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The Color of Light
At the American Academy of Classical Art, popular opinion has it that the school's handsome and mysterious founder, Raphael Sinclair, is a vampire. It is a rumor Rafe does nothing to dispel.
Scholarship student Tessa Moss has long dreamed of the chance to study at Rafe's Academy. But she is floundering amidst the ups and downs of a relationship with egotistical art star Lucian Swain.
Then, one of Tessa's sketches catches Rafe's attention: a drawing of a young woman in 1930s clothing who is covering the eyes of a child. The suitcase at her feet says Wizotsky. Sofia Wizotsky, the love of Rafe's life, was lost during the Holocaust. Or was she? Rafe suspects Tessa may be the key to discovering what really happened.
As Rafe finds excuses to interact with Tessa, they quickly discover they cannot deny their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction forbidden by the Academy Board and disapproved of by anyone familiar with Rafe's playboy reputation and Tessa's softhearted innocence. But what if fate has other plans for Tessa and Rafe? What if they break all rules to succumb to a passion that defies history?
Scholarship student Tessa Moss has long dreamed of the chance to study at Rafe's Academy. But she is floundering amidst the ups and downs of a relationship with egotistical art star Lucian Swain.
Then, one of Tessa's sketches catches Rafe's attention: a drawing of a young woman in 1930s clothing who is covering the eyes of a child. The suitcase at her feet says Wizotsky. Sofia Wizotsky, the love of Rafe's life, was lost during the Holocaust. Or was she? Rafe suspects Tessa may be the key to discovering what really happened.
As Rafe finds excuses to interact with Tessa, they quickly discover they cannot deny their growing attraction to one another. It is an attraction forbidden by the Academy Board and disapproved of by anyone familiar with Rafe's playboy reputation and Tessa's softhearted innocence. But what if fate has other plans for Tessa and Rafe? What if they break all rules to succumb to a passion that defies history?
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First published October 31, 2013
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About the author
Helen Maryles Shankman
14 books232 followersOriginally, when I moved to New York to attend art school, I thought I wanted to be an illustrator, to tell stories with paint. A few years later, I discovered that what I really wanted to do was paint with words.
Helen Maryles Shankman lived in Chicago before moving to New York City to attend art school. She is the author of In the Land of Armadillos, a collection of linked stories illuminated with magical realism, published by Scrbner, following the inhabitants of a small town in 1942 Poland and tracing the troubling complex choices they are compelled to make. The paperback reprint, titled They Were Like Family to Me, is now available at bookstores everywhere.
Her stories have appeared in numerous fine publications, including The Kenyon Review, Cream City Review, Gargoyle, Grift, 2 Bridges Review, Danse Macabre, and JewishFiction.net. She was a finalist in Narrative Magazine's Winter Story Contest and earned an Honorable Mention in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers competition. Two of her stories, They Were Like Family to Me and The Jew Hater have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Shankman received an MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art, where she was awarded a prestigious Warhol Foundation Scholarship. She spent four years as as artist's assistant and two years at Conde Nast working closely with the legendary Alexander Liberman. She lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a year, spending the better part of each day in an enormous barn filled with chickens, where she collected eggs and listened to the Beatles.
Shankman lives in New Jersey with her husband, four children, and an evolving roster of rabbits. When she is not neglecting the housework so that she can write stories, she teaches art and paints portraits on commission.
Helen Maryles Shankman lived in Chicago before moving to New York City to attend art school. She is the author of In the Land of Armadillos, a collection of linked stories illuminated with magical realism, published by Scrbner, following the inhabitants of a small town in 1942 Poland and tracing the troubling complex choices they are compelled to make. The paperback reprint, titled They Were Like Family to Me, is now available at bookstores everywhere.
Her stories have appeared in numerous fine publications, including The Kenyon Review, Cream City Review, Gargoyle, Grift, 2 Bridges Review, Danse Macabre, and JewishFiction.net. She was a finalist in Narrative Magazine's Winter Story Contest and earned an Honorable Mention in Glimmer Train's Short Story Award for New Writers competition. Two of her stories, They Were Like Family to Me and The Jew Hater have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Shankman received an MFA in Painting from the New York Academy of Art, where she was awarded a prestigious Warhol Foundation Scholarship. She spent four years as as artist's assistant and two years at Conde Nast working closely with the legendary Alexander Liberman. She lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a year, spending the better part of each day in an enormous barn filled with chickens, where she collected eggs and listened to the Beatles.
Shankman lives in New Jersey with her husband, four children, and an evolving roster of rabbits. When she is not neglecting the housework so that she can write stories, she teaches art and paints portraits on commission.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
November 12, 2013
How shall I begin this review? Can I say I picked up this book because the author and I share the same last name? That was what caught my eye. Because it touches on the Shoah? Perhaps, but I have to say I haven’t gone near anything that tells of the Holocaust since “Schindler’s List” 20 years ago. It just hurts too much. I saw my family in that film (I’ll explain later) and it killed me. Because it was about a vampire? Vampires that don’t sparkle are usually monsters. But Raphael Sinclair is not the monster. The real monsters followed the Angel of Death when he spread his dark wings over Europe 75 years ago. I suppose it was all those reasons.
This is how I shall start my review:
Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei rabbaw B'allmaw dee v'raw chir'usei
v'yamlich malchusei,b'chayeichon, uv'yomeichon,uv'chayei d'chol beis yisroel,
ba'agawlaw u'vizman kawriv, v'imru. Amen.
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed.
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Amen.
The beginning of the Jewish prayer for the dead. I will probably throw a few foreign phrases in here. They may be incorrect. I learned them in my childhood long ago. According to my wife, I sometimes mutter perfect German or Yiddish – not that she can tell – in my sleep, but when I’m awake, not so much. So humor me.
This is the story about the dead. Not just the dead from 70 years ago, but the descendants of the survivors, because we carry them in our hearts, and will until the last of us who heard the stories from the survivors pass away.
Ms. Shankman has created a masterpiece. The beauty of the prose, the dialogue, all that made Rafe and Tessa who they are is breathtaking. Her style is beautiful, raising this book from mere fiction to literature. It is long, but every word is precious.
She ripped my heart out and made me cry. Beautiful doomed Sofia, who can never truly be with Rafe because her family is Orthodox and marriage outside of the faith is forbidden (you don’t marry people who despise your people – that’s the way it was not so long ago). And Isaiah, sweet little boy, who you know will never grow up because very, very few children stood a chance against the Nazis. They were their favorite targets. And then Rafe, the Angel of Healing. Oh my God, terrible and beautiful at the same time. Auschwitz, true hell on earth, where the only chance for escape was death, and an easy one an unobtainable dream.
This all made me thing back to “Schindler’s List”. My family disappeared into the Krakow ghetto, and save for one child, was never seen or heard from again. They drowned in the rivers of blood that flooded through the city during the liquidation of the ghetto, something that Steven Spielberg masterfully recreated in a half-hour long orgy of horror. At some point while watching, I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I became physically ill. This was my family’s last moments come to life. My grandma Fayga was raped and bayoneted in front of her children. We know this because a wonderful, noble, beautiful Polish woman grabbed one of my cousins out of the crowd and hid him for the duration of the war. She was one of the truly righteous, because saving a Jew meant death for not just that person, but their family. He later moved to Israel and told the story. The sole survivor our branch of the Graff family.
Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei rabbaw B'allmaw dee v'raw chir'usei
v'yamlich malchusei,b'chayeichon, uv'yomeichon,uv'chayei d'chol beis yisroel,
ba'agawlaw u'vizman kawriv, v'imru. Amen.
And Helen made me feel that all over again. The Wizotsky family was not real, but they are. Tessa’s family isn’t my biological family, but they are my family. And so is Helen’s. My beit Yisrael, mein Yideles, mein Judishen Volkes. My poor, hated, doomed people. But – we didn’t all die and we didn’t disappear. Every time we sit and rejoice at a bnei mitzvah, every time a glass a crushed underfoot at a wedding, every time we bury someone we love, our large families surrounding them, and especially, every time a new baby takes its first cry, we can think: Fuck you Adolf Hitler. You tried and you failed, and while we now thrive again among people who think of as people, your charred skull sits in a museum in Russia a country you despised.
All of Tessa’s friends, all of the people who populated the Academy, both the good, the not so good, and the downright rotten, were real and believable. Tessa, an angel. Raphael, such a good man despite the whole vampire thing – I would take him over Edward What’s-His-Name any day. So what if he eats people? Honestly, where are you supposed to find a deer in Manhattan? And squirrels and pigeons hardly provide any nutritional value (this review needed some levity).
The book is magnificent. Go and read it. Tell your friends and family. And if you happen to know a movie executive, tell him or her. I believe this would have a similar impact to “Sophie’s Choice” 30 years ago.
Two final things:
Not one single spelling or grammatical error. That alone makes me swoon.:)
and
L’chaim! To life!
This is how I shall start my review:
Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei rabbaw B'allmaw dee v'raw chir'usei
v'yamlich malchusei,b'chayeichon, uv'yomeichon,uv'chayei d'chol beis yisroel,
ba'agawlaw u'vizman kawriv, v'imru. Amen.
