Lisette's List: A Novel
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Lisette's List: A Novel Hardcover – Deckle Edge, August 26, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[Lisette’s List] great strength is its lovingly detailed setting, a mountaintop village—‘like some fantasy kingdom from a child’s folk legend, altogether dazzling’—whose charm gradually enwraps the reader just as it does the initially resistant Lisette. . . . [Susan Vreeland] is entranced by color, artistic creativity and the transformative power of art. . . . Readers will enjoy lingering in the sun-dappled, fruit-scented Provençal landscape that Vreeland brings to life.”—The Boston Globe
“In Lisette’s List, by bestselling historical novelist Susan Vreeland, things happen that also amaze and illuminate. . . . Vreeland’s love of painters and painting, her meticulous research and the pitch-perfect descriptive talents that distinguished such books as Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Luncheon of the Boating Party are abundantly evident in her new novel.”—The Washington Post
“Part romance, part historical fiction, part travelogue, part art history text, Lisette’s List is a long, leisurely look at one young woman’s life, loves and explorations of painting in a village in the south of France. . . . Vreeland knows her art, she knows Provence, and she’s done her historical homework. . . . Lisette’s List offers its readers a pleasurable opportunity to learn something about art, history and ocher, and to enjoy a plucky heroine who grows in ways she never thought possible.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“The novel’s heart is its patient interweaving of sensuous, meticulously observed details with themes of forgiveness, female strength, and survival.”—Publishers Weekly
“A sweeping historical novel . . . Une jolie Parisienne in Provence during the turbulent World War II years comes to understand love and great art to the core of her being. . . . Vreeland, who has proven in earlier art-themed bestsellers that she has an exquisite eye for detail, is enormously talented at establishing the important societal role of art. . . . Her deeply researched novel is mesmerizing. Merveilleux. Vreeland’s passionate writing is as good as a private showing at the Louvre.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Lisette’s List is heartfelt, loving and lovely, and asks difficult questions beautifully.”—Shelf Awareness
“In Lisette’s List, by bestselling historical novelist Susan Vreeland, things happen that also amaze and illuminate. . . . Vreeland’s love of painters and painting, her meticulous research and the pitch-perfect descriptive talents that distinguished such books as Girl in Hyacinth Blue and Luncheon of the Boating Party are abundantly evident in her new novel.”—The Washington Post
“Part romance, part historical fiction, part travelogue, part art history text, Lisette’s List is a long, leisurely look at one young woman’s life, loves and explorations of painting in a village in the south of France. . . . Vreeland knows her art, she knows Provence, and she’s done her historical homework. . . . Lisette’s List offers its readers a pleasurable opportunity to learn something about art, history and ocher, and to enjoy a plucky heroine who grows in ways she never thought possible.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“The novel’s heart is its patient interweaving of sensuous, meticulously observed details with themes of forgiveness, female strength, and survival.”—Publishers Weekly
“A sweeping historical novel . . . Une jolie Parisienne in Provence during the turbulent World War II years comes to understand love and great art to the core of her being. . . . Vreeland, who has proven in earlier art-themed bestsellers that she has an exquisite eye for detail, is enormously talented at establishing the important societal role of art. . . . Her deeply researched novel is mesmerizing. Merveilleux. Vreeland’s passionate writing is as good as a private showing at the Louvre.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Lisette’s List is heartfelt, loving and lovely, and asks difficult questions beautifully.”—Shelf Awareness
About the Author
Susan Vreeland is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including Clara and Mr. Tiffany and Girl in Hyacinth Blue. She lives in San Diego.
More About the Author
Susan Vreeland's short fiction has appeared in journals such as The Missouri Review, Confrontation, New England Review, and Alaska Quarterly Review. Her first novel, What Love Sees, was made into a CBS Sunday Night Movie. She teaches English literature and Art in San Diego public schools.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By
Nancy Famolari
VINE VOICE on July 9, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Just before the start of WWII, Andre moves with his bride Lisette from Paris to Roussillon in the south of France. Andre's grandfather, Pascal, is ill, possibly dying, and Andre wants to care for him. Lisette understands, and she loves Andre, but she fears that her dream of working in a Paris art gallery is gone forever.
