Peter Heller, the celebrated author of the breakout best seller The Dog Stars, returns with an achingly beautiful, wildly suspenseful second novel about an artist trying to outrun his past.
Jim Stegner has seen his share of violence and loss. Years ago he shot a man in a bar. His marriage disintegrated. He grieved the one thing he loved. In the wake of tragedy, Jim, a well-known expressionist painter, abandoned the art scene of Santa Fe to start fresh in the valleys of rural Colorado. Now he spends his days painting and fly-fishing, trying to find a way to live with the dark impulses that sometimes overtake him. He works with a lovely model. His paintings fetch excellent prices. But one afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience.
A stunning, savage novel of art and violence, love and grief, The Painter is the story of a man who longs to transcend the shadows in his heart, a man intent on using the losses he has suffered to create a meaningful life.
Jim Stegner has seen his share of violence and loss. Years ago he shot a man in a bar. His marriage disintegrated. He grieved the one thing he loved. In the wake of tragedy, Jim, a well-known expressionist painter, abandoned the art scene of Santa Fe to start fresh in the valleys of rural Colorado. Now he spends his days painting and fly-fishing, trying to find a way to live with the dark impulses that sometimes overtake him. He works with a lovely model. His paintings fetch excellent prices. But one afternoon, on a dirt road, Jim comes across a man beating a small horse, and a brutal encounter rips his quiet life wide open. Fleeing Colorado, chased by men set on retribution, Jim returns to New Mexico, tormented by his own relentless conscience.
A stunning, savage novel of art and violence, love and grief, The Painter is the story of a man who longs to transcend the shadows in his heart, a man intent on using the losses he has suffered to create a meaningful life.
Cathy says:
"Jim Stegner is a painter and, in his own words 'pretty good, somewhat famous.' He's moved to Paonia, Colorado, for the quiet—to paint, flyfish, find some peace, and perhaps draw occasional respite from his grief over the violent death of his daughter. Stegner is also possessed of a hair-trigger temper and impulse-control issues. When he encounters an outfitter mercilessly beating a horse, he becomes enraged and events unfold that make any prayer he may have had for achieving peace very unlikely. Loosely basing The Painter on a real character, Peter Heller has crafted a novel that not only examines the emotional interior of a gifted but troubled man, it also lets us inside an artist's inner circle. Dealer, muse, patrons, rivals, critics, friends and lovers surround the painter as he maintains his tenuous hold on freedom and sobriety. This is an amazing novel made even more so by Heller's exquisite and vivid rendering of the landscape of Colorado and New Mexico." 
Every now and then we encounter a new book that we’re so excited about we want to shout it from the rooftops, so we've created a special tag to distinguish it from the rest: TC VIB (very impressive book)! That means it’s a true stand-out in a season of many excellent and compelling new books.
Colorado Public Radio joins us in presenting bestselling local author Peter Heller in conversation with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner to discuss and sign Peter's new book The Painter.
Free numbered tickets for a place in the booksigning line will be available at 6:30 pm at the first floor Check-Out counter. Seating for the presentation prior to the booksigning is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis to ticketed customers only.
Colorado Public Radio joins us in presenting bestselling local author Peter Heller in conversation with Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner to discuss and sign Peter's new book The Painter.
Free numbered tickets for a place in the booksigning line will be available at 6:30 pm at the first floor Check-Out counter. Seating for the presentation prior to the booksigning is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis to ticketed customers only.
Can’t make it to the signing? Request an autographed copy here: books@tatteredcover.com
1 comment:
As my art teacher/artist wife will attest, I am no art aficionado by any means...Heller's prose created such vivid imagery in the mind of this art Luddite that I feel that I have a new found respect. Additionally it is a gripping tale that grabbed my interest from the start...highly recommend!
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