Reviews

Portrait of an Unknown Lady by María Gainza

vanessabc's review against another edition

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inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

macknz_p's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

emilybryk's review against another edition

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1.0

Insufficiently compelling.

nutmeg917's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I don't know what to make of this book. It is mysterious and nothing is quite clear, and it exists in sort of a dream state. The narrator warns the reader of at the beginning of the book, that the narrative is more impressionist than realist as the narrator searches for a mysterious artist who painted many forgeries in Buenos Aires. What is a story and what makes value? That is what the book ponders, but it was just a bit too wandering for my taste. 

female_scriblerian's review

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4.0

An engaging story about the nature of being and understanding. Can we ever fully know another person? Further, if we could - would we want to? How slippery it is to try and capture reality when even facts are subject to opinion. A reminder that interest in a thing nearly always outweighs the reality of what it actually is.

katebol's review against another edition

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3.0

This was interesting and I liked it, but it was it was a ways smarter than me, so I didn't like it as much as I wanted to.

gertrudski's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

ichirofakename's review against another edition

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3.0

Unsatisfyingly second hand. Not enough forgery. Turns Bolañoesque.

ciobanita's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

3.0

notsansastark's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Interesting story about art and grief and finding your place in the world.