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Painted From Memories
She considers telling him the truth—that she isn’t the person he thinks she is—but in the end she doesn’t. To say something is to potentially say everything. And it is simply too late... The emotionally fractured casualty of a hideous childhood tragedy, Catherine has at last found her happy-ever-after in the person of Grayson Barnett, and it is the promise of a freshly polished future that compels her to bury the poisonous trail of her past beneath the purposeful lies and omissions she offers her new husband. But now, with the inherent shame of her traumatic history secreted away and losing hold, Cat finds herself increasingly troubled as Gray falls into an erratic pattern of late night wanderings through the house, painting the bare walls with extravagant murals. And only when the unthinkable happens—a devastating blow which leaves her broken and spiraling—and an unexpected arrival on her doorstep, bearing a cache of impossible revelations—is Cat forced to question whether the man she so desperately loves is in truth a stranger and their beautiful life a gross falsehood constructed upon a foundation of lies. 2014 winner of Honorable Mention in the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2014
120 people are currently reading
882 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Forte Abate
3 books49 followersI grew up in a small town in Dutchess County, New York, the third of five children. Although I started my first novel in 4th grade, I didn't recognize what would eventually become a lifelong passion until several years later as I found my thoughts routinely wandering off to inhabit imagined places -- spinning elaborate tales curiously populated by ever-changing collections of strange and unique characters that seemed to arrive from nowhere, yet remained, incredibly content to live within my fictitious worlds.
It would be impossible to determine or otherwise explain where the intense obsession to draw pictures and unreel emotion with words on paper originates from, just as it would be unfathomable to ever abandon. It is simply there - deep, unquenchable, eternal.
Influences are everywhere and in abundance - people I've known over a lifetime, as well as those who have merely crossed my path and gone, yet touched in such a way as to remain memorable. Places I've been or merely absorbed - fallen into through the pull of a photograph. Experiences of love, loss, injury, joy, and impossible tragedy. Events in our everyday world that sink so deeply they cannot be discarded from thought or memory. And more then any single thing, my Divine Creator who inspires me in all things - not simply with the desire to create, but the faith to pursue and persevere for as long as it takes.
It would be impossible to determine or otherwise explain where the intense obsession to draw pictures and unreel emotion with words on paper originates from, just as it would be unfathomable to ever abandon. It is simply there - deep, unquenchable, eternal.
Influences are everywhere and in abundance - people I've known over a lifetime, as well as those who have merely crossed my path and gone, yet touched in such a way as to remain memorable. Places I've been or merely absorbed - fallen into through the pull of a photograph. Experiences of love, loss, injury, joy, and impossible tragedy. Events in our everyday world that sink so deeply they cannot be discarded from thought or memory. And more then any single thing, my Divine Creator who inspires me in all things - not simply with the desire to create, but the faith to pursue and persevere for as long as it takes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
June 23, 2014
As I started this book I wasn’t really sure what to expect. The book is written in such a way you must continue to read. You have multiple story lines throughout that are all intwined. We find Cat, a young scarred woman who has recently married. She has never told her husband of her past for fear he will find her hideous. As a child she watched her parents constantly fight. It culminated in her father killing her mother and then taking his own life. Her younger sister who was only two at the time never spoke again.
Then we have the glimpses into her life after her parent’s death. She and her sister are taken from the orphanage to live with a couple. You get from the short clips of memory that they were treated no better than slaves. All these things she’s kept hidden from her husband Gray. But hers are not the only secrets. Things take a drastic turn when a man named Rance steps up on her porch.
There is so much I could tell you but don’t won’t to. I’ve left out so many things so that you the reader will need to read the book. The book is written with such great emotion that you are Cat as that young child, hiding while her parents fight. I felt Cat’s pain, fear, isolation, and lonliness. This is one of those books where you feel such emotion and want things to turn out well for her. Barbara has once again taken the reader, thrown them into the middle of a situation letting them fend for themselves for a while before throwing them life saver. Well done.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review
Then we have the glimpses into her life after her parent’s death. She and her sister are taken from the orphanage to live with a couple. You get from the short clips of memory that they were treated no better than slaves. All these things she’s kept hidden from her husband Gray. But hers are not the only secrets. Things take a drastic turn when a man named Rance steps up on her porch.
