Welcome to the 2010 Art History Reading Challenge!

Do you love art? Do you love reading about art? Join The Art History Reading Challenge and challenge yourself to read at least 3 books about art in 2010. These books can be either fiction or nonfiction, and they can span every genre from historical fiction to graphic novel. Young adult and children's books count too. The challenge will last from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

How much art needs to be in a book to qualify? Use your best judgment! I've read books I thought would be about art, and they weren't. I've read books I had no idea were about art, but they were. Relax, have fun and enjoy reading!

You can make your list in advance if you'd like, or you can read according to your whims. You may overlap your selections with those for other challenges.

This year there will be four levels of participation:

• Curious - Read at least 3 books about art, either fiction or non-fiction.
• Fascinated  - Read at least 6 books about art, either fiction or non-fiction.
• Enamored- Read at least 9 books about art, either fiction or non-fiction.
• Utterly enchanted - Read at least 12 books about art, either fiction or non-fiction.

There will also be at least four extra credit assignments throughout the year to challenge you to take your curiosity, fascination, adoration and enchantment even higher. These will be completely optional, and you don't have to be signed up for the challenge itself to complete them. Either way, subscribe to this blog so you won't miss out!

Need ideas about what to read? 

• Subscribe to this blog. On the first of every month I'll post a review of the month written by one participant. To be considered for review of the month, leave a link to any book reviews for this challenge in the comments. (Links can be to blogs, LibraryThing, Goodreads, Amazon, etc. Anything goes!) The first monthly post will be posted January 1, 2010.
  
• Scroll through the archives of this blog. Sarah did a fantastic job posting reviews from last year.
• We're on Twitter! Follow @arthistoryreads (http://www.twitter.com/arthistoryreads) for suggestions of books throughout the year. Tweet suggestions to us as well. Use the hashtag #arthistoryreads when posting review links on twitter!
• Friend arthistoryreads on LibraryThing. I'll update the collection of art history books people read this year at least once a week.
• There's also a group on LibraryThing  for challenge participants.
  

I adore "best of..." lists, so in December 2010, I'll take nominations and voting for our favorite fiction and non-fiction reads of the year. We'll make a "best of the art history challenge award"!

Sound great? Leave a comment on this post with a link to your blog (or where you post your reviews)! Grab one of Sarah's awesome buttons to the right and post it on your blog too! At the start of the year, I'll update the blogroll to include all 2010 participants.

Have questions? Leave a comment, and I'll reply.

Happy reading!

Happy New Year: Let the Art History Reading begin!

Welcome, 2010! I hope you all are as excited as I am about reading Art History fiction and non-fiction. The blog roll on the right of the page has been updated to reflect the 2010 participants. If I missed you, please let me know, and I'll be happy to add you. If you haven't joined yet, feel free! A year is a long time, and this challenge only requires 3, 6, 9, or 12 books!

There was some good discussion in the comments about upcoming releases of art history books for 2010. Thanks to Sheramy, author of Sunflowers, a novel of Vincent van Gogh (and a wonderful option for this challenge!) for suggestions about upcoming releases. One new book coming out this month (U.S. publication dates):

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova will be published January 12, 2010.

If you know of other January releases, please add them to the comments, and I'll post an update.

One of the fun things about this challenge is finding new blogs, reviewers and books! If you would take the time to link your reviews (they can be on a blog, LibraryThing, GoodReads, amazon.com, etc.) in the comments to this post, then on February 1, 2010, I'll pick a review of the month to be highlighted. Of course, link reviews to as many art history books as you read this month!

Happy reading!

2009 Wrap-Up

I hope everyone had a good time taking on (and hopefully completing) the challenge in 2009. Here are a few more reviews to wrap up the year:

Lizzy read 3 books. Summer in February by Johnathan Smith is about artist Sir Alfred Munnings. Lizzy writes, "The genesis of a famous painting, a tragic love triangle, subtle characterisation surprisingly held together by relevant quotations from Poe’s mesmerising "Raven” combined to deliver a well-written and enjoyable read." She also provides a small summary of Me and Kaminski by Daniel Kehlmann. "Manuel Kaminski is an ailing recluse. Once mentored by Matisse, he almost made it into the major league of 2oth century artists. However, his time came and went and he retired to his mansion in the mountains. Sebastian Zollner is a failing art critic. Strike that, he’s a failing human being. Delusional as to his talents. Desperate to make a name for himself. He decides that with Kaminski on death’s door, he’ll write a biography of the man in preparation for the interest that will inevitably follow once the obituaries have been published. He has little skill, tact or understanding yet he strikes lucky and uncovers a little known fact that he hopes will render his biography sensational."

Finally, we have The Glass Room by Simon Mawer. This novel focuses on architecture and was on the shortlist for the Booker prize. Lizzy gives it 3 out of 5 stars.

It's been a fun year sharing art history with all of you. Good luck to the 2010 participants!

New Host for Next Year!

I'd like to give a big thanks to nomadreader, who will be the challenge host for next year! She'll be running the challenge right here at this blog - look for her sign-up post soon.

