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There are currently 42 member reviews
for A Piece of the World
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Elaine
A Piece of the World
I loved Christina book ORPHAN TRAIN, so that was a hard act to follow but this is a very good book with lots to think about. Love and struggles being the main theme, between family members, friends and couples.
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Diane S. (El Paso, TX)
Christina's World
I've been intrigued and fascinated with Andrew Wyeth's painting, "Christina's World," since I saw it the first time in my art appreciation class in college. Who was she? Why did she look so forlorn? Was she crawling to get to the house? So I was delighted to see that Christina Baker Kline has written her interpretation of Christina's life. Learning about her relationship with Andrew Wyeth and the painting was only a part of the story. The big story for me was the author's re-creation of her life, the struggles she endured and the descriptions of the times she lived through. Christina is such a well -developed character that I feel like we are friends. I totally enjoyed reading this novel!
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Marcia C. (Jeffersonville, PA)
Christina Olson and her World
I've spent many years of my life living in Pennsylvania very close to Andrew Wyeth country and am familiar with his paintings, Christina's World being one of them. I never took the time to really contemplate the figure of the slight woman lying in the foreground, but Christina Baker Kline did take the time and has written a beautiful novel that delves into the life of Christina Olson, Wyeth's model for this painting.
Just as Wyeth's painting captures the mystery of Christina, Christina Baker Kline has successfully recreated the bleak atmosphere that suffused her life. She's given us Christina in the hopes of her youth, in her desperately unhappy middle years, and in the acceptance that came in her later years. She shows us her dreams, her stubbornness in the face of adversity, her generosity, and her perseverance in spite of all of the obstacles she fought to overcome.
This is a book well worth reading. For those who love stories about artists and their world, it shines a light onto a small piece of Wyeth and his work and the enigmatic young woman who became a part of that work. I'm strongly recommending this book to my reading group.
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Susan M. (Ashland, OR)
The quiet beauty portrayed in Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World
Often when I stand before a captivating painting such as Christine's World I wonder what is the story? Why is this woman lying in a field stretching toward a forlorn house on a hill? Odd but memorable. Christine Baker Kline brings to life the world of woman searching to find herself in a pain filled mundane life. Beautifully written.
After reading this book I searched the Internet for more information on Andrew Wyeth and found his art is coming to the Seattle Art museum this coming October. A sign of an excellent book is wanting to learn more about the subject, I plan to travel to Seattle.
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Fannieforrest
Thankful
Thanks to BookBrowse I have a new author to love. I too am from a rural town with dreams of leaving at a young age. I can relate to the strong tug of family and blood ties.
I truly enjoyed the unique plot. Life is full of good and bad moments. How we process both determines how our world will be. Looking forward to reading more works from this author.
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Kristen H. (Hagerstown, MD)
Wonderful World
A Piece of the World was a wonderful read. I felt that I was right there in the house with Christina just like Andrew Wyeth. Wonderfully developed characters made them seem like I have known them for a long time. Christina Baker Kline has a true talent as an author, she breathes life into her characters. I am excited to read more by this author. I rate this book 5 stars!
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Beverly D. (Palm Harbor, FL)
A quiet gem
The quietly contemplative story of the inspiration for Christina's World. The lyrical writing invites us into her world, a hardscrabble farm life from which she never escapes.Kline's sense of place and the times makes her story memorable and moving. Highly recommended...excellent book club choice!