Fiction Review: The Impressionist

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The Impressionist by Tim Clinton and Max Davis

Adam is losing it all. He and his wife don’t get along, and she’s threatening to leave him. Their seventeen-year-old son is on drugs and in trouble. After a heated quarrel with his wife, Adam leaves the house and ends up in a park where he meets an elderly man who paints. The man is friendly and asks if he can paint Adam’s portrait. Adam isn’t nice to him at first, but during the course of the painting, a friendship blooms. Jim Ed (short for James Edward) delves into Adam’s life by telling snippets of his own story. The painting takes several hours, and the men bare their souls. Finally, the painting is finished, and Adam returns home. There’s more to the story, and you will love it.

For one thing, the book reads like a counseling session. If you have ever been married or had a child, it’s got something for you. If you’ve ever been treated unjustly or borne a grudge, it will speak to you. There’s a lot of biblical counseling going on while the painting gets painted—and a lot of the counseling is for the reader.

I loved the concept and the book. I was trained in art, so the idea of the painting was one I particularly liked, but I think you will, too. I liked that the man was named Adam, and I thought Jim Ed's character sounded like the kind of person I would love to meet. He reminded me of my own grandfather. I also like the way the book ends, and I won’t spoil it for you.

I wasn’t surprised to learn at the end of the book that the authors are professional counselors. They know what they’re doing.

If you’re looking for classic literature, this isn’t it. But, if you’re looking for a great story that just might include your story, this is a book I highly recommend. This is a relatively short book and a good read.