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Soundings
Soundings | Anita Brookner
4 posts | 1 read | 1 to read
A compilation of essays written during the last twenty-five years covers such topics as nineteenth-century French painting, the literary works of Rousseau and Doris Lessing, and the Bible
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review
Billypar
Soundings | Anita Brookner
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Mehso-so

Reading an Anita Brookner essay is a humbling experience- I don't think I've ever looked up so many words (English ones mind you, not the gobs of untranslated French quotes). Still, I learned a lot about 19th century French Romantic painters & writers, the focus of most of the essays. AB's sharp criticism of other art historians made me worry she would pan Lessing's The Golden Notebook in that essay- I was actively relieved to find she liked it 😋

saresmoore You are reading with some serious depth! 7y
Billypar @saresmoore I was trying my best but there were moments where I felt like I had to read portions multiple times just for basic comprehension 😳 She's really brilliant though- it's hard to imagine being both an art history scholar and famous novelist at the same time. 7y
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saresmoore I‘ll say! I pat myself on the back for being a regular, waking human most days. 7y
GatheringBooks oh wow! sounds like required reading for school! :) but sounds pretty worth it too. :) 7y
Billypar @GatheringBooks I think it's worth a read- the 'so-so' is because for a layman like myself, there's going to be some stuff that is less than thrilling, but overall it was pretty interesting to learn about the art of the period. And for the painter essays, Google Image was a helpful assistant ☺️ 7y
ValerieAndBooks I think I might actually like this one! 🤞Stacking 7y
31 likes1 stack add7 comments
quote
Billypar
Soundings | Anita Brookner
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In a few of her essays on 19th century art, Brookner is not above eviscerating the flimsy theories of other art historians, like in this case while critiquing Michael Fried's theory on the 'obliviated observer'. The underlined portion got a 😄 from me. #shesgotclaws #nuyear @TrishB @Cinfhen

TrishB Ohh -clever pick 👍🏻 7y
Cinfhen 🙌🏻😻 7y
17 likes2 comments
blurb
Billypar
Soundings | Anita Brookner
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After finishing one novel today, this collection of Brookner essays, mostly on 19th century art, is my last left of 2017. Maybe not most's idea of a party but the delicious amber ale and snack food for later when I'll need to be social are more in that vein. I like the Brookner, but have definitely been distracted by some #NewYearDreams about my planned reads in 2018 starting with #ReadingtheIdiot buddy read. Happy 2018 reading! #decdays @Cinfhen

kalinichta You're drinking one of my favorite beers. 🍻 7y
Billypar @kalinichta It's my first time trying it- really good! And I love that Elliot Ness gets his own brew. 7y
kalinichta @Billypar A lot of the Great Lakes Brewing Company beers are named after people/things with Cleveland ties. Ness lived and worked in Cleveland from 1934-1942. 7y
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erzascarletbookgasm Happy new year to you! 7y
LeahBergen Happy New Year! 7y
Cinfhen Looking forward to a wonderful year ahead🎉🎉🎉 (edited) 7y
27 likes6 comments
blurb
Billypar
Soundings | Anita Brookner
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Thanks Philly for this #bookhaul The top two were from this interesting garage-like vintage shop called Thunderbirds and the bottom three are from the used bookstore Mostly Books, which has a good selection and nice layout.

LeahBergen I've recently been building a little stockpile of Brookners for a binge. 😄 7y
ReadingEnvy You have encountered the Brooker Law 7y
Billypar @LeahBergen I haven't read her before, but I've been looking to read more essay collections and these sounded interesting. @ReadingEnvy The Brooker law was a factor in my choice 😃 7y
11 likes3 comments