SUNFLOWERS

Author: Sheramy Bundrick ISBN: 9780061765278 10/2009 HISTORICAL FICTION Publisher: AVON A
Time Period: 1800s France

"I'd heard about him but had never seen him, the foreigner with the funny name who wandered the countryside painting pictures." From a talented new author comes a poignant and haunting novel of creation and desire, passion and madness, art and love. A young prostitute seeking temporary refuge from the brothel, Rachel awakens in a beautiful garden in Arles to discover she is being sketched by a red-haired man in a yellow straw hat. This is no ordinary artist but the eccentric painter Vincent van Gogh—and their meeting marks the beginning of a remarkable relationship. He arrives at their first assignation at No. 1, Rue du Bout d'Arles, with a bouquet of wildflowers and a request to paint her—and before long, a deep, intense attachment grows between Rachel and the gifted, tormented soul. But the sanctuary Rachel seeks from her own troubled past cannot be found here, for demons war within Vincent's heart and mind. And one shocking act will expose the harsh, inescapable truth about the artist she has grown to love more than life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

From the first page, I was drawn into Sheramy Bundrick’s debut novel, SUNFLOWERS. While I admit I’ve never had more than a passing interest in Vincent Van Gogh, this fictionalized glimpse into the gifted painter’s mind and life is wholly compelling. Also, the author has a thoughtful, evocative writing style that kept me turning the pages.

A story that illustrates the difference between perception and reality, it is both uplifting and sad. Van Gogh establishes a relationship with a woman he meets when he, unbeknownst to her, begins to paint her in a garden. They become friendly, but their acquaintance is filled with highs and lows. Rachel remains reluctant to pose for Vincent; she is underwhelmed when she sees him paint, and when he begins to show the signs of serious mental illness, she is suspicious of the company he keeps.

I was particularly touched by the letters in the book. Here we see, unedited and uncensored, some of the most honest emotions and thoughts. I must warn that if you’re looking for a happy ending, look elsewhere. I finished this book in one sitting, and when I was done I felt somewhat drained. While I knew that logically there wouldn’t be a happily-ever-after, I still wanted one because I cared about these characters.

Very well done!

Kay James