"In August of 1870, a rumor flits about the cafes and restaurants. It infects the streets: The Prussians are coming. Stores are quickly emptied of cheeses and loaves." -Victorine by Drema Drudge A snippet from one of my current February reads. A biographical historical fiction novel about the life of female French artist Victorine Meurent. Looking forward to another month of Friday 56! Goodreads Synopsis In 1863, Civil War is raging in the United States. Victorine Meurent is posing nude, in Paris, for paintings that will be heralded as the beginning of modern art: Manet's Olympia and Picnic on the Grass. However, Victorine's persistent desire is not to be a model but to be a painter herself. In order to live authentically, she finds the strength to flout the expectations of her parents, bourgeois society, and the dominant male artists (whom she knows personally) while never losing her capacity for affection, kindness, and loyalty. Possessing both the incisive mind of a critic and the intuitive and unconventional impulses of an artist, Victorine and her survival instincts are tested in 1870, when the Prussian army lays siege to Paris and rat becomes a culinary delicacy. Drēma Drudge's powerful first novel, Victorine, not only gives this determined and gifted artist back to us but also recreates an era of important transition into the modern world. The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice. These the rules:
1. Grab a book, any book. 2. Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your ereader. 3. Find a snippet, short and sweet. 4. Post it, and add the url to your post in Freda's most recent Friday 56 Linky. 5. Feel free to share on social media using the hashtags #Instagram56 or #Friday56
5 Comments
Breana M.
2/5/2021 02:05:59 pm
This one seems kind of interesting. Enjoy your current read!
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2/5/2021 04:45:33 pm
I am not familiar with Victorine Meurent, but I imagine after reading this book I would want to know more about this real life artist. She's definitely a noteworthy historical figure, isn't she?
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2/5/2021 07:43:48 pm
I love books with a strong female lead--thanks for featuring it!
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