PRAISE QUOTES (CONT)
"Milgrom’s historical grasp of her subject is impressive; a deft blurring of fiction and reality, in which a painting commissioned for strictly private use is now gazed at by thousands. The unifying thread throughout is the mute voice of ‘L’Origine’ itself."
KATHERINE MEZZACAPPA
Reviewer for the Historical Novel Society
"Honestly one of those books that made me feel warm and whole inside after finishing. Thank you for writing it."
ROSALINE
Goodreads reviewer
"Throughout history, female sexuality has been regarded as ugly, repulsive, and shameful while simultaneously revered to the point of idolization. Lilianne Milgrom's intimate experience with Gustave Courbet's scandalous painting gives testament to the classic divide of women's cultural representation.”
DR. BELLA ELWOOD-CLAYTON
Sexual anthropologist, author and TED talk presenter.
"This book has all the basic ingredients. A scandalous piece of art–fashioned in 1866, decades ahead of trend–that reproduces the most intimate portrait of a female model ever conceived, commissioned for a male client, for his eyes only. How had it survived over the subsequent years? Without doubt all who regarded the work were moved emotionally and many understood its place in art history. It is such a colorful story that it deserves this fictional gloss to arc and allow the narrative to flow rather than a cold non-fiction art historian approach. It is startling to see the power women have over male libido even when women lacked authority and status as human beings to control their own destinies. This plays into the growing liberation of female identity and respect, but true equality has yet to be achieved.
As an artist, Lilianne made for a determined investigator into the forgotten history of Courbet’s work which actually birthed her into becoming a novelist. The book conveys the power of this particular piece of art and the subject it depicts. But it also gives insight into a world of artists and creative talent that coalesced to move their ideas forward. This book gave a real sense of a less taught history, a forgotten and less frequented world which came alive through Milgrom’s words and enhanced my reading pleasure in both subject and understanding."
RICHARD LATHAM
Top tier Goodreads reviewer
“L'Origine is immediately engaging and an amazingly fresh story about such a famous painting."
GORDON McCLELLAN
Founder, Dartfrog Books
"I am so grateful to Bonjour Books for recommending L'Origine. I finished it last night - so good!!! It was so interesting. I loved the writing style, the mystery of it all, the art and history lessons...just so enjoyable!"
KATHLEEN D.
Maryland
"Lilianne Milgrom has written a sweeping saga – part memoir, part historical art history and part fiction – telling the story of L’Origine du Monde, a painting so shocking that it was hidden behind closed doors for 150 years.
Gustave Coubet, was commissioned to paint the erotic L’Origine for the eyes of one man. Historically, Art was generally painted under the male gaze and for the male gaze but L’Origine rises above the voyeuristic and has a power all of her own.
The fascinating stories of all the subsequent owners are played out against the incredible backdrop of European history. The research alone took the author nearly ten years. The story ends by bringing us up to date and made me challenge my belief that L’Origine was simply a sexualized image and was instead a representation of woman and life itself.
After reading this book, I want to visit the Orsay Musee and “meet” L’Origine du Monde for real!
DELIA BOURNE
Ladies Love Books Reviewer
"L'Origine weaves two extraordinary stories together, breathing new life into a such a powerful artwork. What I loved most was how the painting entranced the author from the moment she saw it, just as it entranced its various owners over the centuries.
The prologue is a fabulous piece of writing and sets the scene for Lilianne Milgrom's journey of self discovery and passion for a painting that has captivated collectors for centuries. Weaving the story of L’Origine's journey from the point of view of its various owners was inspired."
KATE BEVIS
Journalist, Melbourne, Australia
"This is a fascinating book on a number of levels. It’s an interesting recounting of the history of a particular piece of art - worth a read just for that, when you consider the paths this picture has travelled. It’s a well written story, even if it was not based in fact. And, perhaps most of all, it is a challenging reflection on society’s relationship with the female body and the taboos with which it is associated. This book will really make you think about your own attitudes and biases. It will make you uncomfortable, perhaps, but ultimately it will make you reflect on why the female form is so confronting and why history has supported that. Well written, carefully researched and definitely worth reading even if you are not a fan of the art genre. 5 stars
LOUISE G.
