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Alive in Shape and Color: 17 Paintings by Great Artists and the Stories They Inspired
Even before Lawrence Block could rest on his laurels from In Sunlight or In Shadow, a question arose. What would he do for an encore?
Any number of artists have produced evocative work, paintings that could trigger a literary response. But none came to mind who could equal Hopper in turning out canvas after canvas. If no single artist could take Hopper’s place, how about a full palette of them? Suppose each author was invited to select a painting from the whole panoply of visual art—From the cave drawings at Lascaux to a contemporary abstract canvas on which the paint has barely dried.
And what a dazzling response! Joyce Carol Oates picked Le Beaux Jours by Balthus. Warren Moore chose Salvador Dali’s The Pharmacist of Ampurdam Seeking Absolutely Nothing. Michael Connelly, who sent Harry Bosch to Chicago for a close look at Nighthawks, has a go at The Garden of Earthly Delights by Harry’s namesake Hieronymous Bosch. S. J. Rozan finds a story in Hokusai’s The Great Wave, while Jeffery Deaver’s "A Significant Find” draws its inspiration from—yes—those prehistoric cave drawings at Lascaux. And Kristine Kathryn Rusch moves from painting to sculpture and selects Rodin.
In artists ranging from Art Frahm and Norman Rockwell to René Magritte and Clifford Still, the impressive concept goes on to include Thomas Pluck, Sarah Weinman, David Morrell, Craig Ferguson, Joe R. Lansdale, Jill D. Block, Justin Scott, Jonathan Santlofer, Gail Levin, Nicholas Christopher, and Lee Child, with each story accompanied in color by the work of art that inspired it.
Any number of artists have produced evocative work, paintings that could trigger a literary response. But none came to mind who could equal Hopper in turning out canvas after canvas. If no single artist could take Hopper’s place, how about a full palette of them? Suppose each author was invited to select a painting from the whole panoply of visual art—From the cave drawings at Lascaux to a contemporary abstract canvas on which the paint has barely dried.
And what a dazzling response! Joyce Carol Oates picked Le Beaux Jours by Balthus. Warren Moore chose Salvador Dali’s The Pharmacist of Ampurdam Seeking Absolutely Nothing. Michael Connelly, who sent Harry Bosch to Chicago for a close look at Nighthawks, has a go at The Garden of Earthly Delights by Harry’s namesake Hieronymous Bosch. S. J. Rozan finds a story in Hokusai’s The Great Wave, while Jeffery Deaver’s "A Significant Find” draws its inspiration from—yes—those prehistoric cave drawings at Lascaux. And Kristine Kathryn Rusch moves from painting to sculpture and selects Rodin.
In artists ranging from Art Frahm and Norman Rockwell to René Magritte and Clifford Still, the impressive concept goes on to include Thomas Pluck, Sarah Weinman, David Morrell, Craig Ferguson, Joe R. Lansdale, Jill D. Block, Justin Scott, Jonathan Santlofer, Gail Levin, Nicholas Christopher, and Lee Child, with each story accompanied in color by the work of art that inspired it.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2017
22 people are currently reading
898 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Block
766 books2,962 followersLawrence Block has been writing crime, mystery, and suspense fiction for more than half a century. He has published in excess (oh, wretched excess!) of 100 books, and no end of short stories.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., LB attended Antioch College, but left before completing his studies; school authorities advised him that they felt he’d be happier elsewhere, and he thought this was remarkably perceptive of them.
His earliest work, published pseudonymously in the late 1950s, was mostly in the field of midcentury erotica, an apprenticeship he shared with Donald E. Westlake and Robert Silverberg. The first time Lawrence Block’s name appeared in print was when his short story “You Can’t Lose” was published in the February 1958 issue of Manhunt. The first book published under his own name was Mona (1961); it was reissued several times over the years, once as Sweet Slow Death. In 2005 it became the first offering from Hard Case Crime, and bore for the first time LB’s original title, Grifter’s Game.
LB is best known for his series characters, including cop-turned-private investigator Matthew Scudder, gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, globe-trotting insomniac Evan Tanner, and introspective assassin Keller.
Because one name is never enough, LB has also published under pseudonyms including Jill Emerson, John Warren Wells, Lesley Evans, and Anne Campbell Clarke.
LB’s magazine appearances include American Heritage, Redbook, Playboy, Linn’s Stamp News, Cosmopolitan, GQ, and The New York Times. His monthly instructional column ran in Writer’s Digest for 14 years, and led to a string of books for writers, including the classics Telling Lies for Fun & Profit and The Liar’s Bible. He has also written episodic television (Tilt!) and the Wong Kar-wai film, My Blueberry Nights.
Several of LB’s books have been filmed. The latest, A Walk Among the Tombstones, stars Liam Neeson as Matthew Scudder and is scheduled for release in September, 2014.
LB is a Grand Master of Mystery Writers of America, and a past president of MWA and the Private Eye Writers of America. He has won the Edgar and Shamus awards four times each, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon award twice, as well as the Nero Wolfe and Philip Marlowe awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Diamond Dagger for Life Achievement from the Crime Writers Association (UK). He’s also been honored with the Gumshoe Lifetime Achievement Award from Mystery Ink magazine and the Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer for Lifetime Achievement in the short story. In France, he has been proclaimed a Grand Maitre du Roman Noir and has twice been awarded the Societe 813 trophy. He has been a guest of honor at Bouchercon and at book fairs and mystery festivals in France, Germany, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. As if that were not enough, he was also presented with the key to the city of Muncie, Indiana. (But as soon as he left, they changed the locks.)
LB and his wife Lynne are enthusiastic New Yorkers and relentless world travelers; the two are members of the Travelers Century Club, and have visited around 160 countries.
He is a modest and humble fellow, although you would never guess as much from this biographical note.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
December 4, 2017
Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this collection as much as I did last year's: IN SUNLIGHT OR IN SHADOW, which contained stories centered around the art of Edward Hopper. This time around, the authors got to choose whichever artist/painting they liked, upon which to base their stories.
If you had to guess which artist upon whom Michael Connolly based his story, it would be easy for anyone familiar with his work to do so. For those of you who are not familiar with Connolly's fictional detective Harry Bosch, his name comes from the painter Hieronymous Bosch, and this story was inspired by Bosch's work "The Garden of Earthly Delights," (the third panel). This was my favorite story within-short, sharp and packing a punch.
Jeffrey Deaver also impressed me with his story inspired by prehistoric cave drawings at Lascaux. This clever little revenge tale takes place in the present and perhaps captures the intricacies and competition within the world of archaeology.
S.J. Rozan's story was inspired by "The Great Wave" by Hokusai. I was not previously familiar with Rozan or Hokusai, but now I feel compelled to learn more about them both. This tale was another gut puncher, but somehow I finished it feeling satisfied and happy for the protagonist.
Lastly, Joe Lansdale's tale was inspired by Norman Rockwell's "First Trip to the Beauty Shop." Even though the painting is perky and cute, the story is definitely not. It was sad, poignant, and scary-all at the same time. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
All told, that's 4 stories that impressed me a great deal. That's pretty good for any old anthology, but I expected so much more from this one, based on my experience with IN SUNLIGHT OR IN SHADOW. Perhaps it was a case of being disappointed by my own high expectations, or perhaps it's just that these tales didn't work as well for me as they did for other people. Whatever the case, I'm glad I read this anthology, otherwise I would have been wondering what I had missed.
