The Season of Migration

by Nellie Hermann

The lyrically told story of one of the world's greatest artists finding his true calling

Though Vincent van Gogh is one of the most popular painters of all time, we know very little about a ten-month period in the painter's youth when he and his brother, Theo, broke off all contact. In The Season of Migration , Nellie Hermann conjures this period in a profoundly imaginative, original, and heartbreaking vision of Van Gogh's early years, before he became the artist we know today.
In December 1878, Vincent van Gogh arrives in the coal-mining village of Petit Wasmes in the Borinage region of Belgium, a blasted and hopeless landscape of hovels and slag heaps and mining machinery. Not yet the artist he is destined to become, Vincent arrives as an ersatz preacher, barely sanctioned by church authorities but ordained in his own mind and heart by a desperate and mistaken spiritual vocation. But what Vincent experiences in the Borinage will change him. Coming to preach a useless gospel he thought he knew and believed, he learns about love, suffering, and beauty, ultimately coming to see the world anew and finding the divine not in religion but in our fallen human world.
In startlingly beautiful and powerful language, Hermann transforms our understanding of Van Gogh and the redemptive power of art.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Art, Literature, Historical, Art History, Adult Fiction

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2015

Reviews

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book, which concentrates on the early years of Van Gogh, when he was trying to make his way in the world as a missionary after his failure of theological studies. But the style of writing is so descriptive and the descriptions are so basic, no creativity when it comes to language. What eyes see, the tongue describes each object one by one in a simple language.

[Ray Hu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book seeing as Van Gogh is one of my absolute favorite people/painters. The writing was, at times, lyrical and exquisite, and I love when people render imaginings on known gaps in historical record (not sure what that is called), but overall I was disappointed with the book. The lack of intriguing plot and shifting narration were this novels weakest components and led to my ultimate disinterest.

The rating is rounding up from like a 2.75. I think I'll just turn to an episode of DW or some Irving Stone or 'Van Gogh: A Life' to remedy my dissatisfaction with this book.

PopSugar 2015 Challenge: A book published this year (x)

[Larry Swain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Not a straightforward novel plotting A to Z….but vividly described scenes easily seen in the mind’s eye as though a drawing or painting of van Gogh’s. Much if the novel is based on or excerpted from van Gogh’s letters to his brother. Kept my interest, beautiful passages of prose….

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

very nice literary treatment of vicent van gogh's time spent in coal mining communities of belgium, and his troubling seeking for meaning and purpose in religion, family, love and art. author does a superb job using historical epistles of the van gogh family to create a possible 'why' for vincent's lifestyle and decisions.
the incredibly poor living and working conditions and dangers of the serf miners touched vincent's heart so much, he too lost it and more or less went on a hunger strike, his heart broken by the despicable 1%er's and the struggles of the poor people. the ending of novel is a twist and illustrates van gogh's inhuman passion and drive.
this reminded me some of nexo's novels of pelle the conqueror, and the poor being pushed beyond endurance until finally they killed the fatcats and took their stuff. one wonders why it took so long, and why the fat cats have it all again. Pelle the Conqueror

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book interesting as I knew nothing about Van Gogh as a preacher. His work in the coal mining area of Belgium was eyeopening. The people suffered so much and had so little. You could see the beginning of his artist career and the beginning of his mental illness.A short book, but a good read.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such an intriguing premise, I really wanted to like this book. I'm captivated by all things VVG, so I brought this title to my book club. Unfortunately, not one member finished it. Slow. Think molasses. Think turtle. I'm not against a leisurely read, but this went nowhere fast

[Beccalaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the glimpse into the life of Vincent van Gogh. The writing captivated me. The book's expression of the many ways we as people have a deep desire to be known and understood has stuck with me.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it put me to sleep.

[etherealfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Library harcover

[Clare Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sooo this was kinda bad lol

I will say that the writing is objectively good, and it's very short--I basically read it in one day. But like?? I was interested in this book because it's about Vincent Van Gogh, but was there *ONE* painting made in this book? NO. I understand that it's supposed to be about his life before he was a painter, but this story could have been about any ol' smuck who lived in a mining town for a while. While Vincent writes letters to Theo throughout, I never felt like this was "Vincent and Theo."

I read another book about Vincent and Theo that was also not great because the writing was STUPID, but at least I felt like that book was about Vincent and Theo Van Gogh. Speaking of the writing, while it was good on the surface, both this book and that Vincent and Theo book had this need to be super artsy. Like okay--I will be the first to admit that sometimes I think I'm a great writer and pen a super flowery and *deep* sentence, but then I go back and I'm like "oh wait, this is dumb." This book felt like this author knew she was good at writing and tried to be sooooo deeepppp and ~~amazing~~ You know what I mean, like putting a bunch of BIG BOI words in a row that are the same meaning just to show off how smart this author is, or having Vincent think about the same symbolic things over and over again. It was too much.

