Book Log 2015 #5: The Anatomy Lesson by Nina Siegal

Set in one day in Amsterdam, this novel tells the story behind The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, one of Rembrandt's best-known works. Each of the characters - Rembrandt, Tulp, the man who became the cadaver, his woman friend (and mother of his unborn child), the man in charge of the corpse, and Rene Descartes - are referred to by an anatomical term (Rembrandt is the hands, for example), and each section is told from that person's point of view. There is also a series of present day observational notes by an art restorer, who uses the examination of the painting and some recently-discovered historical documents to make a significant discovery about it.

While I liked the book overall, I did feel like there was probably one character too many (I'm going with either Descartes or the steward who procured the body). I also found the modern day notes didn't really work with the rest of the book. It should have had a more prominent place in the novel or none at all. Still, if you're interested in art or 17th century Europe, this is well worth reading.

(Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book by a female author)