White

by Steven Felicelli

White is a frame by frame narrative tracing the oeuvre of an unnamed artist (by way of written blurbs beneath missing paintings), which takes Wittgenstein's picture theory to its logical erasure.

First published August 11, 2010

About the author

Born in Chicago, has lived in Seattle, St. Louis, Santa Fe, and now lives in SF Bay area with his wife, Anita Felicelli (author of Love Songs for a Lost Continent) and their three children.

Reviews

[wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that book was very creative but just not everybody's cup of tea. The book is like strolling through an art gallery in which no paintings are hanging and the reader is asked to imagine the various pieces of art. Within that context you are given the materials used in the piece and a description of the content that the art portrays. The art does follow a story of sorts - but a tad of an existential one. I think anyone involved in art would love the book but someone without a solid knowledge of art may become lost. Some of the author's references I did not know. All in all a very creative effort. 5 stars for someone in art world, 3 for someone who is not.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Experimental is interesting.

Reminds me of .

Should in case of to cut needless words.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. I'll say up front I don't think I'm the right audience for it. I like the concept - leaving the artwork up to the imagination based purely on the description-- but I think it falls short. I think my problem is, I think the beauty of art is being able to look at a piece of art -- paintings, drawing, fiction, etc - and being able to examine it and come up with your own description of what it is or what it represents. I enjoy that aspect of art the most. This book flips things and tells you what the painting is supposed to represent or be, and leaves you to imagine it. Which is a wonderful concept, but it got boring after a while. As I said, I think it's just not my type of thing.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a First Reads win.

I thought this book was both interesting and odd at the same time. Not being an artist myself may have made it more difficult to grasp. I can appreciate the intention and it was well-played. I also liked that it does follow a storyline of sorts, it made it a little more of a story. I'll pass this on to my artist husband, who may appreciate it more than I did.