The 5 Best Books meme is hosted by Cassandra at Indie Reader Houston.
This week's topic: The 5 Best Real People in Fiction
- John Singer Sargent and Virginie Gautreau in I am Madame X by Gioia Diliberto. This is an interesting novel about the creation of a painting that, in its day, created quite a scandal at the Paris Salon. I had the opportunity of seeing the real work on a visit to London several years ago and I think I appreciated it more because I read about its (fictionalized) creation.
- Leo and Sofya Tolstoy in The Last Station by Jay Parini. I admit, I have a girl crush on Helen Mirren, so I may have enjoyed the movie more than the book, but the novel is definitely worth reading.
- Ernest and Hadley Hemingway in The Paris Wife. I frankly had no interest in reading Hemingway until I read this novel. The Sun Also Rises ended up not being my cup of tea, but I loved A Moveable Feast, his memoir of his time in Paris. And I would love to learn more about Hadley.
- Captain Alfred Dreyfus in A Man in Uniform by Kate Taylor. He's not a true character in this novel, per se, but his imprisonment under questionable circumstances is the crux of the plot.
- Pablo Picasso in Guernica by Dave Boling. Again he is not a true character, but the novel does describe the creation of his masterpiece based on the destruction of the Basque city during the Spanish Civil War.
Hmmm -- and I thought I couldn't come up with a list for this topic!
I think it's a great list! I'm going to have to read The Paris Wife now. I had no idea that Hemingway was in it. I have a love/hate relationship with Hemingway, and my opinion changes every time I read him.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course there is Julius Caesar and company in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar", LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat post :)
http://wwww.ManOfLaBook.com
My favorite artist is John Singer Sargent. My guest bedroom/bathroom are decorated with his prints as well as ones throughout the walls of our home. Madame X is my second favorite painting by him. I loved that novel... especially the part about the arsenic... fascinating!
ReplyDeletePS... my favorite painting is Mr & Mrs Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes!
I read Guernica such a long time ago, but still haven't forgotten it. It was such a moving and interesting book. I am glad that you featured it here today!
ReplyDeleteThe Paris Wife ... I've come across it quite a lot now. Time to read it, if it's on your list.
ReplyDeleteBTW I was surprised to see your list as I thought you couldn't think of enough books! ;-)
Cassandra -- I can't say that I'm a fan of Hemingway, but A Moveable Feast was just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteZohar -- I've not read Julius Caesar (shame!) but I guess I could have included Macbeth -- wasn't he a real person?
Kathy -- Madame X is the only Sargent painting I'm familiar with but I'll have to check out your favorite.
Zibilee -- I read Guernica a while ago as well, but it was fascinating.
Judith -- I didn't think I could come up with a list either, but I saw your list and it got me thinking ....