Thank you very much for these suggestions, all of which I now want to read. I have only read A Month in the Country, one of my favourite novels. It is simply exquisite.
Such an interesting list, An Artist of the Floating World was the first Ishiguro I read and I think it's my favourite. A Month in the Country has long been on my TBR list and it sounds like the perfect tonic for my current wistful, nostalgic melancholic state (which tbf is kind of all the time these days 😂)
I've long wanted to read Lanark but I'm hesitant now after attempting Unlikely Stories, Mostly, which I struggled with. Am I likely to enjoy Lanark, I wonder?
One more for your list: The Pornographer of Vienna by Lewis Crofts, about Egon Schiele. I remember enjoying it, though I'm not sure it's considered a classic in the genre.
This is so interesting! The different views of an artist's life...quite miserable really, and perhaps deluded? I don't know, food for thought. And I had no idea about the English church murals, what a tragedy, thanks for including the photo.
Great stuff. 'An Artist of the Floating World' is the first Ishiguro I read too (@DanielPuzzo) I keep meaning to to re-read it. 'A Month in the Country' is a wonderful and humane book. The evocation of a bucolic summer in the north of England is unsurpassed. The other two are going on the wish list immediately.
This is a good list, thank you! All on my radar but this has nudged me not to neglect them as I have been - and J. L. Carr keeps coming up, might have to be my next read.
My own recommendation in this line: Artemisia by Anna Banti is pretty great.
Thank you for this reading list. The Ishiguro was, as I see is true for another commenter, my introduction to his work, and a favorite. I am also glad to be reminded of the Zola, which I may need to read again. (Do I recall correctly that this book ended his friendship with Cezanne?) Lanark looks like more than I can manage, though it does sound intriguing. Thank you for keeping us in both reading and viewing material!
Thanks for these rec’s, will look into them. And such a rich thread with good books of artists and their passion and struggles to create! I definitely relate:)
Thank you for a fascinating post (and thank you Deborah Vass for sharing it). I haven’t read any of these books but have had ‘A month in the Country’ on my buy and read list (it’s huge!). A pair of novels that I have very much enjoyed are ‘My Name is Asher Lev’ and ‘The Gift of Asher Lev’. Both show the struggle of the eponymous artist to first start creating art and later what he has to concede to continue/become a ‘great’ artist. Please note, you don’t have to be Jewish to read this novels! Thanks once again.
A Month in the Country is one of my favourite books, and the film is exquisite too. I have a lovely copy of the book, printed by The Quince Tree Press, JLCarr's own printing press, beautifully illustrated by Christopher Fiddes
A couple of comments: 1) All books, regardless of the rigor of their research, are an attempt at synthesis. And, by definition, fiction. The whole is never superior to its parts. Context is everything. Every attempt at synthesis discards vital facts. 2) Having said that, I recognize that synthesis is necessary. The difference between non-fiction and fiction attempts at synthesis, I would argue, is that non-fiction task you with the hard work of reaching your own conclusions.
Just ordered "Lanark: A Life in 4 Books"! I had never heard of it before, and you've really sold it to me. I've only read "An Artist of the Floating World" from this list, and I enjoyed it very much, although I don't think it's as strong as some of Ishiguro's other books. Another book that might fit in this niche is "Bluebeard" by Kurt Vonnegut! I would be interested to hear your thoughts on that if you've read it.
Thank you very much for these suggestions, all of which I now want to read. I have only read A Month in the Country, one of my favourite novels. It is simply exquisite.
Quite. The film is pretty good too.
It is. I would love to see it again!
Such an interesting list, An Artist of the Floating World was the first Ishiguro I read and I think it's my favourite. A Month in the Country has long been on my TBR list and it sounds like the perfect tonic for my current wistful, nostalgic melancholic state (which tbf is kind of all the time these days 😂)
I've long wanted to read Lanark but I'm hesitant now after attempting Unlikely Stories, Mostly, which I struggled with. Am I likely to enjoy Lanark, I wonder?
One more for your list: The Pornographer of Vienna by Lewis Crofts, about Egon Schiele. I remember enjoying it, though I'm not sure it's considered a classic in the genre.
Lanark is by far the best of Gray's works -- it's really a masterpiece!
I would enjoy the book about Schiele... thank you for the reccomendation!
This is so interesting! The different views of an artist's life...quite miserable really, and perhaps deluded? I don't know, food for thought. And I had no idea about the English church murals, what a tragedy, thanks for including the photo.
To think of all the art the Reformation destroyed! Grr
Great stuff. 'An Artist of the Floating World' is the first Ishiguro I read too (@DanielPuzzo) I keep meaning to to re-read it. 'A Month in the Country' is a wonderful and humane book. The evocation of a bucolic summer in the north of England is unsurpassed. The other two are going on the wish list immediately.
This is a good list, thank you! All on my radar but this has nudged me not to neglect them as I have been - and J. L. Carr keeps coming up, might have to be my next read.
My own recommendation in this line: Artemisia by Anna Banti is pretty great.
Thank you for this reading list. The Ishiguro was, as I see is true for another commenter, my introduction to his work, and a favorite. I am also glad to be reminded of the Zola, which I may need to read again. (Do I recall correctly that this book ended his friendship with Cezanne?) Lanark looks like more than I can manage, though it does sound intriguing. Thank you for keeping us in both reading and viewing material!
Thanks for these rec’s, will look into them. And such a rich thread with good books of artists and their passion and struggles to create! I definitely relate:)
Thank you for a fascinating post (and thank you Deborah Vass for sharing it). I haven’t read any of these books but have had ‘A month in the Country’ on my buy and read list (it’s huge!). A pair of novels that I have very much enjoyed are ‘My Name is Asher Lev’ and ‘The Gift of Asher Lev’. Both show the struggle of the eponymous artist to first start creating art and later what he has to concede to continue/become a ‘great’ artist. Please note, you don’t have to be Jewish to read this novels! Thanks once again.
A Month in the Country is one of my favourite books, and the film is exquisite too. I have a lovely copy of the book, printed by The Quince Tree Press, JLCarr's own printing press, beautifully illustrated by Christopher Fiddes
A Life in Four Books sounds fascinating! I am going to order it!
It’s actually my favourite book of all time! Got me a place in my Oxford interview 😅😅😅😅
Okay well now I REALLY need to read it!
Thank you for this—I’m updating my to-read list!
This is a theme I find fascinating in Thomas Mann’s work: ‘Dr Faustus’, ‘Death in Venice’, ‘Tonio Kroger’.
Thomas Mann is a great writer
Thanks for this interesting post, Rebecca. I'm a fan of Kazuo Ishiguro, and haven't yet read 'An Artist of the Floating World'. Must do so now!
A couple of comments: 1) All books, regardless of the rigor of their research, are an attempt at synthesis. And, by definition, fiction. The whole is never superior to its parts. Context is everything. Every attempt at synthesis discards vital facts. 2) Having said that, I recognize that synthesis is necessary. The difference between non-fiction and fiction attempts at synthesis, I would argue, is that non-fiction task you with the hard work of reaching your own conclusions.
Thank you so much for your insightful comment Bill! I think you have enough material here for an article of your own 👍
Thank you for your kind comment, but I have too much reading to do…
Just ordered "Lanark: A Life in 4 Books"! I had never heard of it before, and you've really sold it to me. I've only read "An Artist of the Floating World" from this list, and I enjoyed it very much, although I don't think it's as strong as some of Ishiguro's other books. Another book that might fit in this niche is "Bluebeard" by Kurt Vonnegut! I would be interested to hear your thoughts on that if you've read it.
Thank you for this!! I'm adding all these titles to my wishlist now