There is so much I could tell you but don’t won’t to. I’ve left out so many things so that you the reader will need to read the book. The book is written with such great emotion that you are Cat as that young child, hiding while her parents fight. I felt Cat’s pain, fear, isolation, and lonliness. This is one of those books where you feel such emotion and want things to turn out well for her. Barbara has once again taken the reader, thrown them into the middle of a situation letting them fend for themselves for a while before throwing them life saver. Well done.
I received a copy in exchange for my honest review
November 8, 2014
I finished this book, but barely. I think the author needs to lose the thesaurus and the techniques from Creative Writing 101 and just tell the story. Every noun does not need an adjective, every verb does not need an adverb, and complicated sentences do not equal good writing. The writing was tortured, as was the story, the timeline was unclear, characters not well-drawn. Why did I finish it? Well, I think there is the germ of a story here, but more of a short story, not a novel. This is my lowest ranking for books, as anything worse than this doesn't get finished. Two stars is a low rating for me.
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Paperback, 304 pages
Published June 21st 2014 by Halcyon Moon Books
ISBN 0692209344 (ISBN13: 9780692209349)
edition language English
other editions None found
Source:Digital copy from author
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
She considers telling him the truth—that she isn't the person he thinks she is—but in the end she doesn't. To say something is to potentially say everything. And it is simply too late...
The emotionally fractured casualty of a hideous childhood tragedy, Catherine has at last found her happy-ever-after in the person of Grayson Barnett, and it is the promise of a freshly polished future that compels her to bury the poisonous trail of her past beneath the purposeful lies and omissions she offers her new husband.
But now, with the inherent shame of her traumatic history secreted away and losing hold, Cat finds herself increasingly troubled as Gray falls into an erratic pattern of late night wanderings through the house, painting the bare walls with extravagant murals. And only when the unthinkable happens—a devastating blow which leaves her broken and spiraling—and an unexpected arrival on her doorstep, bearing a cache of impossible revelations—is Cat forced to question whether the man she so desperately loves is in truth a stranger and their beautiful life a gross falsehood constructed upon a foundation of lies.
This is without a doubt not a lighthearted contemporary romance, it is instead a journey through Cat’s memories that skirt the edge of madness at times and at others take the leap straight into a form of insanity.
Coming from a childhood filled with mental anguish Cat never expects to find anyone who she would find herself able to love, that holds true until Gray Barnett comes along. As they are both artists they have something in common from the very beginning, as they spend more time together that passion to create stirs other passions which lead the pair to marry.
Now having moved from Georgia they start over in the backwater town of Lost River Maine, Gray has found an old ramshackle house formerly used by it’s previous owner as a summer getaway apparently and they purchase it for their own.
Years later we find Cat and Gray still happily married but while Cat has found an outlet for her creativeness Gray is going to work every day at the local sawmill, a job that pays the bills, puts food on the table but does not fulfill him.
As one finds out along the way what Cat is hiding from Gray we understand that the horrors from her childhood have never allowed her to truly embrace the happiness in life other people take for granted, when Gray’s actions become a cause for concern she does not know how to break down the barriers between them to get to the root of what is wrong.
There comes a point in the story that changes everything, it will bring you to your knees right along with Cat and than just when you think there are no more surprises to come the last 10 chapters prove you wrong and in such a way that it brings hope for Cat back into your heart!
The word pictures that author Barbara Forte Abate craft in the telling of this story are ones that will stand out in your mind long after the last page is turned.
Upon finishing this one finds oneself releasing a long held breath, not sure if is in relief or some other unidentifiable emotion caused by reading something filled with so much tragedy, heartache, pain and then finally an ending that brings one full circle but with a promise of a better future for Cat.
Paperback, 304 pages
Published June 21st 2014 by Halcyon Moon Books
ISBN 0692209344 (ISBN13: 9780692209349)
edition language English
other editions None found
Source:Digital copy from author
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
She considers telling him the truth—that she isn't the person he thinks she is—but in the end she doesn't. To say something is to potentially say everything. And it is simply too late...
The emotionally fractured casualty of a hideous childhood tragedy, Catherine has at last found her happy-ever-after in the person of Grayson Barnett, and it is the promise of a freshly polished future that compels her to bury the poisonous trail of her past beneath the purposeful lies and omissions she offers her new husband.
