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Lance Lee's The Tale of Brian and the House Painter Mervyn is bright with colour and imagination!
When 9 year old Brian is confined to his 4th. floor room in the family's Goodly Home he laments because it is white White WHITE, for the Doctor has ordered he must have no excitement while he tries to diagnose Brian's mysterious illness. Brian's father hires the lowly house painter Mervyn to paint Brian's rooms with familiar scenes which no Artist would do. Mervyn paints so well he creates a new world better than our own. Brian is entranced, and Mervyn in great demand: everyone wants to have Mervyn paint something more real than real. Grouchy as he is, sometimes he does.... This ruins business for everyone else in the town of Sandstone-By-The-Sea, which blends everything from medieval to modern together—and Brian won't leave his new world.... The town turns against Mervyn, who escapes into his new world with Brian: when Brian's home collapses from the weight of all those trying to force their way into his new world, that world, and Brian and Mervyn with it, disappears....Months later just Brian reappears: Mervyn found two too much company. When Brian grows up he paints things more real that real too—but only uncontroversial miniatures, and is a great success.
Lance Lee's The Tale of Brian and the House Painter Mervyn is bright with colour and imagination. Â
This fable for children and their parents introduces us to a young boy faced with an unknown illness and trapped in his plain, white room. Nothing to do. Nothing to see. No games. Just boredom. That is until his father finds a painter to help change it all - but will the painter, who doesn't much like company and only paints when he feels like it, be able to ease Brian's lonely existence? What happens if this newly created world is so attractive he never wants to leave? Will they never see Brian again?
This book is a fantastic bedtime read with your kids or for kids reading independently (6-9 age range). It is a warm, imaginative and well-told story about the lengths parents will go to when their children are hurt and lonely, the ability of art to bring happiness and beauty, and the importance of using gifts wisely (lest things might go wildly out of control).
I loved the poetic flow of the narrative, which made this book an absolute joy to read aloud. The descriptions of Sandstone-by-the-Sea and its residents were very entertaining. In particular, the traditional seaside life of fishing boats and tourists mixed with eccentric architecture and witches and wizards running art studios and coffee shops! But, of course, who doesn't love a crazy witch making fantastical art with her bubbling brews, a wizard-run restaurant that serves spellbinding fare, and paintings by Mervyn that are more real than real? And I must say that I am a bit envious that I don't have a harpist who sings me my news in the morning! All this, combined with Meilo So's fluid ink and watercolour illustrations, brings Sandstone-by-the-Sea and all of its colourful characters to life. It is a must-read for the art lovers and dreamers in your family.Â
I want to thank Reedsy and the author /publishers for providing me with the proof of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by
An avid reader since Grade school, I think there is nothing better than losing yourself in a good book. I've also taken on the role of finding great books for my niece and nephew to read so I pre-read quite a few middle grade and YA novels to find great books to inspire their love of reading.
Synopsis
When 9 year old Brian is confined to his 4th. floor room in the family's Goodly Home he laments because it is white White WHITE, for the Doctor has ordered he must have no excitement while he tries to diagnose Brian's mysterious illness. Brian's father hires the lowly house painter Mervyn to paint Brian's rooms with familiar scenes which no Artist would do. Mervyn paints so well he creates a new world better than our own. Brian is entranced, and Mervyn in great demand: everyone wants to have Mervyn paint something more real than real. Grouchy as he is, sometimes he does.... This ruins business for everyone else in the town of Sandstone-By-The-Sea, which blends everything from medieval to modern together—and Brian won't leave his new world.... The town turns against Mervyn, who escapes into his new world with Brian: when Brian's home collapses from the weight of all those trying to force their way into his new world, that world, and Brian and Mervyn with it, disappears....Months later just Brian reappears: Mervyn found two too much company. When Brian grows up he paints things more real that real too—but only uncontroversial miniatures, and is a great success.
About the author
Recent Work: Elemental Natures (2020), a selection covering his career. Orpheus Rising (2021), a Best Book of 2021, Indie (Kirkus Reviews). The Tale Of Brian And The House Painter Mervyn (2022) a fable for children. A past NEA Creative Writing Fellow; lanceleeauthor.com for all details. view profile
Published on April 15, 2022
8000 words
Genre: Children's
Reviewed by
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