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Description edit
Where the eye sees the brushstroke, the heart sees the truth. From Isabel Wolff, the internationally bestselling author of A Vintage Affair, comes a beguiling novel about artistic inspirations, family secrets, and the courage to turn one’s life into a masterpiece. At thirty-five,... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Gabriella Graham, known as Ella, paints portraits of people for a living. While painting their portraits, Ella gets to know her subjects. Throughout their conversations, her subjects often gain a trust in her and confide secrets they haven't shared with anyone else. It is while painting a... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Gabriella "Ella" Graham: The main character who paints portraits for a living.
- Chloe Graham: Ella's half-sister.
- Nate Rossi: Chloe's boyfriend then fiance. Ella paints his portrait.
- Roy Graham: Ella's step-father and Chloe's father. He treats Ella as his own daughter.
- John Sharp: Ella's father.
- Polly: Ella's best friend. Mother of Lola.
- Lola: Polly's eleven year-old daughter.
- Celine Burke: Ella paints her portrait and finds out her secret. She doesn't want it painted.
- Victor Burke: He commissions the painting of Celine for her 40th birthday.
- Iris Carr: Ella paints her portrait and finds out a secret about her past.
- Mike Johns: Ella paints his portrait and finds out his secret. He works in an elected government position.
- Marcel: Celine's friend.
- Max: Chloe's first love who was married.
- Sophia: Iris's daughter.
- Sue Graham: Ella and Chloe's mother. She had been a ballerina when she was a young woman.
- Clare: A woman who interviewed Ella about painting portraits.
- Grace: Ella paints her portrait posthumously. She died in a bicycle accident, and there is a memorial at the site of the accident.
- Honeysuckle Rose: Nate's cousin. He works for her.
- Vittoria Rossi: Nate's mother.
- Lucy: She works at the art gallery where Ella shows her work.
- Andy: Honey's husband.
- James: Nate's friend and best man.
- Kay: James's wife.
- Lydia Sharp: John's daughter.
- Frances: The woman who prevented John and Sue from being together.
First Sentence edit
"Ella...? El-la?" My mother's voice floats up the stairs as I sit hunched over my sketchpad, my hand moving rapidly across the cartridge paper.
Table of Contents edit
Prologue
1-11
Epilogue
Themes & Symbolism edit
Authors & Contributors edit
- Isabel Wolff (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-553-80784-4
Page Count: 310
Publisher: Harper
Country: Great Britain
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-553-80784-4
Page Count: 310
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Wolff, Isabel.
- Dewey: 813
Subjects edit
Popular Tags
Links to Supplemental Material edit
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