Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman - OPTIONAL

Heiligman, Deborah Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers, 409 pgs. Henry Holt (Macmillan Publishing Group), 2017. $19.99 Language – PG (7 swear, 0 “f”), Mature Content - PG; Violence - PG

 Vincent Van Gogh was the oldest living child in his family, followed by Theo. The brothers’ relationship was not smooth, and through their letter correspondence—or lack thereof—we see how they grew apart and returned to each other through the years. As they tried to navigate life with their careers, their love lives, and their family drama, Vincent and Theo were there for each other in times of need. This book illustrates the true story of two brothers who would do anything for each other.

One reason I was really excited to read about Vincent van Gogh is because the impressionist movement that he was part of is my favorite art movement. I enjoyed reading about his interesting life, and the success that Vincent and Theo found despite numerous setbacks in both career and love pursuits gives me hope for my own life. There are parts that can be dry, but I think that Heiligman kept their stories more interesting by summarizing the letters that the brothers wrote instead of including all the letters word for word. 

HS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen