Scan barcode
skyegabrielle's review
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
theirishbooklover's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Short, Stories, Unique, Artistic.
I read this book as an ebook. There are some striking illustrations at the start of each of the short stories, on the kindle they are black and white, I can only assume they are in beautiful colour in the paperback edition.
Each of these short stories are inextricably linked by art, the artist and both good/bad obsession with their work/cause. I definitely think it is the sort of book that you would read one short story a day. It is just over 270 pages.
Some of the characters are names you may have heard of in the world of art so I won't be giving this book a rating. I'd recommend if you are a fan of art, art history or the artistic mind. There may be a few triggers in some stories. It was certainly a unique reading for me as I had never read anything about art or artists.
Thank you to the author, Neem Tree Press Publisher's and The Write Reads for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book as an ebook. There are some striking illustrations at the start of each of the short stories, on the kindle they are black and white, I can only assume they are in beautiful colour in the paperback edition.
Each of these short stories are inextricably linked by art, the artist and both good/bad obsession with their work/cause. I definitely think it is the sort of book that you would read one short story a day. It is just over 270 pages.
Some of the characters are names you may have heard of in the world of art so I won't be giving this book a rating. I'd recommend if you are a fan of art, art history or the artistic mind. There may be a few triggers in some stories. It was certainly a unique reading for me as I had never read anything about art or artists.
Thank you to the author, Neem Tree Press Publisher's and The Write Reads for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
avoraciousreader68's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
4.5
Book source ~ TWR Book Tour
The author takes a famous painting (or maybe not so famous) and creates a story about it. So this is a book with several short stories about artwork.
I’ll say this right off, I am no fan of art. What I know about art could probably fit into a shot glass and have room left over. It’s just not my thing. But I do love stories and this is an anthology filled with stories that happen to be about art. I was a little hesitant at first to accept this for review because of my non-existant interest in art, but the stories sounded fascinating (they are!), so I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did! The writing is top notch. Each story unfolds at a perfect pace and they are a wonder to behold. I even like the illustrations. Will wonders never cease? I highly recommend this collection of excellent art tales!
tricia0613's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession by Jake Kendell is a collection of 8 short stories centered around different art styles, with each story being preceded by a small black and white illustration that reflects the story that follows. Each story shows someone whose life is somehow revolving around art/paitings and how their greed/obsession/vanity surrounding it determines their fate - how art can enrich one's life but also be the trigger to someone's demise if they let negative feelings foster and lead them astray.
I'm not an art expert. I studied it superficially in middle school as a part of our history curriculum and enjoy looking at it whenever I find a new exihibition nearby or while traveling. So while I am familar with most known art styles and know a few of the most famous names, I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur in the true sense of the word. Still, as I find the subject interesting, I was immediately drawn to this book - and I can say I was not disappointed! As with any anthology, of course there will be highs and lows depending on how much each story ressonates with the reader, but this was a very strong collection. Each story had something that drew me in or that I enjoyed. I was particularly impressed by the prose - not only is it beautiful in its own right but it also seems to change and mold itself to fit the art style of the painting that precedes each story.
My favourite story of the bunch was "Thirty-Seven Neugrabenstrasse" - an absolute 5 stars for me! I loved the exploration of not only the familial relationships but also of Markus discovering his own sense of self and growing to free himself of the shackles of his family history. In addition, the historical setting in post WW2 Austria - a time I feel still doesn't get much exploration in mainstream fiction - was an added bonus.
All this said, and while I think that having some art knowledge will help increase your appreciation for this book, it is definitely not a necessity. I would absolutely recommend it both to art afficionados and laymen alike!
I would like to thank The Write Reads for organizing this review blog tour and Neem Tree Press for gifting me the eARC for this lovely book.
This review reflects only my honest opinion.
I'm not an art expert. I studied it superficially in middle school as a part of our history curriculum and enjoy looking at it whenever I find a new exihibition nearby or while traveling. So while I am familar with most known art styles and know a few of the most famous names, I wouldn't call myself a connoisseur in the true sense of the word. Still, as I find the subject interesting, I was immediately drawn to this book - and I can say I was not disappointed! As with any anthology, of course there will be highs and lows depending on how much each story ressonates with the reader, but this was a very strong collection. Each story had something that drew me in or that I enjoyed. I was particularly impressed by the prose - not only is it beautiful in its own right but it also seems to change and mold itself to fit the art style of the painting that precedes each story.