May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed.
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel, swiftly and soon. Amen.
The beginning of the Jewish prayer for the dead. I will probably throw a few foreign phrases in here. They may be incorrect. I learned them in my childhood long ago. According to my wife, I sometimes mutter perfect German or Yiddish – not that she can tell – in my sleep, but when I’m awake, not so much. So humor me.
This is the story about the dead. Not just the dead from 70 years ago, but the descendants of the survivors, because we carry them in our hearts, and will until the last of us who heard the stories from the survivors pass away.
Ms. Shankman has created a masterpiece. The beauty of the prose, the dialogue, all that made Rafe and Tessa who they are is breathtaking. Her style is beautiful, raising this book from mere fiction to literature. It is long, but every word is precious.
She ripped my heart out and made me cry. Beautiful doomed Sofia, who can never truly be with Rafe because her family is Orthodox and marriage outside of the faith is forbidden (you don’t marry people who despise your people – that’s the way it was not so long ago). And Isaiah, sweet little boy, who you know will never grow up because very, very few children stood a chance against the Nazis. They were their favorite targets. And then Rafe, the Angel of Healing. Oh my God, terrible and beautiful at the same time. Auschwitz, true hell on earth, where the only chance for escape was death, and an easy one an unobtainable dream.
This all made me thing back to “Schindler’s List”. My family disappeared into the Krakow ghetto, and save for one child, was never seen or heard from again. They drowned in the rivers of blood that flooded through the city during the liquidation of the ghetto, something that Steven Spielberg masterfully recreated in a half-hour long orgy of horror. At some point while watching, I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I became physically ill. This was my family’s last moments come to life. My grandma Fayga was raped and bayoneted in front of her children. We know this because a wonderful, noble, beautiful Polish woman grabbed one of my cousins out of the crowd and hid him for the duration of the war. She was one of the truly righteous, because saving a Jew meant death for not just that person, but their family. He later moved to Israel and told the story. The sole survivor our branch of the Graff family.
Yisgadal v'yiskadash sh'mei rabbaw B'allmaw dee v'raw chir'usei
v'yamlich malchusei,b'chayeichon, uv'yomeichon,uv'chayei d'chol beis yisroel,
ba'agawlaw u'vizman kawriv, v'imru. Amen.
And Helen made me feel that all over again. The Wizotsky family was not real, but they are. Tessa’s family isn’t my biological family, but they are my family. And so is Helen’s. My beit Yisrael, mein Yideles, mein Judishen Volkes. My poor, hated, doomed people. But – we didn’t all die and we didn’t disappear. Every time we sit and rejoice at a bnei mitzvah, every time a glass a crushed underfoot at a wedding, every time we bury someone we love, our large families surrounding them, and especially, every time a new baby takes its first cry, we can think: Fuck you Adolf Hitler. You tried and you failed, and while we now thrive again among people who think of as people, your charred skull sits in a museum in Russia a country you despised.
All of Tessa’s friends, all of the people who populated the Academy, both the good, the not so good, and the downright rotten, were real and believable. Tessa, an angel. Raphael, such a good man despite the whole vampire thing – I would take him over Edward What’s-His-Name any day. So what if he eats people? Honestly, where are you supposed to find a deer in Manhattan? And squirrels and pigeons hardly provide any nutritional value (this review needed some levity).
The book is magnificent. Go and read it. Tell your friends and family. And if you happen to know a movie executive, tell him or her. I believe this would have a similar impact to “Sophie’s Choice” 30 years ago.
Two final things:
Not one single spelling or grammatical error. That alone makes me swoon.:)
and
L’chaim! To life!
July 29, 2016
3.5/5 stars
YA generally may be a little off my reading zeitgeist, but it's good to try different genres; it makes me feel that I'm openminded (although this might be a delusion). The Color of Light got my attention for the supernatural and gothic themes. At first, I was a little worried about the charred, overdone vampire stories bursting out of a gloaming pop culture. However, this novel had a deeper variation to its dusky predecessors, and proved to be an engaging historical fiction of the Holocaust and an enduring love that coursed through the veins of time. Weaving not only WWII and present day plot lines, the reader is also taken into the colorful world of Renaissance art.
This was a treat. It's a testimonial to the punch of a novel when the reader in offered something new and exciting to explore.
In The Color of Light, the protagonists, Tessa and Rafe (Raphael), are at opposite ends of the spectrum: light is contrasted by dark; good battles the forces of evil; beauty is in the company of the beast. In a similar vein, old struggles to survive in a modern world: the technique of Renaissance artwork is dying, being replaced by avant-garde abstractions.
The themes of the bond of friendship and a love that comes full circle were cleverly painted (pun). There was a strong sense of friendship throughout the book, especially when Tessa flounders, or Rafe loses his direction. Always, always the circle of friends would create an unbreakable ring, providing unending support. This 'circle of light' keeps moving through the story, illuminating the shadows and casting glows as the characters develop. I lost count of the number of times "circle" was mentioned in the novel, but hey, it had the subliminal effect intended.
I'd have to say The Color of Light had a positive influence on me. From it, I revisited an interest in Renaissance art, the period and the artists, specifically in Raphael Sanzio whose Madonna and Child played a significant role.
YA generally may be a little off my reading zeitgeist, but it's good to try different genres; it makes me feel that I'm openminded (although this might be a delusion). The Color of Light got my attention for the supernatural and gothic themes. At first, I was a little worried about the charred, overdone vampire stories bursting out of a gloaming pop culture. However, this novel had a deeper variation to its dusky predecessors, and proved to be an engaging historical fiction of the Holocaust and an enduring love that coursed through the veins of time. Weaving not only WWII and present day plot lines, the reader is also taken into the colorful world of Renaissance art.
This was a treat. It's a testimonial to the punch of a novel when the reader in offered something new and exciting to explore.
In The Color of Light, the protagonists, Tessa and Rafe (Raphael), are at opposite ends of the spectrum: light is contrasted by dark; good battles the forces of evil; beauty is in the company of the beast. In a similar vein, old struggles to survive in a modern world: the technique of Renaissance artwork is dying, being replaced by avant-garde abstractions.
The themes of the bond of friendship and a love that comes full circle were cleverly painted (pun). There was a strong sense of friendship throughout the book, especially when Tessa flounders, or Rafe loses his direction. Always, always the circle of friends would create an unbreakable ring, providing unending support. This 'circle of light' keeps moving through the story, illuminating the shadows and casting glows as the characters develop. I lost count of the number of times "circle" was mentioned in the novel, but hey, it had the subliminal effect intended.
I'd have to say The Color of Light had a positive influence on me. From it, I revisited an interest in Renaissance art, the period and the artists, specifically in Raphael Sanzio whose Madonna and Child played a significant role.
December 18, 2013
Based on the description and reviews, I made the mistake of thinking this would be an actual piece of literature (it's not). Honestly, I should have known better when in the first few pages it described an "ass like an upside-down heart," but I ignored my instinct and kept reading.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
The flaws in this book are many, so I'll just name off my biggest pet peeves.
1. It's boring. Really boring, and it never gets better (I was slightly interested in Sofia's story, but then I just got disappointed again.)
2. There are *so many* continuity errors in this book. First, Rafael can't be in sunlight or he'll burn up, but he's at his art school all day long and is perfectly find despite the fact that the classrooms probably all have big windows so the students can work with natural light. You'd also think that an art school would have lots of mirrors, but our friend Rafael is *never* caught as a vampire, despite the fact that he has no reflection and would burn up in sunlight. At one point he says he'll be Tessa's mentor, but either the author forgets or he never makes good on his promise because she's back to her crappy one.
3. Rafael supposedly really cares about art and his students, which seems a little off kilter considering that he walks around murdering ladies left and right. Also, not ONCE does he ever consider that he can just drink blood from a blood bank. So not only is he an old ass vampire, he's a stupid old ass vampire.
3. And my biggest problem with this book is that Rafael thinks he's some sort of tool of God to punish the wicked and that's why he exists. So you might ask yourself, does he go around killing Nazis and murderers? Nope, he just kills whores! That's right, any lady who makes side eyes with him, he kills. Brutally. There's the flight attendant who tries to make out with him so he kills her and folds her body up in the overhead luggage compartment (which no one in a plane full of people notice). There's the runaway girl who is a new drug addict who he gets high and drains of blood. And of course there's numerous prostitutes he kills. He occasionally makes an exception from killing a "whorish" lady and kills a man here and there, but that's it. But his heart's desire Tessa is a virgin, so OF COURSE he doesn't kill her! He's only there to punish the wicked!
4. I found the whole wanting to date a descendent of someone you loved and lost pretty fucking creepy. Honestly though, there's nothing redeemable in Rafael or Tessa (who's only real fault I guess is being boring and "perfect"), so they can have each other.
5. I couldn't stand how this book kept wanting to act like some seedy romance novel (the way it describes women's body parts is ridiculous), but never actually even paid off (because Tessa's a virgin, remember?). So you're just stuck with a lot of phrases like, "sweet round ass" and "lithe supple curves." Blech.
