"Was this what life, real life, actually was, just a maze of forking paths and missed opportunities."

I totally picked up this book for the gorgeous cover, not knowing what it was about. What I got was a truly interesting story about art, the lengths people go to create and own it, desire, longing, and lots and lots of loneliness.

I thoroughly enjoyed it the story and was invested in the relationships among all the artists, however I did feel like it lacked... something? I don't know that something is, but I'll let you know when I figure it out. Overall I do recommend reading this book. It includes a slice of history involving Occupy Wall Street which I found very interesting and will be looking into more. ( )

About rich kids who smell like white privilege with mummy/daddy issues - (except for louisa)
I find I just dont care about the elitist art scene

About rich kids who smell like white privilege with mummy/daddy issues - (except for louisa)
I find I just dont care about the elitist art scene

I am not sure I've ever before been so devestated at the end of a novel, not because of HOW the story ended, but because it ended at all. ( )

Interesting book but hard to review. It’s not that I particularly disliked anything, but there wasn’t anything I particularly liked, either. The descriptions of the art were fascinating and educational, revealing just what varied forms art can take and something of the thought and physical process of the artist creating it, and I wish I could see some of that art actually created. The history and movements and protests that have taken place in the name of art were also interesting and at times eye-opening.

But even though Sirens & Muses has lots of big words, big dramatic words, and lots of big personalities and drama to go with the big words, the story just kind of goes round and round and at the end everyone is more or less where and who they were to begin with. Life in the art world, even in art school, seems to be totally devoid of joy. Instead it’s competitive, cutthroat, pretentious, snobbish and money- and class-conscious. Those who “get” art “deserve” it and everyone else is beneath notice. There’s a hierarchy, a community with high walls and unwritten rules and lines that must not be crossed. As presented, an artist’s life is stressful and uncertain from beginning to end and you must be dedicated and driven to put yourself into it and stay there.

The characters are of course all artists and connections criss-cross in their small world: students, educators, past successes, current failures, family histories. All but a couple of them have something in their past that contributes to their current, often reprehensible, behavior, but their issues are mostly stereotypical and these surface-only characters don’t elicit much sympathy or sense of understanding from the reader.

The narrative moves from person to person and place to place telling everyone’s story and ends somewhat vaguely hopeful for some of them. I didn’t need complete closure or happy endings for all, but I do wish I could have been more engaged in the characters’ lives so that I would care. Thanks to Penguin Random House for providing an advance copy via NetGalley for my honest review. I believe I was sent the ARC because I enjoyed Ghosts of Harvard. Sirens & Muses does have a little of the college vibe and the undercurrent of what goes on, but the art world is much different, and although it is well-written Sirens & Muses lacks the strong character depth and exciting plot of Ghosts of Harvard. All opinions are my own. ( )