In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper
2 journalers for this copy...
This softcover anthology is themed on the paintings of Edward Hopper - an intriguing conceit for a short-story collection. And it turned out to be an excellent anthology, with some stories interpreting the content of the selected painting, others incorporating the painting itself in the plot, and some taking a wider interpretation. Among my favorites:
"The Truth About What Happened" by Lee Child, based on the 1943 painting "Hotel Lobby": I don't want to say too much about it because part of the fun is seeing the story unfold, but it opens with the narrator describing his deposition - he's an FBI agent but was working on a special project. He's ordered to tell the whole truth in a private deposition, and the details of the case come out then - surprising me very much. I like a nice stealthy reveal!
"Taking Care of Business" by Craig Ferguson, of whom the introduction said "He contributed to this collection because he is an enthusiastic fan of both Mr. Hopper and Mr. Block and is afraid of Mr. Block. He is also a fan of Elvis and St. Augustine but if you've read the story you already know that." The painting here is "South Truro Church" from 1930 - a bit of a surprise to me as I always think of Hopper as an urban painter, so his paintings of lighthouses and country churches seem... odd. Anyway, the story is quirky and charming, with lines like "The sea was guilty and quiet, like it had just eaten." It's about a minister who's struggling with faith, fear of death - and a marijuana habit, and is surprisingly charming.
"The Projectionist" by Joe R. Lansdale, based on "New York Movie", is about a lovelorn projectionist who finds a way to fend off some thugs seeking regular protection money; his method, not surprisingly for a Lansdale story, gets violent, but the story as a whole is nicely poignant.
"Office at Night" by Warren Moore is another moody, poignant tale, and one which is perhaps the most reliant on a detailed interpretation of the theme picture (same title); it takes the tiniest details from the painting and makes them significant to the plot.
"Still Life 1931" by Kris Nelscott, themed on "Hotel Room" from 1931, is a very grim story of racial tension and tragedy, with a touch of hope from the actions of one kind-hearted person.
"Night Windows" by Jonathan Santlofer is a beautifully done noir story - themed on the painting of the same title - about an obsessed killer and the steps his potential victims take to deal with him. I would love to see a film version of this one!
Other tales include the use of a Hopper painting as a key for a spy to find his contact; a short Stephen King tale based on "Room in New York"; a story about someone who discovers an untapped source of original Hopper works and tries to milk it for a fortune; a poor woman finding ways to scam money at an automat; and more. Really impressive collection - and now I want to see more anthologies themed on the works of painters!
"The Truth About What Happened" by Lee Child, based on the 1943 painting "Hotel Lobby": I don't want to say too much about it because part of the fun is seeing the story unfold, but it opens with the narrator describing his deposition - he's an FBI agent but was working on a special project. He's ordered to tell the whole truth in a private deposition, and the details of the case come out then - surprising me very much. I like a nice stealthy reveal!
"Taking Care of Business" by Craig Ferguson, of whom the introduction said "He contributed to this collection because he is an enthusiastic fan of both Mr. Hopper and Mr. Block and is afraid of Mr. Block. He is also a fan of Elvis and St. Augustine but if you've read the story you already know that." The painting here is "South Truro Church" from 1930 - a bit of a surprise to me as I always think of Hopper as an urban painter, so his paintings of lighthouses and country churches seem... odd. Anyway, the story is quirky and charming, with lines like "The sea was guilty and quiet, like it had just eaten." It's about a minister who's struggling with faith, fear of death - and a marijuana habit, and is surprisingly charming.
"The Projectionist" by Joe R. Lansdale, based on "New York Movie", is about a lovelorn projectionist who finds a way to fend off some thugs seeking regular protection money; his method, not surprisingly for a Lansdale story, gets violent, but the story as a whole is nicely poignant.
"Office at Night" by Warren Moore is another moody, poignant tale, and one which is perhaps the most reliant on a detailed interpretation of the theme picture (same title); it takes the tiniest details from the painting and makes them significant to the plot.
"Still Life 1931" by Kris Nelscott, themed on "Hotel Room" from 1931, is a very grim story of racial tension and tragedy, with a touch of hope from the actions of one kind-hearted person.
"Night Windows" by Jonathan Santlofer is a beautifully done noir story - themed on the painting of the same title - about an obsessed killer and the steps his potential victims take to deal with him. I would love to see a film version of this one!
Other tales include the use of a Hopper painting as a key for a spy to find his contact; a short Stephen King tale based on "Room in New York"; a story about someone who discovers an untapped source of original Hopper works and tries to milk it for a fortune; a poor woman finding ways to scam money at an automat; and more. Really impressive collection - and now I want to see more anthologies themed on the works of painters!
I'm sending this to BCer ILuvToRead2 for the US/Canada wishlist tag game. Enjoy!
Wow - this book got here fast! Thank you so much - it's in great shape and it looks good. I agree, I would love to see more anthologies based on the works of painters. Thanks for finding it on my wishlist and mailing it to me.
