Bailey's/Orange Women's Fiction Group discussion

Our July book is the winner of this year's women's fiction prize. It is very much 'women's fiction' in that it looks at the roles women play and how they fit into the world and it is driven by characters and situations more than events and action.
This might be something to consider as we read it.
The author has used an unusual literary device in that the story can be read in two ways. The narrative is split between two time zones with alternating chapters and some copies start with the historical story, some with the contemporary one. The whole thing is then repeated the other way around. I'm not going to suggest everyone reads both versions, so many of you will probably stop at the end of the story and half-way through the book. Please think about how each version might colour your perception of the historical story, whichever way you end up reading it.
The cover has a (probably staged) photograph of two French singers. Do you think it is relevant to the story and how?

Some of the many reviews:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/bo...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainmen...
http://www.npr.org/2014/12/06/3684469...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/boo...
http://theoxfordculturereview.com/201...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/enterta...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/review/...
http://www.heraldscotland.com/books-p...
www.startribune.com/review-how-to-be-...
http://www.spectator.co.uk/books/9296...
http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/h...

The cover on the book that I read wasn't the photo of the two girls, but I do understand the reason for it. My cover is this one which references a technique that the artist uses in one of his paintings.

My cover has the two women. Personally I think it's a really boring cover but I'm starting to discover there's a reason for it.

Reading Francescho's story first (Eyes) but George has a photo described exactly like the cover is in her bedroom, so I expect I'll understand the relevance a lot more once I get to that half of the book.

Found this a little hard to get into initially. The first twenty or so pages felt quite pretentious and was pretty sure it was going to be one of those literary award winners that only book critics actually enjoy, but it got better and am liking it a lot more now. Still only a third of the way in and have yet to get to George's part though, so it could still fall apart again!

My book started with George and it also took several pages for me to get into the flow of Smith's writing, but I find that it takes a bit with all of her books because she is very innovative with style - no two books are really alike.

I finished the book and though I am not going to go back and reread it I can definitely tell that the perspective of the book would completely change. I felt vested in George and cared about her in the story, but I'm not sure I would have as much if her story was second.

My copy started with Francesco's story and it took a bit for me to get into the writing style of this one. I almost gave up but read others saying to give it a few pages so I did. I'm glad I did bc I ended up really loving it. I enjoyed George's story but I appreciated having read Francesco's story first, I felt it added so much to George's story. My cover:


This was my first book by the author and I'll definitely read more of her stuff.

I'm definitely going to read it but unfortunately not for quite a while. Rats.

George's story:
(view spoiler)[We meet George or Georgia on New Year, the start of the first year without her mother, and follow her as she tries to come to terms with her loss. George sets herself a schedule of ways to commemorate her mother and to get through each day.
Mother and daughter did not always have a smooth relationship, with George alternately challenging her mother and drawing closer to her.
George keeps remembering the last trip she made with her mother, to see a wall painting (fresco) in Italy. She becomes interested in the artist, Francesco del Cossa.
George is seeing a school counsellor, Mrs Rock.
George makes a new friend, Helena, and laughs for the first time since her mother's death. Helena gives George the photograph of Sylvie Vartan and Francoise Hardy. Helena later moves to Copenhagen.
George's mother, Carol, had a friend called Lisa, who is not quite what the seems. George wonders about this relationship and when she sees Lisa looking at Francesco's painting in the art gallery she follows her home. (hide spoiler)]

A few questions on grief, friendships and relationships:
What do you think of the relationship between George and her mother?
between George and Helena?
and between Carol and Lisa?
What do you think of George's coping strategies?
What do you think of the rest of the family and how they are coping with grief or not?

A few questions on art, seeing and recording:
When George and Carol go to see the fresco George is not very interested, but then becomes absorbed in details of the pictures. Did this make you want to see it? Could you imagine it?
Carol is very aware of the history of Ferrara. Is history and remembering it important? Can you just be a tourist in a beautiful place with a violent history?
George later watches a porn video with a young girl in it. She wants to bear witness, to watch it for the girl. What do you think of this?
We are introduced to Francesco through a few facts and the surviving art works. Is looking at art the best or only way of knowing an artist? Do the facts of Francesco's life matter?

Francesco's story:
(view spoiler)[We first see Francesco looking at a boy looking at a painting. We hear the story of his life and how he became an artist. There is a lot about looking closely at things and finding ways to represent them, in particular curves and movement.
We learn that Francesco is a girl, dressed as a boy to get an education and an apprenticeship.
We learn that her mother died when she was quite young and that they were very close.
As Francesco watches the boy looking at the painting and looking at a woman, we realise that Francesco is a shade or ghost drawn into the modern world by interest in her art works.
The eyes on a plant motive was used by her in a painting of Saint Lucia.
When she was alive she had a horse and a friend she loved, painters she learned from and surpassed, an apprentice who also became a friend and talent and the confidence to know its worth.
She realises the 'boy' she was watching is in fact a girl and continues to observe her.
(hide spoiler)]

A few questions on art, seeing and recording:
Francesco has a lot to say about the methods of painting and what goes into creating a work of art. The author has researched the subject. Did this add to your appreciation of the work?
There is also a lot about storytelling, from her mother, in her painting and in her life. Is this the author explaining her art?
The observed girl is also an observer and takes photographs. How do the different media compare?
This is an imagined life, based on a very few facts about an actual artist. Did it feel as if it might be true? Is this how an artist of the time might think and act?

For those who read this part first:
What did you think might be the story behind the observed girl? Did it make you want to read it?

I'm not usually one to answer lots of book related questions but I'll try with a few of these. :)

I definitely wanted to see the art works mentioned in this story after viewing these works through George's eye. Francesco's story was first for me and funnily enough, while reading F's story it didn't occur to me that this was based on real people, real art. It was when I was reading G's story that I began to wonder and googled. I'm glad I did but sadly, I meant to return to look at it more later but forgot. I'm reminded now and will after this post.

Having read F's story first by the time I read G's experience of the art I was hooked. So yes, I think knowing the history was key to enjoying and experiencing the art. I think without having had the backstory on the artist would have made my experience of reading about the art so much less poignant. I loved knowing it. And now, reading about it on google I'll experience it differently as well.

I think it's wonderful and important to know the history of places. While it certainly influences the present experience I don't think it's always necessary but I think if you want a richer experience, a deeper connection to something, it's important to know the backstory, the history.

Francesco's story (view spoiler)[ I was confused at first about her ghostly status and it took a while for me to get it. I think it was the whole different writing style that I had to get used to. But I ended up loving that aspect of the story. (hide spoiler)]

You don't have to answer book questions Tasha, some people like having them as guidelines but you can put general impressions instead or anything you feel like.

Here is a link to the National gallery and the Saint Vincent painting:
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/art...

Val wrote: "You don't have to answer book questions Tasha, some people like having them as guidelines but you can put general impressions instead or anything you feel like."

Thanks. :)

I'm finding it interesting how each person has really enjoyed the story starting from whichever perspective their book came with, those reading George first or Francesco first. I'm finding that fascinating. Reading Francesco's first I thought for sure that was the best angle to come in with but hearing those reading George's first and really liking that side a lot makes it really interesting!

I agree with you, Lisa, I wish there was a way to erase and start from the other viewpoint to get a chance to experience both. As my memory is not all that great, I think after a couple years I will re-read this one but come in on George's story first...maybe, I really did love reading F's story first though. We'll see but I guess my point is, if your memory is not all that great it might be done! ;)

I'm finding this book even more amazing after reading these comments.

Sheri, I was completely put off by the stream of consciousness at the start. I usually avoid books like this but SO glad I stuck it through the beginning too.