My list of favorite authors is a short one (although it’s beginning to grow). Katherine Reay is one of my absolute favorite authors (not to mention she’s a super nice lady, too).
(p.s. I’m using affiliate links)
Katherine Reay had me at Dear Mr. Knightley, and now, I mark all her book release dates on my calendar. I can depend on her to write an innovative story in the modern day with a twist into the past using authors of classics (Jane Austen, Brontes, etc.).
Basically, Katherine Reay is an English major’s love.
A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay
I’ve been eyeing up this delightful book for a while, and a few months ago, I had a lovely e-mail exchange with Katherine Reay. The beauty of the online world is being able to reach out to favorite authors or great storytellers to thank them.
If you read an amazing book, always always always reach out to the author and tell them what the story meant to you.
Anyway, I’ve posted my review of A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay on Instagram, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Homemade Pasta
As some of you know, I have a special scale for rating the books that I read. That scale is based on cotton candy (unhealthy and sweet) and Brussels sprouts (healthy but bitter). For the record, I happen to really like Brussels sprouts, but I think of it as the equivalent of a documentary.
I like my fluffy cotton candy reading.
Anyway, I chose Homemade Pasta to described A Portrait of Emily Price because the process required to make homemade pasta. Although the ingredients are simple, sometimes things do not go as planned.
Pasta is dense, nourishing, and filling.
Emily Price
I’m not that girl. Have you ever felt that way? Emily Price, the protagonist of A Portrait of Emily Price, compares herself to her sister and sees herself as less than.
As someone who has lived in another country and understood very little of the language and culture, I kept an eye out for the culture shock that Emily would experience. It’s the small things that build up in creating the feel of disconnection. Katherine Reay capture that perfectly.
The Family Dynamics
Families. For the most part, we all have them. If we didn’t grow up with one, we created our own with our friends and people we surrounded ourselves with.
A Portrait of Emily Price capture the essence of family dynamics. An outsider entering a new family and the unknowns therein. Add another language, country, and culture…and well, things are bound to be quite layered indeed.
What I’m Saying…
is that I absolutely adored this book, and I think you should pick up your copy of A Portrait of Emily Price, too.
Also, if I could make up a romance for myself, I think this would be it. It’s a pinch of fairytale, a stack of classic books, and a whole lot of pasta.
