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Sunflowers

by Sheramy Bundrick (Goodreads Author)

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 811 ratings · 170 reviews

"I'd heard about him but had never seen him, the foreigner with the funny name who wandered the countryside painting pictures."

From a talented new author comes a poignant and haunting novel of creation and desire, passion and madness, art and love.

A young prostitute seeking temporary refuge from the brothel, Rachel awakens in a beautiful garden in Arles to discove

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Paperback, 394 pages

Published October 13th 2009 by William Morrow Paperbacks

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Jan 22, 2010 Chrissie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: art, france, hf, text-checked

I liked this book. The author has done impeccable research on the artist and his paintings, searching through all the letters and documents available. I believe the character of Vincent Van Gogh is accurately portrayed. It is very possible that he could have had such a relationship with a woman portrayed as Rachel, and her emotions were poignantly depicted. I love the vibrancy of Van Gogh's art, and that too helped me enjoy this book, but still only three stars. I debated between three and four...more I liked this book. The author has done impeccable research on the artist and his paintings, searching through all the letters and documents available. I believe the character of Vincent Van Gogh is accurately portrayed. It is very possible that he could have had such a relationship with a woman portrayed as Rachel, and her emotions were poignantly depicted. I love the vibrancy of Van Gogh's art, and that too helped me enjoy this book, but still only three stars. I debated between three and four stars but have chosen three. For me this book wasn't enough. I wanted to know more about his life. So, very well done, but just not enough. It is about the last two years of his life.

Through page 201: I KNOW I am childish and naive and sentimental but I am really annoyed at "the world"! Why do things have to be this way? Rachel and Vincent have themselves in a corner - no money, no hope and now Vincent's illnes. And Rachel's predicament isn't much better! The whole thing pisses me off. The book is good in that you feel their frustration, crziness, hopelessness. It isn't over-done. There are kind people trying to help. It isn't ALL black, but still you feel like punching someone. I am about half-way through the book, when books usually sag; this book isn't sagging at all.

Through page 164: Van Gogh's mental instability, his "craziness", is well portrayed, along with Rachel's emotions on how to deal with this. Vincent's confusion feels very real. If you are an artist working to get your emotions down on the paper is it so strange that your emotions carry you away? When does it become insanity? I guess simply when you can no longer function in the world around you. You understand Van Gogh's fears. Isn't it quite normal to wonder about your inadequacies when your art isn't selling and your friends claim you are doing it "all wrong". I am talking about Gauguin. However there is no right and wrong in art. Van Gogh's life ARE his paintings. If you are collapsing and can perhaps no longer do what you MUST do in life, wouldn't that be enough to make you crazy. Rather circular reasoning but still very true. The dialogue is sometimes excellent, but not always.

Through page 106: The text is sometimes excellent and sometimes mediocre. More often it is the dialogs that lack originality. I think if you know a bit of French you will enjoy the French terms frequently thrown into the text. I like this. If you know French you understand how these terms would be used and they give more than just what the term specifically means. I also like how the customs and festivities of the Provencal life are incorporated into the novel - the Christmas pageants, the bullfights, the superstitions. But I don't like Gaughin. Well that is how he was! A group of three rarely works - this is well depicted! Rachael's emotions are what you would expect. Is that good or is it bad? I don't know; you don't get terribly surprised.....

Just beginning: page 10. It was the writing style that immediately attracted me to this book when I read the snippet that was available before purchase. That is what my "text-checked" shelf means. Several reviewers have NOT highly recommended the book, calling it a light quick read. That is fine as long as it is enjoyable. I do hope I will get into Van Gogh's head. We'll see. The tone is NOTpretentious. Here follows a few examples of the writing style:

"The pair of ladies in their high collared-dresses looked like blackbirds and squawked like hens."