Netgalley reviewer
KATHERINE MEZZACAPPA
Reviewer for the Historical Novel Society
"Honestly one of those books that made me feel warm and whole inside after finishing. Thank you for writing it."
ROSALINE
Goodreads reviewer
"Throughout history, female sexuality has been regarded as ugly, repulsive, and shameful while simultaneously revered to the point of idolization. Lilianne Milgrom's intimate experience with Gustave Courbet's scandalous painting gives testament to the classic divide of women's cultural representation.”
DR. BELLA ELWOOD-CLAYTON
Sexual anthropologist, author and TED talk presenter.
"This book has all the basic ingredients. A scandalous piece of art–fashioned in 1866, decades ahead of trend–that reproduces the most intimate portrait of a female model ever conceived, commissioned for a male client, for his eyes only. How had it survived over the subsequent years? Without doubt all who regarded the work were moved emotionally and many understood its place in art history. It is such a colorful story that it deserves this fictional gloss to arc and allow the narrative to flow rather than a cold non-fiction art historian approach. It is startling to see the power women have over male libido even when women lacked authority and status as human beings to control their own destinies. This plays into the growing liberation of female identity and respect, but true equality has yet to be achieved.
As an artist, Lilianne made for a determined investigator into the forgotten history of Courbet’s work which actually birthed her into becoming a novelist. The book conveys the power of this particular piece of art and the subject it depicts. But it also gives insight into a world of artists and creative talent that coalesced to move their ideas forward. This book gave a real sense of a less taught history, a forgotten and less frequented world which came alive through Milgrom’s words and enhanced my reading pleasure in both subject and understanding."
RICHARD LATHAM
Top tier Goodreads reviewer
“L'Origine is immediately engaging and an amazingly fresh story about such a famous painting."
GORDON McCLELLAN
Founder, Dartfrog Books
"I am so grateful to Bonjour Books for recommending L'Origine. I finished it last night - so good!!! It was so interesting. I loved the writing style, the mystery of it all, the art and history lessons...just so enjoyable!"
KATHLEEN D.
Maryland
"Lilianne Milgrom has written a sweeping saga – part memoir, part historical art history and part fiction – telling the story of L’Origine du Monde, a painting so shocking that it was hidden behind closed doors for 150 years.
Gustave Coubet, was commissioned to paint the erotic L’Origine for the eyes of one man. Historically, Art was generally painted under the male gaze and for the male gaze but L’Origine rises above the voyeuristic and has a power all of her own.
The fascinating stories of all the subsequent owners are played out against the incredible backdrop of European history. The research alone took the author nearly ten years. The story ends by bringing us up to date and made me challenge my belief that L’Origine was simply a sexualized image and was instead a representation of woman and life itself.
After reading this book, I want to visit the Orsay Musee and “meet” L’Origine du Monde for real!
DELIA BOURNE
Ladies Love Books Reviewer
"L'Origine weaves two extraordinary stories together, breathing new life into a such a powerful artwork. What I loved most was how the painting entranced the author from the moment she saw it, just as it entranced its various owners over the centuries.
The prologue is a fabulous piece of writing and sets the scene for Lilianne Milgrom's journey of self discovery and passion for a painting that has captivated collectors for centuries. Weaving the story of L’Origine's journey from the point of view of its various owners was inspired."
KATE BEVIS
Journalist, Melbourne, Australia
"This is a fascinating book on a number of levels. It’s an interesting recounting of the history of a particular piece of art - worth a read just for that, when you consider the paths this picture has travelled. It’s a well written story, even if it was not based in fact. And, perhaps most of all, it is a challenging reflection on society’s relationship with the female body and the taboos with which it is associated. This book will really make you think about your own attitudes and biases. It will make you uncomfortable, perhaps, but ultimately it will make you reflect on why the female form is so confronting and why history has supported that. Well written, carefully researched and definitely worth reading even if you are not a fan of the art genre. 5 stars
LOUISE G.
Netgalley reviewer