Recommended!
You can get a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Alive-Shape-Co...
*Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is it.*
If you had to guess which artist upon whom Michael Connolly based his story, it would be easy for anyone familiar with his work to do so. For those of you who are not familiar with Connolly's fictional detective Harry Bosch, his name comes from the painter Hieronymous Bosch, and this story was inspired by Bosch's work "The Garden of Earthly Delights," (the third panel). This was my favorite story within-short, sharp and packing a punch.
Jeffrey Deaver also impressed me with his story inspired by prehistoric cave drawings at Lascaux. This clever little revenge tale takes place in the present and perhaps captures the intricacies and competition within the world of archaeology.
S.J. Rozan's story was inspired by "The Great Wave" by Hokusai. I was not previously familiar with Rozan or Hokusai, but now I feel compelled to learn more about them both. This tale was another gut puncher, but somehow I finished it feeling satisfied and happy for the protagonist.
Lastly, Joe Lansdale's tale was inspired by Norman Rockwell's "First Trip to the Beauty Shop." Even though the painting is perky and cute, the story is definitely not. It was sad, poignant, and scary-all at the same time. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
All told, that's 4 stories that impressed me a great deal. That's pretty good for any old anthology, but I expected so much more from this one, based on my experience with IN SUNLIGHT OR IN SHADOW. Perhaps it was a case of being disappointed by my own high expectations, or perhaps it's just that these tales didn't work as well for me as they did for other people. Whatever the case, I'm glad I read this anthology, otherwise I would have been wondering what I had missed.
Recommended!
You can get a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Alive-Shape-Co...
*Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This is it.*
November 22, 2017
I’d really enjoyed
In Sunlight or in Shadow,
a collection of short stories inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, so grabbing a copy of this collection (once again edited by Lawrence Block) was a no-brainer for me. There’s a brilliant cast of writers here, including big-time sellers such as Lee Child, Michael Connelly and Jeffery Deaver but also some lesser known names (to me, at least), some of whom had written stories included in the Hopper collection.
This time around the art works were individually selected by each writer and ranged from the relatively well know to the obscure. Connelly chose to use the third panel of the Garden of Earthly Delights by (of course) Hieronymous Bosch as the catalyst for his story of a series of bizarre murders whilst Kristine Kathryn Rush told a tale centred on the bombing of Cleveland’s Museum’s version of Rodin’s The Thinker, in 1970. Of the seventeen stories, I’d say that all but a couple grabbed me and held my attention for the short time it took me to read them through. I thought a few (for instance, offerings by Jill D. Block, Justin Scott and Joe R. Lansdale) were outstanding.
I do like this way of centring stories around a piece of art, it gives the reader a central point of reference – even more poignant if you’re familiar with the painting or statue in question. It’s a strong collection and if you like crime fiction there’s a good range of styles here. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This time around the art works were individually selected by each writer and ranged from the relatively well know to the obscure. Connelly chose to use the third panel of the Garden of Earthly Delights by (of course) Hieronymous Bosch as the catalyst for his story of a series of bizarre murders whilst Kristine Kathryn Rush told a tale centred on the bombing of Cleveland’s Museum’s version of Rodin’s The Thinker, in 1970. Of the seventeen stories, I’d say that all but a couple grabbed me and held my attention for the short time it took me to read them through. I thought a few (for instance, offerings by Jill D. Block, Justin Scott and Joe R. Lansdale) were outstanding.
I do like this way of centring stories around a piece of art, it gives the reader a central point of reference – even more poignant if you’re familiar with the painting or statue in question. It’s a strong collection and if you like crime fiction there’s a good range of styles here. Highly recommended.
My thanks to Pegasus Books and NetGalley for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2017
Marvelous, as always. Should Mr. Block ever be tempted to give up the writing of stories, series, novels, etc., I sincerely hope he continues to curate anthologies such as Alive in Shape and Color.
Its premise is simple. Have a number of writers each pick one painting by the artist of their choice, and tell a story about that painting. Block's genius here is in the authors he's recruited for the task. From Joyce Carol Oates to Jill D. Block, from Jeffrey Deaver to Thomas Pluck, all are more than up to the task. The illustrations are beautiful, btw, and the stories invite readers to see them in ways they might not have thought about before. In fact, the stories are so darned good that I cannot pick out one favorite among them. I suspect anyone picking up the book from this note will also have trouble singling out just one story to call a favorite.
At any rate, this is a book that, like its predecessor, In Sunlight and In Shadow, you should not miss.
Its premise is simple. Have a number of writers each pick one painting by the artist of their choice, and tell a story about that painting. Block's genius here is in the authors he's recruited for the task. From Joyce Carol Oates to Jill D. Block, from Jeffrey Deaver to Thomas Pluck, all are more than up to the task. The illustrations are beautiful, btw, and the stories invite readers to see them in ways they might not have thought about before. In fact, the stories are so darned good that I cannot pick out one favorite among them. I suspect anyone picking up the book from this note will also have trouble singling out just one story to call a favorite.
At any rate, this is a book that, like its predecessor, In Sunlight and In Shadow, you should not miss.
October 5, 2017
My biggest advice in reading this book is to get the hardback edition. My review copy came in paperback and the photos were in black and white. Although still amazing, I bet seeing the pictures in color would be wonderful. There are certainly some stunning pictures featured from Georgia O"Keeffe, Van Gogh to Norman Rockwell. The authors picked a picture and then wrote a short story that was inspired by the painting.
I love that Michael Connelly picked the "Garden of Earthly Delights (third panel)" by Hieronymus Bosch. How appropriate is that? I have a fondness of Norman Rockwell and enjoyed the painting and accompanying story. I enjoyed the story that accompanied the picture of Rodin's statue, The Thinker. As in any anthology, there were some I liked better than others. I really didn't care for the ones featuring women held as prisoners and sexual slaves. That there was more than one was disturbing and dropped my rating down to four stars.
I really enjoyed this juxtaposition of art and literature. I like how varied the stories were. Just be sure to buy it in hardback.
I love that Michael Connelly picked the "Garden of Earthly Delights (third panel)" by Hieronymus Bosch. How appropriate is that? I have a fondness of Norman Rockwell and enjoyed the painting and accompanying story. I enjoyed the story that accompanied the picture of Rodin's statue, The Thinker. As in any anthology, there were some I liked better than others. I really didn't care for the ones featuring women held as prisoners and sexual slaves. That there was more than one was disturbing and dropped my rating down to four stars.
I really enjoyed this juxtaposition of art and literature. I like how varied the stories were. Just be sure to buy it in hardback.
July 21, 2017
I had an ARC. A very enjoyable read of a variation of short stories by different authors based on different works of art. Reminded me very much of The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: Fourteen Amazing Authors Tell the Tales / With an Introduction by Lemony Snicket and makes me want to read Lawrence Block's first Edward Hopper art-themed short story work In Sunlight or In Shadow that led to this one.
June 12, 2018
I was excited to pick this one up even though I've yet to get to the Edward Hopper anthology "In Sunlight or In Shadow", which preceded it and inspired this follow up, however it was sad to read that Block hadn't contirbuted a new story here and he's candid enough in the foreword to say there might be little to nothing left for him to write. That notion was blown away at the weekend though, as Thomas Pluck (who contributes here) posted a photo of Block from Saturday's Noir at the Bar in Queens where Block was reading from a NEW Matt Scudder novella. So still something to give yet!