Arles is pretty run down now, but here you see it at the earlier time period of the 1880s. Ages ago it was a great, prosperous city of Roman Gaul. Today, as in the 1880s, it has different faces depending on who you are and and where you are looking:

"When I(Rachel) finally did step off the train at the Arles station years later, Papa was not beside me. I'd lost him a few months before, Mama before that when I was eleven, and I'd come to the city to begin again, best as I could. An unexpected snowfall had blanketed the buildings in sugary white and like any touriste I gaped at the Roman amphitheater and medieval bell towers, wishing Papa had been there to see them with me. I gaped at the tourists themselves as they promenaded down the Boulevard des Lices in greatcoats and furs;I gazed in shop windoxs around the Place du Forum at things I couldn't afford and wondered how long it would take to find a new life."

"But the days and weeks slipped by and the fistful of francs in my valise melted with the snow. I learned that Mama and Papa had been right about Arles. The city had two faces: the one travelers and rich people saw and the one everyone else saw, with dingy cafés and tatty backstreets in sore need of sweeping...."

The countryside around Arles remains beautiful. Both Rachel and I escaped to get happy there, outside the city limits. This is where Rachel first met Vincent. If possible try and get some pictures of what Arles and the surrounding countryside look like. I remember Arles itself as being quite run-down, except at some picturesque spots.

I am stuck on books about artists.....this one is about Van Gogh.(less)

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Oct 28, 2009 Misfit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oooh, what I'd give to see one in real life. First time author and art historian Sheramy Bundrick takes a character who is a mere footnote in history - a prostitute by the name of Rachel was presented with Vincent Van Gogh's severed ear by the artist himself - and spins an artful (pun intended) tale around what-might-have-been. Told from the first person POV, Rachel awakes from a nap in a city garden to find a odd gentleman sketching her - and a new friendship begins that quickly turns to love - although Rachel's love is strongly tested when Vincent begins displaying bouts of madness and he is hospitalized and eventually taken away from Arles and Rachel. Can their love survive? Can Vincent overcome his madness and marry her? If you don't want to know the answers before reading the book stay off the internet.

Outside of a few minor quibbles, I found this was a very entertaining, albeit a quick and light read (heh, after Wolf Hall anything would be light and easy). I'm not terribly fond of the first person narrative, although it did work well here, especially seeing Rachel's reactions to Vincent's madness as well as to his paintings (nicely done), but it did box the author in when she had to use *letters* between Rachel and Vincent later in the book. There was more black and white in some characters than I care to see (argh! the prostitutes with the heart of gold), and perhaps some of the language (especially the cursing) was a bit too modern. Although I haven't a clue how any Frenchman (in this century or the last) swears so what do I know? Rachel seemed to have a touch too much freedom, both coming and going from the brothel as well as when Vincent was in the asylum - but those are all minor nits on an otherwise engaging tale.

A big thumbs up on the author's notes telling us what is known and what was not as well as when she *fudged* a date or two to make her story work. I like to see that - now if Ms. "historical entertainment" could learn to do that. This is a solid first entry into the historical fiction field and I look forward to who or what she'll write about next - love the art angle and want to see more. (less)

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Sep 30, 2011 Sasha Martinez added it

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

To be more accurate, it’s a novel about the love between him and Rachel Courteau. And it’s basically doomed love. What do you get when you pair a down-on-her-luck prostitute with a down-on-his-luck artist? And in 19th century France? Doomed love, I tell you.

We know all about the mythos of Van Gogh—how troubled he was; how plagued by a disorder that’s still under debate by scholars these days (hell, even I tried to diagnose him while reading this book); how (and this is something that strikes fea...more To be more accurate, it’s a novel about the love between him and Rachel Courteau. And it’s basically doomed love. What do you get when you pair a down-on-her-luck prostitute with a down-on-his-luck artist? And in 19th century France? Doomed love, I tell you.

