Rachel Pastan

If I based my rating solely inn the writing I'd give it a higher rating. The writing itself was beautiful. And I also enjoyed the discussions on art which were always intelligent, insightful, and educational. But, I felt the plot, and the characters themselves disappointing. With the exception of the museum's new curator,every character in this novel was obsessed with Alena, even though she'd been dead for two years. The new curator wasn't obsessed with the Alena, but then she had never met her. But for me, the curator was the most annoying character in the novel. She was such a dormouse .Everyone pushed her around; she knew it ; and she kept on letting them do it. I wanted to take her by the arms, shake her, and tell her to start standing up for herself !… (altro)

“Must every action—every word and thought—recall Alena? Swimming, currents, beaches, exhibitions, artists, parties. How long until my bodily presence had half the substance her absence did?”

An unnamed young art historian is unexpectedly hired as the curator of a small museum, after meeting the charismatic owner in Venice. As she tries to settle into her new position, she feels the haunting presence of the former curator, Alena. She must contend with Agnes, Alena’s close friend and colleague, who constantly reminds her she is not quite up to Alena’s cutting-edge standards. The storyline follows the mystery of what happened to Alena. She is presumed to have died while night-swimming off the coast of Cape Cod.

This book is a retelling of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. It has a similar gothic tone, but not quite as sinister. I particularly liked the way this story follows some of the main themes of Rebecca but does not adhere too rigorously, allowing it to stand on its own even if the reader is not familiar with its predecessor. Alena’s character is well done. Told in flashback, we get a feel for her artistic temperament and reckless lifestyle. The writing is full of metaphors, perhaps a few too many.

Our protagonist finds it is hard to live up to the ghost of near perfection. It is also difficult for a book to be compared to a classic. This novel does not quite get there, but I found it intriguing and entertaining. It will appeal to those that enjoy books that feature art, artists, and the sea.… (altro)

Very nicely played science historical fiction. The protagonist, Kate Croft, based on geneticist Barbara McClintock, is a good character in her own right—prickly, obsessive, impulsive—and the book takes on a lot without being didactic: gender disparities in the scientific community during the first half of the 20th century, what is gained and lost in single-minded dedication to work, the ways that power structures in academia are entangled in personal relationships, and a tantalizing glimpse into the actual science. Not that I understood much of the last, but it's always fun to read bits in what's essentially a different language, just for context. Altogether a very interesting, smooth read, and definitely recommended to anyone who likes this sort of thing.… (altro)