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A review by otterno11
The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris Van Allsburg
4.0
I have to admit, I read this book due to pure narcissism. Strolling in a bookstore, I noticed that the “main character” of this book shared my first name and the first three letters of my surname. Of course I had to read it, so I did a little research and requested both this book, and Chris Van Allsburg's original 1984 “Mysteries of Harris Burdick.” The premise is intriguing; an eccentric author, the eponymous “Harris Burdick,” drops off a pile of intriguingly beguiling artwork and story promises, only to disappear before making good on the tales that go along with the strange pictures. I did not grow up with this book, oddly enough, though, I am sure I would have loved it as a kid. I know I've seen some of the amazingly mysterious images presented in the picture book here and there over the years, but I did not know that they had all originated in the same picture book illustrated by the author of “Jumanji.” Flipping through “Mysteries” is quite enjoyable, even for an adult, and I would definitely pick this up for any hypothetical children.
As for “The Chronicles of Harris Burdick,” in which a stable of authors tell the stories inspired by Van Allsburg's, er, “Harris Burdick's” imagery, they definitely had quite a task ahead of them to do justice to the ideas the imaginations of the readers have already built up around the “Mysteries.” More or less, they succeed. The authors do a fair job bringing to life their visions of the background to the surreal pictures and the promising bits of text that accompany them, and a few even approach some of the wonder that the reader of the original has imagining the story behind the mysteries. The best take inspiration from the pictures and twist them into something unexpected, and I particularly liked Van Allsburg's own story “Oscar and Alphonse,” Lois Lowry's “The Seven Chairs,” Louis Sachar's surreal “Captain Tory,” and Kate DiCamillo's bittersweet “The Third-Floor Bedroom.” My favorite was definitely M.T. Anderson' s “Just Desert,” based on the painting of the glowing pumpkin and taking such bizarre image to a thought provoking and disturbing conclusion. All in all, the stories were fun, great to compare to your own interpretations, and a worthy rendition of the source.
As for “The Chronicles of Harris Burdick,” in which a stable of authors tell the stories inspired by Van Allsburg's, er, “Harris Burdick's” imagery, they definitely had quite a task ahead of them to do justice to the ideas the imaginations of the readers have already built up around the “Mysteries.” More or less, they succeed. The authors do a fair job bringing to life their visions of the background to the surreal pictures and the promising bits of text that accompany them, and a few even approach some of the wonder that the reader of the original has imagining the story behind the mysteries. The best take inspiration from the pictures and twist them into something unexpected, and I particularly liked Van Allsburg's own story “Oscar and Alphonse,” Lois Lowry's “The Seven Chairs,” Louis Sachar's surreal “Captain Tory,” and Kate DiCamillo's bittersweet “The Third-Floor Bedroom.” My favorite was definitely M.T. Anderson' s “Just Desert,” based on the painting of the glowing pumpkin and taking such bizarre image to a thought provoking and disturbing conclusion. All in all, the stories were fun, great to compare to your own interpretations, and a worthy rendition of the source.