Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Algonquin Books (January 25, 2011)
- ISBN-13: 978-1565126312
Back-of-the-book blurb: Two women running away from their marriages collide on a foggy highway, killing one of them. The survivor, Isabelle, is left to pick up the pieces, not only of her own life, but of the lives of the devastated husband and fragile son that the other woman, April, has left behind. Together, they try to solve the mystery of where April was running to, and why. As these three lives intersect, the book asks, How well do we really know those we love—and how do we forgive the unforgivable?
She Is Too Fond of Books’ review: Briefly, what I really liked about Pictures of You is the character of Isabelle; I found many of her actions and reactions to be so realistic – the panic of getting behind the wheel of a car after being involved in a fatal accident, the feeling of responsibility for the family of the victim, and her eventual ability to find strength within herself.
Caroline Leavitt chose to make Isabelle a photographer, which was absolutely brilliant. There are so many metaphors she created to show how the camera can be both a lens to see objects and people in a different light, to frame a situation in a more (or less) flattering manner, and even to act as a barrier (or layer of protection) between people.
When the novel opens, Isabelle is a photographer at the Beautiful Baby studio on Cape Cod. Childless, there is a painful irony to Isabelle’s place of employment; she is paid to capture a fantasy of the smiling baby, the hand-holding siblings, and the multi-generation family portrait.
Unfortunately, the fine details of Isabelle’s characters were negated by my issues with some conflicting details in other parts. This isn’t the first time I’ve read a novel and my knowledge of local geography threw off my stride in reading/enjoying the book. Note my gripes about Franklin standing in for Provincetown in The Postmistress and Chatham being mispronounced in the audio edition of The Island.
In this case, the coincidence of two women from the same (unnamed) town on the Cape being involved in an accident three hours from home was a bit much for me to swallow. Add to this Isabelle paying someone $100 to drive her to the scene of the accident, stopping for a cup of coffee before returning home (six hours on the road, plus some time for coffee? For $100? I don’t know why I let things like this throw me off course when reading … but they do!)
So, I got hung up on my inability to suspend disbelief and simply absorb the characters and their stories. Others were more accepting; read what these blogger/reviewers have to say:
- Julie at BookingMama says: “It’s a marvelous book for discussion.” So true!
- Swapna at S.Krishna’s Books says: “I was so involved in the characters and their stories. … They all seemed very lifelike and real to me.”
- Largehearted Boy says: ”
Leavitt is a masterful storyteller and unveils her characters through acutely seen details”
Visit Caroline Leavitt’s website for more information about the author and her work, and to view a book trailer for Pictures of You.
Do you get fixated when you read something that doesn’t seem to “fit” in a novel? Do I just need to lighten up?! Yes, this is why I could never be a novelist … there are people like ME who are too nit-picky!
The things that you mention also sound as if they’d be unbelievable for me as well, so I am not sure if I would enjoy this book and be able to suspend my sense of disbelief. I have been hearing a lot of good things about this book, but I really appreciated your realistic concerns over some of it’s aspects. Thanks, Dawn, for being so honest.
Stuff like that throws me off too. And I hate hate hate mispronunciations in audiobooks. Especially place names. You’d think they’d do some homework before reading…
how do you pronounce Chatham?
See, I know very little about Cape Cod, so I would be safe. But I totally know what you mean. A few things I know the author got wrong and I am totally distracted.
No, I don’t usually get caught up in the right vs. wrong on setting and such. Occasionally, but most of the time I am so absorbed in the story that it doesn’t matter. See, it’s funny, you wonder if you should lighten up and I’ve wondered if I “should” be bothered by those things. LOL
I’ve got a copy of this book packed away right now, but I’m looking forward to reading it. Thanks for your viewpoint. I just finished THE POSTMISTRESS and I’ll go back and see what your comments were about that one. It’s a book club read, so I won’t be posting my thoughts for a week or so.
I have a huge ability to suspend disbelief but when I don’t-watch out-I can’t enjoy a book at all. And I can’t stand mispronunciations, it will turn my off to the whole audio book. I’m just starting to listen to Pictures of You so I know I’ll leave my disbelief behind.
zibilee – I know, there are many fantastic reviews of this book, but I insist on sharing my opinions
As much as I appreciated Isabelle’s character (and the very clever way Leavitt used cameras/photography to carry a theme), it wasn’t an overall winner for me.
rhapsody – yes, a friend recorded textbooks for visually-impaired, and was telling me about the fact-checking they did before recording. Any place names or unusual words were practiced before they began recording. They worked in pairs, so one recorded while the second read silently and flagged anything that needed to be rerecorded.
Caite- Chatham is Cha-tum (sorry, I don’t know the accent marks … the a is as in cat).
Kay – and most of the other reviews I’ve read were very absorbed in the story. THE POSTMISTRESS was highly debated! I enjoyed it, but I’m still getting comments on my review from people who took issue with one facet or another. Ah, well, debate is good … keep people reading books and talking about them!
Sometimes it’s hard to get past those little things. I enjoyed this book more than you did.
That’s where I had the advantage I guess, I have no knowledge of the geography of the area. The thing about them being from the same town and getting into a wreck elsewhere was a stretch though, I agree about that.
I hate it when people mispronounce things in audiobooks. I have an audio version of Anne of Green Gables that I love except for the fact that the narrator pronounces Avonlea as if she were selling products for “Avon.” It grates on my nerves and pulls me out of the story.
I would like to read this one. I always find photographers interesting. Plus, to go through what she has gone….
Normally I can suspend belief for just about anything. But get me in a mood (and I cannot predict when it will hit) I get hung up on things. Weird names, bad attitudes, incorrect responses…and once I get into that place, I can’t get out. So I don’t blame you.
I think that’s totally understandable but it sounds like you were still able to enjoy the book for the most part! I read this a few weeks ago and need to write up my review. I sort of had a hard time with the ending so it took me a while to figure out if I liked it or not. I did
The location issues would get to me too, so I’m glad I don’t know that area well. Thanks for the link!
my club didn’t like it. Flat out. We usually like books where we learn SOMETHING. We learned nothing. It was a soap opera. Easily finished in 24 hours, the writing is clear, yet basic, not creatively descriptive. The plot was ‘interesting’ in a soap opera way. True the ending was not predictable, and saved from being sappy…but even in fiction, at least we learn SOMETHING…about a place, a medicine taken, a diagnosis, Camera lingo…SOMETHING…but we learned….N O T H I N G.
Kathy – Yes, and someone who doesn’t know the area wouldn’t blink (and, yes, I wish I could have moved past it!)
Alyce – ooh, my younger daughter would like ANNE on audio (and wouldn’t be bothered by the pronunciation)
Tea – I can’t imagine the “survivor guilt!”
Sandy – unpredictable moods?! I’m with you!
iliana – I’m going to have to pop over and re-read your review
Swapna – you’re welcome! I wish I could have been at that book group — a conversation may have helped me see things differently.
Sqeeniesmom – Sorry this one didn’t work for you. As I said in the opening, I did like Isabelle, her panic attack was especially convincing.
I didn’t say “sorry this one didn’t work for you, etc….that wasn’t me. My comment stands on the soap opera…HOWEVER, in tonight’s book club, we all agreed this is begging to be made into a movie.
The part about the bad boy in school can be omitted as it just is one more scene and can be omitted. Hurting the turtle accidentally is irrelevant and isn’t brought up again anyplace in the book. Leave it out of the movie!!!