6. No one is surprised or shocked when they find out Rafael is actually a vampire. Seriously. Everyone is cool with it. No one thinks of outing him or questioning his existence, even though no one has any real loyalty to him except the fact that he's the founder of their beloved classical art school (btw of which, there are a ton).
/end rant
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
The flaws in this book are many, so I'll just name off my biggest pet peeves.
1. It's boring. Really boring, and it never gets better (I was slightly interested in Sofia's story, but then I just got disappointed again.)
2. There are *so many* continuity errors in this book. First, Rafael can't be in sunlight or he'll burn up, but he's at his art school all day long and is perfectly find despite the fact that the classrooms probably all have big windows so the students can work with natural light. You'd also think that an art school would have lots of mirrors, but our friend Rafael is *never* caught as a vampire, despite the fact that he has no reflection and would burn up in sunlight. At one point he says he'll be Tessa's mentor, but either the author forgets or he never makes good on his promise because she's back to her crappy one.
3. Rafael supposedly really cares about art and his students, which seems a little off kilter considering that he walks around murdering ladies left and right. Also, not ONCE does he ever consider that he can just drink blood from a blood bank. So not only is he an old ass vampire, he's a stupid old ass vampire.
3. And my biggest problem with this book is that Rafael thinks he's some sort of tool of God to punish the wicked and that's why he exists. So you might ask yourself, does he go around killing Nazis and murderers? Nope, he just kills whores! That's right, any lady who makes side eyes with him, he kills. Brutally. There's the flight attendant who tries to make out with him so he kills her and folds her body up in the overhead luggage compartment (which no one in a plane full of people notice). There's the runaway girl who is a new drug addict who he gets high and drains of blood. And of course there's numerous prostitutes he kills. He occasionally makes an exception from killing a "whorish" lady and kills a man here and there, but that's it. But his heart's desire Tessa is a virgin, so OF COURSE he doesn't kill her! He's only there to punish the wicked!
4. I found the whole wanting to date a descendent of someone you loved and lost pretty fucking creepy. Honestly though, there's nothing redeemable in Rafael or Tessa (who's only real fault I guess is being boring and "perfect"), so they can have each other.
5. I couldn't stand how this book kept wanting to act like some seedy romance novel (the way it describes women's body parts is ridiculous), but never actually even paid off (because Tessa's a virgin, remember?). So you're just stuck with a lot of phrases like, "sweet round ass" and "lithe supple curves." Blech.
6. No one is surprised or shocked when they find out Rafael is actually a vampire. Seriously. Everyone is cool with it. No one thinks of outing him or questioning his existence, even though no one has any real loyalty to him except the fact that he's the founder of their beloved classical art school (btw of which, there are a ton).
/end rant
October 31, 2013
The Color of Light by Helen Maryles Shankman is a novel which explores art, the Holocaust, humanity and, of course, vampires. The vampire in the story runs an art school and is constantly in conflict with his past life as well as the acts he is forced, by his nature, to do while trying to hold on to his humanity.
Tessa Moss, an art student at the American Academy of Classical Art, finds herself putting up with her boyfriend, a narcissist artist in lieu of her own career. Unbeknownst to Tessa the school’s founder, Raphael Sinclair, has taken a special interest in her.
Raphael, or Rafe, has seen a sketch of Tessa depicting a young woman covering the eyes of a child next to suitcase that says Wizotsky. As Rafe investigates further, he finds that Tessa might be a relative of Sofia Wizotsky, his lover who was perished during the Hoolocaust.
Tessa and Rafe quickly discover their mutual attraction, all the whole Rafe fights the Board to save his vision of the art school.
The Color of Light by Helen Maryles Shankman is an easy to read, compelling novel which is both deep and engaging. Ms. Shankman uses her writing skills, as well as her considerable knowledge of the art world, to bring us a story which is flowing and interesting.
This is not a vampire novel per se, this vehicle is used to go back and forth in time while keeping continuity with the story. The narrative has several focuses, but Ms. Shankman does a wonderful job weaving them all in. The book covers dark and disturbing topics such as the Holocaust and the effect it had on future generations of Jews, and lighter topics such as art and the politics within art schools.
I usually don’t read books of this genre, however I did enjoy the author’s fictional stories previously and decided to check out this book (plus, it has a World War II connection so I could justify it to myself). I was not disappointed and found myself engrossed in the story.
This is a very unique and enjoyable novel with multiple facets and an absorbing story. The author has proved herself an able writer, weaving an evocative yarn that keeps up interested in a piece which combines paranormal, art and history.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Tessa Moss, an art student at the American Academy of Classical Art, finds herself putting up with her boyfriend, a narcissist artist in lieu of her own career. Unbeknownst to Tessa the school’s founder, Raphael Sinclair, has taken a special interest in her.
Raphael, or Rafe, has seen a sketch of Tessa depicting a young woman covering the eyes of a child next to suitcase that says Wizotsky. As Rafe investigates further, he finds that Tessa might be a relative of Sofia Wizotsky, his lover who was perished during the Hoolocaust.
Tessa and Rafe quickly discover their mutual attraction, all the whole Rafe fights the Board to save his vision of the art school.
The Color of Light by Helen Maryles Shankman is an easy to read, compelling novel which is both deep and engaging. Ms. Shankman uses her writing skills, as well as her considerable knowledge of the art world, to bring us a story which is flowing and interesting.
This is not a vampire novel per se, this vehicle is used to go back and forth in time while keeping continuity with the story. The narrative has several focuses, but Ms. Shankman does a wonderful job weaving them all in. The book covers dark and disturbing topics such as the Holocaust and the effect it had on future generations of Jews, and lighter topics such as art and the politics within art schools.
I usually don’t read books of this genre, however I did enjoy the author’s fictional stories previously and decided to check out this book (plus, it has a World War II connection so I could justify it to myself). I was not disappointed and found myself engrossed in the story.
This is a very unique and enjoyable novel with multiple facets and an absorbing story. The author has proved herself an able writer, weaving an evocative yarn that keeps up interested in a piece which combines paranormal, art and history.
Disclaimer: I got this book for free
For more reviews and bookish posts please visit: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
November 19, 2013
What can I say? I agreed to review this book solely on the cover. Maybe I shouldn't say that because you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I did because it just pulled at me. Something about this cover moves me. It's haunting, it's lonely, it's romantic, it's wistful, it makes your heart feel.
Then you read it. I cannot even tell you how much I loved this book. My heart hurts for Rafe. Something about him just pulls at me and it's not his lonely existence as a vampire. It's something else about him and if this were real, I'd be pulled by him. And isn't that what you want for a male lead in a book?
Admittedly, I don't normally like historical books but this one is lovely. It's so well written, it's so sad and you feel like these people are your family. And let's talk about the art aspect- I don't even appreciate art. I mean, who cares? But I'm reading this book and I find myself getting passionate over a classical art school versus modern crap. I literally couldn't put this book down. This book is almost 600 pages but it could have been a 1000 and I wouldn't have stopped.
So while we have the art school aspect, and we have the WWII flashbacks and reading about people being massacred, but we have a love story. An incredibly moving and gorgeous love story. You feel the angst, you feel the swell, you feel it all. And Rafe is a vampire. Don't roll your eyes at me- you will love this. He isn't your sparkly vampire, he is your classical vampire. He's what they should be in literature. The realistic fear he puts in others is how it should be. The romance of a vampire is here. It's everything you want.
I am not even kidding- this book is lovely. I cannot say that enough because that's the adjective that keeps coming to mind when I think of it. I was so worried about the ending but Helen nailed it. She really ended it on such a romantic, fabulous note that you just find yourself hugging the book while simultaneously wishing you had a Rafe. A guy who is so passionate and in love with you that you can barely catch your breathe. I just want Matt to be Rafe. *sigh* I want a guy who will look at me across the room and make me want to drop my panties. I want to feel that electricity by just a squeeze of my fingers as he walks by. I want people to feel that magnetic presence. Can I just add? Debut novel. This is a debut novel and I can't even handle it. She's so good that I can't imagine her being even better. No pressure, Helen!
Bottom line, you need this book in your life.
Then you read it. I cannot even tell you how much I loved this book. My heart hurts for Rafe. Something about him just pulls at me and it's not his lonely existence as a vampire. It's something else about him and if this were real, I'd be pulled by him. And isn't that what you want for a male lead in a book?
Admittedly, I don't normally like historical books but this one is lovely. It's so well written, it's so sad and you feel like these people are your family. And let's talk about the art aspect- I don't even appreciate art. I mean, who cares? But I'm reading this book and I find myself getting passionate over a classical art school versus modern crap. I literally couldn't put this book down. This book is almost 600 pages but it could have been a 1000 and I wouldn't have stopped.
So while we have the art school aspect, and we have the WWII flashbacks and reading about people being massacred, but we have a love story. An incredibly moving and gorgeous love story. You feel the angst, you feel the swell, you feel it all. And Rafe is a vampire. Don't roll your eyes at me- you will love this. He isn't your sparkly vampire, he is your classical vampire. He's what they should be in literature. The realistic fear he puts in others is how it should be. The romance of a vampire is here. It's everything you want.
