I had almost reached the back of the room and was casting my eye over a display of cheap trinkets and ugly paintings on the walls when I saw it ... An eighteenth century pastel in its original frame, of a man wearing a powdered wig and blue coat. In the top right-hand corner, a coat of arms I couldn't make out. Yet it was not the coat of arms that grabbed me, but the face. Transfixed, I could not tear my eyes away from it: the face was my own.The Portrait is another delightful read from Antoine Laurain. I love his books, especially The Red Notebook. Both novels are whimsical, subtle, and beautifully written. In this one, a collector of antiques sees a portrait at an auction that looks just like him. And he has to buy it. But when he gets it home, his jaded wife can't see the resemblance. Her reaction makes Pierre-Francois Chaumont even more determined to learn the identity of the man in the painting. What he discovers is beyond anything he ever imagined. Once again Laurain spins an unforgettable tale of mystery and romance. And he does it in just 128 pages, making The Portrait a true bookish gem.
Happy Reading!
Other bookish gems:
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
I have this one and about half way through. :) I've read The President's Hat (my favorite), The Red Notebook, and French Rhapsody by Laurain and was pleased when The Portrait arrived in the mail. They are all short and whimsical!
ReplyDeleteI still need to read The President's Hat, but I'm really looking forward to it. :)
DeleteOoooo! This sounds so intriguing. Wouldn't that be cool and and kind of scary to see your face in an old painting?
ReplyDeleteIt would definitely freak me out...unless I looked really good in the painting and EVERYONE noticed the resemblance. ;D
DeleteI loved this book, too! So glad you enjoyed it so much :) The President's Hat is my fave.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read that one! :)
DeleteThis sounds delightful, Lark! I am glad you enjoyed it. :-)
ReplyDeleteLaurain is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
DeleteThis sounds super fun! I'm definitely going to check out this author. I've never heard of him before.
ReplyDeleteThe first book of his I read is The Red Notebook and I LOVE that one! But every one who's read The President's Hat says it's their favorite, so I'm looking forward to reading that one, too. :)
DeleteI'd read The Housekeeper and The Professor but not The Portrait. Another new author to explore! :)
ReplyDeleteLaurain is a good author to explore! Hope you enjoy. :)
DeleteI have this to read too - I liked The President's Hat but was not so enthusiastic about it as some others. I'd like to read The Red Notebook and see if that works better for me. I understand this one is his first novel, just now getting published in English since his later books became popular. It's great to see a successful author in translation!
ReplyDeleteI really loved The Red Notebook! Definitely give that one a try. :)
DeleteI love books like this--seems very Daphne du Maurierish! I also love stories that revolve around a piece of art. One of my favorite sub genres. And at only 128 pages, it sounds like a perfect book for total immersion.
ReplyDelete