Lust for Life: A Novel of Vincent Van Gogh

Lust for Stone's 'Life'

There is only so much one can say about 'Lust for Life' without tainting it with all of our grimy words. It is a masterpiece, much like van Gogh's paintings, and is the poetic embodiment of Vincent's work. I found this novel mesmerizing and an almost spritual experience. Vincent van Gogh's arduous journey through life was detailed perfectly and painstakingly by Stone- I could feel the bruises on my arms every time one of Vincent's intense crushes denied him, every time ignorant critics laughed at his work. Stone wrote him as a man that was soon woven into the reader's life, and I found myself thinking of that broad Dutch forehead and those passionate blue eyes as I went about mundane tasks and life's trivial pursuits. It was as if van Gogh was a part of me, as if finally someone understood. 'Lust' was a catharsis in that way. It confronted the problems I deal with (doing what you really love to do) as well as the hurt of life. I can't express how much Vincent spoke to me, how Stone's characterization sent me falling for the quiet, intense artist. I still think of him as if he was living, as if I could simply think of him as a friend on a first name basis. Vincent. 'Lust for Life' was a beautiful canvas, to put it in artistic terms. The robust but intense description of the blinding color in Arles and the subdued, melancholy sketches of the Borinage are seen clearly in the mind of the reader. Vincent's face rubbed raw and bleeding by the sun, his blood shot eyes and burning absinthe create all to clear a picture of a man so elusive and ostracized in his time. Stone treats his suicide honorably and explains the reasons behind the ear laceration and asylum. He isn't the crazed manic many people picture him to be, merely a misunderstood, sick one. Stones line 'One cannot paint good-bye' on van Gogh's suicide won me over. AT that moment, my life was completely knotted to the book and Vincent's life. I look out at our world and see it with Vincent, sometimes through his pale blue eyes, and thank Stone for letting me understand him. This truly was an outstanding book that everyone should read. It will leave you changed.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Lust for Life

(Lust for life By Irving Stone) Have u ever felt the need to be loved? In the biography, Lust for Life, by Irving Stone, Vincent Van Gogh suffers a lot of heart ache and sadness. For example the biography begins with Vincent living in a house owned by an older woman and her daughter. He falls in love with her and asks her to marry him. She rejected him and after that he became sort of a stalker. He went by her house as much as he could, even after they kicked him out. He does things like this throughout the book. He also can¿t hold down a job. He tries to follow in his relatives foot steps but, just can¿t seem to do it. I recommend this biography because it is a great adventurous story. Also I would recommend this story to artists more so than other people because the biography shows the struggle a famous went through to eventually become one of the greatest artists there ever was. It shows that people can over come failure and succeed. So yes I would absolutely recommend this book to all ages, races, and cultures.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

intriguing

This was one of the best books I have ever read. After reading, I had a newfound respect for Vincent Van Gogh and the artists of that time

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