and Laura's fireplace!

It was fascinating to read about the Netherlands in the 16th century, with the Duchess of Parma, Grenvalle the evil archbishop, and Philip II of Spain. World history is definitely my favorite subject.

Kate's character made for an interesting portrayal of the changes a woman undergoes when she becomes responsible for a child. Her knowledge of iconography was a bright spot in the story. Made me want to know more!

I could have done without that annoying Laura -- except that it was so funny when she thought Martin wanted the dog painting instead of the Breugel!

I didn't quite "get" that sentence about judgement at the very end. Maybe it refers back to the Inquisition?

At any rate, this was very well-written; I can see why it was nominated for a Booker, and off it goes to the UK this afternoon in the mail!

Thanks very much Megi53 for this one and the surprise book you included. I've made a bit of a project to read as many Booker nominees as I can, this one sounds great so I'm looking forward to it.

This is the first Michael Frayn book I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was amusing, which I wasn't expecting, and interesting - part novel, part art history lecture. I liked the moral dilemma presented and being a conservative, I winced at all the risks Martin was taking. It says something about the strength of the writing that I had any sympathy left for Martin at the end of the book, but I did, just a small amount! I did feel a little let down by the ending, but not so much it spoiled the book.

I had to keep my laptop close so I could look at all the pictures as I went and was surprised to find I knew one them, the one which, as the author points out, is frequently found on Christmas cards.

Very glad I got to read it, thanks Megi53 for fulfilling my wish!

Arrived safely today, thank you. The Booklabel is a little loose, so I have replaced it with a posh Taglines one. It looks my sort of book, but will have to wait as I have another ring book to read first.

I enjoyed the book which had me 'laughing out loud' during the episodes of farce and chuckling at moments of subtle humour. I really do not know why Kate did not throttle Martin at some point during that fortnight, although she did tell him to leave the cottage until everything was over!

Frayn writes about academic pretensions
with a great deal of wit ad insight.

Where to next?

RELEASE NOTES:

I caught this at the Cardiff meet - Netstation brought it along and recommended it....he did comment that he may not have made a JE, he was right! How strange - he picked it up at a meet I organised at the Cherry Tree in Steventon, I picked it up in Cardiff and now it's back in Oxfordshire! ;)

Picked this one up at the Reading meet last night. Well, not so much 'picked up' as was passed it - Molyneux didn't want to risk a book that had started in America being left at the end of the evening! Not much chance of that, both my partner Diomedes and I are interested in it. No promises on when we'll read and journal it though, but in the meantime it is safe in a booklovers' home. Many thanks!

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Dear Finder of this book,

I'm so glad it has found a home with you. I hope you enjoy reading it and that you might take a few moments to jot down here what you thought about the book, or about finding it, or about bookcrossing.

You don't have to join or sign up to bookcrossing to leave a comment here but if you do join, you will receive emails to alert you when others make a journal entry for this book and track its travels across the world. If you decide to join bookcrossing, now that you have discovered the site, I'd be delighted if you would mention me - WistfulDragon - as the person who introduced you to the site.

Happy reading

WistfulDragon

picked up at kente ages ago, just got round to journalling, sorry!