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A review by lolocole
Icarus by K. Ancrum
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Reading this was an exercise in patience that I barely passed. I was reading this for a bookclub and it was actually torturous to have to put the book down every week.
Everything about this book begs to be devoured: the length of the chapters (sections?), the narrow racing of the font, the breathlessness with which Icarus plunges through life.
And even though it went against all the whispers in my brain telling me to keep going going going, I'm so glad that I did savor this book.
Not only is it about art- art heists, the making of art, the loving of art, the obsessive side of art- but it IS a work of art. The way this kid speaks makes me occupy my body differently, just as I would when experiencing a painting that moves my soul.
My point is... you should read this book!!!
And, if you don't have the time or you're not convinced yet, here are a few moments distilled of their context for you:
"And wasn't that just the way?
Angus Gallagher shut tight like a sarcophagus. Icarus Gallagher, eyes open, mouth open, waiting" (3).
"'Oh.'
'Yeah, oh'" (114).
"'Climbing into my house, into my bed, touching everything except for me I was yours before we even met and I'll be yours until we die,' Helios continued against the curve of Icarus's neck and Icarus was helpless, lost in the sharp fantasy of such a thing.
... 'If you're such a good thief, then why haven't you stolen me yet?' The words tore themselves from him and Icarus didn't know
He wanted to tell him, wanted to cry out that if Helios was made for him, then Icarus had learned to steal just for this" (275).
"You think I would know art and not know this?"
Additional things that are clamoring for space in my brain:
- the place of this book in the tradition of women retelling myths
- how this story plays with the readers familiarity with the myth of Icarus to build tension and keep the reader in the same breathless state as Icarus
- the allusions to the ethics of the art world, how do we value art? what is the actual vs the perceived difference between original art, restoration work, copies, and fakes?
- THE HAZY BOUNDARIES BETWEEN CHARACTERS
Everything about this book begs to be devoured: the length of the chapters (sections?), the narrow racing of the font, the breathlessness with which Icarus plunges through life.
And even though it went against all the whispers in my brain telling me to keep going going going, I'm so glad that I did savor this book.
Not only is it about art- art heists, the making of art, the loving of art, the obsessive side of art- but it IS a work of art. The way this kid speaks makes me occupy my body differently, just as I would when experiencing a painting that moves my soul.
My point is... you should read this book!!!
And, if you don't have the time or you're not convinced yet, here are a few moments distilled of their context for you:
"And wasn't that just the way?
Angus Gallagher shut tight like a sarcophagus. Icarus Gallagher, eyes open, mouth open, waiting" (3).
"'Oh.'
'Yeah, oh'" (114).
"'Climbing into my house, into my bed, touching everything except for me I was yours before we even met and I'll be yours until we die,' Helios continued against the curve of Icarus's neck and Icarus was helpless, lost in the sharp fantasy of such a thing.
... 'If you're such a good thief, then why haven't you stolen me yet?' The words tore themselves from him and Icarus didn't know
He wanted to tell him, wanted to cry out that if Helios was made for him, then Icarus had learned to steal just for this" (275).
"You think I would know art and not know this?"
Additional things that are clamoring for space in my brain:
- the place of this book in the tradition of women retelling myths
- how this story plays with the readers familiarity with the myth of Icarus to build tension and keep the reader in the same breathless state as Icarus
- the allusions to the ethics of the art world, how do we value art? what is the actual vs the perceived difference between original art, restoration work, copies, and fakes?
- THE HAZY BOUNDARIES BETWEEN CHARACTERS