Overall, what did you think of A Piece of The World?

Overall, what did you think of A Piece of The World?

It was an entertaining read. I would love to know more about the real Christina and how much of the book is fiction. I couldn’t find much about her

I absolutely loved this book. I found myself looking up Wyeth’s paintings and trying to learn as much as I could about him, his family, and Christina. It was one of the best books I’ve read.

I am a huge admirer of Andrew Wyeth and his work so I had high hopes and was delighted to get the opportunity to read this book. But wow...what a huge disappointment! No insight to anything. Almost all of the book read like a text about life on a farm...get up, make breakfast, do the wash, hang the wash, feed animals, weed the garden, make dinner, sew an apron/quilt/dress, sleep, and a gazillion other chores and do it again the next day and the next. Page after page after page. We get it. It was a difficult life. There was a bit about Christina's relationship with a pseudo-suitor/wimp and a bit about her hardship with her disease. But really, nothing of substance. And absolutely no insight to Wyeth's art or his inspiration. I love the paintings. I hated this book. It's already in the donation pile. Half a star for effort and that's it. Blech!!

I was very bored for over 160 pages to the extent that I came close to not finishing it. Though the author did a good job describing the hardships suffered by this family and particularly of Christina it appeared that the book was going nowhere. There were numerous times that the book pulled me to sleep.

I liked the book. Yes, their life on the farm was was a hard, repetitive life and was even harder with all the disabilities in their family. I felt drawn to Christina and wanting to cheer her on. It was a hauntingly sad story.

It was so enjoyable, I hated to see it end. Here are just a few of the things that I liked.

1. There are so many ways to be crippled. (how true)
2. It's a terrible thing to find the love of your life, you know too well what you're missing when it's gone. (So true in my life)
3. Andy isn't satisfied with evasions.
4.He is gentle as a doe, curious as a cat.

I think I will reread this book before passing it on which is something I don't do.

Thanks again for such a good book.

Great!!!!!

I liked the book. I loved how the author made sense of the Wyeth's painting. The factual info about Wyeth actually going to that house and painting many pictures of Christina was very interesting. I was frustrated with Christina's crippling disability. I wanted to find out what it was and fix it! I was angry the family didn't allow her to go on to school. I did get involved with the characters. I thought it stayed true to its time period and I enjoyed learning about the New England life. I thought the book was well written and it kept me engaged.

I liked it--Kline brought the yearning, isolation, desperation, starkness of the painting to life in her description of Christina's life of ever increasing disability, bitterness and loneliness. Though given several opportunities to escape her plight and possibly avoid the denouement, through circumstance, or choice, she never takes them.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I had seen the painting in a museum, but had no idea of its background. It is a bit hard to separate fact from fiction, but it is a wonderful read.

I enjoyed reading this book but couldn't help wondering what was fiction and what was fact. Obviously Christina Olsen and Andrew Wyeth were real people and Wyeth did paint the Christina's World painting along with others of her family and home. I even have a print of Christina with her back to a window of her home done by Wyeth that I bought at the Brandywine River Museum. I felt sad at times reading about Christina's difficult life but also proud of her endurance through it all.

I really enjoyed it. I liked that the story was from Christina's point of view. I found the relationship interesting and refreshing. And it made me think differently about other paintings i've seen, wondering the story behind each.

I loved the book, her writing was beautiful. About halfway through I started feeling sad, but it was so enjoyable I am recommending it for my book club. I did not agree with Christina's choice of not using a wheelchair; the pain she put herself through by dragging herself all over was hard to picture and must have been hard for anyone to watch. I applaud her friends for letting her do what she wanted to but feel she could have had many more friends if she allowed herself to be taken by wheelchair or car. Her pride was so extreme it was hard to connect with her.

I enjoyed the book. It made me more grateful for modern conveniences. I felt bad that she couldn't continue her education. I was angry that her parents were not willing to let her continue her education. I felt the book was very true to the time written about. I wish I knew how much was true of Christina's life and how much was fiction.

I liked the book. The book was well-written with well-developed characters. The author wrote a realistic account based on the historical information of record. I could imagine this novel as the story behind the picture and for me the story added value to the painting, “Christina’s World.”

I enjoyed the book. I thought the author totally portrayed Christine and her feelings. I didn't worry about what was fact or fiction, I just took it as it was. Christine certainly wasn't dealt a positive life. An education would have given her so much more, at least the option of teaching and making a place for herself outside of the farm. The book gave me new appreciation for the painting and what the meaning was behind it.