This one features a host of renown authors of whom some I was familiar with and others I had never heard of. As with any anthology there were ups and downs with stories that I truly loved (which I'll get to) and a couple that I could barely finish. The anthology opens with a tale from Jill D. Block, the daughter of Lawrence, and in it you could see the straight forward and engaging style her father is known for. It's a geat opening to what is a strong first third of the book. Lee Child follows with his story, "Pierre, Lucien and Me", a fun filled story of a con artist looking to make a fast buck off an artist's death, which peeled away some of my preconceived notions about the author. "Girl with a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher is one of the highlights of the collection, influenced by the painting of the same name by Paul Gauguin, it displays what can be done with a piece of short fiction as it spans different eras across the lives of a few characters to tell a beautiful tale.
Michael Connelly's "The Third Panel" is influenced by a painting by who else, but Hieryonmous Bosch, and is a wonderful pulpy thrill. " A Significant Find" by Jeffery Deaver delivers the first of two archaeology based tales and is probably the stronger of the two with Thomas Pluck's horror "Truth Comes Out of Her Well to Shame Mankind" not quite delivering.
One of my faves, Joe R. Lansdale delivers as always though with "Charlie the Barber" about a PTSD ridden barber being held as two crooks hold up his barber shop.
The middle of the book lulled for me and contained the stories that I struggled through, but in the middle of this came a wonderful discover and the other story I'd put at the top of the tree in David Morrell's "Orange Is For Anguish, Blue For Insanity". It was originally published in 1988 with Morrell experiencing the same difficulty in delivering a new story that Block had suffered, but boy I am very glad for it in this instance as this story is exceptional. Van Dorn is the name given for Van Gogh in the story and it recounts of a man's friend going in search of the secret behind the artist's paintings even while this friend knows that everyone who has done so in the past has been driven to madness. I have to confess that I had never heard of Morrell until reading this and it was quite something to discover he was in fact the author of "First Blood". Add it the TBR list!!
Where the book had a strong start, it goes out similarly with a strong finish. "Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer a noir wrapped mystery of artist spouses that plays out excellently and "Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott perhaps earns the bronze medal for the collection as an artist is visited by his hero as he comtemplates suicide. "Looking for David" by Lawrence Block closes and it's never a chore reading a Scudder story regardless of whether you've read it before.
I know I'll have to get to "In Sunlight or In Shadow" in the future. It contains stories for many of the authors from this book and I'm eager to see if the ones that I loved can build on what's here and also because it contains Block's award winning "Autumn at the Automat". There's plenty to recommend here even if it wasn't quite all for me.
This one features a host of renown authors of whom some I was familiar with and others I had never heard of. As with any anthology there were ups and downs with stories that I truly loved (which I'll get to) and a couple that I could barely finish. The anthology opens with a tale from Jill D. Block, the daughter of Lawrence, and in it you could see the straight forward and engaging style her father is known for. It's a geat opening to what is a strong first third of the book. Lee Child follows with his story, "Pierre, Lucien and Me", a fun filled story of a con artist looking to make a fast buck off an artist's death, which peeled away some of my preconceived notions about the author. "Girl with a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher is one of the highlights of the collection, influenced by the painting of the same name by Paul Gauguin, it displays what can be done with a piece of short fiction as it spans different eras across the lives of a few characters to tell a beautiful tale.
Michael Connelly's "The Third Panel" is influenced by a painting by who else, but Hieryonmous Bosch, and is a wonderful pulpy thrill. " A Significant Find" by Jeffery Deaver delivers the first of two archaeology based tales and is probably the stronger of the two with Thomas Pluck's horror "Truth Comes Out of Her Well to Shame Mankind" not quite delivering.
One of my faves, Joe R. Lansdale delivers as always though with "Charlie the Barber" about a PTSD ridden barber being held as two crooks hold up his barber shop.
The middle of the book lulled for me and contained the stories that I struggled through, but in the middle of this came a wonderful discover and the other story I'd put at the top of the tree in David Morrell's "Orange Is For Anguish, Blue For Insanity". It was originally published in 1988 with Morrell experiencing the same difficulty in delivering a new story that Block had suffered, but boy I am very glad for it in this instance as this story is exceptional. Van Dorn is the name given for Van Gogh in the story and it recounts of a man's friend going in search of the secret behind the artist's paintings even while this friend knows that everyone who has done so in the past has been driven to madness. I have to confess that I had never heard of Morrell until reading this and it was quite something to discover he was in fact the author of "First Blood". Add it the TBR list!!
Where the book had a strong start, it goes out similarly with a strong finish. "Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer a noir wrapped mystery of artist spouses that plays out excellently and "Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott perhaps earns the bronze medal for the collection as an artist is visited by his hero as he comtemplates suicide. "Looking for David" by Lawrence Block closes and it's never a chore reading a Scudder story regardless of whether you've read it before.
I know I'll have to get to "In Sunlight or In Shadow" in the future. It contains stories for many of the authors from this book and I'm eager to see if the ones that I loved can build on what's here and also because it contains Block's award winning "Autumn at the Automat". There's plenty to recommend here even if it wasn't quite all for me.
November 5, 2017
After going back and forth with fiction and True Crime non-fiction, it was a bit refreshing to jump into a book of a different kind...something very unlike anything that I had been reading.
Alive in Shape and Color: 17 Paintings by Great Artists and the Stories They Inspired...one of those books I wanted because art has always been very much a wonderful part of my life but something I have also neglected over the years and thus feeling like I need things to remind me to make it a focus again. Avid book readers....turn to books for that. And not gonna lie....I was drawn by that cover in the most peculiar way. The season...coming close to Halloween at that time that I saw this book. I mistook it for being a mystery novel. That cover...spooky....creepy.....intriguing...scared me but also drew me in. Probably not what the author had in mind....but it worked for me. Reading the cover...realizing it was nothing of what I thought....but still pleasantly content with the idea that maybe it was a sign...I need to read this book. I need more art in my life.
Cover to back...I enjoyed every bit of this book. The stories were inspirational...quirky...great works of fabulous art and the stories that inspired these works from truly wonderful and amazing authors. Book readers can delight in these tales. Just like how some of our most favorite and famous songs have stories behind how the lyrics were created and it's so interesting to discover those stories by the singers themselves...this book has that feel at least for us avid book readers. Writing and art...beautiful concepts.
My only cringe about this book....and it continues to be...is the art in the book. The photos. Now to be fair...I do have an ARC...so I assume that because it is just a sampling of what the book is to become I figure the pics are just a sampling as well...and thus not the greatest quality and reason for choosing black and white photos instead of color. However...upon checking out many other reviews and discovering that the official paperback copies are much the same and thus the same issue...the photos of this art does not give us the true beauty of what reality is. Alive in Shape and Color....was not so in paperback form. However I hear the hardback editions are stunning. So if you want to be captivated by the photos as you are reading the tales...get the hardback edition. If you have to settle for paperback.....google the very pics that they have give a sampling of in the books otherwise prepare to be slightly disappointed.
A great read.
