Welcome to my stop on the TLC Books blog tour of A Piece of the World by Christina Baker Kline! I’m extra-super excited to be on this tour because this book is the best book I’ve read in 2017!
The Blurb: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the smash bestseller Orphan Train, a stunning and atmospheric novel of friendship, passion, and art, inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s mysterious and iconic painting Christina’s World.
“Later he told me that he’d been afraid to show me the painting. He thought I wouldn’t like the way he portrayed me: dragging myself across the field, fingers clutching dirt, my legs twisted behind. The arid moonscape of wheatgrass and timothy. That dilapidated house in the distance, looming up like a secret that won’t stay hidden.”
To Christina Olson, the entire world was her family’s remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family had lived in for generations, and increasingly incapacitated by illness, Christina seemed destined for a small life. Instead, for more than twenty years, she was host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best known American paintings of the twentieth century.
As she did in her beloved smash bestseller Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline interweaves fact and fiction in a powerful novel that illuminates a little-known part of America’s history. Bringing into focus the flesh-and-blood woman behind the portrait, she vividly imagines the life of a woman with a complicated relationship to her family and her past, and a special bond with one of our greatest modern artists.
Told in evocative and lucid prose, A Piece of the World is a story about the burdens and blessings of family history, and how artist and muse can come together to forge a new and timeless legacy.
I was immediately drawn to this book for so many reasons. I loved The Orphan Train and could not wait to read another book written by Christina Baker Kline. I love Andrew Wyeth’s work; I really could go on and on about how much I love his paintings. I’ll restrain myself though and say only that I’m unbelievably drawn to his signature color palette and his peaceful yet intense nostalgia-evoking subjects and scenery. Lastly, I love books that tell the little-known stories behind well-known people, places, and events.
A Piece of the World is the story of Christina Olson, Wyeth’s friend and muse. Christina is a very complicated woman; in turns she is stubborn, resilient, sensitive, strong, introspective, and perceptive. This story itself has obviously been meticulously researched. The scenery is beautifully rendered and made me feel as though I’d been transported to Cushing, Maine (where I am now itching to go). The author did an amazing job of blending fact and fiction into a book that I simply could not put down.
This book is special from start to finish but the thing that about it that really struck me was how the story was told. Many books are written in first person but few convey the enormous sense of intimacy found in A Piece of the World. The reader is made to feel as though they are Christina’s trusted confidant.
“Closing my eyes, I lean over the side, the salt spray on my face mingling with tears. I weigh the shell in my palm – this cameo shell that has no place with the others. A store-bought trinket with no history, no story. I knew, deep down, when he gave it to me that he didn’t understand anything about me.“
I was expecting to read an interesting story about Christina’s relationship with Wyeth but this book is so much more than that. It’s really an exploration of the life of a woman who, faced with many challenges, is determined to remain true to herself. It was a very emotional read for me and one I’ll not soon forget.
Many thanks to HarperCollins/William Morrow for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was looking forward to A Piece of the World for all the same reasons you were, but found the story kind of lackluster. I just wasn’t interested in Christina’s life. I liked the parts with her and Wyeth, but the rest, not so much. I relegated it to the DNF list at about 30% in. Your review makes me think that I should have stayed with it a little longer!
Oh, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it but hey, it happens… Just curious – did you read Orphan Train? I really enjoyed that one as well.
I did read Orphan Train and really liked it.
It’s the best when we come across a new favorite read! Glad you enjoyed this one and great review:)
Thanks, Renee!
Isn’t is great when a book you receive for review turns out to be one you can really rave about? And when a favorite author does not disappoint with their follow-up?
I have a love-hate relationship with books about real people and artists, but this one sounds appealing. I especially like this: “It’s really an exploration of the life of a woman who, faced with many challenges, is determined to remain true to herself.” That’s a theme that is always fascinating to me.
Yes and yes!!
I would love to hear your thoughts if you’re ever able to read it. Christina was a very interesting woman. I’m not sure I would have gone about my life exactly like she did but I’ve never walked in her shoes.
You know, I just love characters like this: “It’s really an exploration of the life of a woman who, faced with many challenges, is determined to remain true to herself.” I might not agree with a person’s choice, but if their decisions allow them to remain true to themselves, then I can respect that.
Thank you for being on the tour!
Thanks, Trish! I really loved this book and can’t wait to read whatever it is she writes next.
“the best book I’ve read in 2017!”
Yay!!! I’ve been wondering about this book. I had the pleasure to meet Christina Baker Kline last year and hear her talk about Orphan Train. She really dug deep and uncovered all the history behing OTs and it was absolutely fascinating!
“I love books that tell the little-known stories behind well-known people, places, and events.”
Yes! Me too. I especially love HF that gives a back story to famous pieces of art, like this book. Some of my favorites have been Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Painted Girls.
Anyways! I’m so happy to read that you loved this book. Can’t wait to pick it up for myself 🙂
I loved OT as well! I actually went to a talk she did with Amor Towles last night. Fastest hour and a half of my life, I swear! It was fascinating to listen to them talk about their books and processes.
I haven’t read Girl with a Pearl Earring or The Painted Girls but I definitely want to.
And I would’ve been happy to send you my copy of this one but… the dog ate it. Seriously, the beagle destroyed it. I was so sad. I needed her crate to take my foster to the vet and she betrayed my trust. She’s old and she’s not usually a troublemaker anymore so I thought it was safe. WRONG!
I really liked Orphan Train but I wasn’t sure about this one… not anymore, now I know I need to read it 😀
I hope you like it! Her writing is just so beautiful in this one.