As many of you know, I am in the bookselling business. Currently I am behind the scenes, but I occasionally still “hand sell” a book (usually via an email or over the phone, not on the sales floor). And because I am in retail, it might seem odd I would go to the library as I practically have access to any book I want. But sometimes you just have to. I want to see if I would like a book before I buy it, or if it is out of print, or maybe … well you name it.
The last time I went to the library, I noticed that they were having a March Bingo challenge. I had participated in the February and thought I could try again. One of the panels was a book about Vincent van Gogh (I mentioned to the gal checking me out that it was a very odd and specific block, but she mentioned they were having a program later in the year and wanted to drum up some business). Of course, my bookseller brain kicked in and told me that I knew a book about van Gogh. But since it was after 5 pm, I was (literally) off the clock and couldn’t remember the title. But I remember reading it and liking it. And by accident the next day, The Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh’s Search for Beauty by Zahra Marwan came up in a search I was doing. And I read it again.
It is currently available but I found an online reader. I think I might have written a review before, but this time around I had a different mind set. I still enjoyed it, maybe more than before, but also it was familiar as I was remembering the story of the simplified journey of van Gogh’s journey to becoming the painter we would know him as. The story unfolds as he waits for Paul Gauguin to arrive for a visit. While realistic, the illustrations are reminiscent of van Gogh’s work as they slightly mimic his own style. To show the importance of color in his work, the images are popping with color, particularly sunflower yellow.
It is not a full biography, but it is a fun extra book to have for your artist, for a classroom studying him, or an adult who is a fan.
