The True Picture by Alison Habens (Book Review)

‘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 DreamhouseLifestory , 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.)

2 Comments

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2 Responses to The True Picture by Alison Habens (Book Review)

  1. Sometimes too much info is just that, too much.

  2. Anonymous

    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

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