I am not even kidding- this book is lovely. I cannot say that enough because that's the adjective that keeps coming to mind when I think of it. I was so worried about the ending but Helen nailed it. She really ended it on such a romantic, fabulous note that you just find yourself hugging the book while simultaneously wishing you had a Rafe. A guy who is so passionate and in love with you that you can barely catch your breathe. I just want Matt to be Rafe. *sigh* I want a guy who will look at me across the room and make me want to drop my panties. I want to feel that electricity by just a squeeze of my fingers as he walks by. I want people to feel that magnetic presence. Can I just add? Debut novel. This is a debut novel and I can't even handle it. She's so good that I can't imagine her being even better. No pressure, Helen!
Bottom line, you need this book in your life.
November 10, 2013
The Color of Light attracted my attention for a couple of reasons - I was interested in the forbidden romance nature of the story, and because Raphael is a vampire. I also love intensely romantic stories and this book did not disappoint in any of those aspects. In fact, once the story get's going it's full of this tragic, aching tension as Rafe and Tessa explore their feelings for each other and yet the rules of the school and Rafe's past keeps them apart. I felt there was a touch of Wuthering Heights in this story (and it is mentioned briefly in the book) but thankfully this is a love story (Wuthering Heights can get a little iffy in that regard) as well as a story about life.
The novel is rather epically long, and there are a lot of descriptive passages on the art and architecture of the student's works and their surroundings. It's very informative about art and possibly critical of modern art (but I totally agree with the viewpoints of the students and Rafe), however it can take time to become invested in the story and characters because of this. I think in the end, I was not as invested in Tessa's found family as much as I wanted to be, which makes me feel that there was a lot more that could have been streamlined in the story. Tessa's relationship with Lucian was also a little tedious and I just wanted to shake Tessa to get her to move on already. But Tessa's friends do have an important part to play, and this really didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story overall.
The past is important and is perfectly and thoughtfully portrayed in the scenes where we learn more about why Rafe is so troubled and haunted. The author worked in the romance of Rafe and Sofia and the terror of the Holocaust to make this novel even more intense and poignant. I sometimes felt I liked Sofia more than Tessa because Sofia felt more flawed and tragic and real, while Tessa was too perfect sometimes. But reading about the past did wonders in bringing out Rafe's Byronic nature, and I found him to be such a complex and intriguing character. The times when he exerted his magnetic influence and the times he was heartbreakingly vulnerable really brought out his character for me, and I'm a little bit in love with him, okay?
The story swept me up in it's tender melancholy, and I found the story to be very beautiful and very sad. With the relationship between a vampire and a human there are some difficult questions that are brought up, but I loved that the story really focused on just taking one day at a time. It also brought a very nice conclusion to the past that haunted Rafe. If this story has any elements that interest you, I'd recommend reading it for the intelligent take on a vampire love story.
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
The novel is rather epically long, and there are a lot of descriptive passages on the art and architecture of the student's works and their surroundings. It's very informative about art and possibly critical of modern art (but I totally agree with the viewpoints of the students and Rafe), however it can take time to become invested in the story and characters because of this. I think in the end, I was not as invested in Tessa's found family as much as I wanted to be, which makes me feel that there was a lot more that could have been streamlined in the story. Tessa's relationship with Lucian was also a little tedious and I just wanted to shake Tessa to get her to move on already. But Tessa's friends do have an important part to play, and this really didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story overall.
The past is important and is perfectly and thoughtfully portrayed in the scenes where we learn more about why Rafe is so troubled and haunted. The author worked in the romance of Rafe and Sofia and the terror of the Holocaust to make this novel even more intense and poignant. I sometimes felt I liked Sofia more than Tessa because Sofia felt more flawed and tragic and real, while Tessa was too perfect sometimes. But reading about the past did wonders in bringing out Rafe's Byronic nature, and I found him to be such a complex and intriguing character. The times when he exerted his magnetic influence and the times he was heartbreakingly vulnerable really brought out his character for me, and I'm a little bit in love with him, okay?
The story swept me up in it's tender melancholy, and I found the story to be very beautiful and very sad. With the relationship between a vampire and a human there are some difficult questions that are brought up, but I loved that the story really focused on just taking one day at a time. It also brought a very nice conclusion to the past that haunted Rafe. If this story has any elements that interest you, I'd recommend reading it for the intelligent take on a vampire love story.
(I received this book from the publisher or author for a fair and honest review. I was not compensated for this review.)
November 23, 2013
Read this book. I won't bother summarizing it in my review; the book summary can do that. What I will say is that this book has tremendous depth. I felt like it was both ripping my heart out and putting it back in at the same time. The main characters are vivid and flawed. The romance is a slow burn that keeps you turning the pages, along with the heart-breaking mystery of what happened to Sofia.
One of the Amazon reviewers said the author kept the bits about the Holocaust "light". On the contrary, I felt like I was watching "Schindler's List" again. In fact, thanks to the author, I felt I understood the Holocaust in a new light. For years I have thought "How could people not know this was going on?" After reading this book, I see I've been looking through the lens of history, through the lens of the certain knowledge of what did happen. Now I can see how it would be easy to dismiss the rumors of such horror (today the response would be "dude, you've been reading the Internet too much" and so on.)
That being said, most of the book is not dark - much of it is light, a wonderful look at New York in the early 1990s and Paris in the late 30s. Explorations of the minds of artists and the art world and the creative process. Paranormal romance, which are a dime a dozen these days, just happens to be a one part of this wonderful backdrop of settings, characters, timelines and events.
One of the Amazon reviewers said the author kept the bits about the Holocaust "light". On the contrary, I felt like I was watching "Schindler's List" again. In fact, thanks to the author, I felt I understood the Holocaust in a new light. For years I have thought "How could people not know this was going on?" After reading this book, I see I've been looking through the lens of history, through the lens of the certain knowledge of what did happen. Now I can see how it would be easy to dismiss the rumors of such horror (today the response would be "dude, you've been reading the Internet too much" and so on.)
That being said, most of the book is not dark - much of it is light, a wonderful look at New York in the early 1990s and Paris in the late 30s. Explorations of the minds of artists and the art world and the creative process. Paranormal romance, which are a dime a dozen these days, just happens to be a one part of this wonderful backdrop of settings, characters, timelines and events.
November 26, 2013
"Atmospheric" is the word dying to come out of my mouth every time I think or talk about this book. Shankman has placed "The Color of Light" in the familiar cross-section of an elite art scene and a community's menacing underbelly, but the stunning creativity with which she's infused the plot make neither of these things feel rote.
From the gorgeous descriptions of the school ("white-washed walls thirty feet high...windows soar[ing] from ceiling to floor...moveable white walls and white drapes... dozens of fluorescent lamps tricked out with reflectors..." to the invocation of two distinct eras (the early 90s in New York City, as well as the Holocaust, the book carries a tangible feeling of suspense (one my mind associates with both the isolation and yearning of autumn).
I'm usually a "characters" girl, so it feels strange/new to be this obsessively impressed by a general ambiance. That's not to say that the characters aren't riveting as well. Again, Shankman pushes against a potentially rusty trope of current fiction (vampires) and infuses it with an element of legitimate historicism that makes the topic compelling (HA!).
This would be a fun read for the holidays. Despite the epic page count, it's easy to fly through and definitely entertaining.
From the gorgeous descriptions of the school ("white-washed walls thirty feet high...windows soar[ing] from ceiling to floor...moveable white walls and white drapes... dozens of fluorescent lamps tricked out with reflectors..." to the invocation of two distinct eras (the early 90s in New York City, as well as the Holocaust, the book carries a tangible feeling of suspense (one my mind associates with both the isolation and yearning of autumn).
I'm usually a "characters" girl, so it feels strange/new to be this obsessively impressed by a general ambiance. That's not to say that the characters aren't riveting as well. Again, Shankman pushes against a potentially rusty trope of current fiction (vampires) and infuses it with an element of legitimate historicism that makes the topic compelling (HA!).
This would be a fun read for the holidays. Despite the epic page count, it's easy to fly through and definitely entertaining.
June 7, 2014
I started to write my review for this book shortly after I finished it. But when I tried to express my opinion of the book in writing, my frustrations and criticisms about the book were so fresh in my mind I couldn't put them down in cohesive thought. I found myself wandering from point to point and it made very little sense. Kind of like this book.
My issues with this book are:
1. The fact that the main character was a vampire seemed like an after thought. An affectation. I sensed that the author submitted a different manuscript to the publisher who said "You know what, vampires are really hot right now. Let's try and capitalize on that trend. Add a vampire to the plot." And the author, so desperate to get the book published agreed. Then she went back and every 10 to 12 pages she added a sentence that alluded to a vampire. I sensed if her editor told her to stick in a Hobbit because they were hot right now, she would have.
I would agree that vampires, other immortals and time traveling characters are a great way to connect a plot that occurs in two time periods several decades or centuries apart. It is convenient to have a character that can easily move from one time period to the next, acting as the reader's guide.
But even I, a casual and recent explorer of fantasy books, understand that if you are going to use a fantastical character in your book, you have to create a universe they can exist in that has rules they can follow. If you don't the reader will never buy into the character.
