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A review by nglofile
In Sunlight or in Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper by Lawrence Block
3.0
3.5 stars. Paintings not only distill narrative, they invite them. Who of us has not spent time gazing at a work of art, inventing what is happening, what has happened, and what will happen next? Selecting an artist with a varied oeuvre and a distinct point of view to be the connecting thread for an anthology of short works is inspired. Choosing Edward Hopper? Brilliant.
Story collections are tricky things, and I appreciate the truth that both style and substance of each work will not appeal equally to all readers. My favorites may be your least and vice versa. I've come to expect that. Given Hopper's tones and subjects, it's natural that many of the invented stories would lean into the noir. Again, not something about which I would complain. My slight disappointment -- and let me be clear, I did enjoy/appreciate the book and do recommend it -- is that there isn't enough distinction. Many of the stories are similar enough in one aspect or another as to blur the lines between them, which also has the unfortunate effect of making them not only less distinguishable but also near unmemorable. Even now, a mere day after finishing, I would have difficulty articulating impressions of more than a few of the stories.
audiobook note: A solid cast of narrators, though as with the collection of authors, some performances will be stronger than others. Glad to see George Newbern included and also that he was tasked with two of the selections. His talent of communicating the Everyman but with hidden facets worked especially well in this form.
The big obstacle in experiencing this in audio, narrator appeals aside, is that the reader doesn't have the enhancement of viewing the image that inspired each story. This could be seen as an opportunity, as the listener is then free to draw either on memory or imagination; however, especially for this particular premise, it may be better as a revisit rather than a first exposure.
Story collections are tricky things, and I appreciate the truth that both style and substance of each work will not appeal equally to all readers. My favorites may be your least and vice versa. I've come to expect that. Given Hopper's tones and subjects, it's natural that many of the invented stories would lean into the noir. Again, not something about which I would complain. My slight disappointment -- and let me be clear, I did enjoy/appreciate the book and do recommend it -- is that there isn't enough distinction. Many of the stories are similar enough in one aspect or another as to blur the lines between them, which also has the unfortunate effect of making them not only less distinguishable but also near unmemorable. Even now, a mere day after finishing, I would have difficulty articulating impressions of more than a few of the stories.
audiobook note: A solid cast of narrators, though as with the collection of authors, some performances will be stronger than others. Glad to see George Newbern included and also that he was tasked with two of the selections. His talent of communicating the Everyman but with hidden facets worked especially well in this form.
The big obstacle in experiencing this in audio, narrator appeals aside, is that the reader doesn't have the enhancement of viewing the image that inspired each story. This could be seen as an opportunity, as the listener is then free to draw either on memory or imagination; however, especially for this particular premise, it may be better as a revisit rather than a first exposure.