Thanks as always to the wonderful peeps of goodreads, to Lawrence Block, and to Pegasus books for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
Alive in Shape and Color: 17 Paintings by Great Artists and the Stories They Inspired...one of those books I wanted because art has always been very much a wonderful part of my life but something I have also neglected over the years and thus feeling like I need things to remind me to make it a focus again. Avid book readers....turn to books for that. And not gonna lie....I was drawn by that cover in the most peculiar way. The season...coming close to Halloween at that time that I saw this book. I mistook it for being a mystery novel. That cover...spooky....creepy.....intriguing...scared me but also drew me in. Probably not what the author had in mind....but it worked for me. Reading the cover...realizing it was nothing of what I thought....but still pleasantly content with the idea that maybe it was a sign...I need to read this book. I need more art in my life.
Cover to back...I enjoyed every bit of this book. The stories were inspirational...quirky...great works of fabulous art and the stories that inspired these works from truly wonderful and amazing authors. Book readers can delight in these tales. Just like how some of our most favorite and famous songs have stories behind how the lyrics were created and it's so interesting to discover those stories by the singers themselves...this book has that feel at least for us avid book readers. Writing and art...beautiful concepts.
My only cringe about this book....and it continues to be...is the art in the book. The photos. Now to be fair...I do have an ARC...so I assume that because it is just a sampling of what the book is to become I figure the pics are just a sampling as well...and thus not the greatest quality and reason for choosing black and white photos instead of color. However...upon checking out many other reviews and discovering that the official paperback copies are much the same and thus the same issue...the photos of this art does not give us the true beauty of what reality is. Alive in Shape and Color....was not so in paperback form. However I hear the hardback editions are stunning. So if you want to be captivated by the photos as you are reading the tales...get the hardback edition. If you have to settle for paperback.....google the very pics that they have give a sampling of in the books otherwise prepare to be slightly disappointed.
A great read.
Thanks as always to the wonderful peeps of goodreads, to Lawrence Block, and to Pegasus books for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
May 16, 2021
This series is wonderful. Put together in a way to tickles more than the normal sum of senses when picking up a book. My favorites are usually the ones not about the art in any way.
February 4, 2018
In this art-themed collection of short stories, 17 crime-fiction authors have been tasked with choosing a work of art (which, despite the title, were not all paintings), then creating a story around it. While this intriguing concept is what initially captured my attention, not all stories hit their mark. The best of the bunch include those written by Michael Connelly (inspired by a panel from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, of course), Jeffery Deaver (inspired by prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux), Jonathan Santlofer (whom I’d never heard of before, but will certainly be looking into his other works in the near future—was inspired by The Empire of Light by René Magritte), and Lawrence Block (inspired by Michelangelo’s David). Other notable stories here include those written by Nicholas Christopher, Joe R. Lansdale, David Morrell, S.J. Rozen, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Justin Scott, and Sarah Weinman. If you like art and you like crime-fiction, this creative writing exercise is certainly worth a read (despite a few typos).
February 28, 2018
I didnt really warm to this book - perhaps I was expecting something quite different!
Many of the stories didnt really feel like they related to the pictures - possibly it was never the intention that there should be an obvious direct connection but it was a distraction to me that I was looking for something that wasnt there!
Disregarding the pictures completely - the stories didnt really grab me on their own merit.
Many of the stories didnt really feel like they related to the pictures - possibly it was never the intention that there should be an obvious direct connection but it was a distraction to me that I was looking for something that wasnt there!
Disregarding the pictures completely - the stories didnt really grab me on their own merit.
October 2, 2023
Overall a disappointment compared to its predecessor: In Sunlight or In Shadow. Although there are a few really good stories in this volume I found the majority fell short of the standard that had been set. Still, I'm glad I read this one. There is something about artists in one genre inspiring artists in another genre that I find terribly appealing.
September 1, 2022
Another fun collection of short stories edited by Lawrence Block. Each author selected a piece of art and wrote a story about it. Some of them were really imaginative.
Read
June 13, 2018An interesting premise that hooked me from the beginning. Although I was drawn to some stories over others, each one was interesting and truly used the art to lead the writing. My favorites were "Safety Rules", "The Third Panel", "Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity", "The Great Wave" and "Gaslight". Specifically recommend "Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity" if you love impressionism. Recommended if you like short stories, any of the authors chosen for this anthology or if you want to feel like you're accomplishing reading (after all, one short story can feel complete!).
February 3, 2022
DNF @ 53%. Joyce Carol Oates may be famous but this story of hers was the final straw before I gave up. I couldn’t get into her story at ALL. The rest didn’t appeal as the first half should have the best stuff (it didn’t) and it wasn’t all that.
January 16, 2018
This was incredibly disappointing. I had high hopes because I really enjoyed the previous collection based on the Hopper paintings but this anthology fails to deliver.
If you pick up this book, read the introduction carefully. I read it quickly, then re-read it when I was finished the book. In the second reading, it was clear that L. Block is telling us that stories that are written quickly, as a favor, and as readers, we can infer that we may not be reading their best work. Cheers to S. King and others who said up front that they didn't have the time to contribute to this anthology, in fact, they were probably saying they don't have time to do it well (my assumption, and if true, good for them).
But as I was reading, I did find one great story, written by David Morrell. This story is why I would give the anthology two stars instead of one. As noted in the introduction, this is a story written in 1988, and actually won an award at the time. Morrell is a fine writer, but it is also clear that he wasn't rushed when he wrote this.
I like the concept and I hope if they ever do something like this again, the publishers will take their time and give the authors time to do it well.
If you pick up this book, read the introduction carefully. I read it quickly, then re-read it when I was finished the book. In the second reading, it was clear that L. Block is telling us that stories that are written quickly, as a favor, and as readers, we can infer that we may not be reading their best work. Cheers to S. King and others who said up front that they didn't have the time to contribute to this anthology, in fact, they were probably saying they don't have time to do it well (my assumption, and if true, good for them).
But as I was reading, I did find one great story, written by David Morrell. This story is why I would give the anthology two stars instead of one. As noted in the introduction, this is a story written in 1988, and actually won an award at the time. Morrell is a fine writer, but it is also clear that he wasn't rushed when he wrote this.
I like the concept and I hope if they ever do something like this again, the publishers will take their time and give the authors time to do it well.
February 26, 2019
Naturally, I like some short stories in this anthology better than others.
My favorite was "Ampurdan," by Warren Moore.
The most eye-opening was Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Thinkers." I was not aware of the radical anti-government domestic terrorist group the Weathermen who were responsible for bombings in the US during the 60s and early 70s. The story is based on actual events, with fictional elements.
"Les Beaux Jours," by Joyce Carol Oates, was just confusing. Apparently I didn't "get" it!
Sarah Weinman's "The Big Town" ended while I was turning to the next page to continue the story. For me there was no ending, it just... ended.
Gail Levin's "After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" and "Safety Rules," by Jill D. Brock were both rather pointless.
Most were worth reading to see how the authors were inspired by the artwork they chose. It bothered me that in "The Third Panel" the author refers to a city in California as San Bernadino. It's San Bernardino!
My favorite was "Ampurdan," by Warren Moore.
The most eye-opening was Kristine Kathryn Rusch's "Thinkers." I was not aware of the radical anti-government domestic terrorist group the Weathermen who were responsible for bombings in the US during the 60s and early 70s. The story is based on actual events, with fictional elements.
"Les Beaux Jours," by Joyce Carol Oates, was just confusing. Apparently I didn't "get" it!
Sarah Weinman's "The Big Town" ended while I was turning to the next page to continue the story. For me there was no ending, it just... ended.
Gail Levin's "After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" and "Safety Rules," by Jill D. Brock were both rather pointless.