We know all about the mythos of Van Gogh—how troubled he was; how plagued by a disorder that’s still under debate by scholars these days (hell, even I tried to diagnose him while reading this book); how (and this is something that strikes fear into the hearts of many an artist) he lived in genteel poverty and artistic obscurity, his work receiving recognition only after he’d died. It’s a myth difficult to shake off: Vincent Van Gogh is, essentially, a tragic character. Very bohemian, in the romanticized connotation of the word. Idealized in some circles—dude is an icon for the struggling artist, a consolation to those who just can’t get a break. How many times have I heard, “It doesn’t matter much—I could be a Van Gogh for all they know”? [Which is sad. Just saying, friends.]

What was admirable about Bundrick’s novel was that she was able to create a Van Gogh that added to our usual perceptions of the artist—and, dare I say, effectively veered off from them. Sunflowers’ Vincent is disarmingly shy, charming and awkward. He had me going Aww several times, to the consternation of my boyfriend who kept asking, “But aren’t you reading about Van Gogh?” He’s a sweetie, that Vincent. Yes, he was unbalanced, he had problems, yes he eventually cut his ear off—but they were more tragic in light of what a great man he was whenever he wasn’t in one of his crises. It was unexpected, how Vincent was written—I had expected Angsty McAngst, and so I commend Bundrick for not laying it on thick (given how heartbreaking his fate already actually was).

And Rachel. Not much is known about Rachel, factually—and what we do know, according to the Author’s Note at the end of the book, are vague, even contradicting. The novel is in Rachel’s POV, and it’s Rachel life tangled in those two years with Vincent. She’s this odd mix of naïve and stubborn, with a seemingly infinite well of love and patience that could only come from lurve.

You detect some cynicism? Sorry. I mean, that was my tiny complaint about the book: because Rachel was so in love with Van Gogh, so hopelessly devoted to him, that their whole relationship was romanticized and idealized. Children: poverty—even artistic poverty—isn’t a very nice thing. Trust me: terrible times when you’re not selling paintings, and you find yourself looking around the apartment for something to sell or pawn just to feed yourself. Trust me. Huh. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be romantic, that it was a fact that Van Gogh was the way he was, that this is what’s supposed to happen in 19th century France between these two star-crossed lovers. But it often took on the quality of a dark fairy tale seen through hazy, lovestruck lens.

That’s why I very much appreciated that “ear incident”—which was sweet, haha, sorry!—and Van Gogh’s stints in the asylum, and all the other difficult episodes in this couple’s life. I would have wanted Rachel to look up—even just once—from scrubbing the floor and think, “Hell, I love this man, but my life kinda sucks right now.” I’m all for love, but I like reality too.

[And, since we’re confessing, other terrible things I will admit to: 1) I giggled whenever it was mentioned that Van Gogh ate his paints—I know this is a serious thing, but I can’t help but imagine my own boyfriend (he’s an artist) with paint tubes stuck in his mouth. Sorry! 2) If said boyfriend ever got those “artist’s fits”—as Vincent placatingly describes his crise to Rachel—I would hit him on the side of the head and say, “Suck it up.” But I have a black heart. Again, sorry.]

But I’m just bitching. I liked the novel, loved this new Vincent, liked Rachel well enough, loved the secondary characters that littered it—in particular, Van Gogh’s brother Theo, and Gauguin was such an asshole I had to put the book down and fume. I admired how I could feel that the research the author underwent was put to good use—never stuffily academic, with enough creative liberties taken in it to produce an enjoyable historical novel. I look forward to reading more of Sheramy Bundrick’s novels (this is her first!)

Yes, I enjoyed reading Sunflowers. But you know what I longed for? Pictures, haha. But I did enjoy digging through my boyfriend’s art books, and looking up the paintings talked about in the novel. However, P. isn’t much of a fan of Van Gogh, so I had little to go on—but I’ll definitely read more of Van Gogh’s life. Some fact-checking, yes, but really, just to assuage the fascination sparked by this novel. (Van Gogh’s letters, here I come.)

And, these comments are for us odd booklovers: 1) That cover is amazing. Not only the image (yes, that’s gorgeous), but my copy was matte, and I love them matte-surface books. 2) The pages smelled good. I don’t know if my book smells the same as all of yours, but when I got this book, it smelled good. Just saying.