Book Links and the Future

First things first: Several of you asked if I will be hosting this challenge again next year. The answer is, sadly, no. When I started it nearly a year ago, I was working part time from home, and had plenty of free time to spend setting up this blog and reading all of your great reviews. Now, I am working full time and commuting 3 hours a day. It has been fun, and I hope that this site will serve as a resource for anyone looking for recommendations for books about art history.

BUT! If anyone would like to host a similar (or identical) challenge for next year, I will wholeheartedly support you. Go for it!

Now, on to more reviews.

Ana T. finished the challenge! In addition to her earlier posts, she reviewed three more books: The Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth, Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters, and The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. I'm going to steal her description of The Stone Virgin: "The Stone Virgin is set in Venice in 3 different periods in time, the 1400s, the 1700s and in present day. The story opens in the 15th century with the artist facing his accusers on a murder charge but most of the novel is set present day where Simon Raikes is restoring a statue of a Madonna, a Virgin Mary, and while he works on it he is intrigued by who made the statue and what happened to the statue over the years." She gives the book 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Borrower of the Night is part of a series featuring art historian Vicky Bliss. Ana writes, "It was a fun, cosy, gothic read, just the kind you pick up when you need a comfort read." She writes of The Birth of Venus, which has been a popular read for this challenge, "I'm afraid I found myself more interested in those political aspects than in Alessandra [the main character], who didn't really appeal to me as character, or her artistic worries. In fact most of the characters didn't seem to be fully explored."

Lana reviewed I Sold Andy Warhol (too soon) by Richard Polsky. This is a nonfiction memoir about the contemporary art market. Lana enjoyed the book, but gives the recommendation "maybe make sure you have a modern art history book (or internet access) nearby to give you a flavor of the people and works he talks about!"

Robin read Marc Chagall, Painter of Dreams by Natalie S. Bober. As the title would suggest, this is a biography of Marc Chagall. Robin thoroughly enjoyed this book - hop on over to her post to look at some lovely paintings, like this one:

Only one more post left until the challenge is concluded! As always, leave me a comment with a link to your review if you'd like me to post it here. Happy reading!

Newest Art History Book Review Links

Lezlie read The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. Check our her positive review by clicking on the link. She also finished Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King. Although it is nonfiction, she writes, "I was so engrossed in the presentation that I often forgot it was non-fiction."

Lynda read The Immaculate Deception by Iain Pears. She gives it three stars and says, "The second book in this series I've read - quite interesting story - lighthearted reading."

The Mystery of the Third Lucretia by Susan Runholt is reviewed over at Nomadreader. She writes, "I cannot say enough positive things about this novel. I wish it existed when I was younger, but I still loved it as an adult. I laughed out loud often, learned things (in a delightfully unpreachy way) and eagerly awaited the mystery being solved." She gives it five stars!

Allie read Signora di Vinci by Robin Maxwell, and also interviewed the author! She gives the book a raving review: "Signora da Vinci is by far and away the best work of historical fiction I have ever read on Renaissance Florence."

Kim reviewed Giorgio Vasari’s The Lives of the Artists, which is a art history standard. It was written by a Renaissance artist about his contemporaries; "What better way to learn art history than to have it mixed with 500 year old gossip?" she writes. Kim also read A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome by Angela K. Nickerson. She says, "The combination of both personal and professional, with photos and maps, results in an art history book that invaluable to the Roman visitor and a joy for the armchair traveler."

There's only a few more weeks to complete the challenge; happy reading everyone!

August Art History Book Links

New participant Allie posted a review of Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex over at her blog, Hist-Fic Chick. She writes, "I loved this book in the beginning, the storyline in the middle section got monotonous at points, but overall it is a very good read, and the book’s many strengths more than make up for its flaws. If you like your hist-fic books heavy on the "hist," then this book is for you."

Amanda also reviewed Leonardo's Swans - click here for her review, complete with images!

Robin reviewed A.S. Byatt's The Matisse Stories. This collection consists of three stories, not about Matisse himself, but inspired by his paintings. Robin writes about each story separately, and includes the painting that inspired them.

Kim read The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen. This is a memoir-type book inspired by Nouwen's viewing of Rembrant's painting. Kim explains, "Nouwen divides his book into three primary sections which follow the primary players in the prodigal son parable: the younger son, the elder son, the father. In each section, he analyzes that character in the painting, in Rembrandt’s life, and in Nouwen’s spiritual journey."

Four more months left to go until the challenge ends - how is everyone doing?

July Art History Book Links

This past month:

Beth read The Painter From Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein, and highly recommends it "for anyone who is interested in art, China, historical fiction, and women's issues." Click on her review link for a summary.

Katknit reviewed Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth. She summarizes, "Simon Raikes is restoring an enigmatic stone Madonna that graces the front of a medieval church in Venice. As he prepares his work, he is overtaken by visions, and he soon becomes obsessed with discovering the history of the unusual, subtly erotic statue. Simon’s own fate becomes inextricably enmeshed with that of the original sculptor, and he finds himself making choices that would previously been abhorrent to him."

