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The Muralist
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
When Alize Benoit, a young American painter working for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), vanishes in New York City in 1940, no one knows what happened to her. Not her Jewish family living in German-occupied France. Not her arts patron and political compatriot, Eleanor Roosevelt. Not her close-knit group of friends and fellow WPA painters, including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Lee Krasner. And, some seventy years later, not her great-niece, Danielle Abrams, who, while working at Christies auction house, uncovers enigmatic paintings hidden behind works by those now famous Abstract Expressionist artists. Do they hold answers to the questions surrounding her missing aunt? Entwining the lives of both historical and fictional characters, and moving between the past and the present, The Muralist plunges readers into the divisiveness of prewar politics and the largely forgotten plight of European refugees refused entrance to the United States. It captures both the inner workings of New Yorks art scene and the beginnings of the vibrant and quintessentially American school of Abstract Expressionism. As she did in her bestselling novel The Art Forger, B. A. Shapiro tells a gripping story while exploring provocative themes. In Alize and Danielle she has created two unforgettable women, artists both, who compel us to ask: What happens when luminous talent collides with unstoppable historical forces? Does great art have the power to change the world?
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NatalieR
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Pickpick

This is a lovely novel about the powerful influence of art, history of WWII, and people working to impact change in belief systems. The story brings to life famous characters from this time period; Eleanor Roosevelt, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Lee Krasnor. Pictured is one of my husband‘s oil paintings, A Girl of a Different Kind. The painting is available at www.poesoulstudio.com

Full review https://abookandadog.com

72 likes1 stack add
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Lizwarnerpdx
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
Pickpick

This story is in a similar vein to The Art Forger: duel timeline, paintings, museums, female artist. But Is set now & WWII, rather than late 1800‘s. Another enjoyable read as you follow Dani trying to locate her long gone great aunt‘s paintings and history.

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BennettBookworm
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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This is my third book by Shapiro and lemme tell you, she is incredible. I had chills for a solid 100 pages at the end! She made the famous characters - Eleanor Roosevelt and artists Rothko, Pollock, & Krasner - jump off the page, to the point where I really felt the fictional protagonist must also be real!

Books about the Holocaust are always painful, but this one especially so bc it addressed President Roosevelt‘s unwillingness to help refugees.

35 likes4 stack adds
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Laughterhp
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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I got an email from ThriftBooks the other day that I had a coupon for a free book. So I picked a book. Then I obviously wanted to get free shipping, so I added a few books to my cart. These are books 2 of 4 that have come in. 😊

#oops #bookhaul #needtostopbuyingbooks

minkyb Well, of course you had to get free shipping! 6y
zzz I never leave a shopping cart until I get free shipping from them 😆😆😆 6y
49 likes2 comments
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pazhermana
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Pickpick

Simply enchanting! I have never read a description of mania and paranoia so real, so understandable. The hearts shown of Krasner, Rothko, and Pollock made it all the more enjoyable. The novel raises a lot of questions concerning human rights and our moral obligations as people of earth; it would make a perfect book club read! Shapiro expertly and beautifully weaved the tapestry of Alizée's artistry, which made this impossible to put down!

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Lynnsoprano
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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We‘re back from vacation and a week pretty much off the grid. These are the books we brought home from our venture into the crazy bookstore on Sanibel. The tagged book for me, Clarence Darrow for hubby, and the third was a freebie the clerk threw in our bag. Not our usual reading, but who can turn down a free book?😄

Pamwurtzler The bookstore that you can barely walk through? Have you been in the library on Sanibel? The shell collection was amazing! (edited) 6y
Lynnsoprano @Pamwurtzler That‘s the one! Never been to the library on Sanibel. We went to the shell museum and did the tour of the collection with the curator, which was very interesting. 6y
ValerieAndBooks I have the muralist in my TBR! That bookstore sounds like fun 😊📚📚📚! 6y
77 likes3 comments
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janeycanuck
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Pickpick

I loved the Art Forger so I was excited to get this one a while back. And it did not disappoint, I was sucked right in and loved every page.

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janeycanuck
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Never grocery shop hungry. At least my grocery store doesn‘t sell books.

kspenmoll Perfect donut w matching book!!!🍩📚 7y
30 likes1 comment
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Jen_Reads
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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jlondon1963
Muralist | B A Shapiro
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Pickpick

Wow #audiobook of the day! What a great listen while I was out on my mail route. Loved the historical and art references in this novel. This is another winner by #BAShapiro.