Okay, now I’m just babbling. Happy weekend!(less)

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Jun 14, 2011 Marisa Mills rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Good: As someone getting a minor in art history, I can definitely appreciate this novel. The depiction of Vincent van Gogh is amazing. This novel is fantastic at showing the connection between brilliance and madness, creativity and reality. It's incredible, and I found myself squealing with delight at all the little bitty historical references, and probably really annoyed the people sitting beside me on the bus. Vincent van Gogh is brilliant, and I really admire someone who can portray that...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a passionate and touching book that I am so glad I read. Sheramy Bundrick reveals the turbulant life of the artist, Vincent VanGogh, who died in 1890 after taking his own life. Vincent was 27 years old when he decided to become an artist. During the period between 1881 to 1890, he painted almost 900 paintings but sold only one, and this a few months before he died. During his painting years he struggled to survive as an artist. He suffered from periods of depression which today doctors b...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Danna rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a historical novel, loosely based on the life of Vincent Van Gogh - as told by his fictional lover, Rachel. I enjoyed the history part of the story, learning about Van Gogh, his paintings, depression, and lifestyle. Rachel, the narrator and Vincent's lover, is a prostitute in a brothel. Vincent and her meet in a local park, and he requests permission to visit her at the brothel. A romance strikes up, and the two are obsessively in love for the next two years. At times, I felt like this b...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Lauren rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 24, 2010 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I forget where I heard about this book, but I was in the mood for historical fiction, so I picked it up. This novel is about the last two years of Vincent Van Gogh's life. I took art history in college, but it was right after lunch in a hugh auditorium where we looked at slides in the dark..... so I fell asleep every class, and remember nothing. So I was up for learning (again I guess!) about Van Gogh.

The novel is narrated by Rachel, a prostitute, and Van Gogh's girlfriend. It was a good story o...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Sophia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, france, historical-fiction, prostitute, art, van-gogh

Sunflowers is a good stepping stone to exploring Vincent van Vogh's later life. Art historian and professor Sheramy Bundrick takes the briefest historical mention of Rachel, the prostitute to whom van Gogh presents the product of his aural mutilation, to develop a love story which spans his stay in Arles to his confinement in the asylums at Saint Remy and Auvers-sur-Oise. The historical facts and mentions of Vincent's paintings, including Gauguin's visit and the Yellow House, are well preserved....more

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Jan 30, 2010 Brenda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Because of my love for Van Gogh's art, I was excited when I found the new book "Sunflowers," by Sheramy Bundrick, who is an art historian and professor. I finished the book today, and have gained an even greater appreciation for Van Gogh's impressionistic works and how they changed the art world forever. The author always loved Van Gogh, and wrote this fictionalized story about his life with a prostitute around and during the time he cut his ear off and then on until his suicide. Over a year of...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was difficult at first for me to feel comfortable with this narrative on Van Gogh. My curiosity was centered on the real story of Van Gogh, and it wasn't immediately engaging to read Bundrick's illustration of a relatively unknown period in the artist's life. That said, I was soon enthralled with the perspective of Arles - the time and place that tie into this stage in Van Gogh's life, as a painter and a man.

The chapters begin with excerpts from Van Gogh's letters - those to his brother and f...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

I spotted this book on the "staff recommended" shelf at the library, and picked it up because of the cover - I love sunflowers. I was also an art history major, so the Van Gogh aspect intrigued me.

I didn't know this before, but apparently historical accounts reveal that when Van Gogh cut off his ear, he took it to a brothel in Arles and "presented" it to a specific girl who worked there.

The author took that fact, and imagined the relationship between Van Gogh and Rachel, the prostitute. It's ver...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

It's clear how much passion, time, hard work, and dedication went into the creation of this novel. Obviously, it takes all of those components to write any good book, but Sunflowers particularly took years and years of research and commitment. Bundrick is passionate about both van Gogh and his work, and she meticulously recreated an ambiguous period of his life in a way that made him appear relatable and wholly human rather than just the grandiose, mysterious icon most people know him as.