In this book there is no attempt at universe-building. More problematic, the few vampire rules she introduces, she promptly disregards. We are told that the vampire cannot go out in the light, yet he seems to do so on a daily basis.
2. The creep factor in the love story - If the heroine can get over the fact that the guy she is in love with, but not having sex with, although he seems to have it with others, is a vampire, I can live with that. But it is far more difficult for me to accept that she is in love with a man who was first in love with her own great aunt 50 years before, whom he treated pretty poorly, who played a tragic part in the death of what would have been her 2nd cousin and, oh yes, who left her great aunt to eventually die in a concentration camp. That just makes me queasy.
3. The peripheral characters that when first introduced appear to be pretty important so you pay attention to them and take notice, then they just kind of fade away.
4. The ambiguous villain. Part of the fun of the villain is the way they revel in their villainy. I think, but am not certain, that the female vampire who turned our "hero" and becomes our heroine's boss is supposed to be evil. The character the reader is supposed to be able to dislike as much as they want. But she isn't that dis-likable. Just ambiguous. I couldn't even dislike the heroine's ex all that badly. She seemed so immature, emotionally needy and naive that I could understand his position. The woman he drops her for is mean. But she is also so immature and high-schoolish, I can't get too worked up about her behavior either.
What is saddest to me about this is the story itself was compelling. Some of the glimpses of the art world and NYC in the 1990s and Paris in the 1930s were fascinating. The connection between the modern day character and her long dead ancestor was poignant and the way that relationship evolved in her art was a very interesting approach. But all of the other crap and nonsense that crowded up the book made it impossible for me to appreciate the interesting subtext.
This could have been a very good book. It wasn't.
My issues with this book are:
1. The fact that the main character was a vampire seemed like an after thought. An affectation. I sensed that the author submitted a different manuscript to the publisher who said "You know what, vampires are really hot right now. Let's try and capitalize on that trend. Add a vampire to the plot." And the author, so desperate to get the book published agreed. Then she went back and every 10 to 12 pages she added a sentence that alluded to a vampire. I sensed if her editor told her to stick in a Hobbit because they were hot right now, she would have.
I would agree that vampires, other immortals and time traveling characters are a great way to connect a plot that occurs in two time periods several decades or centuries apart. It is convenient to have a character that can easily move from one time period to the next, acting as the reader's guide.
But even I, a casual and recent explorer of fantasy books, understand that if you are going to use a fantastical character in your book, you have to create a universe they can exist in that has rules they can follow. If you don't the reader will never buy into the character.
In this book there is no attempt at universe-building. More problematic, the few vampire rules she introduces, she promptly disregards. We are told that the vampire cannot go out in the light, yet he seems to do so on a daily basis.
2. The creep factor in the love story - If the heroine can get over the fact that the guy she is in love with, but not having sex with, although he seems to have it with others, is a vampire, I can live with that. But it is far more difficult for me to accept that she is in love with a man who was first in love with her own great aunt 50 years before, whom he treated pretty poorly, who played a tragic part in the death of what would have been her 2nd cousin and, oh yes, who left her great aunt to eventually die in a concentration camp. That just makes me queasy.
3. The peripheral characters that when first introduced appear to be pretty important so you pay attention to them and take notice, then they just kind of fade away.
4. The ambiguous villain. Part of the fun of the villain is the way they revel in their villainy. I think, but am not certain, that the female vampire who turned our "hero" and becomes our heroine's boss is supposed to be evil. The character the reader is supposed to be able to dislike as much as they want. But she isn't that dis-likable. Just ambiguous. I couldn't even dislike the heroine's ex all that badly. She seemed so immature, emotionally needy and naive that I could understand his position. The woman he drops her for is mean. But she is also so immature and high-schoolish, I can't get too worked up about her behavior either.
What is saddest to me about this is the story itself was compelling. Some of the glimpses of the art world and NYC in the 1990s and Paris in the 1930s were fascinating. The connection between the modern day character and her long dead ancestor was poignant and the way that relationship evolved in her art was a very interesting approach. But all of the other crap and nonsense that crowded up the book made it impossible for me to appreciate the interesting subtext.
This could have been a very good book. It wasn't.
February 18, 2014
So a vampire runs an art school in New York City and is haunted by a romance dating back to the Holocaust. How anyone could pass up a book with that premise is beyond comprehension. THE COLOR OF LIGHT refuses to be put down and will have you running to your friends demanding them to read it, too. Consider this my version of that running and demanding.
Like most good stories, this one takes place in New York City. Raphael Sinclair, Rafe for short (seriously, how wonderful is that nickname?) runs a classical art school and maintains a mysterious aura that leaves little doubt to his blood sucking tendencies. Though typically Byronic, we have a humble, compelling vampire on our hands, sans brooding and sparkles. Enter Tessa Moss, a compassionate, talented art student at Rafe’s school, who awakens his dark past. Battling old memories and present scandal, Rafe and Tessa find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of art and passion.
I loved every word of this novel. There’s history. There’s romance. There are gallery openings, magazine publishers, and swanky parties to satisfy any reader craving a glimpse of New York City glamour. The novel’s focus on darker topics – namely the horrors of the Holocaust and its everlasting effects – is perfectly outweighed by the light humor and touching friendship amongst Tessa and her fellow art students. I ended the novel with a far greater appreciation for art. And fedoras.
Then there’s the romance between Rafe and Tessa, arguably the novel’s crowning achievement. Honestly, it’s too good for words. Usually, I hate using the word “romance” in reference to books. It seems sappy and cheesy and far too Fabio-influenced. But this romance is powerful, tangible, and has you rereading passages over and over. Usually, vampires are portrayed in very one-dimensional ways. Either they’re the good guy: they survive off the blood of woodland creatures and swear the only humans they kill are criminals. Or they’re your good ol’, unabashedly blood-sucking fiends. Shankman finds the much-needed balance with Rafe. She crafts him as human in his flaws and inconsistencies, but doesn’t shy away from his vampiric nature. Usually, female heroines aren’t so “heroine” like at all. Not Tessa. Tessa is strong and intriguing. But beyond that, she too is flawed, modest, funny, artistic, lost. She’s as complex as the indefinable color of her hair that Rafe so wishes to paint.
THE COLOR OF LIGHT is above all evocative and one of the best books I’ve read this year. (I do not give out 5 star ratings lightly.) If you have any interest in history, NYC, art, vampires, love, life, or fedoras, do us both a favor and just read this book.
Like most good stories, this one takes place in New York City. Raphael Sinclair, Rafe for short (seriously, how wonderful is that nickname?) runs a classical art school and maintains a mysterious aura that leaves little doubt to his blood sucking tendencies. Though typically Byronic, we have a humble, compelling vampire on our hands, sans brooding and sparkles. Enter Tessa Moss, a compassionate, talented art student at Rafe’s school, who awakens his dark past. Battling old memories and present scandal, Rafe and Tessa find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of art and passion.
I loved every word of this novel. There’s history. There’s romance. There are gallery openings, magazine publishers, and swanky parties to satisfy any reader craving a glimpse of New York City glamour. The novel’s focus on darker topics – namely the horrors of the Holocaust and its everlasting effects – is perfectly outweighed by the light humor and touching friendship amongst Tessa and her fellow art students. I ended the novel with a far greater appreciation for art. And fedoras.
Then there’s the romance between Rafe and Tessa, arguably the novel’s crowning achievement. Honestly, it’s too good for words. Usually, I hate using the word “romance” in reference to books. It seems sappy and cheesy and far too Fabio-influenced. But this romance is powerful, tangible, and has you rereading passages over and over. Usually, vampires are portrayed in very one-dimensional ways. Either they’re the good guy: they survive off the blood of woodland creatures and swear the only humans they kill are criminals. Or they’re your good ol’, unabashedly blood-sucking fiends. Shankman finds the much-needed balance with Rafe. She crafts him as human in his flaws and inconsistencies, but doesn’t shy away from his vampiric nature. Usually, female heroines aren’t so “heroine” like at all. Not Tessa. Tessa is strong and intriguing. But beyond that, she too is flawed, modest, funny, artistic, lost. She’s as complex as the indefinable color of her hair that Rafe so wishes to paint.
THE COLOR OF LIGHT is above all evocative and one of the best books I’ve read this year. (I do not give out 5 star ratings lightly.) If you have any interest in history, NYC, art, vampires, love, life, or fedoras, do us both a favor and just read this book.
September 26, 2013
""Intensely romantic and deeply moving, The Color of Light blends fact and fantasy in an unforgettable tale of art and passion, love and war, guilt and forgiveness, spanning the New York art scene, high-fashion magazine publishing, the glittering café society of pre-World War II Paris, and the evil stalking the back roads of Nazi-occupied Europe"
A most unique and innovative novel. The Color of Light is a multifaceted and very absorbing literary ride for the reader. Character development is spot and and the various plot twists are both exciting and nuanced.
Helen Maryles Shankman has proven herself to be and extremely adept writer, with a sharp and knowing prose..to label this simply a "Vampire story" would be a grave injustice. The ability to meld genres is one few can perfect, yet once one reads this most engaging of novels, they do will agree that Helen Maryles Shankman is a major talent!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
A most unique and innovative novel. The Color of Light is a multifaceted and very absorbing literary ride for the reader. Character development is spot and and the various plot twists are both exciting and nuanced.