She also reviewed The Last Van Gogh by Alyson Richmond. This novel focuses on the romance between Van Gogh and Marguerite Gachet, the daughter of one of the artist's famous subjects. Unfortunately Kat reports, "The Last Van Gogh is a bittersweet love story, but those wishing to know more about the artist will find little of value here."

Bookgirl read another book on Van Gogh, this one nonfiction. The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh is just what the title implies: Vincent's letters to his brother Theo. She writes, "Still this book is excellent. There is much more about his struggle with poverty, his associations with other artists, his love affairs, and of course his battles with mental illness but I think this collection really gives us the creative force that drove him."

New challenge participant Jemima already read 2 books: The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland, and Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland. Of the former she writes, "It is obvious that not only has Vreeland done a lot of research, but she has also thought deeply about the nature of art and its potential to influence human life", and of the latter, "Luncheon of the Boating Party was a wonderful summer time read because of its setting and subject matter. It portrayed lovely summer Sunday excursions to the river-side as well as sailboat pleasure cruises and races. It tells us what interesting French produce was in season and describes the tempting dishes that were served each Sunday painting session." This book is also on my list, and I'll have to make sure I read it during these warm summer months to get the full effect.

Lana posted a review of Murder at the National Gallery by Margaret Truman. Lana summarizes it best when she writes, "What there wasn't for 300 pages, was a murder. I don't know about you, but when I see a title like Murder at the National Gallery - I think there's going to be a murder. And then that the main character is going to investigate said murder... I would give this one a miss - or at least go into it with very different expectations. It's not so much a murder-mystery as a story of a double-cross." So, good art content, but not so much excitement on the mystery front. Thanks for the review, Lana!

Jeanette read Posters for the People: Art of the WPA by Ennis Carter. (Make sure you click over to her blog and check out her cool banner!) This is nonfiction, and focuses on posters created by the Works Progress Administration during the great depression. Jeanette writes, "This book gave me an interesting introduction to an art form that I'd never really thought much about, poster making. And of course, I loved the historical aspect of these posters that were created in the 1930s and 40s. Some of them made me laugh and I must admit there were a few that confused me."

Robin posted an interesting art-related poem, "Monet Refuses the Operation" by Lisel Mueller. It's fairly short, so click on over to read it. Robin also included a beautiful Monet painting which really complements the poem.

June Art History Book Links

This month:

Katknit at You're History reviewed The Painter by Will Davenport. She writes, "It’s a fascinating story, filled with secrets and mysteries, and based upon the question surrounding Rembrandt’s “missing” year."

Still Life by Louise Penny was reviewed over at A Fondness For Reading. This is the first book in the mystery series featuring Armand Gamache. This description really piqued my interest: "At the center of this mystery is a controversial painting by the victim, Jane Neal, retired school teacher and amateur artist. It is a painting of Fair Day in the village, and hidden within the painting are answers…"

Violette read Artist's Proof by Lander Marks, an art mystery that takes place on a cruise ship! Despite the exciting premise, Violette wasn't thrilled. She wrote, "After spending a week on it and only getting to page 80, it might take me 8 years to finish the entire book. I could not follow the plot. The dialogue between the characters was good but I am not sure if there was a crime before page 80."

The Painter From Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein is historical fiction based on the life of nineteenth-century Chinese painter Pan Yuliang. Jodie reviewed it, saying "I have some conflicted feelings about ‘The Artist from Shanghai’. I enjoyed my trip through the book and the way it quietly guided me around early-twentieth century China, but I came away dissatisfied, without experiencing any kind of emotional response towards the characters." (There is another review of this book here.)

Also, for any of you living in Jacksonville, FL, the Jacksonville Public Library is hosting an adult summer reading program called Master the Art of Reading! (Thanks to challenge member Kema, who is the librarian hosting the program.)

Art History Book Review Links - May

Richard at Caravana de reuerdos reviewed The Bone Gatherers: The Lost Worlds of Early Christian Women by Nicola Denzey. He writes that this book is "Less a work of history in the traditional textual sense than an exercise in "reading" visual evidence from funerary art and epigraphic sources, Nicola Denzey's The Bone Gatherers offers up some fresh, interdisciplinary perspectives on the role(s) of Christian women in 4th-century Rome."

Holly reviewed The Museum Vaults: Excerpts from the Journal of an Expert by Marc-Antoine Mathieu, which is a graphic novel. She summarizes: "The basic storyline follows Monsieur Volumer, an expert in his field of indexing, cataloging, and evaluating museum collections as he travels through the Museum. He enters the Museum and begins to go through its holdings, making his way through each and every storage area, traveling deeper and deeper into the depths of the museum." Hop over and read the rest of the review - it's great!

The Private Lives of the Impressionists by Sue Roe is reviewed over at BooksPlease. Click over to the review to see some of the paintings by artists featured in the book.


Tea posted on The Forest Lover by Susan Vreeland, which focuses on artist Emily Carr.

Lana recently read The Art Thief by Noah Charney. Check out her review, which has a ton of great links.