The Portrait Audiobook

" Dull, boring.... Old hat..... "

" Iain Pears always writes a good book, and this monologue recounting the face to face of two old friends/enemies is well worth reading. While the two unearth their past, a portrait is being painted. The problem for me is double: I could not help thinking the critic character was so inspired by Ruskin that his real biography kept popping in my head, and I read this book after I read John Lanchester's "Debt to Pleasure" that it is very obviously inspired from or at least a connoisseur's homage to, somewhat of a problem as "Debt to Pleasure" is so much more thrilling. "

" This surely is one of the worst books I've read in my life. The story was awful, the plot way too boring, and the characters...no personality if I may say. All I felt after I read this book was a great relief that it was over! "

" Loved the ending. Did not think that was where it was going! "

" Framed as a monologue given by an exiled painter as he talks to the art critic who was once his closest friend, but he now hates, who is sitting for the titular portrait. Where the story is going is no great surprise, but the journey there is cleverly worked out. Not Pears' best but definitely worth reading. "

" This was different than the other Pears book's I've read. It was kind of short but sweet...not really sweet, but short anyway. It was pretty interesting, a one sided conversation through the entire book. Clearly the artist has issues with the critic he is painting. I'm trying to decide if I was surprised by the ending, but I kind of don't think so. Oddly enough I work for an art critic, who I rarely see trash someone completely, while at the same time giving an honest opinion. He said one day, you don't really want to cut someone to ribbons, but at the same time, your getting paid to give your opinion, and that's the truth. "

" It's a little disappointing. But all in all a good read. I would have expected a bit more mind-challenging plot and character development. "

" A little bit different style-wise from Iain Pears. Somewhat this was still enjoyable. "

" The ending... why?! "

" Enjoyable, but the narration becomes a bit tiresome, and the plot is predictable. I enjoyed certain passages quite a bit, and thought the insights into the relationship between artists and critics interesting. "

" I enjoyed this book. It is very short. I loved the way the artist told the whole story. Very dramatic. "

" Hm. Well, I suppose the ending was worth slogging through this slim though trying book. Not bad but not one of my favorite Pears novels. Maybe it'll grow on me. "

" Didn't finish this... Just couldn't get into the monologue. I had a problem with how the narrator spoke to this sitter; it was to perfect. I get that he has probably been practicing this speech for some time, but it was just too unrealistic for me. "

" Good, but not quite The Instance. "

" I really enjoyed this, probably more than I've enjoyed his longer works, which I think tend to get a little out of control. This was compact, wicked, fun. A little predictable but I liked it a lot anyway. "

" A dark book but a very interesting one - pretty short also, easy read. "

" A fairly tedious first person narrative. The plot arch is obvious from the start and the character is consistently uninteresting to me. Two strikes for Pears so far. "

" First line - Well, well, well. "

" My second book by Iain Pears. A short little novel, but not as interesting or intriguing as Stone's Fall. It was all written in a first-person account of an artist painting someone's portrait. Through this account, you find out the history of both people and how they're connected. "

" Reads like a train. A story in the first person, fast paced, intriguing. You just can't put it down. "

" Ah, I can't say anything really without giving away the plot. <br/>I can say, the book is gripping, creepy, thrilling, and just the right length. Read it in one sitting. "

" Loved the ending. Did not think that was where it was going! "

" My second book by Iain Pears. A short little novel, but not as interesting or intriguing as Stone's Fall. It was all written in a first-person account of an artist painting someone's portrait. Through this account, you find out the history of both people and how they're connected. "

" The 200-page monologue by the painter about art and his friend was indeed a different read. Glad I read it, as the style was so unusual. Great finish. "

" Beautifully written. It engages and immerses you in it. <br/>I enjoyed it thoroughly and look forward to seeing more from this author. "

" Splendid! I really enjoyed this. "

" In a shallow and disgusting attempt to achieve post-modern relevance, Pears betrays his reader in the last five pages. Avoid at all costs! "