But now, with the inherent shame of her traumatic history secreted away and losing hold, Cat finds herself increasingly troubled as Gray falls into an erratic pattern of late night wanderings through the house, painting the bare walls with extravagant murals. And only when the unthinkable happens—a devastating blow which leaves her broken and spiraling—and an unexpected arrival on her doorstep, bearing a cache of impossible revelations—is Cat forced to question whether the man she so desperately loves is in truth a stranger and their beautiful life a gross falsehood constructed upon a foundation of lies.
My Thoughts
This is without a doubt not a lighthearted contemporary romance, it is instead a journey through Cat’s memories that skirt the edge of madness at times and at others take the leap straight into a form of insanity.
Coming from a childhood filled with mental anguish Cat never expects to find anyone who she would find herself able to love, that holds true until Gray Barnett comes along. As they are both artists they have something in common from the very beginning, as they spend more time together that passion to create stirs other passions which lead the pair to marry.
Now having moved from Georgia they start over in the backwater town of Lost River Maine, Gray has found an old ramshackle house formerly used by it’s previous owner as a summer getaway apparently and they purchase it for their own.
Years later we find Cat and Gray still happily married but while Cat has found an outlet for her creativeness Gray is going to work every day at the local sawmill, a job that pays the bills, puts food on the table but does not fulfill him.
As one finds out along the way what Cat is hiding from Gray we understand that the horrors from her childhood have never allowed her to truly embrace the happiness in life other people take for granted, when Gray’s actions become a cause for concern she does not know how to break down the barriers between them to get to the root of what is wrong.
There comes a point in the story that changes everything, it will bring you to your knees right along with Cat and than just when you think there are no more surprises to come the last 10 chapters prove you wrong and in such a way that it brings hope for Cat back into your heart!
The word pictures that author Barbara Forte Abate craft in the telling of this story are ones that will stand out in your mind long after the last page is turned.
Upon finishing this one finds oneself releasing a long held breath, not sure if is in relief or some other unidentifiable emotion caused by reading something filled with so much tragedy, heartache, pain and then finally an ending that brings one full circle but with a promise of a better future for Cat.
[Digital copy from author in exchange for honest review]
June 24, 2014
What an honor to preview Barbara Forte Abate’s new book Painted From Memories. I’ve read her earlier books (The Secret of Lies and Asleep Without Dreaming) and found each one to be more complex and engaging than the last as she claims her remarkable voice and speaks it with increasing confidence and skill. This book takes a giant leap towards deserving to be on the main stage among women’s literature. For the record, I am very stingy with my five star ratings, reserving them only for books that shift my perspective on life and rarely for fiction. This one is a solid 4+, however, and one whale of a satisfying read. Many will give it five stars readily.
The story unfolds from the voice of Catherine (Cat), a young woman madly in love with Gray and beginning a new life with him. She is determined to leave behind her dark past, horrifying memories, and deeply dysfunctional childhood. So determined, in fact, that she cannot bring herself to share them with her beloved, a decision that has dire consequences and becomes a constant threat to her mental health. Little does she realize, until much later, that Gray has secrets of his own.
The first word that comes to mind in describing this book is “vivid.” Each scene and each character is painted with such exquisitely perfect words that I found myself, as a fellow writer, scrambling for paper and pen to jot down some of the uniquely wonderful word combinations.
In describing the house in the Maine woods Gray has found for them to live in, for instance, the reader can visualize it in full detail, along with a sense of some foreboding that plays out later in the book:
“And all at once it is there in full view, wide and rambling beneath a skin of weathered grey clapboards; a house rising up just beyond where the tire tracks end in a near improbable mirage abutting the tangled disorder of a feral front yard.
“It is a brooding and ancient place. A wide deep porch runs the length of its face; a substantial portion of which is heavily curtained by an overgrowth of runaway vines twining into neighboring bushes.”
Can’t you just picture it?
The scene in which Cat is driving through torrential rain while Gray sleeps beside her is a masterful depiction of the tension a driver feels in this situation, and we are pulled into the mind-numbing scene with the monotonous drone of windshield wipers that are barely able to clear the rain sheeting across the windshield, and the driver attempting to be vigilant against sleepiness and unwanted memories.
I was fascinated with the way she describes Cat’s desperate attempts to hold back the awful memories of her childhood abuse and her drunken father’s raging attacks on her mother:
“It is a sure trick of remembrance—the near soundless approach from a distant nowhere. Softly falling steps slipping into her head with an artificial calm, unfolding from behind the gently undulating fringes of a faraway scene.”
