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houri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chatauchocolat's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
kira323's review against another edition
Will probably return to— just in a reading rut rn
beatrice_apetrei's review against another edition
4.0
“Lust for life” is a biographical novel, written by American writer Irving Stone, being first published in 1934. The plot follows the life of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh after finding out his passion for drawing and painting in his mid-twenties.
I have always loved analyzing people’s thoughts, actionss, motives and purposses, so being given the chance to read biographical books about artists is one of the most beautiful presents I could ever get in a life time, for I am able to finally take a glimpse at what obstacles artists encountered in their path of creating and expressing themselves.
I was never a fan of Vincent van Gogh as his art meant nothing to me, I never understood. He seemed too brutal, unable to make his ideas and feelings understood; I even came to the sad conclusion that he was talentless . I used to compare his work to daVinci’s, Michelangelo’s, Renoir’s and so on, never thinking about the fact that every artist has something else to say.
As an old Irving Stone fan after reading his masterpiece “The Agony and the ecstasy”, I grew curious about his other biographical novels and I thought about trying this one. “Why not?” after all.
At first it bored me, I don’t know why, but I couldn’t get attached to the Van Gogh this author revived from the dead. But in time, little by little, his acts got me, impressed me, pained me and even made me cry of happiness.
Of course the dialogue is all fake, even the author affirms that in the last few pages of the book. But what the protagonist did are facts, found in his correspondence with his brother, Theo. He started from being a believer, to becoming an atheist that had no idea what his purpose was, and to waking up one morning that he enjoyed drawing and that sketching was an addiction for him.
Even though Van Gogh family was known as a family of art critics (Vincent also worked in a gallery), they were not painters. He had no talented relative whatsoever. But he wanted so much to draw and sell a painting, that he worked hard for years, never letting others opinions interfere with his passion . Day by day, in horrible conditions, his skills grew, even though others desconsidered his drawings. Vincent expressed all his being in colors, he said everything he’d wanted to say… hence he became an empty shell, his soul cared no more for art.
This book is what I needed for the moment. I feel bad for waiting so long before finally discovering the beauty of a true artist .
If I recommend it ? How can I not ? It is everything you need to know about artists in just one book. Take art away from them, and you’re a true murderer. They have nothing else left but that.
“Someday my paintings will be hanging in the Louvre.
[Vincent Van Gogh]”
Couldn’t agree more.
I have always loved analyzing people’s thoughts, actionss, motives and purposses, so being given the chance to read biographical books about artists is one of the most beautiful presents I could ever get in a life time, for I am able to finally take a glimpse at what obstacles artists encountered in their path of creating and expressing themselves.
I was never a fan of Vincent van Gogh as his art meant nothing to me, I never understood. He seemed too brutal, unable to make his ideas and feelings understood; I even came to the sad conclusion that he was talentless . I used to compare his work to daVinci’s, Michelangelo’s, Renoir’s and so on, never thinking about the fact that every artist has something else to say.
As an old Irving Stone fan after reading his masterpiece “The Agony and the ecstasy”, I grew curious about his other biographical novels and I thought about trying this one. “Why not?” after all.
At first it bored me, I don’t know why, but I couldn’t get attached to the Van Gogh this author revived from the dead. But in time, little by little, his acts got me, impressed me, pained me and even made me cry of happiness.
Of course the dialogue is all fake, even the author affirms that in the last few pages of the book. But what the protagonist did are facts, found in his correspondence with his brother, Theo. He started from being a believer, to becoming an atheist that had no idea what his purpose was, and to waking up one morning that he enjoyed drawing and that sketching was an addiction for him.
Even though Van Gogh family was known as a family of art critics (Vincent also worked in a gallery), they were not painters. He had no talented relative whatsoever. But he wanted so much to draw and sell a painting, that he worked hard for years, never letting others opinions interfere with his passion . Day by day, in horrible conditions, his skills grew, even though others desconsidered his drawings. Vincent expressed all his being in colors, he said everything he’d wanted to say… hence he became an empty shell, his soul cared no more for art.
This book is what I needed for the moment. I feel bad for waiting so long before finally discovering the beauty of a true artist .
If I recommend it ? How can I not ? It is everything you need to know about artists in just one book. Take art away from them, and you’re a true murderer. They have nothing else left but that.
“Someday my paintings will be hanging in the Louvre.
[Vincent Van Gogh]”
Couldn’t agree more.
rickies0329's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
noteworthy_fiction's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kmsuhling's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nainatai's review against another edition
5.0
When I started reading the book, I couldn't say much for the writing. However, Van Gogh's life has been interesting and probably doesn't need to be documented with too much flair.
By the time I reached Arles, the writing seemed to have improved, and towards the end, it had become a painting of its own.
Can't remember the last time a biography left me feeling completely in love with the subject.
By the time I reached Arles, the writing seemed to have improved, and towards the end, it had become a painting of its own.
Can't remember the last time a biography left me feeling completely in love with the subject.