Wednesday, January 1, 2020

The Painter by Peter Heller

My Rating: 4.7

Jim Stegner is a famous painter who has lived a tough life. Jim is a man with a lot of violence and loss – he is haunted by his mother’s death when he was a teenager and by his teenager daughter’s murder as well as by the man he shot years ago in a bar. He also has a peaceful side that is expressed through his fly fishing and his painting.

One afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience.


There were several times I almost stopped reading this book - especially the part where the horse was being abused. Unlike his other books, Heller doesn't make "Nature" a character but it still includes a lot of nature. The writing is absolutely pitch perfect stunning and that is what kept me reading despite not caring for Jim. And then something happened…Jim, along with the story, got under my skin and I couldn’t wait to get back to this book. It is violent, savage and uncomfortable. It is also good. This isn't as good as his other novels but, still excellent. Thank you Mr. Heller! I hope you are working on your next book. 

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