First published 2016
Robert Phillip Kolker's "The Extraordinary Image" follows Gabriel, a gifted painter whose vivid brushstrokes seem to come alive. As his art draws increasing acclaim, Gabriel's personal life spirals out of control. Haunted by a traumatic past, he struggles to maintain his relationship with his wife and young daughter. When a prestigious gallery show thrusts him into the spotlight, Gabriel must confront the ghosts that have long plagued him. Can he find the strength to embrace his art and reclaim his life before it's too late?
Genres: fiction, drama, art, literary-fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: United States
224 pages · Hardcover · Rutgers University Press
Content warnings: mental-illness