Lisette's List in Bound Together

Aug 04, 2014 Angela M rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

As a little girl in the orphanage in Paris, Lisette’s love of art is born as she looks at a painting of the Madonna and Child. “How a human being, not a god, could re-create reality so accurately, how the deep blue of her cloak and the rich red of her dress could put me, a young orphan without a sou to her name in touch with all that is fine and noble, how such beauty could stir something in me so deep that must have been what Sister Marie Pierre called soul – such things drenched me with wonder As a little girl in the orphanage in Paris, Lisette’s love of art is born as she looks at a painting of the Madonna and Child. “How a human being, not a god, could re-create reality so accurately, how the deep blue of her cloak and the rich red of her dress could put me, a young orphan without a sou to her name in touch with all that is fine and noble, how such beauty could stir something in me so deep that must have been what Sister Marie Pierre called soul – such things drenched me with wonder,” So begins Lisettte’s love affair with art.

I was at the start drawn into the story by the loving relationship of Lisette and Andre and then by the beautiful descriptions of the lazy, lovely, little town of Roussillon in the south of France, where this young couple come to live in
1937 . They have left Paris with all of its excitement and promise and art , to stay with Pascal , Andre's aged grandfather and in doing so have left their work - Andre as a carver of frames and Lisette , the possibility of becoming a gallery apprentice .

The town is quiet and beautiful and the days for Lisette are filled with cleaning and cooking , but most importantly listening to Pascal's stories about the 7 paintings he owns and his relationship with the painters - Pissarro , Cezanne. Time passes and the war begins; everything has changed for Lisette and she finds herself alone , but yet in love with the town and people who come to love her.

I feel as if I had an education in art and I loved my teachers - Pascal, Lisette , Maxime , Chagall , yes Marc Chagall. The descriptions of the paintings were so perfect that you could close your eyes and see them before you. I loved these characters - Lisette , Maurice , Maxime and didn't want to leave them .

The story is about more than the paintings, though. It is about life and
death ,the strengths of people during times of adversity , about war and the deepest bonds of friendship , about the resilience of people and about love .

Encouraged by Pascal, Lisette writes a list of things she must do, “Lisette’s List of Hungers and Vows “ grows at each change and turn in her life as she adds to the list over the years and works to accomplish all of them. To include that list here would be to tell Lisette’s story and that is something I would recommend you do by reading this book.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley. ...more

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May 16, 2014 ☮Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: overdrive, audio, war-wwii, read-in-2016

Lisette and her husband Andrè move to Provence when summoned by his grandfather, who is in poor health. Only he seems fine, and is intent on teaching them some appreciation of the paintings he had long ago acquired from some up-and-coming French artists -- maybe these sound familiar -- Cèzanne and Picasso. Lisette is unhappy with the deception that forced her to leave her beloved Paris but soon learns to love Provence as well and makes some good friends. She also learns much about art, as do we ...more

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Jun 03, 2014 Chrissie rated it did not like it

Shelves: arts, hf, france, 2015-read, returned, fluff, ww2, audible-us, bio, disliked

ETA: I feel I need to clarify what exactly I found “too cute”. What I found too cute was the fictional story crafted by the author, of course not the historical events. In no way is WW2 cute. In addition I found the historical events, although not inaccurate, without depth. So much more could have been said!

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OK, dear friends, do you want the truth? Friends recommended this book to me, and I don't want to hurt any feelings, but this book did not work for me at ...more

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Aug 16, 2016 Irene rated it it was ok

This is my third novel by Vreeland and the one I least enjoyed. Lisette is bequeathed a collection of paintings by her grandfather-in-law who forces Lisette and her husband to swear to protect them. Fearful that these masterpieces will be stolen by invading Nazis, her husband hides them before heading off to war. When he does not return after the war, Lisette makes recovering them her personal mission. Vreeland describes these pieces of art in gushing detail and likewise this village in southern ...more

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