This historical fiction is set in France just before and after World War II involving artwork stolen by the Nazis. A good story with unlikeable characters. ( )

Well, not really. I couldn't get throught it and after reaching the 50 page mark was happy to put it aside. Fascinating idea for a novel but the writing was so wooly - I couldn't figure out what was going on and the added element of family mystery was dumb.

I may try it another time but it was simply not working for me. ( )

Fascinating story about the art world in Paris just prior to, during and following the invasion by the Germans. Once again, I'm wishing there were 1/2 stars so I could give this 3.5 stars. Much of the story deals with real people and many other characters are based on real characters. The relationship between Daniel and his son, Max, Berenzen is very strained and it is not until nearly the end of the book before Max and the reader get a clearer picture of one of the underlying reasons why. The last half of the book chronicles Max's efforts to retrieve artworks stolen during the war for his father, in an effort to please his father but he never seems to be able to do that. Max also spends most of the book trying to woo Rose, Daniel's assistant, who was crucial in tracking and saving the artwork of Paris as the Germans loot the city. The relationships and characters drive the book, although I frequently found it difficult to understand their motives and actions. ( )

Fascinating story about the art world in Paris just prior to, during and following the invasion by the Germans. Once again, I'm wishing there were 1/2 stars so I could give this 3.5 stars. Much of the story deals with real people and many other characters are based on real characters. The relationship between Daniel and his son, Max, Berenzen is very strained and it is not until nearly the end of the book before Max and the reader get a clearer picture of one of the underlying reasons why. The last half of the book chronicles Max's efforts to retrieve artworks stolen during the war for his father, in an effort to please his father but he never seems to be able to do that. Max also spends most of the book trying to woo Rose, Daniel's assistant, who was crucial in tracking and saving the artwork of Paris as the Germans loot the city. The relationships and characters drive the book, although I frequently found it difficult to understand their motives and actions. ( )

Max Berenzon is the son of an art dealer father and a clasical pianist mother. Coming of age during WWII in Paris is difficult at best, but Max takes on the additional task of trying to recover Nazi confiscated art belonging to his family. This book touches on many sensitive subjects surrounding Nazi occupation, but does focus on the thousands of priceless art works lost to the world, possibly forever. It caught my attention because the two art pieces in Max's quest are a Morisot and a Manet ... two impressionists on my personal list of "faves". Enjoyed this book very much.
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