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Cover of THE ART OF VANISHING
3.21

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THE ART OF VANISHING

by Jean Matisse, who lives with two of his siblings and his mom in a painting by his father, Henri. The “Elizabeth Bennet” in question is Claire, a new night\u002Dshift cleaning person at a private museum seemingly modeled on the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, where hundreds of paintings are hung edge to edge in a giant mansion. Ever since she was a little girl, Claire\u0027s had the feeling that there’s a way to cross over into the world of a painted image, and she’s about to find out she’s right. Later, after the pair has fallen in love: “We played cards with Cézanne’s farmhands, shot the breeze with Seurat’s models, and swam in the Medi­terranean Sea.” As the subjects of the paintings skip from one canvas to the next to get some variety in their frozen lives, one of the most popular hangouts is “Le bonheur de vivre,” a Matisse which depicts a clothing\u002Doptional seaside bacchanal. This escapist adventure and beautiful love affair is deeply satisfying, almost therapeutic, for young Claire, who has a lot of responsibilities and complications in the real world. At one point, she starts to realize she could be missing important calls while she’s over there in La La Land. “Of course there’s no cell reception in—what year is it in this paint­ing?” “1905 or 1906, I think.”  In addition to the details of Claire’s backstory, Pager throws two big real\u002Dworld developments into the mix—Covid\u002D19 and a museum heist. But the real joy of this book is the world she has invented on the other side of the canvas, a kind of Phantom Tollbooth for grown\u002Dups."

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Pages:305
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9780593875

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This imaginative novel offers a breathtaking escape into the world of art, where a young woman discovers she can literally step into the paintings she cleans at a private museum. Claire's journey fro...

Our Review

This imaginative novel offers a breathtaking escape into the world of art, where a young woman discovers she can literally step into the paintings she cleans at a private museum. Claire's journey from her complicated real-world responsibilities into the vibrant landscapes of Matisse, Cézanne, and Seurat creates a stunning portal fantasy that art lovers will find irresistible. The premise of painted subjects moving between canvases and creating their own society behind the frames feels both magical and intellectually satisfying, blending art history with pure wonder.

What makes this story particularly compelling is how it balances Claire's beautiful love affair with Jean Matisse against the practical concerns of her real life, including the intrusion of COVID-19 and a museum heist. The author has created what essentially functions as "The Phantom Tollbooth" for young adults—a sophisticated exploration of art, responsibility, and escapism that will resonate deeply with readers feeling overwhelmed by their own complicated worlds. The tension between Claire's therapeutic adventures in painted paradises and the important calls she might be missing creates a poignant metaphor for the challenges of growing up.

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