If you've ever tried not to think of something that was bothering or haunting you, this describes it so well.
At every turn, the author brings the reader right into the scene along with her characters, and they will linger long after you've put the book down.
Without being either formulaic or unrealistic, Barbara Forte Abate has created a story and a heroine both engaging and enormously satisfying. It is my fervent hope she is already at work on a sequel.
The story unfolds from the voice of Catherine (Cat), a young woman madly in love with Gray and beginning a new life with him. She is determined to leave behind her dark past, horrifying memories, and deeply dysfunctional childhood. So determined, in fact, that she cannot bring herself to share them with her beloved, a decision that has dire consequences and becomes a constant threat to her mental health. Little does she realize, until much later, that Gray has secrets of his own.
The first word that comes to mind in describing this book is “vivid.” Each scene and each character is painted with such exquisitely perfect words that I found myself, as a fellow writer, scrambling for paper and pen to jot down some of the uniquely wonderful word combinations.
In describing the house in the Maine woods Gray has found for them to live in, for instance, the reader can visualize it in full detail, along with a sense of some foreboding that plays out later in the book:
“And all at once it is there in full view, wide and rambling beneath a skin of weathered grey clapboards; a house rising up just beyond where the tire tracks end in a near improbable mirage abutting the tangled disorder of a feral front yard.
“It is a brooding and ancient place. A wide deep porch runs the length of its face; a substantial portion of which is heavily curtained by an overgrowth of runaway vines twining into neighboring bushes.”
Can’t you just picture it?
The scene in which Cat is driving through torrential rain while Gray sleeps beside her is a masterful depiction of the tension a driver feels in this situation, and we are pulled into the mind-numbing scene with the monotonous drone of windshield wipers that are barely able to clear the rain sheeting across the windshield, and the driver attempting to be vigilant against sleepiness and unwanted memories.
I was fascinated with the way she describes Cat’s desperate attempts to hold back the awful memories of her childhood abuse and her drunken father’s raging attacks on her mother:
“It is a sure trick of remembrance—the near soundless approach from a distant nowhere. Softly falling steps slipping into her head with an artificial calm, unfolding from behind the gently undulating fringes of a faraway scene.”
If you've ever tried not to think of something that was bothering or haunting you, this describes it so well.
At every turn, the author brings the reader right into the scene along with her characters, and they will linger long after you've put the book down.
Without being either formulaic or unrealistic, Barbara Forte Abate has created a story and a heroine both engaging and enormously satisfying. It is my fervent hope she is already at work on a sequel.
August 27, 2014
I am not a fan of the cover, despite the fact that after reading Painted From Memories, I see how it fits. Do not let it distract you because beneath this plain Jane cover lies a beautiful literary fiction. Barbara Forte Abate shares an interesting tale with two quirky, artistic types set in the small rural town of Lost River, Maine. Painted From Memories is a gripping tale with several threads that had me lost within its pages.
Painted from Memories shares a passionate romance between two complicated people who have secrets. Grayson and Catherine (Cat) are both artists and met when she was painting a mural. They share a whirlwind romance and are soon married and traveling to Maine. Here Grayson buys them a dilapidated farmhouse. Cat is happy to escape her past and ever fearful of discovery. They laugh as pipes burst and showers run ice cold. They share a friendship and relationship that others only dream about and yet these secrets lie between them. As the tale progresses we learn about Cat’s troubled childhood, the death of her parents and the sister who never speaks. Her story is painful and Abate brings her voice to life. Cat does not want the past to interfere with their lives and chooses not to share with Gary. She invents stories about her family, placing them in far off lands. I loved learning about Cat and spending time with her while she worked in the garden and made art from old furniture. She wakes one night to discover Grayson painting a mural, and telling a story using the walls of their home as his canvas. Grayson's love for Cat is touching and I loved how he interacted with her. He was a bit of a mystery and watching the scenes unfold as he painted was fascinating. Both characters march to their own drum, see the world through rose-colored glasses or perhaps with an artist flair. While I didn't love them, Abate made me understand and connect.
Painted From Memories was poetic and touching. Abate’s writing brought the characters and surrounding area to life. She uses imaginary to convey the characters emotions and at times, I was in awe of her ability. Secondary characters add a little mystery. Their secrets are slowly revealed and I found myself riveted. I feel as if I am being vague. I keep holding back and that is because the journey and discovery is part of what makes this powerful and wonderful. I do not want to spoil your ride.
