Short Life in a Strange World audiobook

I was eagerly waiting to read this not knowing anything more than it was a book about Bruegel. I vaguely recall an art teacher showing our 8th grade class (probably “Hunters in the Snow) and being bored stiff. That all turned around in old age in having the opportunity of seeing several of his works in person throughout Europe with those in the Prado and Kunsthistorisches Museum being the standouts. You can keep your renaissance Italians and 18th century French painters – the most interesting part of the museums to me are walking into the Flemish masters and beyond Bosch, Bruegel is always the standout. Mileage out of the book itself will likely hinge on one’s appreciation (or disinterest) in the author’s personal musings, as he weaves both his tale of grappling with his relationship to his father (which likely in some metaphysical sense ties in with his views on Bruegel’s art), the story his journey to most of the locations often with his brother in tow to where the art resides. The reflections on the art itself are worthwhile, the road trip portions are sometimes interesting, but as the story strays into very personal territory my interest waned at times. Having said that, I am glad that the author created this work and it has provided inspiration for future trips and Bruegel sightings.

This was an enjoyable an interesting read, particularly as a fan of Bruegel's art (which is what drew me, and I guess would draw most people, to the book in the first place.) Discussions about the paintings and Breugel's life are interweaved with a travelogue and the autobiographical musings. By and large this worked well, although the author has a tendency to over-complicate things in an apparent search for profundity. More often that not, this just left me confused rather than enlightened, and I much preferred the sections where he wrote more simply and allowed the reader to draw their own parallels. The book is nicely illustrated, although for some reason the illustrations - usually details of the paintings rather than the whole thing - were often of some other part of the painting than that being discussed. You will need either another book of the paintings on hand, or to look them up online. There are also a couple of inexcusable errors in layout (or labelling) - where the works of Bruegel and his son (which we are supposed to be comparing) have been transposed. I'm not sure how much enjoyment someone who is not a fan of Breugel, or who is not familiar with his work, would get out of this book. Ferris has some interesting stories to tell, and the occasional flash of insight, but Sebald he is not (despite what the blurb might tell you.) But if you, like me, enjoy these paintings, then like Icarus you can dive right in.

This is an unusual book. The author has made it his mission to visit every Pieter Bruegel the Elder painting in the world.and each chapter takes us to a new one. There are lots of full color illustrations with paintings and details of paintings. But Bruegel packed lots of figures into his paintings so I recommend using a book of his works as an accompanaiment; I used Taschen’s Bruegel the Complete Paintings. So many interesting insights: the snowball (a deft flick of paint) in the Census at Bethlehem, the egg with legs running around because it wants to be eaten in The Land of Cockaigne, the unbowdlerized details revealed by Bruegel the Younger in his copy of The Massacre of the Innocents.In The Hay Harvest “People are becoming their hats—the small figures at work in the middle ground, for example, where the great straw hats entirely replace heads or faces. And some are becoming baskets of fruit.” There should be more books like this.

Put me in mind of William Least Heat-Moon's "Blue Highways." Brueghel through a Ferris filter (the ghost of Ferris's father hovering over all). Ferris is a gifted writer. Occasionally slow going. Maybe appropriate given the subject matter: the passage of time, winter, Breughel, grief, isolation, evanescence. Found myself losing interest then connecting again, hard. This is a meditation more than it is art history, though it's that too, in a way. Found myself wishing entire paintings had been reproduced, rather than details. Were there copyright issues? Found it necessary to Google the paintings being discussed to experience the "full Brueghel."

The author meanders through his physical viewings of the Bruegel panels, including tales of Bruegel, of the paintings, of his own journeys, and his own wandering thoughts. Some truly lovely passages result, and the book is beautiful with its interspersed detail paintings. Some pages have less of an impact, but on the whole it's a quiet, worthwhile journey. Be prepared, however, to have your computer or your high-end smartphone at the ready, as unless you're already intimately familiar with Bruegel, there's a lot of looking up of images to do on your device.

Of all the books I see everyday, this book cried out to me to be read. So I bought it home and took my time reading it every night and I was sad to have finished it but there are only so may Bruegels in the world and it ended aptly with Toby's quest completed. There are great illustrations and the text meanders but the Bruegels let the center hold for a fulfilling read. It inspired my upcoming trip to the Met in NYC to see the Harvesters by Pieter the Elder. Thanks for reading

This book is fantastic.

Bruegel's world is one worth indulging...and living in...

A great read."At some point in your progress through the world you must experience a magical bereavement."

A Wonderful Journey This is the perfect book to escape to. I knew little of Bruegels work before reading it and at the end I felt educated and entertained.