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The Secret Life Of Sunflowers: A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law (Light & Life Series)
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Original price was: $17.24.$15.52Current price is: $15.52.
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“This book draws all the emotions out of you. I went from tears to snorting with laughter. It was both lighthearted and heart breaking, yet it inspires me to live my best life! ” Michelle Cox
When Hollywood auctioneer Emsley Wilson finds her famous grandmother’s diary while cleaning out her New York brownstone, the pages are full of surprises. The first surprise is, the diary isn’t her grandmother’s. It belongs to Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law.
Johanna inherited Vincent van Gogh’s paintings. They were all she had, and they weren’t worth anything. She was a 28 year old widow with a baby in the 1800s, without any means of supporting herself, living in Paris where she barely spoke the language. Yet she managed to introduce Vincent’s legacy to the world.
The inspiration couldn’t come at a better time for Emsley. With her business failing, an unexpected love turning up in her life, and family secrets unraveling, can she find answers in the past?
“This book was so much more than I had expected, and I had high expectations… one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read in years.” Kaela Stokes
“It touched something in my soul.” Audrey McDonald
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Product name:
The Secret Life Of Sunflowers: A gripping, inspiring novel based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law (Light & Life Series)
Price:
Original price was: $17.24.$15.52Current price is: $15.52.
Casey726 –
I have read other books where some granddaughter finds the grandmother’s diary etc. and then there is a back and forth story of the present and the past, but the author’s intention is to tell the historical story. It is distracting to me because the present day story is purely fictional and the historical story is not. In this book I did not really like the characters in the present day story and I did not really care what happened to them. I think she put Emsley in a bad light, sex with a guy she recently met and the very weird naked women painted with sugar show. No idea how the author came up with that one! I would have liked to seen her have it together and tackle her challenges without the sex and weird stuff. Johanna’s life was much more interesting and challenging for a woman to do what she did during that time period. I like the story about Johanna and I wish the book was solely about her.
Kindle Customer –
Easy read and great story, strong women can change the future as shown in this book!! Recommend this book esp. to women!!
Kindle Customer –
What an amazing woman! Johanne had a strength. I wish I could have. The way she loved not only her husband, but her brother-in-law showed the true meaning of family, especially as a woman, in a time when women were second class citizens in her country, standing firm and fighting for what she she wanted.
I love the present day story of Elmsly as well. I love how she worked hard to achieve her success in a world dominated by men. And the men that surrounded her, for the most part, had admiration for her.
How I wish Violet had been a real artist! I kept wanting to go online and look up her work. That is what I did with many of the other artists mentioned in this dtory and Girl Braiding Her hair. I am a self taught artist, trying to improve my art and immersing myself in art, and online painting tutorials, and learning, learning learning about every artist I read about. The women artists are especially inspiring.
I am so glad I found this book! (And I like the author’s first name as well.)
L. Wiegele –
This book hooked me with the Van Gogh angle. I really have never appreciated that artists aren’t INSTANTLY famous or appreciated. Without his brother’s wife, Vincent van Gogh’s work may have been destroyed. Jo Bonger is the true hero of this story, fighting tirelessly to get Vincent’s work out to the public. It just blew my mind to know that Dr Reys portrait was used to patch a chicken coop! Maybe there other masterpieces out there patching something together. This book did light my imagination and I enjoyed all the character stories both past and present. Great book. I’m glad I read it.
Amazon Customer –
A very interesting read, 2 stories linking the Van Gogh family to the present day in New York. I learned a lot more about Vincent Van Gogh and his struggle for recognition, whilst being supported by his brother and sister in law.
The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the modern love interest between Bram and Emsley, which was too good to be true.
Mitzi –
Intriguing story about two events a hundred or so years apart.
I liked the wry humour and the satisfactory end.
There were some interesting facts which I didn’t know of before. It doesn’t hurt to believe anything is possible if you want it enough.
AJ –
The Secret Life of Sunflowers came into my life with a glowing recommendation from my aunt, and now I am happy to recommend the book to other people! I will say that I am not the most avid reader of historical fiction, but this book combines a historical fiction narrative about the life Johanna Van Gogh with a present-day fictional narrative about the life of Emsley Wilson, and I found both of these women’s lives and journeys to be interesting, often unexpected, and inspiring in their own ways.
Both of these women find their own strength, resolve to persevere through losses and obstacles, stay true to their missions in life, push themselves out of their comfort zones, and find confidence and courage that they never imagined for themselves. I really enjoyed the themes of leaning on family and friends in difficult times, choosing to stay hopeful in the face of trials and despair, and doing your best with the circumstances in which you find yourself.
Overall, The Secret Life of Sunflowers is easy to read, has excellent flow, strong characters, empowering messages, a sense of wit and humor, and vivid descriptions of settings, characters, and more intangible feelings like grief, joy, and transformation. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a relatively quick read about the importance of hope, perseverance, and inner resilience.
Mary M. Ognibene –
I couldn’t stop thinking about the story. Staid with me for a long time. I have since lent this book out with the readers saying the same thing.
The authors writing style is fantastic! Totally engaged me and kept me reading for only a few days. I couldn’t put it down!
I have to strongly suggest, NOT to see the movie first. The book provides so much detail, not provided in the movie. The book fills in information not given in the movie. Additionally, the author continued the investigation on his own and provided answers to questions raised in the initial investigation.
Molly KED –
I didn’t know what to expect from this story…but I sure enjoyed the telling of it. Enjoyed is probably not the right term…it was an endurance but also an incredible tribute to the people of Vincent’s life. I’m now off to do my own research and enjoy looking at Vincent’s paintings and thinking of his amazing brother and sister-in-law. Quick read.
Maureen Grove –
This book is an inspiring tale of two women separated by several generations and continents, living through tough times.
The links to the historical facts about Vincent and Theo van Gogh are fascinating and the way the author moves effortlessly into the present day story left me zipping through the chapters to get from one era to the next.
Amy Paul –
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and a look at history peripheral to Vincent Van Gogh. This book is based on the true story of Johanna Bonger, married to Vincent’s brother Theo. I enjoyed getting to see him from a different point of view. But what I loved even more, was the parallel story of Emsley, in modern day New York (reading Johanna’s story), dealing with losing her grandmother and deciding what direction her life will take. I adored Emsley and Bram and wanted more of their story. It takes most of the book before you find out how the two stories are related (I won’t spoil it by saying how here) but that curiosity kept me going, and paying attention to Johanna’s story even when I was eager to get back to Emsley. (Other readers might feel just the opposite and be more attracted to Johanna!) All in all, it was a well-researched and well-written book.
H. Miller –
They made this a quick interesting read with a little romance thrown in. What is not to like? I may buy a Van Gogh print form my beach house. I have a new appreciation.
baj –
The pace is fast. The twin story lines fully engaging and fun to read. This author has some ‘chops’, is spikey and can be fun, but to be taken seriously as an author of historical fiction, she needs a good editor/publishing house assistance, in my view. I hope she gets picked up by a publisher. Or that she moves on to the movie or TV series worlds where her style could soar.