But yeah, I didn't sign up to read about some whiny dude living in a mining town who didn't feel at all like Vincent Van Gogh. Not to mention that my main pet peeve of this book is that it felt very Heart of Darknessy, which isn't good because Heart of Darkness is my least favorite book ever. It didn't hit the horribly racist levels Heart of Darkness hit, but Vincent is living in this mining town and complains 24/7 about how terrible he had it in this mining town watching all these people struggle and die in the mines?? Like BRO at least you weren't IN THE MINES!! Shut up!!

Anyway, I am glad I read this, and maybe this really was what Vincent did with his life for a year and how he acted--idk! I would have to do research to see how accurate this fictional take is. Buttt it wasn't good. I have yet to find the Vincent Van Gogh masterwork I'm looking for :/

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book paints a picture of the workings of a man's soul - of his struggle to find himself and his purpose through the lens of the beauty and the suffering that he sees in tandem around him. It has a rather melancholy note to it, yet the imagery is striking. I did however, grow weary of all the images of life and commonplace things. There was beauty in it, yes, but it ceased to captivate my attention as the book drew on. By the last third of the book or so, I was extremely impatient to get to the end - each turn of the page which revealed a full text dragging on and on elicited a sigh of deep frustration.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars out of 5. I had randomly purchased this book used at the library and come to find out, it's about Vincent Van Gogh's early life as a Minister. Based on his actual letters, the author adds in her own details to round out the story line. I liked it.... But maybe more so because this is my second Van Gogh novel. Halfway through reading this book, I checked out a VG coffee table book from the library. His paintings are brilliant... Just wonderful. It's a shame he spent his last days unhappy. Recommended IF you want to learn of Van Gogh.... Maybe read Johanna first (on my book list).

[Louisa Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a sad book. This book gave me insight into Vincent Van Gough through his letters to his brother, Theo.
What a sad, troubled man this book portrays. I couldn’t help remembering the song, “Vincent” by Don McLean, especially the lines in the last verse:

Now, I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will.

Just to think how pictures truly beautiful came from a man so truly broken.

[Marina Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a truly poetic and overall beautiful book. Vincent Van Gogh's inner life was something quite interesting to read about, the way he saw everything as art touched me in a different manner. I loved the author's writing style, all the details and the air of pure contemplation of the world.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written, richly imagined time in Vincent Van Gogh's early life before he became the artist known today.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful writing!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so different than books I usually like. The descriptions were so well written I felt I could see the picture. It showed a more open minded way to view others that are different or have changed. I find myself trying to look around with an artist eye. Felt like it explained art almost like an art appreciation class. Really loved the in depth description of the coal mining.

Loved pages 43 119. 131. 240

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction may now be my favorite genre. I really enjoyed this book, it felt even more special to be reading it while traveling in Europe - being able to experience art and have a new perspective of Vincent van Gogh's life path.

[Yijun Yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my H1B status, my wife's English as a second language, live as a foreigner status; for the days days when Jimmy was still a baby and toddler, requiring constant care; for everything we are doing now:

"There's the one who's an idler through laziness and weakness of character, through the baseness of his nature... Then there's the other idler, the idler truly despite himself, who is gnawed inwardly by a great desire for action, who does nothing because he finds it impossible to do anything since he's imprisoned in something, so to speak, because he doesn't have what he would need to be productive, because the inevitability of circumstances is reducing him to this point. Such a person doesn't always know himself what he could do, but he feels by instinct, I'm good for something, even so! I feel I have a raison d'etre! I know that I could be a quite different man! For what then could I be of use, for what could I serve! There's something within me, so what is it?"

"then comes the season of migration. A bout of melancholy... but he looks at the sky outside, heavy with storm clouds, and within himself feels a rebellion against fate. I'm in a cage, I'm in a cage, and so I lack for nothing, you fools! Me, I have everything I need! Ah, for pity's sake, freedom, to be a bird like other birds!

"An idle man like that resembles an idle bird like that."

And for the grief.

"I want to cling to this world with all of my strength; I want to cling to all of you, to this place, to the people whom we lost. Friends, we are alive! We are alive, which means that we can still see this world, which means that we can still appreciate its beauty. I am not living for the next world, not now, no; I am living for this one. I want to do justice to the world I am in right now. I am moving toward to grave, yes, as are we all, but I am paying attention to every step along the way."

And for God, or one's self, or whatever.

"But you must love with a high, serious, intimate sympathy, with a will, with intelligence, and you must always seek to know more thoroughly, better, and more."