Most were worth reading to see how the authors were inspired by the artwork they chose. It bothered me that in "The Third Panel" the author refers to a city in California as San Bernadino. It's San Bernardino!
June 28, 2024
This is Lawrence Block's second art-themed anthology in which authors write original stories inspired by their favorite paintings and sculptures. It leans to crime stories but some are introspective literary stories.
I alternated between the Kindle edition, which contains full-page prints of the paintings, and the audiobook narrated by Matt Godfrey and Xe Sands.
Here are my individual story reviews from most- to least-liked:
"Looking for David" by Lawrence Block -- Matt Scudder and Elaine spend their honeymoon in Europe, where Matt encounters a man whom he arrested for murder years ago. A particularly sad and hardboiled tale inspired by Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, with a jolt of an ending.
"Pierre, Lucien, and Me" by Lee Child -- From the vantage point of 1928, a man recounts a profitable art forgery scam that he engineered in the days following the death of Auguste Renoir. I will never look at another Renoir without wondering whether it is authentic or a fake!
"A Significant Find" by Jeffery Deaver-- A husband and wife team discover unusual paleolithic cave paintings in France. I was so caught up in the interesting archaeological aspects of this story that I never saw the criminal twist coming.
"After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" by Gail Levin -- Georgia O'Keeffe and a feminist journalist spar over whether the artist's flower paintings are really representative of female bodies and reproductive power. O'Keeffe does not want her art limited by labels, but does she understand her own creations? A thought provoking dialogue.
"Charlie the Barber" by Joe R. Lansdale -- Despite his outwardly serene and successful life, Charlie struggles every day with trauma resulting from his time as a POW in the Philippines. His mental crisis is brought to a head one day when two juvenile delinquents walk into his barber shop and try to start trouble. I appreciate how this story plays on the contrast between the popular Norman Rockwell depictions of pre- and post-war America and the realities of what veterans actually suffered.
"Les Beaux Jours" by Joyce Carol Oates -- An 11-year-old girl from a broken home magically enters the world of a Balthus painting, becoming first his model then his slave. This dark fantasy does not make much linear sense, but it explores the creepy fascination the artist had with prepubescent girls, the dynamics of grooming, and the art world's blind eye towards abuse.
"Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity" by David Morrell -- A doctoral student immerses himself in the life of his favorite painter, until he begins to show the same signs of mental disorder as the artist. An interesting take on the mythology of Van Gogh. It seems like a straight-forward ghost/possession story, but then it surprises by inserting a science fiction twist. Won a Bram Stoker Award in the Long Fiction category.
"Safety Rules" by Jill D. Block -- A juror recalls the disappearance of her childhood friend, a crime with similarities to the current case.
"The Third Panel" by Michael Connelly -- Four dealers in a meth lab are found executed, ninja style, by a vigilante group inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights".
"Ampurdan" by Warren Moore -- A pharmacist reflects on failed choices and the guilt he has amassed because of them.
"The Big Town" by Sarah Weinman -- Aurelie is surprised to find a nude portrait of her mother hanging on the wall of her boyfriend's apartment. She uncovers secrets about both her own past as well as the painter's. This is based off the painting Nude in the Studio by Lilias Torrance Newton. It is a self-portrait in real life, I believe, but not in the story.
"The Great Wave" by S. J. Rozan -- An unnamed woman's affair with a wealthy man turns sour after he locks her in his house and refuses to let her out. She begins talking to the figures in the paintings on her wall, who advise her on escape plans.
"Thinkers" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch -- In 1970, the Weathermen blow up The Thinker statue in Cleveland as a form of protest against the Vietnam War. In 2015, their motives are misinterpreted and misrepresented by a new generation of artists and critics.
"Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott -- A suicidal lyrical expressionist painter learns a valuable lesson about art and joy from Clyfford Still. Inspired by Still's painting PH-129.
"Girl with a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher -- Two parallel storylines: In 1902 in the Marquesas islands, Tohotaua models for Paul Gauguin's "Girl With a Fan". In 1944 in Arles, a French resistance soldier tries to steal the painting back from the Nazis. Both storylines are connected by the Widow Vanessa Venicasse, who gave Gaughuin the eponymous fan when she was a young girl.
"Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer -- A wealthy painter suspects her husband of poisoning her.
"Truth Comes Out of her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck -- Archaeologists in northern Germany study a tribe of proto-Vikings that may have resorted to cannibalism. The women in the expedition are hiding a shocking secret.
I alternated between the Kindle edition, which contains full-page prints of the paintings, and the audiobook narrated by Matt Godfrey and Xe Sands.
Here are my individual story reviews from most- to least-liked:
"Looking for David" by Lawrence Block -- Matt Scudder and Elaine spend their honeymoon in Europe, where Matt encounters a man whom he arrested for murder years ago. A particularly sad and hardboiled tale inspired by Michelangelo’s sculpture of David, with a jolt of an ending.
"Pierre, Lucien, and Me" by Lee Child -- From the vantage point of 1928, a man recounts a profitable art forgery scam that he engineered in the days following the death of Auguste Renoir. I will never look at another Renoir without wondering whether it is authentic or a fake!
"A Significant Find" by Jeffery Deaver-- A husband and wife team discover unusual paleolithic cave paintings in France. I was so caught up in the interesting archaeological aspects of this story that I never saw the criminal twist coming.
"After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" by Gail Levin -- Georgia O'Keeffe and a feminist journalist spar over whether the artist's flower paintings are really representative of female bodies and reproductive power. O'Keeffe does not want her art limited by labels, but does she understand her own creations? A thought provoking dialogue.
"Charlie the Barber" by Joe R. Lansdale -- Despite his outwardly serene and successful life, Charlie struggles every day with trauma resulting from his time as a POW in the Philippines. His mental crisis is brought to a head one day when two juvenile delinquents walk into his barber shop and try to start trouble. I appreciate how this story plays on the contrast between the popular Norman Rockwell depictions of pre- and post-war America and the realities of what veterans actually suffered.
"Les Beaux Jours" by Joyce Carol Oates -- An 11-year-old girl from a broken home magically enters the world of a Balthus painting, becoming first his model then his slave. This dark fantasy does not make much linear sense, but it explores the creepy fascination the artist had with prepubescent girls, the dynamics of grooming, and the art world's blind eye towards abuse.
"Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity" by David Morrell -- A doctoral student immerses himself in the life of his favorite painter, until he begins to show the same signs of mental disorder as the artist. An interesting take on the mythology of Van Gogh. It seems like a straight-forward ghost/possession story, but then it surprises by inserting a science fiction twist. Won a Bram Stoker Award in the Long Fiction category.
"Safety Rules" by Jill D. Block -- A juror recalls the disappearance of her childhood friend, a crime with similarities to the current case.
"The Third Panel" by Michael Connelly -- Four dealers in a meth lab are found executed, ninja style, by a vigilante group inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden of Earthly Delights".
"Ampurdan" by Warren Moore -- A pharmacist reflects on failed choices and the guilt he has amassed because of them.
"The Big Town" by Sarah Weinman -- Aurelie is surprised to find a nude portrait of her mother hanging on the wall of her boyfriend's apartment. She uncovers secrets about both her own past as well as the painter's. This is based off the painting Nude in the Studio by Lilias Torrance Newton. It is a self-portrait in real life, I believe, but not in the story.
"The Great Wave" by S. J. Rozan -- An unnamed woman's affair with a wealthy man turns sour after he locks her in his house and refuses to let her out. She begins talking to the figures in the paintings on her wall, who advise her on escape plans.
