It's fall of 1963 in a city in America's industrial heartland. The country is about to experience a national trauma that will begin a period of enormous social change. Audrey Brubaker, damaged by life but determined to fight back, becomes the unlikely mentor to Nate Walker, an idealistic teen-age boy who has lost his way after the death of a revered older brother. In a relationship that borders on love but never quite seems to get there, Audrey gives meaning to Nate's artistic aspirations, introduces him to life's hard edges, and helps him find courage. Together they set off on an ill-considered mission, to arrange for the return of Nate's brother's body from a military cemetery in northern Michigan. Along the way, secrets are uncovered and boundaries are crossed which will change Nate's life forever. But in a heart-wrenching ending, it is Audrey who will need to tap the well-spring of Nate's empathy for her own redemptive needs.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Searching for Van Gogh is a lovely 1960s-set coming-of-age story about aspiring painter Nate Walker whose encounter with an enigmatic young woman, Audrey Brubaker, quietly alters his life.
Prose: Lystra's prose is poised, understated, and beautifully evocative of the era. The Michigan setting is an unexpectedly romantic backdrop to Nate's personal growth, while dialogue is especially sharp and poignant.
Originality: A story of burgeoning relationship that falls somewhere between friendship and romance, Searching for Van Gogh strikes some familiar chords, but the novel's rich insights about loss, perception, and kinds of love sets it apart.
Character/Execution: Though Lystra draws pointed comparisons between Audrey and her glamorous namesake, there's tender chemistry between the two protagonists that will resonate with readers.
Date Submitted: August 31, 2024
