Customer Reviews

Paint it Black

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"Paint it Black" captures that throbbing ache that is being a young girl faced with a great tragedy...made worse by the fact that the tragedy is a Prince Charming-ish first love. Josie, the art model main character, longs, pines, grieves with keen intensity. Her process of mourning is set against a vibrant back drop of 80s punk/alt Los Angeles. Plenty emo. Though the backdrop is vibrant and exciting, the reader can't help but feel the emptiness of this scene when reminded of the heroine's loss. When you don't have that special person to keep sharing life with, is anything worthwhile?
Fitch also crosses into territory that is much in need of exploration in terms of class. This book delineates class differences in America in a very real way...no one talks about this enough. We blindly pretend it doesn't matter. Josie finds out in subtle ways how it does and when it doesn't.
In all, an excellent read for those who dare dive into emotional waters and Angelenophiles.

Slightly more claustrophobic than White Oleander, but just as fabulous. Multi-layered, very real characters. And the ending made me smile.

This book was rather depressing and slow. I kept waiting for something to happen, but it seemed like the majority of the book involved the main character being drunk or high and thinking about how terrible her life is.

I could not wait to get to the end of the book. It just kept dragging on and on. I couldnt help but think "I get it already"

This book impressed me as real, very candid - emotions were stated as they are with no window dressing.

The main character (Jessie) is so authentic of her age - twenties - I found myself both remembering what it felt like at that age point and also reacting as the older woman I am with frustration at the naiveness of youth.

Really looking forward to this author's next!

I took this book out from the library on Audiobook and I TOTALLY F****N loved it!!! The author is so descriptive, so witty, and the book is just written so beautifully. I haven't read a book this good in a LONG time. Yes, it's sad. The entire book is a memoir to a girl's dead boyfreind, and about the differences btwn high-class and low-class, real and not-real. But the sadness she feels, the nothing-ness, the yearning for him, it all feels so real when you listen to it. I think the narrator was really good too. It helped bc she did voices for the different characters so it absolutely added to the whole feel of the book. I was actually looking FORWARD to listening to the CD's, all 13 of them and would listen to more. MY only problem was that the book was left a little open-ended. Did she or didn't she go on the trip? I think not, but i'm not sure. Great READ, highly RECOMMENDED.