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tpixie
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Bandette & Chloe watching for deer 🦌 and squirrels, as we enjoy the weather during #LitsyPartyOfOne #dogsoflitsy

rockpools Looks lovely there! 8y
tpixie @RachelO perfect reading weather!! 8y
Jinjer Those doggies could almost be candidates for #samebookdifferentcover !😳 8y
tpixie @Jinjer lol. They could!! 8y
80 likes4 comments
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tpixie
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Enjoying reading in between running my errands today!! Drinking a pear, orange & kale smoothie in a long ago 'acquired' glass A&W Root Beer mug! #LitsyPartyOfOne

Cinfhen Your drink and book are color coordinated!!! 8y
tpixie Lol 😝 yes!! Wish I could say I planned it!! 8y
79 likes1 stack add2 comments
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tpixie
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Heartwarming quote. Our family is always in our hearts 💕

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tpixie
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Yay! After a 6 hour delay in Houston due to storms in Dallas, we're finally boarding!
Had a great time in Houston! @Sara_Planz @BekahPat thanks for the restaurant & bookstore recs!

BekahPat @tpixie sorry to hear about your delay. Six hours is long especially when your ready to be home. Safe travels! I am glad Houston was good to you! 8y
Sara_Planz Glad you liked Brazos. It's one of the great indie stores. 8y
ValerieAndBooks Looks like you had a great trip but it'll also feel good when you're finally home! 8y
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tpixie @BekahPat 3:00 am ! Home. Great trip. Too bad the rain couldn't have waited one more day!! 8y
tpixie @Sara_Planz yes! They were very friendly! 8y
tpixie @ValerieAndBooks home!!3:00 am! 8y
68 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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MrCoachU
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Loved, loved, loved this book. Shapiro did a great job of weaving together the real and the imagined to create a compelling narrative. Beautiful work. #LitsyReadingChallenge #LRC10 #MultiplePOVs

tpixie I'm starting this this week for book club! 8y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MrCoachU
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro

I am caught between wanting to read the whole book in a sitting and wanting the book to last forever. Love the two different time periods. Love the mixture of real historical figures with the fictional figures. I am hooked.

9 likes1 stack add
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jessicarenee
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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#seasonsreadings2016 #artrelatedbooks I'm currently reading this title and it is definitely art related! It alternates between 1940 and 2015. I love historical fiction that has real people as characters. This one includes Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Eleanor Roosevelt! (I also like that the red cover next to my green blanket looks festive and christmassy)

35 likes2 stack adds
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jessicarenee
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro

"For forward-thinking men, you're both being extremely bull-headed," Eleanor declared. "The world is flat. Bloodletting curses diseases. Women will never win the vote." She glared at each in turn. "Is this where you want to stand?"

26 likes1 stack add
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Carolineleavitt
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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The gorgeous Gwen Breanne at the fabulous Brookline Booksmith! I read with Gayle forman and Barbara Shapiro and we had a blast! #goindie

bookseller_gwen Yahoo! Thanks for a great event! 8y
tpixie Awesome! 8y
6 likes2 comments
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chavalah
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Pickpick

I'm not usually taken with historical novels that imagine fictional people as part of huge events. "Alizee Benoit" influenced abstract expressionist painters as well as Eleanor Roosevelt's politics. :p. The writing could be workmanlike and the ending a little too convenient. But there's a deeper truth to this novel about the plight of the oppressed and the meaning of art. I certainly learned a bit about the latter. Protagonists were nuanced, too.

MrBook Excellent review 😊👍🏻! 8y
chavalah @MrBook Thank you! 8y
7 likes2 comments
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BeckaroniAndCheese
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
Pickpick

I'm a sucker for art history. Loved the alternating voices chapter by chapter and the feels in the end.

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BeckaroniAndCheese
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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Home sick from work so I'm catching up on some new-ish books that have been on my TBR pile for too long.

MrBook Here's another Muralist reader @BookBabe ! 😊 8y
BookBabe 😊👍🏻 great choice! 8y
4 likes2 comments
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laurenm
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
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This one seems to have it all - mystery, art, politics, history...In 1940's New York a young artist disappears. 70 years later, her great-niece pieces together the truth about her disappearance. I've also heard good things about the author's book The Art Forger but haven't read it.

MrBook Sounds good! 8y
laurenm @Well-ReadNeck @MrBook Just starting Ch 3 and hooked... 8y
LDavisMunro It does sound like it has it all! 8y
25 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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Jmeos12
The Muralist: A Novel | B. A. Shapiro
Pickpick

I love historical fiction. This was a fun read and learned a little about abstract expressionism. The book is written with the now common switch each chapter follow 2 different characters and the two stories merge in the end.