Susan Vreeland is a gifted author of historical fiction and I was excited to see a new title from her - Lisette's List - because of how much I had enjoyed her novel Clara and Mr. Tiffany (even using that novel to model a project at school).
Lisette's List is another fascinating story
which features a strong, female character who loves art. Lisette is young, resilient
and very loyal to her young husband, following him to the rural south of France in
1937. There, the very much in love
couple cares for André’s grandfather, Pascal. He, in turn, shares the story of
seven paintings – including masterpieces by Pissarro and Cézanne.
While reading Vreeland’s vivid descriptions, one can feel
the sunshine and the mistral’s strength, see the light unique to Provence, and
imagine the colors that so inspired great works of art. In fact, Vreeland has
an amazing focus on color descriptions and terms. I was glad to be reading this book online so
that I could occasionally turn to images of mentioned art works, like The Card Players. Did Pascal perhaps pose for that? His stories recount his work as a miner, color and pigment salesman, and picture framer, leading to meetings with Impressionist artists in the 1890's.
As the novel progresses, WWII rages and Paris surrenders, all contributing to warnings about the safety of the paintings which are eventually hidden and difficult to retrieve. When André leaves for the front, Lisette begins her list ("do the important things first") and learns much about the support of friends and a small community. She travels the countryside, grows to appreciate the changing seasons, flowers, and smells of Provence, even meeting Marc and Bella Chagall. Primarily set in the 1930's and 40's, Lisette's List touches on the horrors and hardship of war - the black market, hunger, fear, persecution - but Vreeland also evokes images of willing sacrifice, inventiveness, and sharing amongst neighbors.Overall, this novel focuses on art and its power to help us to experience emotions and to recognize truths about ourselves and our souls. Lisette's List is highly recommended and could be paired with the film The Monuments Men leading to discussions about ethics, war time resistance, and stolen art.
