Review: The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

Doig has such an irresistible way of drawing the reader in.

  In this novel, The Whistling Season he began with Paul Milliron,

a Montana state employee who’s assignment was to close

one room schools. His reflection goes back to the one room

school of his youth in Marias Coulee.

 The story is mostly told by Paul’s eleven year old self. Paul had

two brothers, Damon and Toby, the family baby and his

widowed father, Oliver.

By page two a newspaper advertisement was introduced

with the title: Can’t Cook But Doesn’t Bite.  Paul’s father

showed him the ad and there was some debate over not

whether to look into it, because the household had struggled

with four bachelors and disorder, but that Oliver also

needed someone to cook.

By the end of the first chapter, Paul was once again the

Montana state employee tasked with deciding the fate of

56 county rural schools aka one room school houses.

Chapter two plunges us into the saga of the Milliron family,

Friends and neighbors and their way of life. Doig seamlessly

time travels between the early 1900s and 1957, when his

character Paul is tasked with the duty of pushing progress

in Montana’s educational system.

In close to half a century, Paul Milliron witnessed monumental

change; He was philosophical about what was lost and what children

gained from a one room school education.

This story goes way beyond its own borders and could be a

metaphor for humanity’s wisdom when stupidity is usually,

initially an easier path.

As Doig added characters and complications and they affected

the Milliron family, we can see how they could just as well

be us.

Frankly, at the end, I was impressed with the choices of two young boys

and I believe you, the reader, will be, too! The ending underscores

the power of love and Doig gives us all hope!

I heartily recommend The Whistling Season.

Raintreepoet, reporting.

Review: LUST FOR LIFE

A novel of Vincent Van Gogh
By Irving Stone.
Illustrated with 150 reproductions of Vincent Van Gogh's
paintings, arranged by J.B. Newman.
Copyright 1934 by Irving Stone.
Copyright 1937 by The Heritage Club.
Printed in the United States of America.

To begin with the book is bound in a reproduction of a
Van Gogh painting that depicts a rich farmland--so very
Vincent.
Vincent Van Gogh led a hard working, driven life. He dirtied
his hands with miners and farmers and drew and painted them
as he self-educated himself in his art.
Vincent was supported by his younger brother, Theo who was
an art dealer and who believed fiercely in his brother Vincent.
Theo supported Vincent for several years so that Vincent could
concentrate solely on his art.
Vincent was a man of great conscience and felt guilty taking
money from Theo on a wish and a promise. Despite giving
Theo all his work to sell, Vincent never felt worthy.
As Irving depicted and history reflects, Vincent dressed like a
bum, was unkempt and had frequent bouts of starvation to the
point of fever and illness. Still he was so driven, he produced
a painting every day.
After Vincent failed to become a minister like his father, Theo
 talked him into moving to Paris to live with him. There Vincent
met Gauguin, Seurat, Cezanne, Lautrec and many other
 "Impressionist" artists.
With  a new artistic vision, Vincent moved to Arles where there was
so much sunshine, yellow entered his art. (Little did he know that
"Sunflowers" would one day sell for $88 million dollars at auction.)
Vincent's final destination was Auvers, where he welcomed Gauguin,
so they could paint together. Arguments ensued and Gauguin left.
Vincent, desconsolate eventually went mad. He died a prolonged death
from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Theo held him in his arms and
promised to create a gallery of Vincent's art.
Unfortunately, Theo died six months after Vincent. Thanks to Theo's
widow, the brothers were buried side by side in Auvers.
 Sunflowers grace both graves.
This Irving Stone book was labeled a novel because Stone had to
fill in some blanks to make the story. However, his main source
was 700 letters that Vincent wrote to Theo during these crucial
years. It could have well been Vincent's memoir. Great read and
even greater illustrations.
I highly recommend it.

raintreepoet, reporting.