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The Marriage of Opposites
The Marriage of Opposites
Author: Alice Hoffman
From the bestselling author of The Dovekeepers comes a love story about one of history's most captivating 'invisible' women: Rachel, the mother of Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro. Growing up on the idyllic island of St Thomas in the early 1800s, Rachel dreams of life in faraway Paris. Rachel's mother, a pillar of their tight-knit refugee ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9781471112102
ISBN-10: 1471112101
Publication Date: 8/4/2015
Pages: 512
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 3

4 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Scribner UK
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 11
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Marriage of Opposites on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
WOW! I really enjoyed this book!
Now, let me begin by relating that it did take me about 39 pages to really get into it. I think many of A. Hoffmans' fans that are not so fond of some of her later works may not be fans of historical period novels. This book, (I have already popped it into the mail so that others on the site can get the pleasure of it) begins in the early to mid 1800s(approx.). It spans the life of Rachael Pomie and her day to day life. Amazing it is that one novel (based on facts) can cover the life of 1 person and the lives of several others (just not as detailed in the case of the others).
I have only a couple of friends of the Jewish faith. So one may say that I know very, very little of Judaism. I felt that I got to learn a bit on this subject and some historical facts as well as details of life in the Saint Thomas area island life.
I really enjoyed reading about Jacobo Camille Pizzaro and of his childhood and how his young artists' mind saw things. I did not know of his great contribution to the Impressionism works.
There was definitely some of Hoffman's' magicalism. This is a historical book, a love story, a book about class marriage, interfaith marriage, a book that delves deeply into the injustices of slavery, a book that touches on how u.s. civil war affected many countries.
Once again, Hoffman never lets me down. Indeed, there were tears.
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reviewed The Marriage of Opposites on + 227 more book reviews
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a bit scattered at times- huge periods of time passed with no explanation, and I did not think the transitions were always as good as they could be. I really do love Hoffman's writing style and her ability to describe landscapes and people.


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