"Thinkers" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch -- In 1970, the Weathermen blow up The Thinker statue in Cleveland as a form of protest against the Vietnam War. In 2015, their motives are misinterpreted and misrepresented by a new generation of artists and critics.
"Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott -- A suicidal lyrical expressionist painter learns a valuable lesson about art and joy from Clyfford Still. Inspired by Still's painting PH-129.
"Girl with a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher -- Two parallel storylines: In 1902 in the Marquesas islands, Tohotaua models for Paul Gauguin's "Girl With a Fan". In 1944 in Arles, a French resistance soldier tries to steal the painting back from the Nazis. Both storylines are connected by the Widow Vanessa Venicasse, who gave Gaughuin the eponymous fan when she was a young girl.
"Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer -- A wealthy painter suspects her husband of poisoning her.
"Truth Comes Out of her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck -- Archaeologists in northern Germany study a tribe of proto-Vikings that may have resorted to cannibalism. The women in the expedition are hiding a shocking secret.
July 29, 2025
The premise of this book, asking authors to be inspired by art and encouraging them to let their imaginations run, was enough for me to take a chance. I recognized several names so I trusted in their abilities even if I didn't have any experience with them. Plus one of the two narrators is one of my favorites and art is a passion of mine. The result in one way was what I had expected- a mixed bag. Unfortunately while there were a couple of real gems there were a few stories that came off as complete duds to me with most just being mediocre.
The opening story “Safety Rules” was such a promising start. I loved the psychological torment and long view on the rippling effects of childhood trauma and the quests and rabbit holes it can send us on wrapped up under the setting of jury selection.
Lee Child's story might have had teeth if it was drawn out. A person's slide into criminal action can always be fun. As in the situation of several, in the execution it floundered.
The story based on “the Girl with the Fan” was the first complete flop. Conceptually it could be charming in it's way. But the wibbling wobbling shift in timelines allowed for little emotional traction and slight conflict.
Michael Connelly's was the first that I found both intriguing and fun. It did the best of what collections like this can do. It made me potentially interested in authors I hadn't heard of or, in this case, just was skeptical about trying out. I admit I frequently hesitate when it comes to extremely popular or pulp authors and most often when it comes to male crime writers since interactions with women in many have left me cringing. I'm curious to set this aside for this megaauthor. This was also too for Jeffery Deaver's.
Joe R. Landsdale was possibly the absolute highlight for me. His story based on Rockwell's “The Haircut” went deep into the exploration of family, ptsd, and the messy complicated reality of war. It is with out a doubt nothing like what one would expect from such a light hearted classic image.
I'm sad to say that while I'm no doubt her nonfiction is lovely, “After Georgia O'Keefe's Flower” is a more realistic take on art in general, I didn't get much from it. Same the work based on Dali's painting.
“Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity” Felt more like a novella than a short story. In that it went on far too long and went from just feeling predictable to slightly more interesting but rather unending. Thus this was quite a a slog of a section.
Joyce Carol Oates was powerful and made my skin crawl with discomfort. I think with time I can appreciate it, or if it was nestled into a novel. But to be slammed with child imprisonment, neglect, and abused in the face like that was a wake up call I would have liked preparation for.
Thomas Pluck's “Truth Comes out of her Well to Shame Mankind” was a dip into the horror genre that I am conflicted on. I find it interesting and a case of liking a story while finding the central character irritating. But I'd have to settle it in the middle without seeing how it will stand the test of time.
“The Great Wave” I drank up as well. Which is no surprise as psychological elements to story and a link to the influence of Japanese culture and art are catnip for me.
“Thinkers” fell apart faster than the statue. The premise and message of protest gone wrong is curious but I just never felt it came together. Brief flashbacks just slowed the story down. Similarly “Gaslight” was fine but too long and predictable from early on to the point that made the rest feel pointless.
“Blood in the Sun” was a brief dip up, being more about the brutal nature of the art world and a solid enough revenge story.
“Nude in the Studio” had a lot of heart. I am really interested to look more into Sarah Weinman's work.
“Looking for David” was a solid and refreshing end that left this reader at least with a more favorable impression of the collection. Which is as much a sign of good ordering selection as anything else.
So over all, there were some isolated gems. There were enough slogs that I would encourage more borrowing unless purchasing if not a massive fan of author, narrator, though if you are an art connoisseur you may enjoy just the pleasure of seeing how wildly different places the authors go.
The opening story “Safety Rules” was such a promising start. I loved the psychological torment and long view on the rippling effects of childhood trauma and the quests and rabbit holes it can send us on wrapped up under the setting of jury selection.
Lee Child's story might have had teeth if it was drawn out. A person's slide into criminal action can always be fun. As in the situation of several, in the execution it floundered.
The story based on “the Girl with the Fan” was the first complete flop. Conceptually it could be charming in it's way. But the wibbling wobbling shift in timelines allowed for little emotional traction and slight conflict.
Michael Connelly's was the first that I found both intriguing and fun. It did the best of what collections like this can do. It made me potentially interested in authors I hadn't heard of or, in this case, just was skeptical about trying out. I admit I frequently hesitate when it comes to extremely popular or pulp authors and most often when it comes to male crime writers since interactions with women in many have left me cringing. I'm curious to set this aside for this megaauthor. This was also too for Jeffery Deaver's.
Joe R. Landsdale was possibly the absolute highlight for me. His story based on Rockwell's “The Haircut” went deep into the exploration of family, ptsd, and the messy complicated reality of war. It is with out a doubt nothing like what one would expect from such a light hearted classic image.
I'm sad to say that while I'm no doubt her nonfiction is lovely, “After Georgia O'Keefe's Flower” is a more realistic take on art in general, I didn't get much from it. Same the work based on Dali's painting.
“Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity” Felt more like a novella than a short story. In that it went on far too long and went from just feeling predictable to slightly more interesting but rather unending. Thus this was quite a a slog of a section.
Joyce Carol Oates was powerful and made my skin crawl with discomfort. I think with time I can appreciate it, or if it was nestled into a novel. But to be slammed with child imprisonment, neglect, and abused in the face like that was a wake up call I would have liked preparation for.
Thomas Pluck's “Truth Comes out of her Well to Shame Mankind” was a dip into the horror genre that I am conflicted on. I find it interesting and a case of liking a story while finding the central character irritating. But I'd have to settle it in the middle without seeing how it will stand the test of time.
“The Great Wave” I drank up as well. Which is no surprise as psychological elements to story and a link to the influence of Japanese culture and art are catnip for me.
“Thinkers” fell apart faster than the statue. The premise and message of protest gone wrong is curious but I just never felt it came together. Brief flashbacks just slowed the story down. Similarly “Gaslight” was fine but too long and predictable from early on to the point that made the rest feel pointless.
“Blood in the Sun” was a brief dip up, being more about the brutal nature of the art world and a solid enough revenge story.
“Nude in the Studio” had a lot of heart. I am really interested to look more into Sarah Weinman's work.
“Looking for David” was a solid and refreshing end that left this reader at least with a more favorable impression of the collection. Which is as much a sign of good ordering selection as anything else.
So over all, there were some isolated gems. There were enough slogs that I would encourage more borrowing unless purchasing if not a massive fan of author, narrator, though if you are an art connoisseur you may enjoy just the pleasure of seeing how wildly different places the authors go.
