Books matching: artists and loneliness
9 result(s)
As the title implies, "The Lonely City: Adventures in the Art of Being Alone" by Olivia Laing is a book that delves into the exploration of loneliness through art and the lives of artists who have experienced isolation. Laing weaves her narrative around artists such as Edward Hopper, Andy Warhol, and Henry Darger, discussing the causes and consequences of loneliness. She combines personal experiences with deep research to provide insight into how loneliness can be expressed through art and how it impacts individuals in urban environments.
Laing's writing style in "The Lonely City" has been described as beautifully written, insightful, and emotional. She blends personal experiences of loneliness with psychological theories and examinations of artists who embody loneliness in their work. The book offers a mix of memoir and art history, exploring themes of connection, empathy, and the impact of isolation on creativity, all while maintaining a focus on the topic of loneliness.
IMAGINE STANDING BY A WINDOW at night, on the sixth or seventeenth or forty-third floor of a building. The city reveals itself as a set of cells, a hundred thousand windows, some darkened and some flo...- #2
Save:The Roxy Letters by Mary Pauline Lowry is an epistolary novel that follows the story of Roxy, a blocked artist living in Austin, Texas. Through a series of letters to her ex-boyfriend-turned-roommate, Roxy navigates themes of gentrification, loneliness, friendship, and personal growth. The book humorously captures Roxy's quirky personality and her journey towards becoming a better person, all while shedding light on the challenges faced by millennials in a rapidly changing world.
Readers are taken on a wild and heartwarming ride as they follow Roxy's adventures, struggles, and triumphs through her unsent letters. Lowry's writing style effectively brings out Roxy's eccentricities and inner thoughts, making the story both hilarious and relatable. The book seamlessly weaves together themes of feminism, mental illness, and the complexities of adulthood, creating a narrative that is engaging, funny, and ultimately uplifting.
Those fucking tweakers kept me up all night! They were on their patio, talking and blasting music—which I’m guessing you didn’t hear since you sleep like a darted elephant. I went outside at 2 a.m. an... - #3
Save:Building Stories by Chris Ware is a highly unique collection of stories presented in various formats such as hardback graphic novel, cards, foldouts, and a board game. The stories primarily focus on one woman's life and the people who inhabited the same apartment building as her. The reader is encouraged to piece together the non-linear narrative by diving in anywhere, resulting in a rich, wistful, and unromanticized slice of life that is both fantastic and engaging. The format of the book allows readers to experience the storyline through fragments presented in different mediums, creating a truly immersive and interactive reading experience.
The book showcases the lives of various characters living in an apartment building, including an old lady landlord, an unhappy married couple, and a single mother amputee. Each item within the collection presents a fragment of a larger narrative, allowing readers to explore the intricacies of the characters' lives in a unique and engaging way. Through a combination of graphic novel elements and innovative storytelling techniques, Building Stories offers a compelling exploration of human experiences, emotions, and relationships within the confines of a single building.
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Save:'Hunger' by Knut Hamsun is a gripping and emotionally evocative novel that follows the unnamed protagonist, a starving writer journalist, as he navigates extreme poverty and hunger in the streets of Oslo. The narrative delves into the protagonist's descent into madness, his struggles with pride and self-destruction, and his relentless pursuit of dignity amidst dire circumstances. The writing style is stark, intense, and primal, portraying the protagonist's inner turmoil and erratic behavior with vivid descriptions of near insanity and misery.
Despite the bleak and intense atmosphere, 'Hunger' is lauded for its ability to immerse readers in the protagonist's psyche, leading them through moments of sublime passion, despair, and defiance. The novel offers a compelling exploration of themes such as pride, honor, shame, self-deception, and the complexities of human irrationality. Through a stream of consciousness narrative, the book provides a chilling and uncompromising look at the harsh realities of literary life in Oslo at the turn of the twentieth century, making it a thought-provoking read for those contemplating a life in artistic pursuits.
