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A review by kassielovestoread
Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. Li
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I think Portrait of a Thief has a little something that everyone can love about this book. This was a deeply reflective novel about the ramifications of art theft and the lasting impact of colonialism. This story was about a group of college students reclaiming their ancestral ties to a country they don't know enough of through art. Makes me wanna go rob the various museums for Latin America's stolen treasures (Ha-Ha, just kidding FBI)!
What I liked about this book: first and foremost, Irene and Alex. When I tell you I was sat for them and them only, I mean it! I looooove a great sapphic relationship and when you mix reluctant allies to all that tension and want, best believe you're in for a good time. Even though I loved their relationship and rooted so hard for them to get together, I was left with wanting more out of their story. But for what it was, I enjoyed it a lot!
Was this book a perfect 5 star read? No, it's not without its faults. A lot of aspects of it were very repetitive and I often found myself re-reading the same information about these characters too deep into the story. There were also a few lulls throughout the book that I found difficult to power through. I think the author wanted to prioritize character development in those moments, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. But, I did find that the overall novel doesn't flow quite right as a result. Nonetheless, this was a decent book from a debut author! I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future.
What I liked about this book: first and foremost, Irene and Alex. When I tell you I was sat for them and them only, I mean it! I looooove a great sapphic relationship and when you mix reluctant allies to all that tension and want, best believe you're in for a good time. Even though I loved their relationship and rooted so hard for them to get together, I was left with wanting more out of their story. But for what it was, I enjoyed it a lot!
Was this book a perfect 5 star read? No, it's not without its faults. A lot of aspects of it were very repetitive and I often found myself re-reading the same information about these characters too deep into the story. There were also a few lulls throughout the book that I found difficult to power through. I think the author wanted to prioritize character development in those moments, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. But, I did find that the overall novel doesn't flow quite right as a result. Nonetheless, this was a decent book from a debut author! I would be interested in reading more from this author in the future.