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“Chosen by Jan
Stirling Book Group wrote this review 9 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Score - 71 out of 100”
“Chosen by Jan
Book Group wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Score - 71 out of 100”
“I'm a huge fan of Peter Carey, so let's just start with that. I found this novel to be interesting but not necessarily brilliant until I realized that the story we were being told by the two narrators (brothers, one of whom is an amazingly self-centered, egotistical artist and the other of whom is addled in the brain and limited in his ability to communicate and understand, although some of the deepest insights come from him) isn't really the interesting story in the book, it's the story of another character which emerges from within the narrative. The story is funny and compelling, and while I found myself really wanting to hear the other character's story first hand, I trust Mr. Carey that it was better told this way.”
Donna C wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Theft was a great book! The book was about a ex - really famous painter named Michael "Butcher" Boone. He quit painting and is now living in the remote country, in a house and acting as a caretaker for his younger brother, Hugh. While they lived together alone they've forged a delicate equilibrium, which was a balance instantly of destroyed when a mysterious young woman named Marlene comes to their house out of the middle of a rainstorm and come into Michael and Hugh lives. She was smart and ambitious. Also, daughter-in-law, of the late great painter Jacques Liebovitz. Marlene sets in motion a chain of events that in the end came to ruin the two brothers after all.”
Jordan W wrote this review Monday, October 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“An extraordinary read. Characteristically, Carey’s yarn crackles, bristles with Australiana containing his usual penchant for characters that certainly march to a different drum. This wonderful story leaves you not sure which characters you should like or shouldn’t, which you do like or those you don’t. A wonderful, crazy tale and a quirky humour runs throughout. His sparse descriptions create vivid images.”
Max O wrote this review Wednesday, September 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Unusual - unforgettable”
lelia wrote this review Tuesday, August 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I really enjoyed this book Butcher Boone is a great character. Well worth a read.”
Jeff A wrote this review Tuesday, June 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Theft
angela m wrote this review Monday, March 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
By Peter Carey
Michael “ Butcher” Boone is a once very famous Australian artist who is now divorced, down on his luck, living on the kindness of one of his collectors, and looking after his slow-witted brother, Hugh. Then one day a beautiful woman, Marlene, walks into their lives and changes them forever.
Michael Boone is a very flawed, angry, brilliantly talented man. And this story is so many things: history of a crime, love story, family tragedy, satire. It brims with details about art and artists, forgers, collectors, and dealers. And, of course, love, obsession, and deception.
Jumping from Australia to Japan and then New York, Butcher and Hugh tell their own version of the story in alternating chapters. The language is gorgeous, full of color and life, utterly realistic, and demands you pay attention to every twist, every hint.
”
“I found this book a riot. The two narrators, Michael and his half-wit brother complement each other ,but I found Hugh the more intriguing of the two ,and every time he came on the scene he stole the show.It's a rough ride but mostly and enchanting and enjoyable one, and the sarcastic jibing at the snotty world of art critics and collectors was really amusing”
Piglet wrote this review Saturday, November 1 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