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Jul 14, 2012 Owen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: van-gogh, impressionism, arles, france

I hesitated before picking this up in a museum bookshop in Fort Worth, thinking surely it can't be much good. How right I was to trust a reading of the first two pages and take it home. This is a wonderful book, well-conceived and brilliantly put together, both from a writing and historical perspective. It recounts the last two years of the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh, as seen through the eyes of a prostitute in Arles, France, where he was living in the late 1880s. It is the sensitive work o...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Van Gogh art fans

I don’t know art, but I know what I like.

For a number of years I have been enamored by the work of Vincent Van Gogh in a way most unlike any other artist I have encountered. I decided to read this novel in preparation to attend a visiting exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Rather embarrassing as it is to admit, besides getting lost in his dissonant color palettes and the specter of the “ear” incident, I knew very little of his life.

In Bundrick’s book, a whole imagined world unfolds befor...more

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Jan 13, 2011 MJ rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club

Like they always say, don’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case it’s content for that matter. Wow, wow and wow. I might also add that there is a real disadvantage to reading on a Sony Ereader because it can hold 1,200 books, so you can flip from something like Woodlanders to Sunflowers without even adjusting the quilt you are so snugly wrapped in. Maybe that was my problem. I was comfortable and after having just finished another beautifully written book by Thomas Hardy I flipped to Sunfl...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Amy (SpedBug) rated it 4 of 5 stars

I fully expected to struggle with this book as I'd just emerged from a prolonged journey through a thicket of fantasy novels and still had the fog of magic hazing my eyes. Instead, I fell headlong into Arles and the (partially) fictionalized history of Van Gogh's final two years of life.

I found the book a fascinating and very easy read. The author wrote in a way that took me past the written word and deposited me as a spectator into the scenes. She vividly painted, with words, the gardens and wh...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rachel is the prostitute to whom Vincent gives his ear when he cuts it off. That is the only historical fact known about her. So the author took this seemingly minor person and spun a story about her relationship with Vincent during his time in Arles, France. Why would Vincent specifically ask for Rachel when he stumbles into the brothel that night? A good question, which the author answers with creativity and imagination.

The novel is littered with imagery of Vincent's paintings, especially my f...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Isabella.Chloe .S. rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would actually give it 4.5 stars.

This was truly a wondrous book. Before reading this novel i had little interest in Van Gogh as an artist, i knew he was some what disturbed and challenged in life, but this book encouraged me to investigate more into the troubled and very interesting life of Van Gogh.

This novel is a very tragic and heart breaking love story. Bundrick is awesome at getting the reader involved with the happenings of each character. There is NO other book that has made me care so...more

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May 18, 2013 Joanray04 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book about the life of Vincent Van Gogh. She did a very good job in creating the time and place, and details about each picture, such as where it was painted. She helped me to visualize each painting as he worked on it, and made me want to study his paintings even more.
It centers around the relationship between Van Gogh and a young woman who worked in a brothel in Arles. The author wove together the things we know, such as his presenting his severed ear to the young woman,...more

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Nov 09, 2009 Kathy (Bermudaonion) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rachel Courteau was a prostitute in Arles, France in the late 19th century and in a chance encounter, she met Vincent van Gogh, thus beginning a two year relationship with him. Theirs was an odd relationship since she was a prostitute and he was fighting mental illness.

SUNFLOWERS by Sheramy Bundrick is told from Rachel’s perspective and follows her relationship with Vincent from his time in Arles to Saint Rémy to Auvers with the latter parts of their relationship shown through their corresponden...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Susan Morgan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having a minor in Art History gave me an extensive background of Van Gogh's artwork. Thoughout the novel references were made to many of his famous pieces, thus delighting this art affectionado. He was a man tormented by inner demons, yet his love for others was undeniable and sincere. A great love story emerges. I was transported to the French countryside and the busy streets of Paris. To think he did not win the much sought-after approval of the art world until after his death left me heart-st...more

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Mar 07, 2010 Diana.trampler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not completely what I was expecting. I built the book up in my mind too much. Went in with a preconceived notion on the story line. Where I thought the book was going to end was actually the middle, so I think I checked out of the active reading portion of the last half. If it wasn't for that, I think I may of enjoyed it more.

