Betsy James Wyeth (1921–2020)

This is a very odd book.

Maybe its because it was nearing midnight and I'd been feeling lonely, but I cried at the last chapter. Not sobbing, just some silent tears, and I had to go find the cat to comfort me.

My copy was given to me by two kids (aged 3 and 5) I used to take care of. The Stray is written by the wife of Andrew Wyeth (famous for the painting "Christina's World") and illustrated by their son, Jamie. It is a story about the animals (mostly dogs and pigs) living in the Ford, which show more is like a child's imaginary world, complete with a map. The book has the unpolished, light, fun & adventurous style of an improv story told at bedtime, which is why the final chapter was such a shock for me. show less

As I said over in Talk, if you like N. C. Wyeth's work and other Brandywine School artists, this is a fine book to read. It gets my highest rating as I know I will go back to reading it every so often just to clarify something I have heard about N. C. That's what happens when you volunteer in his neighborhood!

The art of Andrew Wyeth