Book Tour: The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession by Jake Kendall

Rating: 3/5

Page Count: 272 pages

Publication Date: 22/02/2024

Links: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vanitas-Other-Tales-Art-Obsession/dp/1911107720

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199245520-the-vanitas-other-tales-of-art-and-obsession

Spanning three hundred years of art history, The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession tells the stories of those with an insatiable hunger for creation – those who may sacrifice friendships, careers, romance, and even their own happiness in pursuit of a vision.

Weaving art styles such as Cubism, Surrealism, and the Baroque into his prose, Jake Kendall has crafted a vivid and inventive collection. Each story is complemented by a black and white illustration, drawing out the visually evocative nature of the writing and offering readers a unique artistic delight.

Free will had been forced upon beings too flawed to choose restraint, and it had made them most unworthy stewards.

I was a little nervous when starting this book, as I’m not a massive fan of art- I definitely appreciate the skill, but I couldn’t spend hours admiring. But I found The Vanitas to be a wonderful short story collection centred around art and obsession, with beautiful illustrations to match. Who knew all it took was a back story and narrative for me to start to like art!

Each illustration has its own uniquely thought out short story, with a brilliant array of characters and own interpretation of the centralised themes of art and obsession. Despite their varying lengths, each short story follows their own narrative to completion, with no story feeling unfinished or abandoned. Whilst each story focuses on art and obsession, specifically in relation to the artist, other themes that run throughout this collection include abandonment and loss, love (in all its forms), vanity and pride, greed and power. However, this collection also discusses through its different short stories, about how sometimes what we have is enough. Taking stock of what you have achieved and all you have gained, rather than on what you don’t have.

And we must all suffer for our dreams and passions.

The language used in this short story collection is the major selling point for this book. Jake Kendall’s description is so impressively vivid, with striking colours and metaphors that really made you feel as though you were in the artwork, and really made these illustrations come to life in a completely new way. This further added to the intricately drawn illustrations that started each short story.

The human spirit endures – forever suspended between hope and despair, drifting into the uncertain future.

I would recommend this collection to lovers of art, short story enthusiasts and anyone who wants to view art in an entirely new light.

Thank you to The Write Reads and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jake Kendall was born in Oxford and studied an MSc in Creative Writing with the University of Edinburgh. He takes inspiration from the visual arts, a theme that formed his debut collection. The Vanitas & Other Tales of Art and Obsession (Neem Tree Press) refracts contemporary issues and anxieties through timeless imagery and artistic movements. Jake lives and works in Edinburgh and spends his free time visiting bookshops, exhibitions, theatre, and independent cinemas.