How does Boyd's use of photographs add to your reading experience? Do you agree that a picture tells a thousand words?
Created: 05/30/16
Replies: 16
Join Date: 10/15/10
Posts: 3442
Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
He certainly selected the photographs very carefully. They were so much a part of the story, I had to keep reminding myself that this was not a true memoir, that Amory was not the photographer that took these photos. They definitely added to the story.
Join Date: 01/01/16
Posts: 444
I loved the photographs. Glancing through the book before I started reading and seeing the photographs I thought this novel was historical fiction. Upon Googling I discovered the truth. I am amazed that the author found these photos in antique shops, junk stores etc. He did an excellent job in choosing them
Join Date: 07/16/14
Posts: 374
Join Date: 06/19/12
Posts: 408
I loved the photographs. They are so thoroughly integrated into the book that it is difficult to remember that the book was fiction and the photographer is fictional. They are a wonderful touch that adds tremendous credibility to Boyd's story.
Join Date: 08/30/14
Posts: 265
The photographs are what makes this novel quality reading and not just a "romance" story. The pictures underscore a story that words alone cannot describe. I could put a face to the written descriptions and characterizations and this made the writing seem more factual.
Join Date: 03/20/16
Posts: 27
I really enjoyed the photos. When I discovered that Boyd sort of wrote TO the photos, I found them even more interesting. This was a wonderful way to tell a story using photos of unknown people. I wonder if anyone will ever recognize him/herself in one of the photos.
Join Date: 02/03/14
Posts: 271
I loved the photographs, although I started to notice that the people in them did not always look like who they were supposed to be - most notably the two photos of Sholto - who did not look the same in the 2 pics. I found the woman who was supposed to be Armory much less attractive than her description...this was also the case with Cleve's wife. That I found distracting. It did make the book fell more non-fiction than fiction!
Join Date: 07/14/12
Posts: 94
This is the third fiction book I have read with real photos throughout. I found myself continually wondering as to how much the photos influenced the story, and as the characters emerged, did the photo selection change, etc. The photos are a definite, but at times confusing (like ruthless said) asset.
Join Date: 02/11/16
Posts: 60
Here is a link to an article about the photographs in Sweet Caress. It's fascinating!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/authors/william-boyd-sweet-caress-photographs
Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
I thought the photos added so much to the story, however, when I got to the pictures of Viet Nam I felt squeamish. All these young men. I began to wonder what if someone reading the book came across a photo of their brother or friend?
Join Date: 06/29/15
Posts: 143
The photographs are a wonderful addition, enhancing the story. I knew the story was fiction but the photographs had me doubting this until I read about the author's use of them, very clever. It gave you a real taste of the time period.
Join Date: 06/24/16
Posts: 1
Join Date: 10/25/12
Posts: 83
It took me far into the novel before I came across information that let me know that Amory was a fictitious photographer. The photos not only added to the believability of Amory, but also served as a photographic journey through moments in history. Loved the addition of the photographs.
Join Date: 01/16/14
Posts: 16
I had to keep reminding myself I was reading a piece of fiction, about a fictional character. The photos did add an air of authenticity and were very reminiscent of those of the early pioneers of the profession especially Margaret Bourke-White.
Join Date: 06/28/11
Posts: 78
Join Date: 03/04/15
Posts: 7
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