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Please join us Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 to discuss "The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession" by Michael Finkel, awarded "Best Book of the Year" by both the Washington Post and The New Yorker in 2023."The Art Thief" will be one of our first forays into the wildly popular publishing genre of "True Crime". You can listen to an interview with the author on Radiowest here: https://radiowest.kuer.org/show/radiowest/2023-06-29/michael-finkel-on-the-worlds-most-prolific-art-thief
In an interesting coincidence, the recent theft of the Crown Jewels from the Louvre is drawing international attention to art theft. What might Stephane Breitweiser make of this theft, I wonder?
Questions we will discuss, time permitting:
1. Is this a book you would have picked up if it hadn't been assigned for our book club?
2. What were your impressions of the "True Crime" genre before reading this book? Did this book change your opinions in any way?
3. Was there one particular scene or vignette in this book that elicited a particularly strong emotional reaction from you?
4. "Stephane Breitweiser is not really an art thief. Or so he believes, even though he is perhaps the most successful and prolific art thief who has ever lived" (p. 13). What do you think this statement reveals about Stephane Breitweiser's understanding of his place in the world? And what do you think it says about human nature more generally?
5. What did you make of Anne-Catherine's involvement in the events described in this book? Of his mother's involvement? Do you think their roles were fairly depicted?
6. Investigator Bernard Darties sees parallels between art thieves and terrorists. Did you find yourself agreeing with him or disagreeing with him? Did you notice yourself judging Breitweiser harshly for his art thefts? Did you notice yourself extending Breitweiser any sympathy or understanding?
7. Speculate about why Michael Finkel wanted to write this book. Reflect on whether you believe it was deserving of "2023 Book of the Year" accolades (as awarded by The Washington Post and The New Yorker).
8. Did you find yourself engaging differently with the recent news story about the Louvre art theft, as a result of having read "The Art Thief"?
9. What one aspect of this book will "stick with you" after this book club meeting ends?
*IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING OUR DECEMBER MEETING:
Since we could not obtain the scheduled December book "Woman, Watching" due to the postal strike, we will each choose a non-fiction book based on the theme that 'well-behaved women seldom make history' to share at our December 11 meeting. Come early, between 6:00-6:30, to our November 6th book club meeting if you'd like to choose from a pre-selected long list of 'women behaving badly' books.
Our reading list for Fall 2025 / Winter 2026 is as follows:
Dec. 11 (*note the new date*) - We will each choose a non-fiction book based on the theme that 'well-behaved women seldom make history.'
January - No meeting
February 5 - "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
March 5 - "Baltimore's Mansion" by Wayne Johnston
April 2 - "I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Janette McCurdy
May 7 - TBA
June 4 - TBA
As always, consult your preferred trigger warning tools.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday November 6 at 6:30! (Or come earlier, if you'd like a chance to browse for your 'women behaving badly' book.)
Elizabeth
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Deep River Library (Fireplace area), 55 Ridge Rd., Deep River, Canada, K0J 1P0
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
