Reviews

In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper by Jill D. Block, Jeffery Deaver, Megan Abbott, Nicholas Christopher, Joyce Carol Oates, Edward Hopper, Warren Moore, Gail Levin, Lawrence Block, Lee Child, Craig Ferguson, Joe R. Lansdale, Kris Nelscott, Stephen King, Michael Connelly, Robert Olen Butler, Jonathan Santlofer, Justin Scott

jamielit's review against another edition

3.5

The concept of this book fascinates me: each author chose an Edward Hopper painting and wrote a short story inspired by it.  Each short story includes an image of the painting, so I was doing a lot of back and forth, looking at the painting when something about it was referenced in the story.  While I only really enjoyed several of the stories (I think I don't enjoy the setting of this time period), the concept kept me engaged, always wondering what was going to happen next.  What story is going to come from THIS painting?  This collection includes a few notable authors (Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates, Lee Child, Megan Abbott), but my favorites were actually by authors unknown to me.  I would love this book to be part of a series about different painters.

m_is_for_awesome's review against another edition

5.0

Short, not in the least supernatural, and all the more horrifying for it. Observes so much about human nature and the horrible power of self delusion.

mar1b3n's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0

allisoncope4's review against another edition

fast-paced

5.0

I love everything about this book. It has everything. Incredible inspiration, a wide variety of time-tested and award-winning authors who have given us unexpected, delightful, reflective, humourous, or mysterious stories to enjoy, each an inspired companion to an Edward Hopper painting. I wish I had ten more of these. 

artist_lace's review against another edition

5.0

Reading “In Sunlight or in Shadow” was like wandering through an art gallery with a group of talented storytellers and being whisked away, through their imaginations, to places like New York City and Cape Cod, in any number of varying time periods and scenarios. The stories bring new life to the already vibrant paintings. I especially enjoyed Stephen King’s interpretation of “Room in New York.” This painting is part of the Sheldon Art Museum’s permanent collection and has been a favorite of mine since childhood.

amyl88's review against another edition

5.0

There are some spectacular stories in this collection, each based on or inspired by a different painting by Edward Hopper.

piratequeen's review against another edition

4.0

I love Edward Hopper, because his paintings always tell me a story. Clearly I'm not the only one who feels this way, and when I saw a collection of stories inspired by Hopper's work, I was thrilled. Nor was I disappointed. All of the stories in this volume are interesting and well-written, some of them with quirky humor and other with a dark, twisted flair. My favorites were "Night Windows", by Jonathan Santlofer (beautifully twisted noir), and "Nighthawks", by Michael Connelly. That was the best one by far; it was like reading a Raymond Chandler novel, down to the rain and trenchcoats. Just wonderful.

bleudeciel's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

attytheresa's review against another edition

3.0

Clever premise.

Generally good stories. Only one I really disliked. Loved the ones by Jill Block and Michael Connelly. I do recommend. Fit into 2018 ATY #19. book by a Grand Master Author of the Edgar Awards (Laurence Block among others).

thedoctorsaysrun's review against another edition

4.0

"Foreword: Before We Begin..." by Lawrence Block ****
"Girlie Show" by Megan Abbott ****
"The Story of Caroline" by Jill D. Block ****
"Soir Bleu" by Robert Olen Butler ****
"The Truth About what Happened" by Lee Child *****
"Rooms By the Sea" by Nicholas Christopher ****
"Nighthawks" by Michael Connelly ****
"The Incident of 10 November" by Jeffery Deaver *****
"Taking Care of Business" by Craig Ferguson ***
"The Music Room" by Stephen King ***
"The Projectionist" by Joe R. Lansdale ****
"The Preacher Collects" by Gail Levin ****
"Office At Night" by Warren Moore ****
"The Woman In the Window" by Joyce Carol Oates ****
"Still Life" by Kris Nelscott ****
"Night Windows" by Jonathan Santlofer ****
"A Woman In the Sun" by Justin Scott ***
"Autumn At the Automat" by Lawrence Block ****