October 19, 2020
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.5 of 5
Stories inspired by paintings? That makes a lot of sense. Stories, many by noted and respected authors, of classic, respected works of art? This should be really fantastic.
Should be, but isn't.
In his foreword, editor Lawrence Block notes that this was to be a follow-up to his previous collection (In Sunlight or in Shadow) but that he didn't get the exciting responses he had hoped, and even after getting commitments, two writers were not able to deliver - including Block himself. The general impression is that this was not a priority for many involved.
Overall the stories are a bit dull and uninspired. This is odd, given the quality of the art that inspires them and that each author was able to select the artwork they wished. While I recognize that the artwork served as 'inspiration' (which can be very liberally applied) I generally couldn't make the connection between artwork and story, or I found the connection extremely tenuous.
Some of the authors here are authors whose work I regularly read, which is part of what drew me to the collection.
Two stories stood out for me - one for being quite enjoyable and the other not so much.
Sarah Weinman's "The Big Town" (inspired by Nude in the Studio by Lilias Torrance Newton) is the final story in the book and is far and away the best piece included. Aside from the fact that this story is also most obviously connected with the painting among all the stories, the work is moody and reflects the era of the artwork. It's excellently written and the narrative builds well. My interest in the story was captured early and held on all the way through. I've never read anything by Weinman prior to this, but I'll be looking for more of her work now.
My least favorite piece was "Truth Comes Out of Her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck (inspired by La Vérité sortant du puits by Jean Léon Gerome). The title was perhaps my favorite, and the title, when taken in context of the painting, was really intriguing. But my one word comment at the end of the story was ... "Yuck."
David Morrell's story here is interesting and well done ... and nearly memorable (as I looked back through the book to write this review, I remarked "oh yeah, that was okay").
The rest really were quite average. Not inspiring and not particularly memorable, which makes the book a bit of a disappointment.
This book contains the following:
Foreword: Before we Begin... by Lawrence Block
"Safety Rules by Jill D. Block
"Pierre, Lucien, and Me" by Lee Child
"Girl With a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher
"The Third Panel" by Michael Connelly
"A Significant Find" by Jeffrey Deaver
"Charlie the Barber" by Joe R. Lansdale
"After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" by Gail Levin
"Ampurdan" by Warren Moore
"Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity" by David Morrell
"Les Beaux Jours" by Joyce Carol Oates
"Truth Comes Our of Her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck
"The Great Wave" by SJ Rozan
"Thinkers" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
"Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer
"Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott
"The Big Town" by Sara Weinman
Permissions
Looking for a good book? Alive in Shape and Color, edited by Lawrence Block, is a collection of stories inspired by works of art, written by noted authors, and should be much more appealing than it is. Overall this was a disappointing and not particularly memorable collection of short stories.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
Stories inspired by paintings? That makes a lot of sense. Stories, many by noted and respected authors, of classic, respected works of art? This should be really fantastic.
Should be, but isn't.
In his foreword, editor Lawrence Block notes that this was to be a follow-up to his previous collection (In Sunlight or in Shadow) but that he didn't get the exciting responses he had hoped, and even after getting commitments, two writers were not able to deliver - including Block himself. The general impression is that this was not a priority for many involved.
Overall the stories are a bit dull and uninspired. This is odd, given the quality of the art that inspires them and that each author was able to select the artwork they wished. While I recognize that the artwork served as 'inspiration' (which can be very liberally applied) I generally couldn't make the connection between artwork and story, or I found the connection extremely tenuous.
Some of the authors here are authors whose work I regularly read, which is part of what drew me to the collection.
Two stories stood out for me - one for being quite enjoyable and the other not so much.
Sarah Weinman's "The Big Town" (inspired by Nude in the Studio by Lilias Torrance Newton) is the final story in the book and is far and away the best piece included. Aside from the fact that this story is also most obviously connected with the painting among all the stories, the work is moody and reflects the era of the artwork. It's excellently written and the narrative builds well. My interest in the story was captured early and held on all the way through. I've never read anything by Weinman prior to this, but I'll be looking for more of her work now.
My least favorite piece was "Truth Comes Out of Her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck (inspired by La Vérité sortant du puits by Jean Léon Gerome). The title was perhaps my favorite, and the title, when taken in context of the painting, was really intriguing. But my one word comment at the end of the story was ... "Yuck."
David Morrell's story here is interesting and well done ... and nearly memorable (as I looked back through the book to write this review, I remarked "oh yeah, that was okay").
The rest really were quite average. Not inspiring and not particularly memorable, which makes the book a bit of a disappointment.
This book contains the following:
Foreword: Before we Begin... by Lawrence Block
"Safety Rules by Jill D. Block
"Pierre, Lucien, and Me" by Lee Child
"Girl With a Fan" by Nicholas Christopher
"The Third Panel" by Michael Connelly
"A Significant Find" by Jeffrey Deaver
"Charlie the Barber" by Joe R. Lansdale
"After Georgia O'Keeffe's Flower" by Gail Levin
"Ampurdan" by Warren Moore
"Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity" by David Morrell
"Les Beaux Jours" by Joyce Carol Oates
"Truth Comes Our of Her Well to Shame Mankind" by Thomas Pluck
"The Great Wave" by SJ Rozan
"Thinkers" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
"Gaslight" by Jonathan Santlofer
"Blood in the Sun" by Justin Scott
"The Big Town" by Sara Weinman
Permissions
Looking for a good book? Alive in Shape and Color, edited by Lawrence Block, is a collection of stories inspired by works of art, written by noted authors, and should be much more appealing than it is. Overall this was a disappointing and not particularly memorable collection of short stories.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2017
Lawrence Block continues the “art and writing experience” from In Sunlight or In Shadow with this exciting title “Alive in Shape and Color.” Sixteen authors choose paintings that are catalysts for exploring the paintings before them. The art becomes a portal into another time, a character’s motivation, a dilemma, a dream or a nightmare. The authors are as varied as the paintings, but always surprising and unsettling. David Morrell chose a Van Gogh self-portrait to explore those so passionate about art. Kristine Kathryn Rusch uses an actual event to “think” upon Rodin’s Thinker. Justin Scott’s choice of a Clyfford Still canvas unveils the more pernicious side of the art world. Jeffrey Deaver goes all the way back to the cave paintings of Lescaux but places the action in modern times. Michael Connelly slyly references the artwork of H. Bosch, in a LA setting. While those were my favorites, I cannot forget the darker works of Joyce Carol Oates, S J Rozan and Thomas Pluck – their stories still echoed in my head long after I finished this book. Alive in Shape and Color should be on the gift list for your friends that enjoy great art and excellent writing. It gives insight into what can inspire an author and how story can be shaped around a painter’s vision. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I read it on Bluefire Reader and the quality of the art prints was very good.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this title. I read it on Bluefire Reader and the quality of the art prints was very good.
October 6, 2022
I enjoy these anthologies of Block’s latter days, though his own stories are still far and away my favorites. His style just works for me, but I appreciate the test drive experience of the other authors he appreciates, with minimal commitment for a change of pace, a casual readerly dalliance (several in this case) on the side.
I like the fact that I invariably enjoy some of the works mire than others, and the opinions after of the other reviewers, some aligned with my own thoughts and others polar opposite.
