Welcome to Litsy!

The protagonist in “The Painter” is somewhat different from many other Heller novels. I very much enjoyed his complexity. The book made me feel, in some ways, similar to how I felt reading “The River”.

I‘ve been meaning to post this since my trip last month…

📗 Old Venus (signed) from George R. R. Martin‘s bookstore, Beastly Books

📕 The Painter, set in Santa Fe, found used in op.cit. books

Even though there are only 2 books, they‘re hardcover and they would only fit in my carry-on so I still feel this fits the definition of “haul.” 😅

I had high hopes for this, as I LOVED The River. This just didn‘t do it for me, though. The story itself was decent (although what happened with Grant, and Jason at the end, was quite silly), but I just didn‘t connect enough with Jim to care about his running monologue, especially when describing his paintings.
⭐️: 3/5

Peter Heller's writing is amazing. Descriptive, poetic, and makes me want to leave my coastal home and move to the mountains, and take up fly fishing. Jim is a painter with a violent past. When he sees a man abusing a horse, his violent tendencies return, setting off a cat and mouse game between the good guys and the bad guys. But who is good and who is bad? Jim is not even sure himself. 4 stars 🌟

Peter Heller is a stunning writer. This book has it all: beautiful prose, but also suspense. Character development that blurs the line between light and dark in one man‘s soul. Philosophical musings on art, life, and grief. I think I‘m going to have to read anything else he writes.

Choosing the next book can be hard, but this one was easy —
Daughter: Why are you staring at your books?
Me: Trying to decide what to read next.
Daughter: *grabs book* You‘re reading this one because you‘ve been painting things!

Picture is the shelves I repainted. ❤️

Peter Heller writes in such a unique style; it makes me love reading his physical books. The story of the painter is filled with grief and sadness; how poorly he coped with those emotions. He‘s very insightful as he learns about himself and his blind, immediate response to physical threats. The painter is a raw character with plenty of flaws and a man who only dreams of a simple life. 🎨 👨‍🎨 #MountTBR Art credit: https://www.poesoulstudio.com

Titular painter Jim witnesses a violent episode that triggers another and a cat-and-mouse game. This book weaves together a portrait of a man and his losses in life with a taut thriller that builds tension masterfully. It has one of the best chase scenes I‘ve ever read. If you know Heller, this book combines elements of The Dog Stars and The River quite well.

Work in progress...paint by numbers + listening to bookish podcasts has been helpful for stress reduction. My apologies for not being very active here lately. Anxiety and depression is an ongoing issue as I‘m self isolating on my own. Especially concerned I won‘t be able to be present for my first grandchild‘s birth. On a positive note, my “should I retire early or not” decision has been made for me. Love you All, my Litsy family 🤓

Thank you @Blaire and @MaleficentBookDragon !! I can‘t wait to read this one! Happy Holidays!! #jolabokaflodswap

Love Heller‘s books.

Wanted to like this because I absolutely loved The Dog Stars, but it was really hard to get into the characters.

#BookNLunch! #ThePoconoBookClub edition!! This time at Panera Bread. Yummy broccoli cheddar soup, chunk of delicious fresh baked bread, and agave lemonade! Mmm! ? ? Double discussion of "The Painter" AND "One Summer". Our vote to choose a book resulted in a tie, and the tiebreaker vote resulted in another tie, hence 2 selections! ??? Big turnout today, too! ?? I read both books...enjoyed The Painter much more! ?

#BookNLunch! #ThePoconoBookClub edition!! Panera Bread edition! Accompaniment this afternoon for discussion of "The Painter" AND "One Summer": fuji apple chicken salad, chips, and agave lemonade. MMMmm ?! We had one of lot largest meetings ever, which was fantastic! Wish there were more bibliophiles in our area who like to meet up and discuss books, but the crew we've got is a blessing in and of itself. ???

#BookNBrunch! Our dear friend from Pocono Book Club, former owner of River Run Bookstore in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, wasn't going to be able to make today's meeting, so she invited us to brunch in order to not have to go another month without seeing each other! What a sweetheart. 😊 I finally got to try @MrBook 's fave sandwich here—egg, melted cheddar, arugula, & chorizo on a delicious fresh roll. And of course the Stumptown coffee! Yum! 😋

Books and blankets. Perfect for a rainy summer day.

What an ending to such a good book. I love the way it was written. The protagonist is definitely not a completely good guy, but you can't help fiercely rooting for him throughout the book. Makes you want to get lost in the wilderness and take it all in.

Dollar Tree book haul!

A seemingly scant, terse read, the narrative has deep well-springs of meaning & contemplation. In the American Southwest, a moody & plain Nature artist expresses himself through symbolic painting. Dealing with his daughter's loss, he acts as a bit of a loner & vigilante. I picture Josh Brolin in the title role. This books starts off with a literal BANG! and holds your attention until the end. #PairWith: Don Quixote Blue Corn Bourbon, straight.

It's #Recommendsday ! I'm eager to recommend this great book. It's a tale of adventure, suspense, and danger, wrapped in the beauty of art and nature. Lots of fishing & spending time in the woods. I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read and perfect for summer. Sure to please lovers of art, fishing, and the great outdoors. Pair it with a good, cold beer. (Or in this case, with a Bud Light Lime-a-Rita, since that's all they had at this BBQ) 😉

"What is it about painting, how it can hit people exactly like music, and hit people so differently." P 344

"Most of us are never seen, not clearly, and when we are we likely jump and run. Because being seen can be followed by the crack of a shot or the twang of an arrow." P. 277

Someone recommended this to me. I'm doing the audiobook. It's shockingly masculine. Haha- clearly I have been reading a TON of women writers! There are some interesting aspects, especially the beginning, but I'm not sure if I will be seeing this through. What say you? Any strong feelings on this?