Publication Date: 22nd February
Formats: Paperback
Price: Pb £9.99
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
I would like to say a huge thank you to TheWriteReads for organising and inviting me to take part on this intriguing, and fascinating book’s tour. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Neem Tree Press for allowing me to read and review a copy of this compelling book. I would also like to say thank you to the creator, Jake Kendall, in this fantastic, alluring, weird and wonderful collection of stories about Art and the vanities in creating them. Intrigued? Let’s head over to the blurb and find out a bit more.
Spanning 300 years of art history and weaving art styles including Cubism, Surrealism and the Baroque into his prose, Jake Kendall’s collection tells the stories of those with an obsession with creation – artists who sacrifice friendships, careers, romance, and even their own happiness in pursuit of a vision.
How far would you go for the sake of art?
In these 8 illustrated short stories, Monet, Van Gogh, Gericault and others navigate the boundary between art and experience through masterfully written prose that reflects each artists style. The collection culminates with “The Vanitas” , where Sandro Signirelli’s philosophy that a lifetime of faith and toil shall receive its just reward is challenged by the emergence of a new artist. Across town, Michaelangelo Merisi, is making seismic waves. The city of Rome cannot help but be captivated by this explosive eruption of talent, swagger, seduction and violence, while Sandro’s life is plunged into crisis by a rival who does not know his name.
I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I do of course have some knowledge into the world of art, especially the most iconic and famous artists such as Monet and Van Gogh, who doesn’t, but having read this collection and how flowing each tale is connected to each artist or famous painting it feels like you are seeing the person behind the famous gloss and veneer and how sometimes they were just human, flawed and yet created some of the most sublime works even if it hurt themselves and others to produce it.
Each tale is constructed to either represent some feeling from you such as horror, disgust or strange fascination, maybe humor or even love. Some of the tales also show how art can be both muse and an obsession and can excite passions of both lust, greed and envy which can destroy relationships both friendly and romantic. There were some I wasn’t too fond of but that’s most likely my own opinion, but each story is both cleverly crafted and beautifully written that even if there are ones you are unsure of, they will still linger in your mind like your own private haunting. The one story that I have to admit is brilliant and just fantastic in my opinion is the last one, The Vanitas, just because it’s to me an historical fiction and set during a period in time where art was used as both a religious tool and also used for prestige and greatness. It was both a highly exciting and dangerous time for men creating such beautiful images.
With Sandro being our eyes and ears, we see what life would have been like both for a master painter and also for their protégés and how life can hang in the balance if you have a rival and that maybe sometimes instead of trying to create greatness and causing suffering along the way but maybe copy this new form of art rather than discard it. And sometimes we find our own greatness hidden.
This book at certain times held me in thrall and at others weirded me out a bit too much, but overall I found myself compelled to read it till the last page had turned and it still has not left me. Each story has left a negative style flash in my mind (not negative as in bad) just that like pictures they have each left an impression on my mind. With a collection such as this I cannot highly recommend it enough, if you love art or have a fascination with it, this book should definitely be in your hands.
Ratings: 4 🌟s with a large ☕️ and a large 🍰
Author’s Blurb:
Jake Kendall is a freelance writer based in Edinburgh. He holds an MSc in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh, and his work has been published in a variety of UK and US-based literary journals. One of his pieces was recently shortlisted for the Scottish Arts Club annual short story contest. Jake has had a lifelong fascination with art and art history and is thrilled to share this passion in his upcoming collection, The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession.
I hope you have enjoyed this, intriguing, strange and fascinating collection of stories about art, obsession and vanities. If you are wanting a copy, you can preorder from Amazon or Waterstones or any other independent store. I will leave you now to say Happy Reading and see you soon!!!
Zoe's Book Nook 