I was left speechless by the end of this book. Indeed, it felt devastating—in the best way—and ultimately inspiring.
At first, I hesitated because reviewers described it as a love story. However, What I Loved barely resembles a typical romance. Instead, it reads more like an essay on life—a celebration of living in all its complexity, even at its kinkiest.
What Makes It Special
Remarkably, the beauty of this novel doesn’t lie in its plot—anyone could live such events—but in Siri Hustvedt’s prose. Moreover, her narrative voice seduced me from the first page.
Summary
The story follows Leo Hertzberg, a Columbia University professor and art historian, and his friendship with painter Bill Weschler. Their bond begins when Leo buys one of Bill’s paintings and extends nearly three decades, through marriages to Erica, Lucille, and later Violet, and their children Matthew and Mark.
The first part immerses us in the couples’ everyday lives. Leo interprets every moment—mundane chores, gallery visits, casual talks—through an artistic, psychological, and philosophical lens. Most characters work in academia or the arts, so their discussions feel rich and resonant.
In the second half, the novel turns to loss and grief, focusing especially on Mark, Lucille and Bill’s son. He forms a dangerous bond with Gillis, a teenage artist whose violent, horror-tinged work hints at murder. Gillis’s influence upends the balance in the adults’ lives.
Their stories intertwine in a plot that explores art, grief, loss, relationships, the trials of parenthood, and the many faces of love.
Personal Considerations
Hustvedt analyzes each character’s psyche with precision. This depth demands full attention but rewards it with rich understanding.
Art anchors the novel. Though some descriptions feel lengthy, they carry real metaphorical weight and shape how we perceive the story. Bill’s work reveals his soul—and Leo alone can unlock its meaning.
Narrated from Leo’s perspective, the novel feels like a self-portrait of the author. What I Loved leaves a melancholic yet realistic impression of life.
QUOTES
“People can’t help what they feel. It’s what they do that”
“I suppose we are all products of our parents’ joy and suffering. Their emotions are written into us, as much as the inscriptions made by their genes.”
