Dear Bookclub,
Our April discussion of Marta Molnar's "The Secret Life of Sunflowers" began with an imagining of "Little Red Flags Everywhere". When Val mentioned, while reading the book months ago, she thought we should pick another because she strongly disliked it, I thought we could give it a chance, not wanting to set a precedence for dismissing our selections. Red flag #1. When I began reading it, I wanted to contact Val and beg for forgiveness; I hated it too. Red flag #2. As I read further, I realized everyone would probably be rolling their eyes by now. Red flag #3. Googling research. Red flags #4, 5 & 6 including the revelation that twenty rejections from publishing houses meant a little something. Oh well; what a beautiful day it was to be together on The Veranda, enjoying Ginger and missing Trudy.
While researching the woman who was truly the center of Molnar's book, I found Jo van Gogh-Bonger's story succinctly well-told on the Van Gogh Museum's website. Please take a moment and enjoy:
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/stories/the-woman-who-made-vincent-famous
Of course, I had to check out the museum store (see blindbox keychain, one of seven, above).
The Van Gogh Museum has a fascinating history as Vincent's nephew, also Vincent, was impressively responsible for keeping the collection together and now preserved at the museum. Be sure to see pictures of the art hidden in a bunker during WWII:
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| Jo van Gogh-Bonger with her son Vincent, 1890 |
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| Vincent, the nephew, at museum opening, 1973 |
Returning to the misalignment our group felt with the writing, Marta Molnar's use of the dual-timeline structure annoyed our reading sensibilities. The modern-day tale smacked of cheesy romance novels, which we do not enjoy. This is precisely the cheese that has been sustaining the author with her publication of over 60 romance novels under the pen name, Dana Marton. Pink flag?
My new knowledge of Vincent van Gogh through Molnar's depiction of Jo van Gogh-Bonger in this book has been appreciated with my reading our current selection. Paul Gauguin's life intersections with van Gogh has a new depth, and the timeliness of our back-to-back reads cannot be overlooked!
My suggestions for an upcoming read:
"What We Can Know" Ian McEwan
"Catherine the Great" Robert K. Massie *chosen
"Kutchinsky's Egg" Serena Kutchinsky
Up next:
Happy reading,
LK
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