It was an okay book. I finished it but was not excited about it. The characters were not that interesting and the story seemed flat to me. It seemed like a young adult book.

As a psychiatric nurse I very much enjoyed the book for looking at behaviors associated with the results of long term disability, focus on self, limited exposure to much of life, how our lives are crippled and I am sure I'll think of other behaviors. I also enjoy books with an "art" background. I look forward to my next visit to the Houston Art Museum to see Wyeth art. I'll look at art with one more perspective after reading this book.
I also like some of the terms used by the author to compare and contrast different thoughts and circumstances. I will recommend this book and probably pass it on after reading it again. Thank you for this
opportunity.

I thought it started slow and was so depressing. It did make me look into Andre Wyeth's life to see if I could figure out how much was true. I have always loved his paintings.

It was a terrific story about the perseverance and strength of character. All the characters from Mamey to all the Olson clan survived in a harsh unforgiving climate.

I loved this book. Both the story and the writing were beautiful. The blending of
fact and fiction was flawlessly created. Such a sense of place! Maine was a central character.
The characters were so alive to me. I cried when Christina’s grandmother died.

Terrific story - a book that I keep suggesting friends to read

It was interesting. More than the story itself, I admire how Kline can create a rich and believable world, just as she did in Orphan Train. I love her writing. She deals with the psychology of being human and how we can trip ourselves up in such an interesting way.

I enjoyed reading A Piece of The World but was frustrated by Christina's early acceptance of her disability and not wanting to help herself improve her life. I know the novel was about Christina but I would have liked to know more about her brother who stayed with her.

I enjoyed learning about Christina and Wyeth, but I did not enjoy reading the book. I was bored with it and, like someone ahead of me said, I almost did not finish it.

Overall...I found it to be depressing & I struggled to empathize with Christina. I didn't find her to be very likable or very kind towards some of the people in her life who had attempted to help her. I was very disappointed with her reaction to her brother finding someone he was interested in. I can't help but think poorly of someone who wants others to sacrifice their happiness on her behalf.

I agree with the two negative reviewers above. I thought this book was incredibly slow moving, BORING, depressing, and dull. And way too much detail about farm life - that seemed like the focus, how hard life was on a farm at that time. There could have been more info and insights regarding Wyeth and his art - that was a wasted opportunity on the author’s part. A boring story about boring characters that the author thought she could tie together into a novel about a famous painting. I’m not recommending this to anyone.

I don't agree with the comment that this book was boring, although I can see why some people might find it so depending on their expectations when picking it up. It's not a gripping page turner and because it is so faithful to the biographical facts of Christina's life it doesn't have a traditional main character with conflicts that are neatly resolved. I'd definitely put it in the literary genre. I thought it was beautifully written and found Christina a difficult character to love but admirable in many ways. As someone who likes reading about lives very different from my own experience, I was happy to give this book a big thumbs up.

I would agree however, that there could have been more about Wyeth. One of my favourite parts was the description of his tempera painting techniques. I live near the Brandywine Valley Art Museum and reading the book definitely enhanced my interest and appreciation for the paintings they have there by all the Wyeths. You can also do a studio tour which is fab.

I liked the book, but it is not be at the top of my list of all time favorites. It appealed to me because I have always found the painting interesting and appreciated the paintings of all the Wyeth's. I do think the book's appeal is limited.

i liked the book I think it showed how differently we all see life based on our own situations and surroundings

I would recommend it to anyone who is intrigued by the painting, Christina's World, in particular. Christina, to me, had seemed like someone I could never relate to - her world was so foreign to me, she seemed totally unknowable. Christina Baker Kline showed her to be just another human, with hopes and dreams, limitations, strengths, flaws, and gullibilities. I enjoyed this book, and it ultimately helped me appreciate the painting even more.

A great read that keeps you engaged throughout the book. A great book club novel!

I loved this book!!! It told a backstory of Christina's World, Andrew Wyeth's most famous painting. Living in PA about 40 miles from Chadds Ford where Andrew was born and raised, i have always been very familiar with his paintings. My grandparents and parents and aunt and uncle all met Andrew Wyeth. My grandparents and aunt and uncle both owned Andrew Wyeth originals, which are still in the family.