My favourite story of the bunch was "Thirty-Seven Neugrabenstrasse" - an absolute 5 stars for me! I loved the exploration of not only the familial relationships but also of Markus discovering his own sense of self and growing to free himself of the shackles of his family history. In addition, the historical setting in post WW2 Austria - a time I feel still doesn't get much exploration in mainstream fiction - was an added bonus.
All this said, and while I think that having some art knowledge will help increase your appreciation for this book, it is definitely not a necessity. I would absolutely recommend it both to art afficionados and laymen alike!
I would like to thank The Write Reads for organizing this review blog tour and Neem Tree Press for gifting me the eARC for this lovely book.
This review reflects only my honest opinion.
elementarymydear's review
5.0
This collection of short stories takes its inspiration from famous artworks throughout history. While the stories all have different settings, time periods, and sometimes genres, they are thematically linked.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
I really enjoyed this approach to a short story collection. From many different angles the author examined the titular themes of art and obsession. It was an unusual approach but I thought it worked brilliantly! It leant into the strengths of the book’s structure, and made for a very cohesive collection.
There was a really good variety between the stories, both in genre and in length. I particularly liked the multi-part Vanitas, with its renaissance Italy setting. Composition #5 was also a favourite of mine, in the way it explored the darker side of the muse-artist relationship.
Overall this is an excellent collection of stories, unlike any other!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
I really enjoyed this approach to a short story collection. From many different angles the author examined the titular themes of art and obsession. It was an unusual approach but I thought it worked brilliantly! It leant into the strengths of the book’s structure, and made for a very cohesive collection.
There was a really good variety between the stories, both in genre and in length. I particularly liked the multi-part Vanitas, with its renaissance Italy setting. Composition #5 was also a favourite of mine, in the way it explored the darker side of the muse-artist relationship.
Overall this is an excellent collection of stories, unlike any other!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
m4rvtr's review
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was drawn to this novel immediately because, as an artist myself, I love books that talk about art and especially about the obsession with and about art (and also because I really liked the cover). So that is how I ended up with a digital arc of "The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession" provided by NetGalley (tysm!!). The book consists of eight short stories all centring art, vanity, greed, pride, obsession, suffering, and the human condition, or so the description says.And, yeah, in a way it is correct.
At first, I was really enjoying this collection, especially because I was impressed with Jake Kendall's use of prose, and also because of the beautiful illustrations accompanying each story. Kendall is undoubtedly a great author, with excellent knowledge in how to use language and how to enamour the reader. But as I kept reading the initial aw receded and the actual core of each story became visible and, personally, I found them to be lacking. The subject of most of these stories proved to be mediocre at best, juvenile at worse with the author just circling around the point over and over and missing their target eaach time.
The story that actually lent its title to the collection was my least favorite of all to be honest. Again, the writing style was good, but it was devoid of any actual significance; in fact it seemed more like the author was trying to do several things at once but ultimately achieved nothing at all.
Another criticism that I have are the female character of the book. It doesn't bother me that almost all of the stories (except maybe one I think) feature male characters as protagonists. What does bother me, however, is that the female characters serve as mere plot tools to reaffirm or oppose the MCs, while having their own existence solely revolve around them. Even in "The Vanitas" where a female character, Fernanda, is given more of a voice than all other female characters combined in the other stories, it simply exists to advise and help Sandro's own charcter development.
The two stories that I did really like were "Composition #5" and "Thirty-Seven Neugrabenstrasse". I feel that these two shine brighter than the others.
I can't wait for this book to come out so I can see what others thought of it!
At first, I was really enjoying this collection, especially because I was impressed with Jake Kendall's use of prose, and also because of the beautiful illustrations accompanying each story. Kendall is undoubtedly a great author, with excellent knowledge in how to use language and how to enamour the reader. But as I kept reading the initial aw receded and the actual core of each story became visible and, personally, I found them to be lacking. The subject of most of these stories proved to be mediocre at best, juvenile at worse with the author just circling around the point over and over and missing their target eaach time.
The story that actually lent its title to the collection was my least favorite of all to be honest. Again, the writing style was good, but it was devoid of any actual significance; in fact it seemed more like the author was trying to do several things at once but ultimately achieved nothing at all.
Another criticism that I have are the female character of the book. It doesn't bother me that almost all of the stories (except maybe one I think) feature male characters as protagonists. What does bother me, however, is that the female characters serve as mere plot tools to reaffirm or oppose the MCs, while having their own existence solely revolve around them. Even in "The Vanitas" where a female character, Fernanda, is given more of a voice than all other female characters combined in the other stories, it simply exists to advise and help Sandro's own charcter development.
