‘The True Picture’ is the story of Veronica (Vera – True, Icon – Picture). It starts, around 33 AD, in the city of Tyre where ex-temple dancer and high-class purple dye trader Veronica comes face to face with Jesus one night at the necropolis as he tours Phoenicia with a crowd of followers.
Gradually she gives up all her treasures to follow him, too. She loses her towering hair-do and bronze bust of Venus, and leaves a trail of jewellery through Galilee and by the River Jordan, singing and drinking her way to the station on the Via Dolorosa where she wipes her master’s face with a cloth as he carries the cross. Famously, that image never fades: but the story of St. Veronica is refreshed in this funky new telling.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Man, oh man, I really wasn’t looking forward to writing this review. But, I gave Alison my word I’d be honest with my feelings regarding it.
So with that said…… I’m sorry to say I didn’t enjoy this book. My opinion is NOT based on the fact it taps into religion.
No, I felt Alison went overboard with describing everything in minute detail. I understand trying to set the scene for a reader but there comes a point where an author needs to learn “less is more”.
With so much detail and information thrown at us, it reminded me of a textbook or an encyclopedia. Not highly entertaining but filled with vast amount of knowledge.
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest)
Score:❤
Alison Habens is the author of Dreamhouse, Lifestory , Family Outing, and new novel The True Picture. She is course leader for Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth and has a PhD on the subject of ‘divine inspiration’! (She lives in an old church on the Isle of Wight and commutes to work by hovercraft.)
Sometimes too much info is just that, too much.
I have read too many books with " too much detail " and I'm like get on with the story here.
Thanks for sharing Kam!!!
Tanya