TOW 16 - Frida Kahlo (Gannit Ankori) pt. 2

Gannit Akori did not end his story with a happy reader. I could tolerate the information overload for the first half of the book but by the end it seemed it was simply that. While Akori's appeal to logic is effective immediately, excess overwhelms the reader and seems trivial. In a way, it seems as if Akori didn't employ any of his own writing style in his book; it is more like a compilation of paraphrased citations. Kahlo has an emotional backstory but that is lost in how Akori translates it. By trying to remain objective, Akori does appear to be factual, but he comes across as detached and loses the reader's enthusiasm in the process. Looking back on my past critique, TOW 12, it occurs to me that what I described as "passion towards Frida Kahlo’s life story" illustrating "Kahlo's desire to thrive" was based not on Akori's writing, but his content. Kahlo was an inspirational women whose struggle and success created art that has moved and continues to move millions. Akori failed to capture an appetite for life that was so evident and essential in Kahlo's life; he was able to describe it yes, but it would have been much more effective to use vivd imagery and passionate diction. Akori seemed to spew facts at the reader that have no way of connecting with the reader. Anyone can connect with feeling alone, unworthy, or unsuccessful, just like Kahlo. Akori should have played off of those emotions and portrayed Kahlo as more of a realistic person, rather than a prominent figure in art and culture. I was disappointed with the book in totality but there were definitely shining moments; however I cannot say that those moments show the skill of Akori as a writer more than the skill of Kahlo as a person.