I always ask myself, both before and after I take on a book of this length, “Did it really require this many hours?” In this case I think it did. Van Gogh’s life has specific periods and the book is helpful in following his quest for excellence in his faith or his art or his capacity for love this way. It also uses his various and important locations over time and how they affected his mental health and his artistic production. So we need to hear about all of it as we walk through his very challenged life. Other readers mention repetitiveness throughout the book and I agree that it was annoying at times but some of it was relative to his own letters so can be excused.

The book is an education, a semester. I knew a fraction of this information so it was a revealing story for me. As a person who has lived with depression for most of my life it was painful to again be reminded how disabling mental illness has long been stigmatized; Van Gogh suffered terribly from simply existing in his community at times.

I am still thinking about the devotion of Theo, Vincent’s brother. who was unfailingly supportive at the expense of his own health and happiness; I got very angry at Vincent’s peevish selfishness at times.

I will enjoy returning to this book in a year or so. Highly recommended.