I liked how Bundrick didn't spend too much time on the description of the paintings. Being so engrossed in the art field and the topic being paintings, she had the opportu...more

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Dec 15, 2009 Soobee72 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this in a goodreads giveaway (thanks for that!).

I really liked this imagining of van Gogh's life in Arles and beyond. The story is told through the eyes of Rachel, a young prostitute who may or may not have been the real recipient of the ear lobe. It's eminently readable and Rachel is a very likable heroine. The author does a wonderful job showing what may have been. I really enjoyed the author's way of showing van Gogh's obsession with art and color and light.

Vincent van Gogh is one...more

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Oct 14, 2010 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Historical fiction lovers, art lovers

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did not know much about Van Gogh before reading this (except for his "ear incident", and his painting "Starry Night") and was fascinated by the story of his last few years. Art lovers and lovers of historical fiction alike would probably equally enjoy this story. Told through the perspective of the unknown prostitute to which Van Gogh presented his cut-off ear, the author remained true to Vincent's life while creating a lovely fictional romance around actual eve...more

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Jan 23, 2010 Sterlingcindysu rated it 2 of 5 stars

At 35, Van Gogh meets fille de maison Rachel while surreptitiously sketching her in a garden. Having taken refuge in an Arles brothel after the death of her parents, Rachel greets Van Gogh as a customer not long after, and soon feelings blossom between them. Visiting friend Paul Gauguin and the cloud of Van Gogh's madness undercut the couple's bliss. While infusing well-known historical moments (like Van Gogh's infamous self-mutilation) with vivid details, art historian Bundrick generates an imp...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was such a beautifully written story of fact and fiction. I learned a lot about van Gogh, and I have a much greater appreciation for his life and his art. He always had hope that his health would improve, although we know that to not be his fate. It is unfortunate that he never was able to enjoy the fame he deserved, since his psychological health stood in the way of his ambitions. The author portrayed both Rachel and van Gogh as inspiring and memorable characters. I am so glad I found this...more

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Jan 22, 2010 Shomeret rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, my-reviews

I am particularly fond of liminal characters.(Liminality is a term for anthropology which means caught betwixt and between.) Liminal characters are outside the normal social structure. They can only bond with each other. This describes the relationship between Vincent and Rachel. Their liminal status gives them insights into each other's hearts and souls. Rachel can understand Vincent far better than Theo, Vincent's brother. Though the events described are tragic, I am uplifted by the fact that...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book, but it is a very highly fictionalized version of Vincent Van Gogh's life with a young woman named Rachel. There is very little information on who the woman really was and what she was like, or the nature of her true relationship with Vincent. There is a tendency to believe historical fiction to be the truth, and in this case it is all speculation. It is a good read, gives you clues as to the life of an artist in the late 1800s, and offers the settings seen in Van Gogh's painti...more

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Apr 11, 2010 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story does not bring us answers as to what was going on in Vincent's head. It does, however, portray him as a man who lived, breathed, and loved. It's told from the point of view of a woman who worked as a prostitute and who fell in love with him. She is a very sympathetic character. It makes you realize that not all prostitutes are bad women as society would make them out to be. I have always loved Vincent, and this story makes you feel the side of him that his letters wouldn't be quite ab...more

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About Sheramy Bundrick

I am an art historian and professor at a state university in Florida, where I have lived since 2001. I grew up just outside Atlanta and earned my BA, MA, and PhD in art history at Emory University. My academic specialty is ancient art; my book "Music and Image in Classical Athens" is loosely based on my dissertation. "Sunflowers" is my first novel and was an opportunity for me to explore more deep...more

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