[Martha Greenough · Rating 3 out of 5]

Van Gogh, minister to mining town, letters to Theo

[Nancy A · Rating 4 out of 5]

One might think that inhabiting an artist's psyche would be a wonderful thing. At the very least it would illuminate the motivational processes behind the creative ones.However,when the artist is Vincent Van Gogh one has to understand that the journey is not going to be a comfortable one nor even at times a comprehensible one.I think Nellie Hermann achieves a remarkable tour d' force in that she is able to construct a believable framework which illuminates the formation of the artist Vincent Van Gogh and by that I mean his unique vision and the ways in which he expressed it.I did not expect a neat story.This is an internal conversation which evolves as the artist discovers who he is and what he is meant to do.It represents a painful transformation and,if you will, a "migration" into a new personal reality.Having said all these good things this book,like Vincent himself,wasn't easy to take.At times I felt like I was reading about the life of a saint and sainthood can be tiresome.I also confess that as he gave away sketch after sketch I kept thinking,"SAVE THAT PAPER YOU FOOL....IT'S GOING TO BE WORTH MILLIONS SOMEDAY"!!I still think the best way to understand Van Gogh is to study his work.Everything that Hermann alludes to in the book is all there....the frenetic energy of line and mass,the sense of isolation,the thick impasto,and at the heart of every canvas a living breathing soul.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4, for me. I thought this was a great book: not too lengthy or wordy, and Hermann does a good job of maintaining Van Gogh's voice, given the letters she had access to. I liked the snapshots of what the Van Goghs' childhood must have been like; and that's something that few authors have acknowledged in great detail, in fiction or academic work.

What I didn't like about this book was the subplot with Angeline, which felt a little unnecessary given the emotional and psychological toll the Borinage was already going to have, and the typos and mis-spelling of Van Gogh's middle name. I am not a scholar on this, but I have always seen it written as Willem, not Wilhem. This just seems like a major slip-up in detail, especially given the sensitivity with which Hermann treats her subject; however, the use of letters to tell large chunks of the story is a clever idea that helps the reader identify with Van Gogh.

So, overall I found this an enjoyable and moving read.

[Rachel | All the RAD Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I couldn't get through this one either. It's a sign of growth (I think) that I've been learning to close books I'm not enjoying and stop reading once I've given them a chance. I used to feel obligated to finish... but no longer. There are too many amazing books to be read to waste time reading mediocre ones! This one was challenging in the way each paragraph switched perspectives and times. It takes skill to make that work well, and I wasn't following this one. It's a fictionalized take on VanGogh's life, which made for an intriguing premise, and although I learned more about his life beyond his art, I really wasn't intrigued by the his complex and messy relationship with his brother or hooked at all by the writing. I'm sure there are people (art fans especially) who would enjoy this one, but it just wasn't worth finishing to me!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this book, but ultimately, was pretty disappointed. Van Gogh as a subject has such potential for a good story (he was crazy, as so many geniuses are), and his well documented letters to his brother Theo are amazing. However, this book covered too much of the madness with shifting perspective and lunatic rants and covered the brief 9-month period in which the brothers were NOT in contact. Van Gogh tells the story of this time through letters to Theo that he writes, but will never deliver. Some of the writing was beautiful, but overall, didn't particularly love it.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is utterly masterful. I have studied the work of Van Gogh in some depth, I do not have a deep grasp of his life history. So I cannot speak to accuracy, but how much do we really need to speak to accuracy in a work of historical fiction? Isn't that why it's called fiction, rather than nonfiction.

Hermann is an amazing writer, capable of depicting the inner struggles of an artist as he copes with spirituality, political economy, and the brutal identification with, and estrangement from, family love.

It is amazing watching an artist at work, and I don't mean Van Gogh.

Surprised that others were disappointed.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, dense book about a period of the life of Vincent Van Gogh, before he found his calling as
an artist. Written in the form of letters to his brother. In real life, he and his brother wrote letters frequently, but there was a one year gap in their writing. This story fills in the gap, so the book is fiction, but the author strives to be true to known facts and Vincent's tone of writing. Many profound and beautiful parts that made me read slowly to savor and reflect. Vincent is working through separation from his beloved brother, failure at finding a suitable purpose in life, and a crisis of religious faith.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book! I had no idea what a beautiful soul Van Gogh had or how tormented he was as a child and young man. It very nearly broke my heart to read about how sensitive, how caring, self-sacrificing he was, but how he was teased and tormented as a child, by his own family, and misunderstood and ridiculed by those very people he so desperately wanted to help.

I've recently ordered a collection of more of his letters, and I look forward to visiting all of his paintings available in my area, with a fresh perspective.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I expected. Beautifully written, but really more like poetry. While the writing is exquisite, it's really a small slice of Vincent's life- more about his psyche than a true narrative. That said, there were some memorable parts- his journey into the mine, his insistence of not washing so he could empathize with the miners.

[Fatima Afridi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the writer's thought process very very deep and intriguing. The way the protagonist could connect completely different phenomena. It was a melancholic but beautiful, beautiful read.
The description of the mine, Vincent's descent into it and his tour, was extremely evocative and stunning. I have never read anything like it before!

[Sergio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. I have a brother and a sister. Both like to write. This book shows that the inner prisoner can be freed by writing, such is the case for Vincent. His mind wanders a lot, but more so that it allows him to focus on what is in front of him. He is a good man and so is his brother. The title fits, comparing us humans to birds. If you do not buy the art the artist dies.