Sara Houghteling

Fascinating story about the art world in Paris just prior to, during and following the invasion by the Germans. Once again, I'm wishing there were 1/2 stars so I could give this 3.5 stars. Much of the story deals with real people and many other characters are based on real characters. The relationship between Daniel and his son, Max, Berenzen is very strained and it is not until nearly the end of the book before Max and the reader get a clearer picture of one of the underlying reasons why. The last half of the book chronicles Max's efforts to retrieve artworks stolen during the war for his father, in an effort to please his father but he never seems to be able to do that. Max also spends most of the book trying to woo Rose, Daniel's assistant, who was crucial in tracking and saving the artwork of Paris as the Germans loot the city. The relationships and characters drive the book, although I frequently found it difficult to understand their motives and actions.… (mer)

Fascinating story about the art world in Paris just prior to, during and following the invasion by the Germans. Once again, I'm wishing there were 1/2 stars so I could give this 3.5 stars. Much of the story deals with real people and many other characters are based on real characters. The relationship between Daniel and his son, Max, Berenzen is very strained and it is not until nearly the end of the book before Max and the reader get a clearer picture of one of the underlying reasons why. The last half of the book chronicles Max's efforts to retrieve artworks stolen during the war for his father, in an effort to please his father but he never seems to be able to do that. Max also spends most of the book trying to woo Rose, Daniel's assistant, who was crucial in tracking and saving the artwork of Paris as the Germans loot the city. The relationships and characters drive the book, although I frequently found it difficult to understand their motives and actions.… (mer)