Copy received from author.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Painted from Memories shares a passionate romance between two complicated people who have secrets. Grayson and Catherine (Cat) are both artists and met when she was painting a mural. They share a whirlwind romance and are soon married and traveling to Maine. Here Grayson buys them a dilapidated farmhouse. Cat is happy to escape her past and ever fearful of discovery. They laugh as pipes burst and showers run ice cold. They share a friendship and relationship that others only dream about and yet these secrets lie between them. As the tale progresses we learn about Cat’s troubled childhood, the death of her parents and the sister who never speaks. Her story is painful and Abate brings her voice to life. Cat does not want the past to interfere with their lives and chooses not to share with Gary. She invents stories about her family, placing them in far off lands. I loved learning about Cat and spending time with her while she worked in the garden and made art from old furniture. She wakes one night to discover Grayson painting a mural, and telling a story using the walls of their home as his canvas. Grayson's love for Cat is touching and I loved how he interacted with her. He was a bit of a mystery and watching the scenes unfold as he painted was fascinating. Both characters march to their own drum, see the world through rose-colored glasses or perhaps with an artist flair. While I didn't love them, Abate made me understand and connect.
Painted From Memories was poetic and touching. Abate’s writing brought the characters and surrounding area to life. She uses imaginary to convey the characters emotions and at times, I was in awe of her ability. Secondary characters add a little mystery. Their secrets are slowly revealed and I found myself riveted. I feel as if I am being vague. I keep holding back and that is because the journey and discovery is part of what makes this powerful and wonderful. I do not want to spoil your ride.
Copy received from author.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
September 23, 2014
Painter Catherine Barnett was never the woman her wonderful husband, Grayson, thought she was. She survived a horrid childhood and never wanted him to know of her suffering or scars. They couple buys a new house and after a while Grayson, also an artist, stays up to all hours painting murals and growing distant. When a tragedy takes away Catherine’s happiness, she spirals into a dark depression until a mysterious person shows up on her doorstep. With this arrival Catherine has to reevaluate her life with Grayson and faces the truth her life with him may have been covering more than her own lies. PAINTED FROM MEMORIES is written with such beautiful and desolate images you cannot bear to put the book down. We all have our demons we try to hide from our loved ones, but some are too powerful too stay buried forever. PAINTED FROM MEMORIES is a story which will cause you to reflect on yourself as you share Catherine’s pain. I can’t give away too much, because PAINTED FROM MEMORIES is a tale you must experience for yourself.
June 23, 2014
Okay, honestly ... you knew this thoroughly unbiased review was coming. Right?
December 1, 2017
Whenever I try to move along in this novel I️t pains me. It’s like watching paint dry. The author has a very large vocabulary which she must be proud of bc instead of making an interesting, compelling read, you get to learn just how many adjectives and adverbs exist. There is good descriptive writing and then there is over the top “I love my thesaurus” writing. The latter, rarely makes for a good novel and instead you find yourself reading a shell of a novel, but you almost don’t realize I️t because I️t is covered in over-embellished fluff. No offense to the author who has a great depth for descriptives, but for me, great novels are the page turners that you can’t put down, that aren’t verbose. Maybe this type of writing works for others, but when I read a novel and/or story, I want I️t to be interesting and intriguing, not a reminder of my 10th grade honors English class.
October 22, 2017
Abused as children create very layered adults. The run on descriptions of scenarios sometimes could have used half the words the author did use. But I enjoyed the book very much. Several twists I didn't see coming at all.
February 27, 2018
The first half of the book, or maybe more, was a little hard to follow as there seemed to be endless adjectives. I would have preferred more story. But the book did improve for me and overall I thought it was an interesting story.
March 16, 2022
Amazing!!!
What a great writer. I have never read such a great book. A story told not only behind the scenes but right in the middle of it all. You are left in awe at what a great author is capable of writing. Telling a story, so alive, so exact so alluring. Amazing.
What a great writer. I have never read such a great book. A story told not only behind the scenes but right in the middle of it all. You are left in awe at what a great author is capable of writing. Telling a story, so alive, so exact so alluring. Amazing.
September 9, 2022
Painted from Memories
Good Read. It is disappointing that I don't know of what happened to Cat in the past. Where she is going at the end of the book. What is life like with Cat and Rance.
