Reviewed by Amanda Potter

Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick is a melancholy love story between Van Gogh and the semi-fictional Rachael during his years in Arles. 

Through her research and careful prose, Bundrick brings these characters to life and makes us care deeply for both the troubled artist and the selfless Rachael as they struggle through this terrible time in his life.  If you’ve ever know a passionate artist or a person struggling with depression and chronic mental illness, you’ll recognize the emotions at play in this story.  Despite knowing what would ultimately befall Van Gogh, I found myself hoping against reality that the two lovers could have their happy ending.
 
While Sunflowers is a strong book on its own, it was Budrick’s attention to detail and my serendipitous visit to the Van Gogh Museum that really drew me in.  The use of real paintings, the same I’d just seen, in the story created another level of intimacy with the novel and its characters.  Bundrick also carefully adhered to most of Van Gogh’s actual timeline; blending her story in nearly seamlessly. I often could not tell where reality ended and fiction began. 
 
If you enjoy difficult love stories and know a little about the history of Van Gogh, you will enjoy reading the intimate story of Sunflowers.

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