Earth Colors

Rating:
Summary: Throwing stones
Review: "Earth Colors" recaptures the genuine enthusiasm of earlier books in the series like "Fault Line" and "Bone Hunter," and I found the book absorbing on a couple of different levels.

The intricate descriptions & historical/economic context of painting materials reminded me of Marcel Duchamp's statement that all modern paintings are "Readymades," because they are made from pre-mixed, mass-produced paints, and the art of mixing pigments and mediums is the real soul of painting.

But also, I found this to be one of those novels in which each of the characters embodies a different aspect of the protagonist's psyche: one represents Em's own self-pity, one represents a sense snobbery that Em internalized in her prep school days, and another represents the gracious, holistic person that Em is striving to become. When that character leans in through the car window to tell Em why she should forgive her mother, while Em grips the steering wheel in frustration, we are seeing Em struggling with own conscience. When we find out which character is the murderer, that tells us what character trait the author blames for Em's personal/emotional stagnation. I love the imagery of the character's hands and feet becoming numb--what better metaphor for someone who's shut down emotionally the way Em has? This book dramatizes Em's self-conflict as she struggles to adopt a less self-centered, more holistic view of her role in society (and relationships). That's something I think any of us can relate to--right? :)

I appreciate that Em has weaknesses--each of the books is about her personal growth, and the plot would lack emotional force if she didn't appear genuinely flawed. The strength of the writing comes from allowing the reader to see Em as really struggling against self-pity--it wouldn't be an interesting struggle if she weren't in real danger of being overwhelmed by these darker, more childish feelings. Readers who feel uncomfortable reading about imperfect protagonists should perhaps do a little self-archeaology before throwing stones :)

Anyway, the only element of these books that really prevents me from identifying too closely with Em is the occasional glimpse we get of her defense of the dead animal industries--regarding the ecological impact of the cattle industry, and its relationship to the buffalo slaughter of the 19th century, I recommend Jeremy Rifkin's "Beyond Beef." In spite of the (to me, painful) acceptance of "Buffalo" Bill Cody as some kind of quaint American "hero," I really did enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: Weakened by unsympathetic heroine, unlikely motivation
Review: Em Hansen is waiting out her life--waiting for her boyfriend to return from whatever overseas operation the military sent him on, waiting for her friend's baby to grow older, waiting while she struggles with ideas for her Master's thesis in geology. In the meantime, she sponges off of her mother, lives rent-free with her equally impoverished friend Faye Carter, and visits western art museums to check out the fabulous paintings by Remington. When Faye meets up with an old school friend, she offers Em a way to solve all of her problems. Tert Krehbeil has a possible Remington he'd like tested for authenticity and he's willing to pay Em to use her geological skills to identify the pigments used in painting. It's an opportunity to make some money and pick up a thesis topic. And Faye gets some dates out of it with the handsome Tert.

Em's detective instincts warn her that something is wrong with the deal--and with Tert, but she can't turn down money. She soon finds herself investigating--and stepping on toes in the FBI who has their own investigation going on. But if Em's fears are right, she's stumbled into something even more serious than paint forging--something very much like murder.

Author Sara Andrews offers interesting information about the pigments used in 19th century painting (most of them poisons) and in the dangers of suburbinization. Despite these strong points, I found Em to be unsympathetic--too concerned with her own pathetic life, bitter with her mother for not taking better care of Em's prospective inheritance, and angry with Faye for not getting on with her life--as if Em was doing better with her own. I also had a hard time understanding why Terc would ask for Em's advice (let alone pay for it) in the first place. As an art dealer, surely he had plenty of contacts he could use and trust without opening up to a complete stranger.

EARTH COLORS isn't a bad mystery--it certainly kept me reading. But the unsympathetic protagonist dragged me out of the complete involvement a reader has a right to expect in a first-class mystery.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful and intelligent mystery with a twist
Review: For geologist Em Hansen her latest assignment is odd in terms of how she got the job while babysitting the infant daughter of her friend Faye Carter "don't call me" Latimer and what her client Tert Krehbeil who's affiliated with a museum hires her to investigate. Tert wants to know whether a painting allegedly done by renowned western artist Frederick Remington is genuine especially since the coloring is a bit different than the painter's usual works.

Em begins tracking the history of the painting, taking her from Cody, Wyoming where she had been visiting museums with baby Sloane when she got the job to Utah, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. However, the complex investigation turns ugly when someone begins poisoning the family members of Em's client. Soon Em realizes she may be on the short list of a killer whose motive is murky, but whose means and opportunities have been on target.

Though this tale starts differently than the fabulous previous treasures as Em is hired for her sleuthing reputation more than her bone hunting geological skills, EARTH COLORS is a wonderful and intelligent mystery. The story line combines two subplots that of the masterpiece investigation with a series of murders in which Em is the point of convergence. Though the art inquiries could have sustained the plot without the homicide fault line that feel more by the numbers than usual for this unique series, fans will enjoy Sarah Andrews' latest gold dust entry in what remains one of the most refreshing sleuths of the past few years.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Very negative
Review: This is not a good book. I also am a woman geologist (hydrogeologist)and I am increasingly offended by the whiny, bitter, unsympathetic portrayal of a prototagonist (if that word can be used)who seems unable to pull herself together enough to finish a degree and get and hold a job. Besides these twin destroyers, Em also has unending relationship problems with the men in her life.

Finally, the basic premise is silly. Since other reviewers have outlined the plot, I'll just say that the idea that someone would get a totally unqualified geologist (as opposed to, say, an art historian, curator, or someone else who deals with art for a living)to authenticate a painting is rediculous.

I found this to be a very negative,pessimistic book. Such a contrast to "Bone Hunter", which is a delight to read.