Saturday 26 January 2013

The people of the lie.

If you are one of my regular readers you may know I am taking part in a monthly Challenge over at Art and sole. It is simple you read a book, write a review, feel inspired and fabricate some art. Unfortunately I got a bit bored with my first book 'The people of the lie'. Half way through reading it I set Lottie to work. There was a lot of talk of evil in that book and we needed some art to counteract the bad feelings it brought up. Lottie painted herself as an angel armed with tools to keep evil away.

After the painting we finished the book and with little more enthusiasm we wrote our review.



The book 'The people of the lie' was written by Dr. M Scott Peck. It has laid untouched in my bookcase for many years. In the book Peck has taken examples of his caseload to describe the stories of several patients who came for help to his psychiatric practice. He found that some people were particularly resistant to any kind of help. Dr. M.Scott Peck came to think of them as evil and in the book he goes on to describe the characteristics of evil in psychological terms, proposing that it could become a psychiatric diagnosis. Looking at the book from a professional stance some of the case studies were interesting I think it's probably accurate to say that there is a continuum of evilness but Peck seems to see things in black and white and that doesn't sit with me very well. I think this is what made me feel bored with the book from the start.



 I am off to read my second book.

29 comments:

Jen xo said...

oh what an adorable painting to come from your depressing book.... who knows what issues the writer had too :)

Victoria Stitch said...

love lottie as a red spotted angel!

P.J. said...

That stinks when you get a book and it bores you. The art is really nice though!

Darcy Marshall said...

hey honey *waves* shame that book was so boring, but still you made wonderful happy art from it.

Jenny said...

Doesn't sound the best read Manon... but so love the gorgeous artwork you created from it... Lottie is divine with her wings...

Jenny ♥

Kathryn Zbrzezny said...

I'm with Lottie and you on that book, and I don't even have to read it! I don't like evil or scary...

denthe said...

Oh, I love how Lottie came to the rescue to keep the evil away. So cute. Sounds a bit like a depressing book.... I don't like black & white thinking ... Sounds a bit radical to think of people as evil when they show resistance to help.

Joyce van der Lely said...

Lottie is such a good helper !!!! ♥ her xx

San @ Made in Hem said...

If this is what boredom and bad feelings do with your Art I'd say read a dictionary next! It's gorgeous!!! ♥
Hope your next read is better and can't wait to see what you create then! :)

Carmen said...

Doesn't sound like a very good doctor if he sees his patients in that way, I kinda feel sorry for them. Love your little Lottie keeping evil at bay :-)

Cameron said...

I'm with Lottie on this one.....let's all sprout wings and fly to happier places :)

Jez said...

I don't blame you for getting bored and objecting to the unpleasant bits that insinuate themselves into one's mind willy-nilly. Good idea to have Lottie-with-fairy-wings to exorcise the book's effects.
Unfortunately I have found that my March book (have finished the Feb one) is boring me to tears, and even worse than that irritating me greatly with its truly awful writing. I keep wondering what on earth I can do as artwork when I finish it (got to, of course), and your idea of a personal response to it is one I shall take up. Thank you.

Fallingladies said...

You have inpsired me to join in as well, i will have to hurry to finish the book i just started, wonderful lottie as always!

Šolanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Sounds like a very intense read. It's good of Lottie to help you out. :)

Sarah said...

Sorry your book turned out not to be much fun to read, but I love the way you have turned it on its head to inspire your delightful artwork

Virginia said...

That sounded like a hard read from the start and not keen on the black and white principle on this one! However, you made it to the end of the book and so met your first part of the challenge yay!!!!!! I adore your artwork simply beautiful and love how she's armed ready to fight evil!!!!

Leialoha said...

Luckily Angel Lottie came in to balance and heal all those psychological 'issues'...I have read Dr. Peck's books and agree with the black/white judgements he makes...Love your beautiful/happy colors!

SusieJ said...

That sounds like a heavy read. although I imagine the case histories being of some interest.
The cheerful artwork is the perfect antidote!
Hugs xx

Magaly Guerrero said...

I love that your Lottie (and her lovely eyes and soul-filling dress) came to save the day.

I know what you mean about all the talk of evil, and such... I read an anthology for my ARC January entry, and I had the most difficult of times staying unbiased. The characters were just not very likable ;-(

Just Words said...

Your pictures are enchanting. Thanks for the informative review. I've often wondered about the people who were left in institution, what their lives were like. Michelle Vanstrom

Janet said...

I love how you have turned something negative and depressing into something beautiful and uplifting. A good book for altering methinks!

Janet xx

Gina said...

Lottie IS an angel...and was probably more than happy to chase away the nastiness the book was creating. I sometimes wonder about the authors of such books...how do they sleep with such horrors in there heads?
Gorgeous Lottie :D Is she playing "Cat's cradle"? :D XXX

Ali said...

Lottie is adorable! I think I would struggle with this book as viewing humanity from a black and white perspective really frustrates me. I prefer to believe that people are fundamentally good and that bad or evil behaviour is a response to needs that they perceive can only be met through that behaviour. As to why they have that perception? Well I guess there in lies another book or ten!!

Shirley said...

Lottie is a stunner, she will certainly chase away all those nasty and negative thoughts. Amazing that a really negative and infuriating book can inspire you to create such awesome art. Hopefully, next months book will be much more enjoyable for you. Can't wait to see what art you produce for a really great read.

Maz said...

A shame you weren't that keen on the book but I like the artwork that came out of it :)

Elizabeth Johnson said...

Yea for Lottie and her anti-evil strategy. I love this piece.
I am SO EXCITED to be the winner of your GYB drawing!!! Thank you!
~Elizabeth

Jen said...

Good to shun negativity. Your artwork certainly turned it round.
Jen x

Catie Cuddles said...

As Usual Lottie is adorable!

No way on earth that book would appeal to me ...w ell done on finishing it!

Diane said...

It is wonderful that Lottie was there to lift your mood and protect you after reading about so much evil. She certainly is an "angel". Hope your book for February is more enjoyable.