Lying awake in my attic room, I hear a clock strike six downstairs. It was fairly light already and people were beginning to walk up and down the stairs. Over by the door, where my room was papered wi... - #5
Save:The 'Book of Longing' by Leonard Cohen is a collection of poems that delves into themes of love, loss, spirituality, aging, and self-reflection. Cohen's writing style is described as a mix of jazz riffs, pop art jokes, religious kitsch, and muffled prayers, showcasing a blend of humor, pathos, romance, tragedy, optimism, and pessimism. The book also features Cohen's own line drawings, adding a visual element to the poetic journey that explores various facets of life with a touch of spirituality and respectful irreverence.
Then a lot of things happened. I was struck on the head by an atheist. I never recovered my sense of confidence. Even today I am frightened by the smallest things. Old Mother Hubbard moved into the wo... - #6
Save:In The Drowning Girl, the story revolves around India Morgan Phelps, also known as Imp, a young woman struggling with schizophrenia. Through a complex and layered narrative, Imp recounts her encounters with Eva Canning, a character who embodies various identities such as a ghost, a mermaid, and a werewolf. The book delves into themes of reality versus fantasy, mental illness, artistic obsession, and the blurred lines between truth and imagination. The writing style of the book is described as dense, immersive, and non-linear, challenging readers with its unreliable narrator and requiring attention to detail to unravel the story's complexities.
The Drowning Girl is a haunting and dark exploration of Imp's journey as she navigates her mental illness and grapples with her own perceptions of reality. The narrative is filled with symbolism, cultural references, and a mix of dreamlike sequences that blur the boundaries between fact and fiction. The book's rich storytelling weaves together themes of love, friendship, madness, and self-discovery, creating a compelling and thought-provoking reading experience.
My name is India Morgan Phelps, though almost everyone I know calls me Imp. I live in Providence, Rhode Island, and when I was seventeen, my mother died in Butler Hospital, which is located at 345 Bla... - #7
Save:'Killing Commendatore' by Haruki Murakami follows an unnamed narrator, a portrait painter, as he navigates through a series of strange supernatural events after his wife announces she wants a divorce. Renting a house in the mountains that once belonged to a famous old painter, he discovers a hidden painting in the attic called 'Killing Commendatore', setting off a chain of philosophical discussions and existential musings among the characters. The book weaves together elements of art, reality, and surrealism, creating a narrative that is both bright and cheerful yet leaves readers puzzled and intrigued.
The novel delves into themes of dislocation, metaphysics, and existentialism as the protagonist grapples with the breakdown of his marriage, encounters unfriendly spirits, and uncovers mysterious elements like a pit and a bell in the forest. Murakami's writing style, characterized by vivid descriptions, intertwines the impossible with the real, exploring interpersonal relationships, self-discovery, and the blurred boundaries between reality and fantasy in a narrative that is both poetic and thought-provoking.
From May until early the following year, I lived on top of a mountain near the entrance to a narrow valley. Deep in the valley it rained constantly in the summer, but outside the valley it was usually... - #8
Save:Dear Theo by Vincent van Gogh, Jean Stone, Irving Stone is a collection of letters written by Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo. The book provides insights into Van Gogh's life, struggles, relationships, and his passion for art. Readers get a glimpse of Van Gogh's emotional turmoil, his dedication to painting, and his longing for understanding and connection.
The book offers a deep dive into Van Gogh's psyche, showcasing his innermost thoughts and feelings through his letters. It portrays his artistic journey, his interactions with fellow artists, and the challenges he faced in pursuit of his passion. Through the letters, readers witness Van Gogh's evolution as an artist and his unwavering commitment to his craft, despite the adversities he encountered.
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Save:A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler is a novel that follows the story of Evie Decker, a plain and lonely North Carolina teen, who becomes infatuated with Drumstrings Casey, a second-rate roadhouse guitarist. Evie's obsession with Drum leads her to carve his name on her forehead, which ultimately brings them together in a tumultuous relationship. The book explores themes of idolization, self-discovery, and the complexities of relationships, all set against the backdrop of a small-town in the South. Anne Tyler's writing style is described as concise, descriptive, and capturing the essence of the characters' emotions and struggles, making the story both engrossing and captivating.
