All the Colour in the World - Book Review

All the Colour in the World

CS Richardson

rounded up 3.5 stars

Pub date January 17,  2023


 

 

Can you like a book and give it 3.5 stars even though you know that you didn't 'get' it all? Yes, I can. This is a story told in the most interesting way, the historical and the personal, separately and together. The stuff found in textbooks and the feelings found in the heart.

Henry is lovely man who sees and feels with colour. And if you stick with this unusual way of telling his story, you too will see and feel his thoughts. 

I am someone who likes paint and colour, who likes the precision of the well-chosen word. And how marvelous to see CS Richardson choose carefully between cadmium yellow and marigold, cerulean and sapphire. Because it is not just yellow and blue. And this attention is what held my interest throughout. Because what is a world without colour?

Through peace and war, Henry shares his life with the reader, navigating through the loss of a loved one, and by walking the streets of historical Toronto and in the trenches. It sent me to a search engine many times to clarify pieces of history, and to see some of the art that was referred to. It was a book to ‘do’ and that made it worthwhile. You will gain so much more with these accessible forays.

This books warrants a second read, it is short and it is fast and I suspect that I might find some of the pieces I missed in my first attempt.

Thank you #NetGalley and #PenguinRandomHouseCanada for this early copy in exchange for my review. Proud to be a #Canadian. I have added Richardson’s previous The End of the Alphabet to my reading list.

Do you read a book a second time? If you do, tell me which ones (and why!).

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, has been waiting for me since the last Calgary Reads Book Sale. Sadly, it was the last sale they will be holding. Have you read this one?


 

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