Review: A colorful story with surprises and depth
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 19, 2013
This was my first book from Ben Monopoli and I fell head over heels in love with his writing. And that's saying something considering that I felt like my heart was a spray paint can the author was squeezing in his hand throughout the whole story!The Painting of Porcupine City is a gripping novel about longing, obsession, love and fate. It's a story about relationships and turning points. A story about new, colorful beginnings. And it's delivered in a smart, vibrant, wistful and extremely visual way. I think I haven't highlighted this many lines since reading Mary Renault's The Charioteer -- and that is another love story altogether.I wouldn't be an art teacher if there weren't a tiny street artist living inside me. What I really liked about this story was the fact that it felt as fresh and unfettered as urban art. It managed to surprise me with the scenes and the ways I didn't expect. It had depth and beauty and passion. It had as many different layers as graffiti has. And like great street art, it made me think. It made me stop rushing, it made me mull over its message, and it made me look around and to appreciate what I saw.I love how the author played with the truth, the facts and the fiction. That is one of the reasons the story will stay with me for a long time. And I'll make sure that I'll read everything this author has ever written -- as soon as possible. But let me paint these words first... clang, clang, clang, fffssshhht... MONOPOLI IS BRILLIANT. And that is a Fact.