Good Read. It is disappointing that I don't know of what happened to Cat in the past. Where she is going at the end of the book. What is life like with Cat and Rance.
July 17, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
November 22, 2019
BORING! Couldn’t finish it. Nothin ever happened to keep me interested.
April 1, 2018
Torturous read for a so so story and conclusion.
September 18, 2014
I received a request from the author, Barbara Forte Abate, to review her latest novel, Painted From Memories. I had read and reviewed another one of her novels, The Secret of Lies, and really enjoyed it. So I was looking forward to reading her latest work. I have to say I was not disappointed.
Ms. Abate has a gift for navigating the emotional terrain of her female protagonists. In her latest work, the lead character, Cat, must overcome a terrible childhood that left her and her sister orphans and delivered them into the hands of adoptive parents that had no business taking care of children. But despite losing her parents, being brought up in a household where she was treated more like an indentured servant than someone’s daughter, and eventually being left by her only living relative and sibling, Cat somehow manages to have hope. A thin straggly thread of hope—but hope none the less. And this tiny little seedling brings her love, marriage, and a home. And for a while, it is almost enough.
Much of the story is spent in Cat’s head. At the beginning, it felt too all-consuming for me. I was immediately burdened with her feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear with no back story of why she carried all of this. But as I started to learn about her past and the present events began to unfold, I needed to see her through. I needed to know what would come of her.
Cat’s desire to forget her past and reinvent herself brings her to the brink of her own destruction. Although she finds love, she is unable to present herself honestly to the one person she so desperately needs—her husband. She is consumed by her lies, her loneliness, and her memories which all threaten to shatter her fragile existence. Inevitably, Cat’s world does come crashing in on her. But just when you think all hope is lost, there it is—somehow, somewhere, a smoldering ember willing itself to burn.
This is no casual stroll down memory lane, nor is it a feel good love will save the day romance. This is a painful walk over hot coals and shards of glass. This is a story about broken people surviving broken lives and struggling to salvage the pieces with the hope of make something new…different…better.
I vacillated between giving this book a three or four star rating. Ideally, I would've given it a 3 and a half, only because in the beginning I felt somewhat burdened by Cat's thoughts when I didn't quite know her yet. As I learned more about her, I needed to see how it ended.
Ms. Abate has a gift for navigating the emotional terrain of her female protagonists. In her latest work, the lead character, Cat, must overcome a terrible childhood that left her and her sister orphans and delivered them into the hands of adoptive parents that had no business taking care of children. But despite losing her parents, being brought up in a household where she was treated more like an indentured servant than someone’s daughter, and eventually being left by her only living relative and sibling, Cat somehow manages to have hope. A thin straggly thread of hope—but hope none the less. And this tiny little seedling brings her love, marriage, and a home. And for a while, it is almost enough.
Much of the story is spent in Cat’s head. At the beginning, it felt too all-consuming for me. I was immediately burdened with her feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear with no back story of why she carried all of this. But as I started to learn about her past and the present events began to unfold, I needed to see her through. I needed to know what would come of her.
Cat’s desire to forget her past and reinvent herself brings her to the brink of her own destruction. Although she finds love, she is unable to present herself honestly to the one person she so desperately needs—her husband. She is consumed by her lies, her loneliness, and her memories which all threaten to shatter her fragile existence. Inevitably, Cat’s world does come crashing in on her. But just when you think all hope is lost, there it is—somehow, somewhere, a smoldering ember willing itself to burn.
This is no casual stroll down memory lane, nor is it a feel good love will save the day romance. This is a painful walk over hot coals and shards of glass. This is a story about broken people surviving broken lives and struggling to salvage the pieces with the hope of make something new…different…better.
I vacillated between giving this book a three or four star rating. Ideally, I would've given it a 3 and a half, only because in the beginning I felt somewhat burdened by Cat's thoughts when I didn't quite know her yet. As I learned more about her, I needed to see how it ended.
May 21, 2015
Painted From Memories is a very melancholy read. The main protagonist has had something very traumatic happen in her childhood and she has secreted it away from everyone. She hides it even from the man she desperately loves fearing it will turn him away from her.
Much of the story is written as her reflections and thoughts on things and her musings on the past. This is how we discover what terrible things happened to create the fractured person she is today. Every day she lives she seems to be waiting for something awful to happen.