In Roussillon, Lisette gets a surprise. Pascal has collected impressionist paintings from Pissaro and Cezanne. He tells her the history of the pictures and stories of the artists. After Pascal dies, France is drawn into WWII. Paintings, particularly those of the impressionists, are being destroyed so Andre hides the paintings before enlisting and going to the front.
This book is both a love story and a look at art history before and during WWII. The stories about the painters are fascinating as is the historical background on how artists were treated. Marc Chagal and his wife Bella are characters in the story and present a picture of the plight of Jewish artists.
I found the book fascinating. The art history and the background of WWII makes the story of another time come alive. However, the novel moves slowly.
Lisette, the main character, grows through her determination to survive the war. In the opening scenes, she comes across as spoiled and resentful. Getting to know Pascal and hearing the history of his pictures changes her outlook, but real growth comes when she is left alone in Roussillion. She realizes how much she loves Andre and determines to survive the war and recover the paintings. Her list enumerates the things she must do to survive the war and cope with the problems of Nazi occupied France. While her struggle is interesting, the pace is very leisurely.
I recommend the book if you enjoy the combination of art, history, and romance, but be prepared for a long read.
In Roussillon, Lisette gets a surprise. Pascal has collected impressionist paintings from Pissaro and Cezanne. He tells her the history of the pictures and stories of the artists. After Pascal dies, France is drawn into WWII. Paintings, particularly those of the impressionists, are being destroyed so Andre hides the paintings before enlisting and going to the front.
This book is both a love story and a look at art history before and during WWII. The stories about the painters are fascinating as is the historical background on how artists were treated. Marc Chagal and his wife Bella are characters in the story and present a picture of the plight of Jewish artists.
I found the book fascinating. The art history and the background of WWII makes the story of another time come alive. However, the novel moves slowly.
Lisette, the main character, grows through her determination to survive the war. In the opening scenes, she comes across as spoiled and resentful. Getting to know Pascal and hearing the history of his pictures changes her outlook, but real growth comes when she is left alone in Roussillion. She realizes how much she loves Andre and determines to survive the war and recover the paintings. Her list enumerates the things she must do to survive the war and cope with the problems of Nazi occupied France. While her struggle is interesting, the pace is very leisurely.
I recommend the book if you enjoy the combination of art, history, and romance, but be prepared for a long read.
Thank you for your feedback.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By
Red Rock Bookworm
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on July 5, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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Sue Vreeland's LISETTE'S LIST is essentially written on two levels and while it does an admirable job in recounting certain aspects of WWII as well as presenting an art history lesson focusing on the fate of paintings by Pissarro, Cezanne, Picasso and Chagall during the German occupation of France it is not as effective in fulfilling expectations in the areas of plot intensity nor in character motivation and development.
Lisette, the title character, is a Parisian girl raised in a Catholic orphanage where she experiences the beginnings of her appreciation of art. After her marriage to Andre she reluctantly relocates to his home town in Provence in 1937 in order to provide care for his elderly grandfather Pascal, a man who has accumulated several works by the aforementioned masters. Pascal's reminiscence concerning his acquisition of the various works becomes part and parcel of the story.
With the outbreak of WWII and the Nazi occupation of France, Andre enlists in the military, but not before hiding his grandfather's precious paintings and Lisette is left to try to assimilate into a town where some view her as an outsider who resists their culture and provincial ways while a handful of others befriend her.
In the ensuing years Lisette overcomes many obstacles and the reader is invited to follow along as she copes with everything from Nazi's looking for Pascal's paintings to the unwelcomed advances of a local townsman to learning how to make cheese, all the while bent on determining the location of the missing paintings.
When one takes a step back and considers the overall story, it is obvious that this book succeeds less effectively as well plotted work of historical fiction than it does as a primer into the history and interpretation of certain works of modern masters and their use of ochre pigments within those works.