Helen Maryles Shankman has proven herself to be and extremely adept writer, with a sharp and knowing prose..to label this simply a "Vampire story" would be a grave injustice. The ability to meld genres is one few can perfect, yet once one reads this most engaging of novels, they do will agree that Helen Maryles Shankman is a major talent!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
April 23, 2015
4.5
So very very good.
So very very good.
February 10, 2014
First let me say "I love this book!!!' I had been searching for something interesting to read for awhile. I'm getting to the point where my tastes for plots are narrowing. What I want to read about is getting more and more specific (for want of a better way to put it). What attracted me first to the book was the cover. Once I looked at that, I took in the title and liked it as well. Both spoke to me and whispered in my brain "read me". The fact that it was on sale was nice but, as I've said in other reviews, a sale price does not a good book make. However, the sample is free, so I downloaded it and found that Helen Maryles Shankman is a wonderful writer! I did have some personal issues with the story at first, but I am not a writer so I told myself to shut up and keep reading :^) It was hard trying to get into a story that featured a vampire who wasn't sparkly, vegatarian, and celibate. I know I might lose your interest in reading the rest of this review once you realize that I've read (and loved, I might add) the 'Twilight Saga'. But I really loved those books. I read them when my ennui had just begun and was so thrilled to find a story that obsessed me like 'Twilight'.I truely believe those books were blessed with some sort of magic spell or something! But, I digress. Getting back to my review of 'The Color of Light', I found Raphael's actions a bit jarring and some of the character's names a little too grand, but I kept reading because, as I said, Helen is a good writer and I suspect her story was drawing me in and had me in it's thrall fairly early on in the sample dispite my dislike of Raphael's charecter flaws. The heart of this book is Sophie and her story, which takes place during World War II and the Holocaust. I do not actively seek to read or watch any work that involves the Holocaust. My Jewish roots are only suspected (my mother's maiden name is Zorn and I' ve been told by Jewish friends that Zorn is a Jewish surname). I watched a program on tv about Isaac Stern, a great violin vertuoso who visited the Holocaust Museum. There was nothing in it as I remember and the image of those empty stone rooms and the expression on Mr. Stern's face as he took it all in was heartbreaking. But Tessa's Jewish heritage seemed an interesting element for the plot and I wanted to find out where Helen's story would take me with it. She does not disappoint. I found myself remembering William Styron's haunting novel 'Sophie's Choice'. There are elements of that beautiful story in Helen's tale. and since I saw the movie, I found myself recalling it's equally haunting soundtrack by Marvin Hamlisch playing in my head.
This is an amazing story and I want you to give it a read and keep an open mind. It takes the vampire romance in a different direction and therein lies it's appeal. The element of the Holocaust in it's backstory makes it unique and a must read because that is the books heart and the element that truely gives this story life.
Indulge me for a few minutes more by reading my closing statements.The Holocaust is a heinous time in our worlds history and it shed light on what is most noble and most vile in how we treat each other. We cannot forget it's lessons. As a global community, I feel we fought against Facism and won. But I see it rearing it's ugly head again. It's victims will include other groups. We as a society must remember that we all come from different walks of life and different points of view. Some people think differently because it is all they know and the only way of thinking they have been exposed to.
As we go out into the world we must remember to be kind, to be an example of love and possibly enlightenment for each other. And to be tolerant. We are all so divided about how we think and feel about all sorts of issues. We need to remember to work together.
This is an amazing story and I want you to give it a read and keep an open mind. It takes the vampire romance in a different direction and therein lies it's appeal. The element of the Holocaust in it's backstory makes it unique and a must read because that is the books heart and the element that truely gives this story life.
Indulge me for a few minutes more by reading my closing statements.The Holocaust is a heinous time in our worlds history and it shed light on what is most noble and most vile in how we treat each other. We cannot forget it's lessons. As a global community, I feel we fought against Facism and won. But I see it rearing it's ugly head again. It's victims will include other groups. We as a society must remember that we all come from different walks of life and different points of view. Some people think differently because it is all they know and the only way of thinking they have been exposed to.
As we go out into the world we must remember to be kind, to be an example of love and possibly enlightenment for each other. And to be tolerant. We are all so divided about how we think and feel about all sorts of issues. We need to remember to work together.
April 18, 2014
It is 1992 and postmodernism is the dominent art movement of the moment. Rafe Sinclair, founder of The American Academy of Classical Art in New York City, is a classicist through and through, but now he is facing grumblings from some of his board member who think other art forms should be introduced, a board that wouldn't mind removing Rafe as head of the Academy.
But his Board isn't the only problem Rafe has. First, Rafe is a vampire and is trying desperatgely to hold on to his sense of humanity even as he is forced to kill in order to live. Second, Rafe was an art student in the 1930. He had met and fallen in love with a young Jewish woman, a fellow artist, just before World War II began, and he is still in love with her, although he believes she had perished in the Holocaust.
Tessa Moss is a young art student at the Academy, talented but naive and involved in an unhealthy relationship with another artist, the very narcissistic Lucian Swain. Rafe never really noticed Tessa's work until one day when he notices a sketch she has done of a woman with a child by a suitcase that has the name Witzotsky written on it. The woman is covering the eyes of the child with her hand. Rafe begins to take a special interest in Tessa and her work.
Witzotsky is a familiar name to Rafe and it turns out that Tessa has sketched a picture depicting a relative of hers named Sofia Witzotsky. And, in fact, Sofia is the very same woman that Rafe was involved with, the same woman he thought he had lost in the Holocaust. Or had he? After all, he never really knew what Sofia's fate had actually been? Before long, Tessa and Rafe are involved with each other, which is against school rules and just the kind of infraction the board could use to remove Rafe from his position as head of the Academy. But if Tessa can help Rafe discover what really happened to Sofia, maybe it was worth the risk.
Helen Mayles Shankman has written a long, complicated book encompassing two time periods, and a fair amount of different characters. It is very well written, engaging, compelling and I actually enjoyed the intricacies of the plot twists and turns. Rafe and Tessa are believable (well, except for the vampire part), well defined, likable characters, each carrying a lot of baggage that goes back to the Holocaust: Rafe may have lost the love of his life, and Tessa has lost one whole family line on her father's side.
The Color of Light is a novel that will definitely please your romantic sensibilities, and your penchant for historical fiction and has all the elements of a good mystery novel all in one long (574 pages) story. Shankman has a MFA in painting, so her art/artistic descriptions are pretty spot on and you will have no trouble picturing works of art that don't really exist.
My vampire fan days are long behind me and vampires are certainly not something I expected to read about when I started this blog. And yet, I have certainly read my share of fantasy and science fiction here, so why not vampires? But the fact that Rafe Sinclair is a vampire is only a plot device allowing the narrative its dual time frame with him in both time periods as a man his age and it worked.
And generally the YA/Adult books I review here are of the cozy type, but variety is the spice of life and The Color of Life is a spicy novel that could be classified as New Adult/Adult. What I mean is that it has more sexual content than most of the YA/Adult I review.
My friend Zohar over at Man of La Book recommended The Color of Light to me and I am so glad he did. And I am paying it forward.
This book is recommended for mature readers age 15+
This book was sent to me by the author
This review was orginally posted on The Children's War
But his Board isn't the only problem Rafe has. First, Rafe is a vampire and is trying desperatgely to hold on to his sense of humanity even as he is forced to kill in order to live. Second, Rafe was an art student in the 1930. He had met and fallen in love with a young Jewish woman, a fellow artist, just before World War II began, and he is still in love with her, although he believes she had perished in the Holocaust.
Tessa Moss is a young art student at the Academy, talented but naive and involved in an unhealthy relationship with another artist, the very narcissistic Lucian Swain. Rafe never really noticed Tessa's work until one day when he notices a sketch she has done of a woman with a child by a suitcase that has the name Witzotsky written on it. The woman is covering the eyes of the child with her hand. Rafe begins to take a special interest in Tessa and her work.
Witzotsky is a familiar name to Rafe and it turns out that Tessa has sketched a picture depicting a relative of hers named Sofia Witzotsky. And, in fact, Sofia is the very same woman that Rafe was involved with, the same woman he thought he had lost in the Holocaust. Or had he? After all, he never really knew what Sofia's fate had actually been? Before long, Tessa and Rafe are involved with each other, which is against school rules and just the kind of infraction the board could use to remove Rafe from his position as head of the Academy. But if Tessa can help Rafe discover what really happened to Sofia, maybe it was worth the risk.
Helen Mayles Shankman has written a long, complicated book encompassing two time periods, and a fair amount of different characters. It is very well written, engaging, compelling and I actually enjoyed the intricacies of the plot twists and turns. Rafe and Tessa are believable (well, except for the vampire part), well defined, likable characters, each carrying a lot of baggage that goes back to the Holocaust: Rafe may have lost the love of his life, and Tessa has lost one whole family line on her father's side.
