Eternity on a Canvas – Book Review
Nathan Lamarche’s Eternity on a Canvas is a somber, reflective voyage into the unknown – an introspective, eerily poetic examination of existence and identity. A lone soul awakens in a white cottage on a white sandy plain without any name, memories, or context, drawing the us into a mysterious universe from the opening page. In the most literal sense, it is a blank slate that prepares the reader for a story that is equally cerebral and emotionally stirring.
This is a fairly short book, but you may want to consume it slowly so you can really savor and take in all the parts of it. It starts with a table of contents that shows seven chapters, as well as a Two and a Half, Four and a Half and Six and a Half.
The first chapter dives into descriptive writing of a room and the things in it. It’s almost surreal, although it’s as simple as it comes. We have nothing but this white house to guide us, as the protagonist sets out on a journey of self-discovery, both figuratively and literally.
As the main character explores their surroundings and their capabilities, we see our story unfold with a dreamlike elegance. Without using a lot of explanation or artificial drama, Lamarche deftly incorporates themes of amazement, solitude, and creation into the story. Rather, the narrative breathes in senses, in quiet, and in the little, sometimes missed moments that allude to something timeless.
Our protagonist is seemingly locked inside this house. We experience them interact with the house, the different rooms, a closet – and we see them go through many different emotions. Time passes, but our main character has no real way of tracking it, so we also don’t know how much time is passing from one event to the other.
They don’t even have a name. But they do have friends – like Secret – who they meet in the first chapter. Later we meet black, who they name Dark. Dark attempts to name them, but they don’t like any of the names Dark is choosing. So they choose a name for themselves.
I don’t want to give it away because you need to read it for yourself, but it’s a name I am fond of and named one of my rescue cats last year.
The atmosphere of this book is among its most captivating features. Although the setting is simple, it is by no means deserted. Every element, from the house’s construction to the sand’s texture, seems meaningful and invites the reader to consider its deeper connotations. The backdrop is expansive in its connotations, fluid, and introspective, virtually acting as a character in and of itself.
The half-chapters are really interesting, adding a very literary element to the story and more intrigue while our main character is dreaming. Just as our protagonist doesn’t really know what’s going on, we really don’t either as we are reading, and I enjoyed that. They sleep and they dream, and they have all the emotions that any of us have.
Lamarche writes in an expressive yet restrained style. The writing has a subdued lyricism that allows readers to stop and think. The story can function as a metaphor for the universal human need to comprehend one’s place in – or possibly beyond – the universe because the protagonist’s lack of instant answers reflects his or her own uncertainty.
This is not a plot-driven, fast-paced book. Rather, Eternity on a Canvas encourages self-reflection and patience. I was hanging on every page wanting to know what happens next and where the story was going. It’s definitely unlike anything else I’ve read – and as you all know, I read a LOT. It was refreshing to have something different and unique.
Readers are taken into a philosophical reflection about the nature of self, memory, and creation as the protagonist starts to realize what they can do – and what that might imply. Is the house a shelter or a prison? Does the canvas serve as a test or a gift? Lamarche never suggests a single solution, instead encouraging readers to think about these issues.
It is highly recommended for readers who enjoy literary minimalism, introspective fiction, and stories that explore the ethereal facets of the human condition.
You can find Eternity on a Canvas on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited editions.