Isabel Wolff

Jenni is a ghostwriter haunted by a tragedy in her past. She and Rick, her partner, are experiencing a relationship crisis over disagreement about whether or not to have children. They attend a wedding, where Jenni finds out about an opportunity to ghost-write a memoir for the mother of one of the wedding guests. She decides to take the commission, which brings her to the location of her past tragedy.

Her subject, Klara, was interned by the Japanese in Java, Indonesia (then called Dutch East show more Indies), during WWII. Klara and her family experience tremendous suffering. Through interviews, Jenni serves as a sympathetic listener, as Klara gradually discloses memories she has never discussed with her family. In talking through their mutual tragedies, they find a measure of solace.

Klara’s story serves as the primary focus of the narrative, and it is set in Java. Jenni’s backstory is discussed during breaks in the interviews. The book is obviously well-researched. The fictional Klara is based on historic truth and the sources are included in a bibliography at the end.

It is multi-layered and well-crafted. The author has done a great job with the intertwined stories. We gradually learn more about the people and what happened to them. I found myself engrossed in the story and looked forward to picking it up.

I often tell people that there are so many lesser-known stories of WWII, and this is an example. We get a grounding in what was going on in Indonesia at the time – the Dutch colonial residents, the landscapes, the local people, the racial prejudices, the Japanese occupation, the transports, the aftermath leading to Indonesian independence, and all of it told through an emotional story of one family. Add to that the sympathetic character of the ghostwriter, and it is just a wonderful reading experience.

It reminds me a bit of The Garden of Evening Mists, which is set in Malaysia during the Japanese occupation and is another book I highly recommend. show less

Just because you know where you're going, doesn't mean you can't enjoy the ride along the way. The Very Picture of You is a predictable love story, enlivened by a most interesting look at the art of portrait painting. The author shines when discussing the difference between a likeness and a picture with a soul, and how an artist gets there. Set in contemporary London, location and characters are nicely done and believable. Bottom line: This is a sweet story about secrets and forgiveness, show more sisterly love, romance and art. show less

While clearly not literature, A Vintage Affair is a more substantial novel than I expected. A few small plots radiate out from the main story, adding depth and richness. I truly enjoyed reading this novel.

One big criicism is that I felt that Phoebe was almost "too" perfect and the novel too tidy if not formulaic. All the loose ends were tied up in neat bundles and little left to the readers' imagination.

I really enjoyed A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff, a romance story set against the vivid backdrop of a vintage clothing shop. The descriptions of the vintage clothing was almost sensuous as she fills in the details of fabrics’ texture, colors and design features. This is a heart-warming and witty story that was pure escapism, the author tells a touching, feel-good story without the story bogging down in too much sentimentality or sweetness.

Although I started the review by calling this a show more romance story, really there is less emphasis on the romance and more on the actual story. There were a lot of things about this book that I liked. The main character was a mature woman of thirty-six, she was living an interesting life and finding a man wasn’t her number one priority. Instead the book explored themes of friendship, grief and loss as well as learning how to forgive yourself for actions that were at the most thoughtless or uninformed rather than deliberate or vindictive.

This was the first book I have read by Isabel Wolff, but I am certainly going to be adding her to my list of authors that I would like to read more of. show less