An art tour of Italy

 The Art of Traveling Strangers
By Zoe Disigny
Publisher: Subplot (February 21, 2022)
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1645439011
ISBN-13: 978-1645439011
 
Publisher’s Blurb:

It’s the 1980s, and art historian Claire Markham reels from a series of heartbreaking losses. Desperate to escape her shattered reality, she becomes an art guide in Europe for quirky stranger Viv Chancey and embarks on a life-changing journey through the art-filled cities of Milan, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Siena, Rome, and Paris.

Once abroad, Claire tries to hide her woes by focusing on Viv’s art education, but Viv—who is not who she seems—has a different learning experience in mind. Frustrated and wanting to reimagine her life, Claire embraces the idea of reality as illusion and finds herself slipping into the tales of art and history.

When threatened with one more crushing loss, Claire must learn from the spirit of her eccentric companion and the lessons from the art they encounter to take charge of her life or lose the most precious thing in it.

My Thoughts:

It’s very clear that the author is an actual art historian. Claire/Disigny’s explanations of the various artworks in the story are fascinating. You can request a pamphlet with pictures of the art from the publisher, or do as I did and do a web search and zoom in in details as you go. I was thrilled that Claire and Viv visited some of my very favorite artworks.

The story is set in the ‘80s, so I also think Claire is an absolute champion for driving around Europe without benefit of GPS! Seriously though, I think the main purpose of setting the story in that decade is because of the attitudes toward mental health and homosexuality that existed in that decade—notable for the AIDS crisis. This becomes important later in the book.

Claire is, at first, rather unlikeable. A wet dishrag. A doormat. Her husband has dominated her life, and she has allowed it, mostly out of a desire to be the kind of wife she thinks she should. Her one act of rebellion was teaching college art history after their daughter is born.

And then things fall apart, on multiple levels. Claire, desperate for money, agrees to accompany Viv around Europe and teach her about art. Much of the time Viv is far more interested in shopping at Italy’s best designers than in the art, but she comes to appreciate learning about many of the pieces and places they visit.

I wouldn’t say Claire and Viv bond, exactly, over their adventures and past trials, but they do come to understand an appreciate each other. More importantly, Viv helps Claire to grow a backbone and stand up to her husband in a crisis. And Claire helps Viv to reunite with her estranged brother.

The story ends on an optimistic note. I am curious, though, why Claire is certain she’ll never see or speak to Viv again. I do think some of the resolution of both Claire’s and Viv’s problems comes a bit too easily.

Possible Objectionable Material:

Cursing, including multiple instances of the F word, used in a non-sexual way. Infidelity. Divorce. Prostitution. Discussions of nudity and various bits of anatomy—you can’t talk about some very important artworks without noticing the nudity! Drinking. Mental illness. Homosexuality and AIDS.

Who Might Like This Book:

Art lovers. People who like to see women become stronger and recover from deep trials. People who like eccentric characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.