The Color of Light is a novel that will definitely please your romantic sensibilities, and your penchant for historical fiction and has all the elements of a good mystery novel all in one long (574 pages) story. Shankman has a MFA in painting, so her art/artistic descriptions are pretty spot on and you will have no trouble picturing works of art that don't really exist.
My vampire fan days are long behind me and vampires are certainly not something I expected to read about when I started this blog. And yet, I have certainly read my share of fantasy and science fiction here, so why not vampires? But the fact that Rafe Sinclair is a vampire is only a plot device allowing the narrative its dual time frame with him in both time periods as a man his age and it worked.
And generally the YA/Adult books I review here are of the cozy type, but variety is the spice of life and The Color of Life is a spicy novel that could be classified as New Adult/Adult. What I mean is that it has more sexual content than most of the YA/Adult I review.
My friend Zohar over at Man of La Book recommended The Color of Light to me and I am so glad he did. And I am paying it forward.
This book is recommended for mature readers age 15+
This book was sent to me by the author
This review was orginally posted on The Children's War
November 7, 2013
Title: The Color of Light
Author: Helen Maryles Shankman
Publisher: Stony Creek Press
Where I Got It: TLC Book Tours
This review originally appeared here: http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Tessa Moss is a young Jewish woman attending a classical art school in New York City. Her biggest project of the semester is an artistic exploration of her family’s history during the Holocaust.
The founder of the school, Raphael Sinclair, is a vampire. When Rafe walks past one of Tessa’s paintings, he sees the name “Wizotsky” written on a suitcase. This brings back painful memories of his former love Sofia Wizotsky, who was killed at Auschwitz. Tessa reminds Rafe of Sofia, and he quickly finds himself falling in love with her.
Rafe and Tessa each have their own day-to-day struggles that complicate the relationship. Tessa had been dating her boss, Lucian Swain, after nursing him through a breakdown, but Lucian doesn’t appreciate Tessa and cheats on her with a professor. Tessa is devastated, and Lucian’s new girlfriend seems to have a personal vendetta against her. And although Rafe founded the academy, half the board members hate him and wants to hire modernist professors and depart from the school’s classical mission. There’s a rule against dating students, and any involvement with Tessa could tip the scales against him.
Combining a vampire novel and a book about the Holocaust is difficult. When adding pop fantasy elements to an already horrific period in human history, one risks making light of the atrocities that occurred. Shankman did a wonderful job, treating the Holocaust with sensitivity and care. She uses the vampire story to highlight the lasting pain that the Holocaust caused. Raphael was heartbroken by Sofia’s loss, and was never able to forgive himself. Meanwhile, in 1992, Tessa’s family still hasn’t been able to get over the wounds that the Holocaust caused, and her grandfather refuses to speak of the family he lost in Poland. Tessa’s project channels those emotions and provides an opportunity for healing.
Shankman’s writing is beautiful, and filled with artistic imagery. The complex relationships between light, dark, and color are explored in the strengths and failures of each of the characters and the way they relate to each other.
The Color of Light is an impressive and ambitious novel combining art, vampires, and one of the most painful chapters in human history. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and I would highly recommend it.
Author: Helen Maryles Shankman
Publisher: Stony Creek Press
Where I Got It: TLC Book Tours
This review originally appeared here: http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...
Tessa Moss is a young Jewish woman attending a classical art school in New York City. Her biggest project of the semester is an artistic exploration of her family’s history during the Holocaust.
The founder of the school, Raphael Sinclair, is a vampire. When Rafe walks past one of Tessa’s paintings, he sees the name “Wizotsky” written on a suitcase. This brings back painful memories of his former love Sofia Wizotsky, who was killed at Auschwitz. Tessa reminds Rafe of Sofia, and he quickly finds himself falling in love with her.
Rafe and Tessa each have their own day-to-day struggles that complicate the relationship. Tessa had been dating her boss, Lucian Swain, after nursing him through a breakdown, but Lucian doesn’t appreciate Tessa and cheats on her with a professor. Tessa is devastated, and Lucian’s new girlfriend seems to have a personal vendetta against her. And although Rafe founded the academy, half the board members hate him and wants to hire modernist professors and depart from the school’s classical mission. There’s a rule against dating students, and any involvement with Tessa could tip the scales against him.
Combining a vampire novel and a book about the Holocaust is difficult. When adding pop fantasy elements to an already horrific period in human history, one risks making light of the atrocities that occurred. Shankman did a wonderful job, treating the Holocaust with sensitivity and care. She uses the vampire story to highlight the lasting pain that the Holocaust caused. Raphael was heartbroken by Sofia’s loss, and was never able to forgive himself. Meanwhile, in 1992, Tessa’s family still hasn’t been able to get over the wounds that the Holocaust caused, and her grandfather refuses to speak of the family he lost in Poland. Tessa’s project channels those emotions and provides an opportunity for healing.
Shankman’s writing is beautiful, and filled with artistic imagery. The complex relationships between light, dark, and color are explored in the strengths and failures of each of the characters and the way they relate to each other.
The Color of Light is an impressive and ambitious novel combining art, vampires, and one of the most painful chapters in human history. It is unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and I would highly recommend it.
October 1, 2013
I just finished “The Color of Light” by Helen M. Shankman. What a curious, amazing, genre-breaking sprawling book this is. It’s been a rollicking ride through graduate art school, the Holocaust, vampires, Paris, and some pretty steamy scenes to boot. You could almost resent a book for being a page-turner, because it takes over your life. Helen knows how to hook you (sorry about the pun) into her characters’ struggles, especially that of the various art students. Also, it doesn’t hurt that her sentences sing. It’s been ages since I read a book with such irresistibly obnoxious villains! I kept getting confused if this was a guilty-pleasure sort of novel or the kind that is “good” for you, because it immerses you in worlds you don’t know and subtly educates you. Shankman knows the world of artists and art in her fingers and bones. I felt as though I was breathing the paint, the canvases, feeling the drama of the school’s fate – the American Academy for Classical Art -- the joy and angst of creating something from nothing, the struggles between the board members. Also, this was my first vampire novel – I have easily resisted Twilight and all others – but by the time I finished, I was brought back to my youth, when I watched Dark Shadows in sheer terror, and deeply believed such creatures roamed this planet. I think that’s a huge accomplishment and for that alone, for suspending my disbelief and for holding my interest for so long, I give it a 5, even though here and there I thought a plot line could’ve been finessed a little better.
Two caveats, mostly for more conservative readers. This material is sexy and some of the images are pretty raw, at least for me. The depiction of traditional Jews as narrow and insipid was personally irritating, too. On the other hand, the latter didn’t feel reflexive or gratuitous but actually served the plot line.
Two caveats, mostly for more conservative readers. This material is sexy and some of the images are pretty raw, at least for me. The depiction of traditional Jews as narrow and insipid was personally irritating, too. On the other hand, the latter didn’t feel reflexive or gratuitous but actually served the plot line.
November 16, 2013
Imagine if you found a vampire running an art school in New York. And what if he fell in love? Okay so it's more like the memory of love that haunts said vampire, but to make this easier, just imagine a vampire art teacher in love. Good? Okay, now set the romance back during the Holocaust. Right there you've got a glimpse into the fantastic premise behind THE COLOR OF LIGHT.
I don’t think there’s a part of this book where I was all “Totally skipping this bit,” (I tend to skim the boring parts). I wanted to read every single delicious word. The author weaves history, art, glamor, publishing, romance and (yes really!) vampires into an intricate web of awesome.
But I said “Holocaust” and you’re probably wondering how such a dark element could be “romantic” or “awesome.” I’ll tell you: The author focuses on the Holocaust and the infinite horror it caused to many souls, but she balances this dark subject matter with an almost perfect amount of lightness and humor. I can’t explain it, so you’ll just have to read and see what I mean.
I think the main reason I loved this novel, though, is not the author’s obvious skill in weaving the thematic elements, but the characters. What a rich cast, both main and secondary, of memorable and complex characters. Very well done. (I tend to judge characterization harshly, so I’m always impressed when I can’t find a reason to criticize.)
I rarely get to read a book that stays with me for a while after the last page, but after finishing this one I carried the airy feeling of drifting through time around for days, which is awesome. So, basically, I recommend checking this one out.
I don’t think there’s a part of this book where I was all “Totally skipping this bit,” (I tend to skim the boring parts). I wanted to read every single delicious word. The author weaves history, art, glamor, publishing, romance and (yes really!) vampires into an intricate web of awesome.
But I said “Holocaust” and you’re probably wondering how such a dark element could be “romantic” or “awesome.” I’ll tell you: The author focuses on the Holocaust and the infinite horror it caused to many souls, but she balances this dark subject matter with an almost perfect amount of lightness and humor. I can’t explain it, so you’ll just have to read and see what I mean.
I think the main reason I loved this novel, though, is not the author’s obvious skill in weaving the thematic elements, but the characters. What a rich cast, both main and secondary, of memorable and complex characters. Very well done. (I tend to judge characterization harshly, so I’m always impressed when I can’t find a reason to criticize.)
I rarely get to read a book that stays with me for a while after the last page, but after finishing this one I carried the airy feeling of drifting through time around for days, which is awesome. So, basically, I recommend checking this one out.
