Reviews

In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper by Lawrence Block

menfrommarrs's review

4.0

I recommend this link as a companion piece, in which the authors talk about their interpretation of the art piece.

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=225#m480

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).

aniastef86's review against another edition

3.0

Bellissima idea quella di scrivere dei racconti facendosi trasportare dalle suggestioni di alcune opere di Hopper. Peccato che alcuni racconti non siano granché. E quelli che meritano davvero non mi permettono di alzare la mia valutazione a 4 stelle.

jamielit's review

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

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

medium-paced

4.0

allisoncope4's review

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

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

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

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.