Rating: 
Summary: Reading this beautiful volume: akin to visiting a museum....
Review: This very short novella about the famed impressionist Mary Cassatt, is narrated from the uniquely interesting perspective of her unknown and tragically short lived sister who was afflicted by an illness incurable in those days. Five of Mary's paintings which portray Lydia are chosen and very nicely reproduced in this small neatly compact volume. Each becomes the focus of a chapter. There is no real plot or action or suspense. Instead, reading each of these five introspective chapters mimics the act of really contemplating a work of art. The art lover will particularly enjoy and learn from Chessman's descriptions of the paintings and the way she relates them to Lydia's illness. Overall the amount of biographical information revealed about the Cassatts is relatively small. For example we learn Mary would outlive Lydia and go on to paint for 30 more years-but not that she would suffer the tragedy of blindness in her later years. The book will leave the reader eager to know more and to view Mary's work.
Rating:
Summary: A charming read
Review: This was an interesting book. I found it interesting to see the story through the eyes of Lydia Cassatt. It held my interest but what caught my attention the most were the areas revolving around Mary "May" Cassatt and Edgar Degas. The author made it feel as though the two were lovers or close to it. And the fact the Cassatt and Degas are my two favorite Impressionist adds to the enjoyment of the book.
| 