March 1, 2014
I really enjoyed this novel. It was definitely not your typical vampire book! A mixture of historical content about the holocaust intertwined with an endearing love story made it exquisitely unusual. The two female protagonists draw you in with their orthodox Jewish heritage. Their link? They both fall in love with a vampire. Add to the mix a smattering of art history, painting techniques, including colors, textures and you've got a novel that had me reading non stop. It was beautifully written, and in spite of a couple slow spots in the middle, I was compelled to read on. The horrors and the atrocities that took place during World War II were clearly much more horrific than any vile thing a vampire was capable of doing and bringing the two together into a novel was a interesting plot device that I felt worked well. Hauntingly beautiful in many respects and quite a beguiling love story as well. I enjoyed this book very much. Perhaps because of my Jewish heritage and my love of art, and my fascination with the undead....in any case, "The color of Light" was a very good read in my opinion. The male protagonist was dashing, debonair, and easy to care about...Ms. Shankman was able to make you fall in love with his plight and accept his three dimensional facets as an antihero. I would indeed recommend this book.
February 3, 2014
The Color of Light follows the story of Tessa Moss, a kind and generous art student at the American Academy of Classical Art in New York City circa 1990. Tessa puts herself through school via a combination of a student scholarship and a job as an artist's assistant to the alcoholic art star, Lucian Swain. Meanwhile, Tessa catches the eye of Rafael Sinclair, the founder of the art school Tessa attends, only Mr. Sinclair isn't your traditional patron of the arts.
This book is a page turner. Many things on my to-do list got pushed to the bottom because I needed to find out what happened to Tessa, how was her past linked to Raphael Sinclair? Does she have the courage to move on from Lucian? Meanwhile, I was caught up in the dynamic of the faltering art school, Tessa's spectrum of friends, the workings of the magazine publishing house and it's myriad of colorful characters. I loved being transported back to Paris in 1939 and discovering pieces to the puzzle. The picture is completed in New York through twists and turns in the final pages. A must read.
This book is a page turner. Many things on my to-do list got pushed to the bottom because I needed to find out what happened to Tessa, how was her past linked to Raphael Sinclair? Does she have the courage to move on from Lucian? Meanwhile, I was caught up in the dynamic of the faltering art school, Tessa's spectrum of friends, the workings of the magazine publishing house and it's myriad of colorful characters. I loved being transported back to Paris in 1939 and discovering pieces to the puzzle. The picture is completed in New York through twists and turns in the final pages. A must read.
September 24, 2014
What a wonderful book. The Color of Light is a powerful and moving story which gracefully sweeps across continents and decades. While the setting and characters are truly unique, the age old question of what is truly evil and the power of all consuming love are the central themes.
The storyline and characters hooked me in immediately. I found I put off doing many other things to sit and join the story where I had last left it off. The vivid portraits of many years and locations I had lived in were spot on and only added to the authenticity ironically of what is a story of magical realism.
If I finish a book and find I still think of the characters and wonder what is next to be then the book is moving and more than worth the precious time it took to read. Well, I am writing this review literally months later and many other books later and few if any have had that lingering effect.
I eagerly await for the next piece of fiction from Helen Shankman. I want to be consumed in a powerful story yet again.
The storyline and characters hooked me in immediately. I found I put off doing many other things to sit and join the story where I had last left it off. The vivid portraits of many years and locations I had lived in were spot on and only added to the authenticity ironically of what is a story of magical realism.
If I finish a book and find I still think of the characters and wonder what is next to be then the book is moving and more than worth the precious time it took to read. Well, I am writing this review literally months later and many other books later and few if any have had that lingering effect.
I eagerly await for the next piece of fiction from Helen Shankman. I want to be consumed in a powerful story yet again.
December 31, 2013
I couldn't put this book down. Halfway through I started to get sad that I would eventually finish it and have to find something new to read. I actually couldn't write a review for a while after finishing it because I was angry about something that happened in the book. Then I realized it just meant that I was so involved with the characters that I actually cared about what they did. So, three cheers for Maryles Shankman for producing a book that was gripping, educational, fun to read and definitely a new concept. This was my first vampire book and probably my last until the next installment in this series, but I eagerly await the next book. Yes, I will probably be angry if the characters continue to ignore my silent advice while reading their story, but how refreshing to find a book with characters who are believable and so well defined that you wonder if it's one of them on line in front of you at the supermarket.
February 10, 2014
A must for Valentine's Day. This book blew me away. This is a love story where one of the characters happens to be a vampire...and one of the finest pieces of writing that I have ever had the great fortune to savor. History, love, self-sacrifice, hope-this book has it all. This was a very moving book for me; I laugh and cried all the way through. This is one of those rare books that will keep you reading until you fall asleep at night or until you have to rush to get ready for an appointment on your calendar or for work. You will not want to put it down! It is a love letter to readers...it reminds readers that no matter where you come from, what your history is, you shape your life. The author reminds us all that it is important to love deeply and fully. Your willingness to give all for the one you love and to reach for your dreams is the greatest gift life has to offer.
January 3, 2014
If you read only one book this year, make it this one. I am serious. The writing is luminous, the setting--the NYC art scene in the 90s--is richly detailed and lyrically illustrated, and the settings and characters easily come alive. The major characters, Rafe and Tessa, are damaged by the Holocaust even though their lives up until the point where they intersect have been completely different. I would love to detail plot and narrative, but honestly, it's best savored cold. Please, please read this. You will not be sorry. Shankman is a force to be reckoned with, and watched, in the future. (She also has an MFA in classical art and the cover is one of her paintings.) This story will haunt you...as it should.
July 15, 2014
I am not usually a vampire book type of reader but there is just...something about this book. I have not yet decided what it is. There were times I was so angry, worried or hurt by what I was reading that I could not turn the page and other times when I was rocking back and forth trying to read faster.
I loved the blend of history and fantasy and romance. There was so much change and development and raw emotion that the book was enthralling yet it took me three days to read when I easily read as many pages in a day.
It is the first book on my to read book for next year. I think rereading it will be an event that brings to light many new things about the book and really adore stories like that.
I loved the blend of history and fantasy and romance. There was so much change and development and raw emotion that the book was enthralling yet it took me three days to read when I easily read as many pages in a day.
It is the first book on my to read book for next year. I think rereading it will be an event that brings to light many new things about the book and really adore stories like that.
December 29, 2013
While vampire romances are a genre I usually stay away from, I knew, after reading one of Helen Maryles Shankman's short stories, that this would be an engaging novel. And sure enough, the book pulled me in and would not let go. The writing is beautiful and expressive. The characters are interesting and believable. Well, so there's a vampire- but he is not your typical blood-thirsty beast. Not at all. Rafe Sinclair is a lovable, irresistible, poor tortured soul with a big heart- an outcast trying to fit in. The author has painted a beautiful, haunting tale of passion, art, suffering and the power of love.
May 17, 2014
It's hard to believe this is the author's debut book. It is so good! She has a wonderful writing style that lures you into this other world. It is tenderly written, so take your time, and linger on the sentences that want to stay with you. I took three slow weeks to read this book and by the end I wanted to start all over again!
I have a feeling there is much more to come....
And then, when Helen Maryles Shankman is a household name, you'll be able to say you read it first, before the movies came out!
I have a feeling there is much more to come....
And then, when Helen Maryles Shankman is a household name, you'll be able to say you read it first, before the movies came out!
December 16, 2013
It's surprising.
I got this book for free on my new kindle and because it was free I assumed it wouldn't be good. it surprised me. first, the cover draws you in. second, the character of Rafael is just so layered and great. third, the students at the school were a bit cheesy for me but this book is really great.combines art, history, fashion, pop culture, two love stories, and two coming of age stories. Easy read. just great!
I got this book for free on my new kindle and because it was free I assumed it wouldn't be good. it surprised me. first, the cover draws you in. second, the character of Rafael is just so layered and great. third, the students at the school were a bit cheesy for me but this book is really great.combines art, history, fashion, pop culture, two love stories, and two coming of age stories. Easy read. just great!
October 9, 2014
Something drew me to this book but it is a very different kind of read for me. I didn't really expect to like it but felt the need to read it, in the end, I loved this book. I still love this book and think of it often. Helen Maryles Shankman wrote a book that wraps history, fantasy, romance and art into a slightly messy, shiny gift that you want to unwrap again and again. I highly recommend that you give this book a try, it will surprise you in the best possible way!
January 13, 2014
Helen's writing is enchanted. Her words read like colors on a canvas. I was captivated on the first page and could not put the book down. And by the time I finished, I already wanted to go to art school. Helen brings entire worlds to life and captures inner torment -- our "vampires" -- in surprising and powerful ways.
Can't wait to read the sequel!!
Can't wait to read the sequel!!
August 10, 2015
Not just a good read but a wonderful read. I loved getting to know each of the characters, not just the main ones, Rafe and Tessa, but all of Tessa's friends. I loved the dual time frame, the art school setting, the background of the Holocaust, and the author's use of "food" as metaphor. I couldn't put the book down, and I can't wait for the sequel.
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