It’s always an exciting day when Bonny and Carole and I announce the next Read With Us title . . . and today’s the day! So. The moment you’ve been waiting for!
Our next Read With Us selection is . . .
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell.
I’ve already read this one, and can attest to it’s charms. (In fact, you may remember that I included it as one of my “Top Five” summer reads just last week.)
Reviewer Marissa Moss of the New York Journal of Books has this to say about The Marriage Portrait . .
“Brilliantly conceived. . . . There are court intrigues, whispered rumors, a clever subplot about the power of painting, what it reveals as well as what it hides . . . As a story, pure and simple, the novel succeeds wildly.”
— Marissa Moss
I really enjoyed The Marriage Portrait, and felt it was almost (not quite, but really close) as good as Maggie O’Farrell’s last novel, the much beloved Hamnet. I found it to be an engrossing and compelling story with beautiful writing, authentic characters, and a wondrous sense of time and place.
We’ll be talking more about the book and providing additional background information over the next few months. Then . . . mark your calendars for our blog book discussions/Zoom discussion on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 (7:00 pm Eastern time). (And, yes. That does seem like a long time from now, doesn’t it?)
Please be sure to visit the new Read With Us resource page for more information about the book and our discussion. (I’ll be updating the page as Bonny, Carole, and I share more details and links, so it really can be a resource for you as you read – or think about reading – with us.)
We hope you’ll be as excited as we are to read this latest novel by Maggie O’Farrell.
C’mon along!
Read With Us this fall!
I eye-read the pre-pub copy, but I’m now listening to the audio from my library. There are several things I had forgotten about since I first read it in August, which means I’ll probably need to re-read it again just before January!
I haven’t been able to put my finger on just why we don’t love this like we loved Hamnet but I haven’t come to any conclusions. It’s a wonderful story and I’m already looking forward to a great discussion.
I couldn’t get into Hamnet (I know, I know, I’ll try again I promise) but I am eager to give this one a try.
Oh, Kim. The world would be an even bleaker place than it already is . . . if we all liked just the same books. Thank goodness there are so many books for us to choose from! Maybe you’ll like The Marriage Portrait better than you liked Hamnet. But maybe not. And that’s okay, too!
It’s on my hold list and I’ve marked my calendar! Thanks 🙂
Maggie always writes good stories and I loved this story and the character of the Duchess!
I listened to the NPR interview yesterday and I am even more excited to read this book!
I was so excited when you announced this — I was going to read the book anyway, and now I have a great discussion to look forward to as well!
This book is on my TBR list. I’ll try and join you this time around.