The house that Cat and her husband Gray live in seem to be a reflection of her emotional state. It is in poor condition and barely holding together. There are secrets in the house that have been left there. You can feel them in the rooms and in the junk that has been left behind by the previous owners.
The author has a way of making you feel what Cat and Gray are feeling. I wanted to keep reading the book just to find out what the secret was that she was keeping from Gray even though I didn’t really like the melancholy feel to the story.
What I didn’t expect were the other secrets that were being kept. It makes a person wonder how a relationship can survive with so many lies, even if they are lies of omission. I wonder what would have happened if the truth had been discovered earlier.
I found the book to be rather long and wordy at times and wanted to skim parts to hurry up and get on with the story. It took me longer than usual to finish Painted From Memories than it normally takes to finish a book of this length as it was not a book I felt compelled to pick up and read.
I gave this book 3 stars out of 5 because of the author’s ability to reach the reader emotionally. Though I did not find this book compelling, I know that there are other readers out there who will.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion is not required. All thoughts are my own.
To read my complete review, visit Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Much of the story is written as her reflections and thoughts on things and her musings on the past. This is how we discover what terrible things happened to create the fractured person she is today. Every day she lives she seems to be waiting for something awful to happen.
The house that Cat and her husband Gray live in seem to be a reflection of her emotional state. It is in poor condition and barely holding together. There are secrets in the house that have been left there. You can feel them in the rooms and in the junk that has been left behind by the previous owners.
The author has a way of making you feel what Cat and Gray are feeling. I wanted to keep reading the book just to find out what the secret was that she was keeping from Gray even though I didn’t really like the melancholy feel to the story.
What I didn’t expect were the other secrets that were being kept. It makes a person wonder how a relationship can survive with so many lies, even if they are lies of omission. I wonder what would have happened if the truth had been discovered earlier.
I found the book to be rather long and wordy at times and wanted to skim parts to hurry up and get on with the story. It took me longer than usual to finish Painted From Memories than it normally takes to finish a book of this length as it was not a book I felt compelled to pick up and read.
I gave this book 3 stars out of 5 because of the author’s ability to reach the reader emotionally. Though I did not find this book compelling, I know that there are other readers out there who will.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion is not required. All thoughts are my own.
To read my complete review, visit Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
August 19, 2014
I was not sure what to expect with Painted From Memories but as I started reading I was thrilled with the detail that Barbara Forte Abate put into each and every paragraph. I could picture exactly what Cat and Gray were doing and what they were seeing. I could hear exactly what they were hearing. I am not sure that I have ever read a book that was a descriptive.
There are multiple storylines in this book. They intertwined perfectly. I enjoyed knowing Cat’s present and finding out about her past at the same time. The looks into her life living in foster care with her sister shows the reader the reasons that she is how she is as an adult. The things she had to deal with growing up are the reasons she is needy and scared a lot of the time. Without knowing these I believe Cat would have appeared weak and had not been a character that I enjoyed getting to know.
The emotions in this book pull the reader in, making them empathize with Cat and Gray. I felt like I was right in the situations with them and could feel what they were feeling. There is so much to this book that I have to recommend you read it. I can guarantee that you will not be able to put it down.
There are multiple storylines in this book. They intertwined perfectly. I enjoyed knowing Cat’s present and finding out about her past at the same time. The looks into her life living in foster care with her sister shows the reader the reasons that she is how she is as an adult. The things she had to deal with growing up are the reasons she is needy and scared a lot of the time. Without knowing these I believe Cat would have appeared weak and had not been a character that I enjoyed getting to know.
The emotions in this book pull the reader in, making them empathize with Cat and Gray. I felt like I was right in the situations with them and could feel what they were feeling. There is so much to this book that I have to recommend you read it. I can guarantee that you will not be able to put it down.
February 13, 2017
it was ok
thought this book was seriously vague and left too many unanswered questions. can be a trigger for victims of abuse
thought this book was seriously vague and left too many unanswered questions. can be a trigger for victims of abuse
November 30, 2014
The description of this book intrigued me; the rating was fairly high; it was free from Book Bub -- all together it sounded like a winning combination. In reality, the ONLY good thing about this book is it was free.
The writing is a huge negative for me. Descriptions are overdone to the extreme; almost every sentence has some odd simile and adjectives are all on steroids. The result is a book that doesn't flow, with writing that is extremely distracting.
