Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O'Keeffe

What Dawn Tripp has done is very difficult to do on many levels. One is to dare to assume the voice of one of the most iconic Americans of the 20th century. She committed to a voice and carried it through, with only the most momentary wobbles. Secondly, the first person is often chosen for the joys of creating the 'unreliable narrator', but Tripp picks a different route creating a woman who has her egoism, but also a lot of insight about herself and the man she married. Thirdly, this version of O'Keffe is complex - certainly not entirely likable, sometimes unkind and even cruel, but a believable mix of the good and bad angels we carry within us. Fourthly, she's written at some length about what she imagines painting felt like for O'Keffe in a convincing enough way that you (or at least I) got an inkling of what moved her to paint so compulsively. Fifthly, she's captured how a marriage can go sour, then yo-yo back repeatedly, each time with less spring, until an accommodation is reached. And, finally, she conveys what we would now call Georgia's feminism, but at the time was just a natural reaction to being treated as a woman artist, as opposed to just an artist, in a forthright way without shoving a gendered perspective down our throats. The writing is lyrical throughout, with one arresting image cascading over the next. It's the language of the painter of the intensely observed and often erotic floral paintings. One wonders if someone who loved such stark surroundings of the Texas and New Mexico desert and loved her minimalist abstract work as much as her more vibrant paintings would express herself so fulsomely all the time. As wonderful as I thought this book is, I suspect O'Keffe, who seems to have been a very private person who carefully preserved varying degrees of emotional distance from everyone, including Stieglitz (according to this novel), would have quite likely hated this book.

I find myself putting the book down after about five pages each time I pick it up. I'm curious enough to continue because of the numerous five star reviews I read before purchasing the book. I suspect if I weren't interested in art history, I would simply move on to another book. So far, It reads too much like a sex filled romance novel for me to allocate more than two stars.I finished the book for the same reasons I would finish a fast food meal: I had paid for it and it was good enough. For my money, I got as much insight into O'Keeffe's life and a more enjoyable reading experience with Robyn Lea's book, Cooking with Georgia O'Keeffe.

This is a moving book about an amazing artist. I have loved her paintings, but never realized what a fascinating woman she was. The author definitely brings her to life in this book. The book is well researched, and focuses on her entire life, her relationship with Stieglitz, and with other artists of her time (Demuth, etc.) Of course, I had to research some of the paintings as I read the book. The author's writing is beautiful, at times, as beautiful and insightful as one of Georgia's paintings. She captures the feeling of immersing yourself in your art, whatever it is. As a person who has dabbled in painting, I really identified with the thoughts expressed. One of my favorite quotes: "It occurs to me now that art is exactly this: making what’s unseen but all around us, visible. Having that sort of faith." Looking forward to visiting Georgia's museum later this year, now knowing, through this book, what a unique and amazing woman she was.

Fascinating novelistic account (though very much based on surviving documents and letters) of the relationship between photographer Alfred Stieglitz and artist Georgia O'Keeffe and how that relationship affected their careers and personal lives. We learn that although O'Keeffe owed much to Stieglitz, and in fact it is quite possible that very few people would know about her today if not for him, she ultimately had to get away from him to pursue her own vision successfully. For his part, his work was very much influenced and informed by her, but he could not commit to her on a personal level. The large number of characters in his circle moving in and out of her life can be hard to follow at times but overall a very gripping story.

I've been looking for a historical novel on Georgia O'Keefe for several years so was really excited to see this book. I've been to Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu several times, did a program on her paintings and life, have seen her house and photographed her "Jacob's tree" and her cow skulls at Ghost Ranch and have been to her museum in Santa Fe so I had a little knowledge about her life but this book really brings her to life. She was so far ahead of her time......very strong, very strong willed. In reading this book, you feel like you are inside her head, it's just very powerful......and she had such a tumultous relationship with Alfred Steigleitz. I was thoroughly captivated by this book.

One of the best books I have read in a long while. Dawn Tripp somehow manages to instill in the reader that it is Georgia O'Keefe herself writing the book. I couldn't put down and have recommended to many friends who have all resounded with very positive comments.

One of the few books I have given up on, I'm afraid. Just too light for my taste - I had expected/hoped for something to equal O'Keefe's own strong style but got a fluffy romance. Perhaps it improves in the later stages, but I shall never know.

It is enjoyable novel, it does no try to follow her life completely, but as I am a great admirer of the of the woman painter who has sold the mostexpensive picture paid until now, I enjoyed it and read it quickly.C P Seoane

This is one of the best books that I have read this year. I chose it because of my interest in Georgia O'Keeffe's art and was intrigued by the idea of a fictional take on Georgia the person and her art. I have read the book once for the plotline and will now begin again at the beginning with an eye to the art appreciation of both painting and photography. This parallel view illuminates the artistic contributions of both Georgia and Alfred Steiglitz as well as the story of their relationship. All the while as I was enjoying this book, I realized that this is a work of fiction, but it reads like an autobiography at it's best. It has prompted me to research how closely it parallels the reality of O'Keeffe's life and work as well as that of Stieglitz about whom I was less aware. The result for me is a re-awakening of my interest in O'Keeffe's wonderful art filled out with the human story of growth and emotion. A big bonus is an introduction to the photography connection of Stieglitz along with his importance in presenting Georgia to the art world.Dawn Tripp's descriptive talent as a wordsmith and storyteller has brought a whole new dimension to the O'Keeffe story. Tripp's thoughtful use of descriptive words creates word paintings filled with color, landscape, human anatomy, emotion, all illuminated in the beauty of light as in painting and photography. It is her patient building of word scenes that will draw me back through this book again and I will note how often light defines her writing in the same way it defines the work of O'Keeffe and Stieglitz.Anyone who is interested in painting, photography, lives of artists as well as a early 20th Century art scene in New York should add Georgia to her/his collection. It is a gift of art in its own right as it prompts the creative juices of the reader. If I could give 6 stars, I would!

If you are interested in the lives of artists and knowing the story behind creative works, you will be delighted in how beautifully written this book is by Dawn Trip about Georgia O'Keefe. Loved reading this book so much that I just ordered another book by Dawn Tripp. Hope Tripp writes about other artists in the future!