The two stories that I did really like were "Composition #5" and "Thirty-Seven Neugrabenstrasse". I feel that these two shine brighter than the others.
I can't wait for this book to come out so I can see what others thought of it!
thepennotthesword's review
3.0
Free will had been forced upon beings too flawed to choose restraint, and it had made them most unworthy stewards.
I was a little nervous when starting this book, as I’m not a massive fan of art- I definitely appreciate the skill, but I couldn’t spend hours admiring. But I found The Vanitas to be a wonderful short story collection centred around art and obsession, with beautiful illustrations to match. Who knew all it took was a back story and narrative for me to start to like art!
Each illustration has its own uniquely thought out short story, with a brilliant array of characters and own interpretation of the centralised themes of art and obsession. Despite their varying lengths, each short story follows their own narrative to completion, with no story feeling unfinished or abandoned. Whilst each story focuses on art and obsession, specifically in relation to the artist, other themes that run throughout this collection include abandonment and loss, love (in all its forms), vanity and pride, greed and power. However, this collection also discusses through its different short stories, about how sometimes what we have is enough. Taking stock of what you have achieved and all you have gained, rather than on what you don’t have.
And we must all suffer for our dreams and passions.
The language used in this short story collection is the major selling point for this book. Jake Kendall’s description is so impressively vivid, with striking colours and metaphors that really made you feel as though you were in the artwork, and really made these illustrations come to life in a completely new way. This further added to the intricately drawn illustrations that started each short story.
The human spirit endures – forever suspended between hope and despair, drifting into the uncertain future.
I would recommend this collection to lovers of art, short story enthusiasts and anyone who wants to view art in an entirely new light.
Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
nathaaniel's review
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
niaamore's review
emotional
reflective
3.5
Fans of Art History will love this dedication to the tortured artists we know and love.
Art comes at a price, often steep, and this book captures the risks and obsessions that come with the craft. The writing is atmospheric, I felt like I was in the mind of these characters. It’s a bit too flowery at times, but that’s a personal preference rather than a critique. Overall, a worthwhile read for artists and art fans alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for this ARC.
Art comes at a price, often steep, and this book captures the risks and obsessions that come with the craft. The writing is atmospheric, I felt like I was in the mind of these characters. It’s a bit too flowery at times, but that’s a personal preference rather than a critique. Overall, a worthwhile read for artists and art fans alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and Neem Tree Press for this ARC.
f33lthesun's review
4.0
I was a bit nervous to read this book as, although I appreciate art and have a “recognition on sight” for many artists’ works, I worried this would not be enough to just enjoy the stories, that I might have to break off to do further reading. I was wrong. A couple of times, I even recognised the artist/painting before it was fully revealed.
This wonderful collection comprises seven short stories and a longer short story, The Vanitas. The author has managed to depict separate, individual voices in each one. They are all different points of view and each feels complete in itself.
The eight stories, whilst all centred around artists, their art and obsession, illustrate clearly and brutally, the consequences of the artists’ single mindedness on those around them, be they loved ones, friends, acquaintances or strangers brought into their sphere.
In one story, a whole city is caught up at varying levels. In another, the truth and horror of the event the artist has chosen to depict gets lost as he glorifies what happened, much to the horror of the two survivors he seeks to include.
It is difficult to write about the individual stories without giving them away so will keep it general. It is also difficult to write about the book as a whole, but better than giving spoilers.
One of the stories is about nature’s gift of the sunrise and the description is echoed gloriously in the colours of the book cover.
There are different themes across the stories – despair, abandonment, hope, pride, greed, poverty, vanity, love (including the unrequited sort), power and powerlessness. For me, one of the overarching themes of the book as a whole is to take in what is around you and not take what you have for granted if / when you decide you need to search for something more, unless of course what you have is not actually yours.
This quote from Earthly Delights struck a chord with me: Free will had been bestowed upon beings too flawed to choose restraint, and it had made them most unworthy stewards. Whilst in the context of the story it is referring to humans and our planet, more specifically I also related it to the obsession of those artists in blinkered pursuit of their vision, to the detriment of those who love them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and will be looking out for more of Jake Kendall’s work in the future.
Thanks to @NeemTreePress and @The_WriteReads for the proof copy in order to write this review.
More...