Rating: 
Summary: a bagatelle
Review: This is a delightful read: more historical and artistic substance than the average romance novel, but lightly and deftly done. Chevalier's proven research abilities shine in her portrayal of the various walks of life available to fifteenth-century women. She's not nearly as convincing with her male characters -- not even the priapic and archly-named Nicolas des Innocents (remember that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of thieves, and you'll figure out what Nicolas' favorite activity is). Still, the novel displays enormous affection for the Cluny tapestries and sweetly imagines them as a series of portraits of the women in Nicolas' life. The symbolism and circular plotting might seem too on-the-nose for modern readers, but it's certainly true to the time period in which it's set. Read it as an allegory, with extra sex, and you'll enjoy it.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic, just fantastic!
Review: The form of this book was what was most unique about it--each chapter is told by a different character. But aside from that, the writing also stood out. Tracy Chevalier is one of the most human and heart-felt authors I've come across in a long time. This story is funny, quirky, and well-told. Would also recommend the Life of Pi, Bark of the Dogwood, and Red Azalea.
Rating:
Summary: Will Pick Up Ms. Chevalier Again!
Review: Ms. Chevalier's "The Lady and the Unicorn" was a deftly woven tapestry of words that tied together several different individuals via one character named Nicolas des Innocents a very talented but vain artist. This story is told from the view point of several of the characters (each chapter is a character in the story) on the design and creation of a very important tapestry which depicted the seduction of the Unicorn by a lady. From the birth of the design by Nicolas for a very important partron in Paris to the weaving of the design by a family of weavers in Brussels this story covers the life of Nicolas and how his randy self effects everyone that he comes into contact with. This was a well told tale that kept me glued to the pages. Ms. Chevalier is a very talented author who chooses her inspiration for her stories from vivid works of art. This story will grab you from the very beginning and you will be drawn to the very interesting and at times funny characters that inhabit this little make belive world. I highly recommend this book as an entertaining way to pass an afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: I've come across three books recently that I absolutely loved: The Life of Pi, Bark of the Dogwood, and this book--The Lady and the Unicorn. Of all these, "Lady" is my favorite. It may be soft-porn, but it does not fail to please. Tracy Chevalier is remarkable. All the characters in "Lady" are deftly drawn with subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) differences. And the entire work really is "woven" together. Also recommended: McCrae's Bark of the Dogwood
Rating:
Summary: A funny story of a very horny man!
Review: As I was reading this book I kept thinking- it's just about this guy who is super horny! It's about his escapades bedding women and flirting with them. However, he's not a stick around type of guy. I did for the most part enjoy this book, however I got the feeling the author is continually trying to recreate the success of the Girl with the Pearl earring and she's struggling to find originality and something worth writing about. This book was so simple, you can boil it down to a man & his sexual adventures. There's a little focus on the womens lives and the families he comes in contact with, but nothing that could make it if it was the stand-alone story. i enjoy when there is more than one strong story in a book...Never the less, it kept me reading, the 250 pages goes by quickly. Also, the cover of the book I read did show some of the tapestry that was being written about, so that was nice. As for a recommendation- if you enjoy Chevalier's writing, you'll probably enjoy this one, just don't have too high of expectations.
Rating: 
Summary: Weaving Sex
Review: I agree with Claire Guthrie as I feel she is right on the mark. This is the weakest of Chevalier's novels. Yes it's a fast read (the faster the read the less style and substance?) - and yes it talks about the tapestries and tapestry making - but it really did have a lot of unnecessary soft-core porn. Actually of all the Vermeer books that came out at the time of Girl with Pearl Earring I really thought Girl in Hyacinth Blue the best of the lot. But even her second book was VERY LACKING. Once these authors make it big with one book - why do they have to grind them out? Why do they begin to aim for the lowest common denominator instead of striving toward excellence. Or are they all really just one-book writers?
Rating: 
Summary: A dis-service to the Tapestries
Review: If you have ever had the chance to sit and gaze at these magnificent tapestries in Paris, skip this book. It is nothing but a cheap romance novel that tries to drag these fantastic pieces of art and symbolism down with it. If you are truly interested in the tapestries, read one of the marvelous interpretations of their possible meanings. Some interpretations are sexual, others religious, all better stories than this one. I wish I could erase her version of the story from my head. If Tracy Chevalier wants to write yet another story about an artist's seduction of a maid, perhaps she can stick with a minor work and not one so rich in meaning.
Rating:
Summary: Pictures please!
Review: I was a little disappointed in this book -- didn't think it was nearly as good as Pearl Earring. But my reason for posting here is to talk about the physical book, rather than the writing. I loved the cover treatment and compliment all those involved in creating such an interesting presentation. But I can't help but wonder why color photos of the tapestries were not included -- I think they would have increased the reader's enjoyment enormously. For future readers, here's the link to the Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris, home of the tapestries. You can see them all online here: (...)
Rating:
Summary: If you like historical fiction...
Review: Another great book by Tracy Chevalier. The story telling is different in this book in that the story is told from several different character's view points which makes it even more fun to read. In that sense reminded me of Orhan Pamuk's "My Name is REd" which is very similar. If you like historical fiction Chevalier is incredible. It is definitely a very quick and enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: A seductive tapestry of medieval life
Review: As she did so successfully in 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' Chevalier contemplates a work of art and imagines the story behind its creation. For this novel, she has chosen the famous medieval tapestries, which appear to show a lady's seduction of a unicorn (now hanging in a Paris museum). The story opens in 1490 Paris. Nicolas des Innocents, a talented, arrogant artist, receives a commission for bloody battle tapestries from Jean le Viste, a nouveau aristocrat, rich and important at court, but a man of little taste. Glad for the work, but uninspired by the subject, Nicolas welcomes the distraction of a beautiful young girl summoning him to le Viste's wife. Assuming the girl to be a maid, Nicolas embarks on his usual seduction (one le Viste maid is already big with his child), which involves a suggestive unicorn story. The girl responds encouragingly until her mother ' le Viste's wife, Genevieve - interrupts them. Nicolas blanches at his mistake ' the girl, Claude, could ruin him ' but the mother, in her own way, soon enthralls him. A sad beauty, unhappy in her marriage, longing for a nun's life, Genevieve subtly points out that battle tapestries are unsuitable in the hall of a man who has never been to war. She suggests a lady and a unicorn theme instead. Had she heard him with Claude? She seems pleased with herself and leaves it to him to convince her husband. Which he knows he must. Nicolas flatters le Viste into agreement and leaves, but the damage is done. Claude, already chafing at her restricted life, becomes obsessed with the artist ' and he with her. Not that that prevents him from trying his luck with the blind daughter of the Brussels weaver commissioned to transform his gorgeous paintings of Claude and Genevieve with the unicorn. Chevalier moves the narrative between sophisticated Paris and provincial Brussels, from weaver's workshop to Paris boudoir to cloistered convent. The narration switches among the characters, allowing them to reveal themselves and their views of the others. The weaving sections are particularly textural, giving a vivid feel for the Guild-structured workshop, the intricacy and pride of the work, and the tension as pressure in the workshop mounts. Details of social conventions ' clothing, the conventions of servants, women, Jews, merchants, nobles ' are fresh and immediate. And the story is steeped in sexual tension. Chevalier has another winner.
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