The Collector of Moments

by Quint Buchholz, Peter F. Neumeyer (Translator)

A solitary boy is drawn to his mysterious new neighbor, an artist named Max. He spends hours in Max's studio, but Max is secretive and does not show the boy his pictures -- until he departs on a journey and leaves behind a surprise exhibition for his young friend. Max's pictures are strange and beautiful. They depict a realm where things, familiar at first glance, nevertheless behave in the most surprising and unpredictable ways. In this spellbinding picture book, the reader joins the boy in contemplating these challenging images, in a celebration of the power of art to transform the everyday into something magical.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Childrens, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Quint Buchholz was born in Stolberg near Aachen in 1957 and grew up in Stuttgart. He studied history of art for four terms, followed by painting and graphic design at the Munich Academy of Art under Prof. Gerd Winner.

He has worked as a painter and illustrator since 1979, illustrating over thirty books for German and international publishers. From 1982 onwards his works have also been exhibited in over seventy solo exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Taiwan.

He spent 2001-2002 working on a series of about thirty box installations and "found object" sculptures.

In recent years he has also worked as a stage painter, creating sets for The Golem in 2005 and Caligula in 2007, both of which were staged by Jochen Schölch for the Metropoltheater in Munich.

In 2008 and 2009 Quint Buchholz ran the Illustration workshop at the Kunst leben (Live Art) summer school in Kloster Irsee.

At the end of 2008 a theatrical interpertation of The Collector of Moments opened at the Theâtre de Cornouaille in Quimper, Brittany, directed by Jacques Nichet and with Jacques Echantillon in the lead role. The production then went on tour to nine other French cities.

A German production of Der Sammler der Augenblicke (The Collector of Moments) opened in March 2011 at the Metropoltheater in Munich, directed by Jochen Schölch and after fourteen sold out performances will return to the theatre in November 2011.

Quint Buchholz is married, he is the father of three children and lives in Munich in Germany.

Reviews

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea it seemed to me: extremely interesting. The images are powerful, some narrations are very good, but not all. My favorite is the one of my favorite author in this book: Orhan Pamuk. I think it worth to red it.

[David Shuster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has helped with the healing of my imagination.

I really wanna give it 5 stars. I think it would read beautifully in German. But the translation into English just doesn't work quite too well. And also maybe it's not quite a kid's book in the sense that a few sections make a little too explicit the philosophical musings. Would've been fine without them.

The drawings, paired with the descriptions, are magical in a quiet, foggy way. Very beautiful. Kinda has Time of Wonder vibes, but a bit more surrealist. Honestly loved it, twas beautiful. Idk if we as a society need to praise restless traveling artists who dedicate their whole lives to art more, but nonetheless it's cool to see these two super realistic characters and the slow-moving powerful imagery etc.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Every picture has a secret to keep. Even from me. Others might actually discover much more in my pictures than I do ... I'm merely the collector. I collect moments."

Max, an artist, moves into the house of a young boy, four floors up. The boy is fascinated by Max's artistic process and the pictures that he paints ... with his words and his art supplies. Likewise, Max is enthralled by the boy's violin playing.

Reminiscent of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if this is a translator's disservice or if the book really is just that bizarre, but it did not delight, enthrall, or stump me. I liked the art, but the premise wandered aimlessly and oddly.

[Taylor Ren’e Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mesmerizingly beautiful story about art and friendship.

[Alistair · Rating 4 out of 5]

說的還是有點多了。

[Jessica Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy and his older friend Max. Max is an artist that lives above the young boy. In the evenings, the boy plays the violin for Max when he takes a break from sketching. Max always faces his paintings towards the wall when they are done, so the boy cannot see them. The boy watches Max’s apartment for him when he goes on trips. On one trip, Max turns all the paintings the right way so the boy can look at them. They are all unique and really cause the boy to think. Max eventually moves and the boy is sad about this change. He stops playing the violin, but one day he receives a painting in the mail from Max, which encourages him to play the violin again. The boy grows up to be a professor that teaches violin. The illustrations are very realistic and well done. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at these illustrations. Some are done in color, while others are done in a sepia tone. The cover catches your attention. It is one of the paintings that’s included in the story. It makes you want to figure out what this intriguing illustration is all about! This would be a good book for third through fifth graders.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story drags along slowly in the beginning with little interest and one must persevere. Once the pictures begin to roll interest is no longer a struggle and it blossoms into quite a lovely story.
This tale makes the reader want to pay attention/look at things in a new way and not miss the magic in everyday life.

[Michael Braithwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has become my favorite children's book as an adult. The illustrations are beautiful and the whole book is imbued with magical enchantment. I read it when I feel scared or sad.

[Greta · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very different sort of picture book. I'm not sure how to describe it. There is a lot of text and then these interesting pictures come along.

[Becky H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

amazing illustrations. story may be more appealing for adults. did not keep the kids attention, but they loved looking through the book at the pictures.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was standing up on display in my library. The artwork on the cover peeked my interest. The story was lovely and the artwork stunning.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dreamy illustrations completely captured my imagination, and I like the story just as well.

[Arthur]

Meriam