That is what I like about these Block anthologies. The theme of each volume gives me a sense of an academic group project for old seasoned professional creative types, and on some level I informally grade each story on the rubric. Did this entry meet the intended standard? Of course, because LB is a man of competence about these things, to say the least. Do I always share his enthusiasm about the clever technique of his peers? I do not. I like my fiction literal and clear and transparent, not mystical nor magical nor, worst, layered with meanings and messages I can’t tease out.
I like the fact that I invariably enjoy some of the works mire than others, and the opinions after of the other reviewers, some aligned with my own thoughts and others polar opposite.
That is what I like about these Block anthologies. The theme of each volume gives me a sense of an academic group project for old seasoned professional creative types, and on some level I informally grade each story on the rubric. Did this entry meet the intended standard? Of course, because LB is a man of competence about these things, to say the least. Do I always share his enthusiasm about the clever technique of his peers? I do not. I like my fiction literal and clear and transparent, not mystical nor magical nor, worst, layered with meanings and messages I can’t tease out.
May 6, 2018
This good read was a chip off the old Block; Lawrence Block, that is. He’s the editor of this anthology. Seventeen crime stories in all, all taking their origins from paintings by famous artists. There’s a strong lineup on both sides, with artists ranging from van Gogh to O’Keefe and writers from Deavers to Connolly. Something to suit almost everyone’s tastes. (After all, you can read your Emily Dickinson and I my Robert Frost, and vice-versa.) The story I liked best was by Joyce Carol Oates, based on Les Beaux Jours, a painting by Balthus. (If you want to see any of Balthus’ work, you’d better sprint to your nearest art museum before all his stuff gets banished for good.) Because of this book, I may try my hand at reading more works by Oates. And the next time I go to a museum, I won’t just look at the paintings, I may invent stories to go along with them. Of course the most famous art/crime story in Boston is a true one! It remains a curious mystery as to who done it.
September 1, 2021
6/10 - This collection of short stories based on famous paintings runs the gamut stylistically. I'd say over half of the entries didn't really do much for me. Here are the ones I enjoyed most:
Safety Rules (Jill D. Block) - Interesting take on the jury selection process
Charlie The Barber (Joe R. Landsdale) - Tale of an attempted barber shop heist
Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity (David Morrell) - Artist sees faces in the paintings of Van Gogh. Artist goes insane
Looking for David (Lawrence Block)- My favorite of the collection by the editor, who also happens to be my favorite author.
"I don't know how much attention you paid to it, but I wonder if you know what the sculptor is supposed to have said when asked how he managed to create such a masterpiece. It's such a wonderful line it would almsot have to be apocryphal.
"'I looked at the marble,' Michaleangelo is said to have said, 'and I cut away the part that wasn't David.'"
Safety Rules (Jill D. Block) - Interesting take on the jury selection process
Charlie The Barber (Joe R. Landsdale) - Tale of an attempted barber shop heist
Orange is for Anguish, Blue for Insanity (David Morrell) - Artist sees faces in the paintings of Van Gogh. Artist goes insane
Looking for David (Lawrence Block)- My favorite of the collection by the editor, who also happens to be my favorite author.
"I don't know how much attention you paid to it, but I wonder if you know what the sculptor is supposed to have said when asked how he managed to create such a masterpiece. It's such a wonderful line it would almsot have to be apocryphal.
"'I looked at the marble,' Michaleangelo is said to have said, 'and I cut away the part that wasn't David.'"
February 4, 2018
An assemblage by Lawrence Block who recruited writer from Michael Connelly to Joyce Carol Oates to write short stories about a work of art which each writer selected.
The writing, unsurprisingly reflects each writer -- crisp and to the point by Connelly, literary and obscure by Oates, others are gloomy, cheerful, clever.
There is a description and full-color reproduction if each piece of art ranging from abstract oil paintings to Michelangelo's David.
Interesting that, although I seldom select short story collections, I've just finished two, the other being Tom Hanks's collection Uncommon Type.
The writing, unsurprisingly reflects each writer -- crisp and to the point by Connelly, literary and obscure by Oates, others are gloomy, cheerful, clever.
There is a description and full-color reproduction if each piece of art ranging from abstract oil paintings to Michelangelo's David.
Interesting that, although I seldom select short story collections, I've just finished two, the other being Tom Hanks's collection Uncommon Type.
April 10, 2018
A companion to the excellant In Sunlight and Shadows in which authors chose paintings of one of my favorites Edward Hopper and wrote short stories, this collection has varied artists such as Magritte, VanGogh and Norman Rockwell. My favorites was Gaslight , by Jonathan Santlofer( painting The Empire of Light by Rene Magritte, Charlie the Barber by Jon Lonsdale (inspired by Norman Rockwell's Haircut,Safety Rules by Jill Block (inspired by the painting Remember all the Safety Rules by Art Frahm, and After Georgia Okeefe's Flower by Gail Levin inspired by a painting by Georgia O'Keefe. What I loved about this collection like its precessor it combines art and literature.
May 17, 2021
Seventeen authors have each chosen a painting that suggests a story to them. Most of the short stories are very good but a few a quite off the wall. I have never read anything by Joyce Carol Oates but if her novels are anything like her tale included in this book, I think I will be avoiding her in the future. There are great stories by some of my favorites like Michael Connelly and Jeffrey Deaver with a few others that have intrigued me to look for other works by these authors. Stories by Lawrence Block, Lee Child, and Joe R. Landsdale were enjoyable. This is quite an eclectic book of short stories and I enjoyed most of it.
October 29, 2018
As with many compilations of short stories, some of these were very good and some were just bizarre. This is one of the reasons that I am not a fan of this type of book. Of course it gives you an opportuniity to spend a brief amount of time with various authors with the possibility discovering a new love. However, it also means that you may spend a good deal of time with authors who cannot sustain your interest for even a short period. I'm glad I read this anthology as I did make one discovery; however, I wish it had been a library book as I do not think it was money well spent.
November 15, 2017
This book took me by surprise! A glance at the title suggested a book about various paintings.
I was wrong! This is a book of short stories written by well known authors based on a painting they have chosen. What a great concept! An eclectic collection of well written tales makes this an excellent book. One that can be picked up at spare moments, a story read, and then put down again.
I did not put it down, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended
I was wrong! This is a book of short stories written by well known authors based on a painting they have chosen. What a great concept! An eclectic collection of well written tales makes this an excellent book. One that can be picked up at spare moments, a story read, and then put down again.
I did not put it down, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended
January 23, 2018
Extraordinary
I absolutely loved this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I'm really surprised that I liked it so much, because I am not a fan of short stories. I bought this because I love art, and thought the concept was fascinating. Kudos to the editor, Lawrence Block. I enjoyed every story (except the Joyce Carol Oates, but 16 great reads out of 17?). Excellent & the art selections were wonderful too.
I absolutely loved this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I'm really surprised that I liked it so much, because I am not a fan of short stories. I bought this because I love art, and thought the concept was fascinating. Kudos to the editor, Lawrence Block. I enjoyed every story (except the Joyce Carol Oates, but 16 great reads out of 17?). Excellent & the art selections were wonderful too.
March 20, 2018
A wonderful idea to sync known paintings with known writers and create a unique masterpiece.I thought each was special in their own way.Knowing or having read some of their past works helped me appreciate or anticipate what I was about to read.I have to say Joyce Carol Oates has been a favorite of mine for any years and I was not surprised by Les Beax Jours.It felt so like her that I got lost in it.All of the stories were good and well worth reading.
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