As a long standing fan of Sue Vreeland, I am sorry to admit that this is not one of my favorites.
Lisette, the title character, is a Parisian girl raised in a Catholic orphanage where she experiences the beginnings of her appreciation of art. After her marriage to Andre she reluctantly relocates to his home town in Provence in 1937 in order to provide care for his elderly grandfather Pascal, a man who has accumulated several works by the aforementioned masters. Pascal's reminiscence concerning his acquisition of the various works becomes part and parcel of the story.
With the outbreak of WWII and the Nazi occupation of France, Andre enlists in the military, but not before hiding his grandfather's precious paintings and Lisette is left to try to assimilate into a town where some view her as an outsider who resists their culture and provincial ways while a handful of others befriend her.
In the ensuing years Lisette overcomes many obstacles and the reader is invited to follow along as she copes with everything from Nazi's looking for Pascal's paintings to the unwelcomed advances of a local townsman to learning how to make cheese, all the while bent on determining the location of the missing paintings.
When one takes a step back and considers the overall story, it is obvious that this book succeeds less effectively as well plotted work of historical fiction than it does as a primer into the history and interpretation of certain works of modern masters and their use of ochre pigments within those works.
As a long standing fan of Sue Vreeland, I am sorry to admit that this is not one of my favorites.
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
kindred spirit
VINE VOICE on August 14, 2014
Format: Hardcover
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What a rich well written story. I will admit at points slow and I had a hard time right at first getting interested but about page 50 I couldn't put it down. There is romance, history, suspence, intrigue, mystery so full and interesting.
Coming from an artistic family it was especially fun for me to learn more about the great bravery of those who hid the precious art from the Nazi's who stole and destroyed whatever they pleaded.
Lisette and Andre are young and just married living in Paris when his grandpa Pascal writes he is sick and needs them. They pack up and move to a town one and a half days travel from their beloved Paris. Lisette has a hard time adjusting especially when they find Pascal not that sick at all. No bathroom in the house, I cannot imagine running down to the town outhouse. What her artist husband does about this is precious. I will not spoil those details.
As Pascal does decline in health war has broken out and Hitler is heading toward France. Andre feels the need to fight for his country leaving Lisette behind. During this time she starts her List. LISETTE'S LIST OF HUNGARS AND VOWS. She begins ti decide what is most important. She come incontact with the resistance, hidden Jews, hidden art and she has hidden art given to her by Pascal on his death bed. Thus begins excitment and great danger and risk taking. Don't worry I have left out huge things don't want to spoil it for you. If you like history of WWII art and romance this is for you. There are so many things that are just profound I want to share all my highlights but also want you to come upon them yourself. I leave you with one such statement. "When a man finds a place he loves, he can endure the unspeakable."
Don't let a slow start stop you from reading a fantastic book.Read more ›
Coming from an artistic family it was especially fun for me to learn more about the great bravery of those who hid the precious art from the Nazi's who stole and destroyed whatever they pleaded.
Lisette and Andre are young and just married living in Paris when his grandpa Pascal writes he is sick and needs them. They pack up and move to a town one and a half days travel from their beloved Paris. Lisette has a hard time adjusting especially when they find Pascal not that sick at all. No bathroom in the house, I cannot imagine running down to the town outhouse. What her artist husband does about this is precious. I will not spoil those details.
As Pascal does decline in health war has broken out and Hitler is heading toward France. Andre feels the need to fight for his country leaving Lisette behind. During this time she starts her List. LISETTE'S LIST OF HUNGARS AND VOWS. She begins ti decide what is most important. She come incontact with the resistance, hidden Jews, hidden art and she has hidden art given to her by Pascal on his death bed. Thus begins excitment and great danger and risk taking. Don't worry I have left out huge things don't want to spoil it for you. If you like history of WWII art and romance this is for you. There are so many things that are just profound I want to share all my highlights but also want you to come upon them yourself. I leave you with one such statement. "When a man finds a place he loves, he can endure the unspeakable."
Don't let a slow start stop you from reading a fantastic book.Read more ›
Thank you for your feedback.
If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
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