Review of Provenance

[Mayang Bature]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Provenance" by John Delacourt.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Provenance, as the title suggests, is a novel that details the history and origins of some artworks that were thought to have been missing for a long time. It was October 1993, and Lt. Christina Perretti, an Interpol agent, was writing to the director of art crimes in Milan about how they discovered one of these artworks, a Schiele painting, when it resurfaced for sale. A stack of letters written by the man who was in possession of this painting, Harry Maes, to his son, Nikolaus, was found hidden behind the painting. These letters go on to tell how Harry obtained these paintings, lost them during the war, and then discovered them again. The novel then follows a timeline from when these letters stopped, disclosing their current location and what happened to them in the present day.

The book's most intriguing part was its incredibly immersive storytelling. The first part of the narrative alternated between Lt. Perretti's and Harry Maes' letters. As it was, it read like a first-person narrative, explaining what both Harry and Christina had gone through that made them pen these letters, and reading it gave me the premium feeling of being seated in the front row of a theater. It had a sense of authenticity in the words, which brings me to another feature of this story that I enjoyed: the emotional complexity and character growth. Reading Harry's letters to his son was like being transported to a point in time when Harry was present and seeing things from his point of view. Because these letters were written over a number of years, the reader was able to grow alongside Harry and live vicariously through his life. This theme ran throughout the book because you could undoubtedly comprehend what each character—even a secondary one—was feeling and see things from their own perspectives. That provided insight into the motivations behind these characters' actions, whether legal or not. This, I believe, was a key component of the novel that was essential to understanding the overall backdrop of the plot. That kept me glued to the pages as I learned that some of Harry's actions were no doubt selfish, while others were due to his limited options. Those may not have been the noblest things he had done in his life, but at least one could understand why.

However, there were a few aspects of this novel that I did not enjoy. The first was that the story's glacial pace felt unnecessary towards the end. More characters were introduced, sparking the need for more character development, but I believe the plot would have been just as good without them. The second issue was that the letters were so detailed that they felt unbelievable at times. Harry’s letters were so detailed that he could remember conversations with people verbatim even after all those years. That was very off-putting, and I thought it would have been better if the narrative had been written in a different style than a letter. Finally, I discovered certain editing flaws that periodically interfered with my reading. Because of these elements, I rate Providence 4 out of 5 stars. The story was truly immersive and accomplished its goal well, revealing some unique secrets concerning the fate of many artworks we see today. This book would appeal to individuals who appreciate historical stories and have an open mind, as many of its aspects may appear to be conspiracies.

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Provenance
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[Odichimma Okoye]

Nicely crafted review by the way. I'm yet to fully comprehend how the plot was told in the form of letters though. So each page had a letter or letters belonging to the sender or recipient? I'd have loved to try out the book but anything history-related, fiction or nonfiction wouldn't captivate me.

[Kebun Bunga]

The feedback on the review for "Provenance" is well-balanced and provides constructive criticism. The reviewer highlights the book's immersive storytelling, specifically praising the alternating perspectives between Lt. Perretti's and Harry Maes' letters, which engendered a sense of authenticity and emotional complexity. The reviewer appreciates the character growth and insight into the motivations behind the characters' actions. However, they express dissatisfaction with the glacial pace of the story towards the end and the overly detailed nature of the letters, finding them at times unbelievable. They also mention periodic editing flaws that affected the reading experience. The review rates the book 4 out of 5 stars, acknowledging its immersive storytelling and unique secrets but suggesting improvements in pacing, believability, and editing.

[Furqan Ahmad Siddiqui]

Provenance is a captivating literary masterpiece that delves into complex themes of identity and family history. The author's impeccable storytelling weaves together a tapestry of emotions and intrigue, leaving readers mesmerized until the very last page. The meticulous research and attention to detail enhance the authenticity of the narrative. A thought-provoking exploration of our roots, Provenance is an absolute must-read for any lover of contemporary fiction.

[Mayang Bature]

Nicely crafted review by the way. I'm yet to fully comprehend how the plot was told in the form of letters though. So each page had a letter or letters belonging to the sender or recipient? I'd have loved to try out the book but anything history-related, fiction or nonfiction wouldn't captivate me.

Yep, exactly as you think... Letters. That was why I found it off-putting and uncomfortable. For the first half of the book, each chapter was a letter that told us more about the writer and the ongoing art theft. Then, the story continued with the remaining half in present time and the usual narrative style.

[Odichimma Okoye]

Nicely crafted review by the way. I'm yet to fully comprehend how the plot was told in the form of letters though. So each page had a letter or letters belonging to the sender or recipient? I'd have loved to try out the book but anything history-related, fiction or nonfiction wouldn't captivate me.

Yep, exactly as you think... Letters. That was why I found it off-putting and uncomfortable. For the first half of the book, each chapter was a letter that told us more about the writer and the ongoing art theft. Then, the story continued with the remaining half in present time and the usual narrative style.

Oh! I see. Thanks for clearing that up.