The storyline is equally odd -- when I finally got to the end my first thought was, "What the heck was that all about?" Seriously, the plot (I use the term loosely) could probably be written in about 5 pages. And because there's no plot, the characters are unknowable, unlikeable, and undeveloped. I kept reading, naively believing something would happen; that the "plot" was building up to something. Nothing happened and the plot went nowhere.
All in all, an unsatisfying read. I gave it 2 stars simply because it isn't the absolute worst book I've ever read.
The writing is a huge negative for me. Descriptions are overdone to the extreme; almost every sentence has some odd simile and adjectives are all on steroids. The result is a book that doesn't flow, with writing that is extremely distracting.
The storyline is equally odd -- when I finally got to the end my first thought was, "What the heck was that all about?" Seriously, the plot (I use the term loosely) could probably be written in about 5 pages. And because there's no plot, the characters are unknowable, unlikeable, and undeveloped. I kept reading, naively believing something would happen; that the "plot" was building up to something. Nothing happened and the plot went nowhere.
All in all, an unsatisfying read. I gave it 2 stars simply because it isn't the absolute worst book I've ever read.
February 25, 2015
Barbara Forte Abate has written “Painted From Memories” with eloquent prose. She has created a vivid story with an engaging heroine. Barbara has a gift for painting a picture with her words. She draws you into each scene. You see and feel with her characters. You care about them.
The story unfolds from the voice of Catherine (Cat) who is haunted by memories of a deeply dysfunctional childhood. Cat falls madly in love with Grayson Barnett and begins a new life with him. She doesn’t want her tainted past to be part of her future. She decides to keep her dark secrets from him with dire consequences. The decision threatens her mental health. And it turns out that Gray has secrets of his own.
“Painted From Memories” is a deeply satisfying read. It explores our experiences of love and loss within relationship. It will expand your perspective on life. The story will linger long after you finish the book. Kudos, Barbara, for a compelling read!
The story unfolds from the voice of Catherine (Cat) who is haunted by memories of a deeply dysfunctional childhood. Cat falls madly in love with Grayson Barnett and begins a new life with him. She doesn’t want her tainted past to be part of her future. She decides to keep her dark secrets from him with dire consequences. The decision threatens her mental health. And it turns out that Gray has secrets of his own.
“Painted From Memories” is a deeply satisfying read. It explores our experiences of love and loss within relationship. It will expand your perspective on life. The story will linger long after you finish the book. Kudos, Barbara, for a compelling read!
December 28, 2016
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program for an open an honest review. My comments seem to be in the same vein as many others in that there was excessively descriptive writing. The author had some really beautiful descriptions throughout the book, however they would have been more meaningful if they were fewer and farther between. Especially towards the end of the book, I felt that I was getting drawn into the story and the book was more plot-driven which made for a better read (perhaps this indicates that the first 2/3 of the book could have been condensed).
Aside from a bit too much of the "flowery" writing, I really enjoyed the story and would definitely be interested in seeing more of Abate's work.
Aside from a bit too much of the "flowery" writing, I really enjoyed the story and would definitely be interested in seeing more of Abate's work.
July 12, 2014
Catherine is marrying Grayson, a man who loves her madly. She believes him but can she ever tell him the truth? She is keeping secrets, will the lies tear them apart when they surface? Follow Cat and Gray from Georgia to Maine. This is a great story and will keep you glued to each page to find out what happens next. The author has a way of making you feel the emotions and the settings in the story. When Cat describes the house in the woods, you feel as if you were standing with her looking at it too. This is a first for me by Barbara Forte Abate and I really enjoyed it and looking forward to reading more from her.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.
**Copy provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.
June 25, 2015
I agree with others on the descriptions being too much and pulling you out of the story. Several times I had to re-read sentences because there was so much additional description I became lost at trying to figure out what had actually happened. "Sharp needles of uncertain excitement prickle her armpits and dart along the perimeter of her scalp when he turns the wheel sharply and swings the truck onto the hard-packed dirt drive". That sentence alone isn't complicated, but that each sentence is like this I begin to ask myself, 'wait, what just happened to her armpits and head?' This was my stopping point. My apologizes to the author, perhaps I am just too simple-minded for her writing.
January 10, 2015
This book was a complete waste of time. It's written in a way that is beautiful, but far too complicated for a story this thin. Actually, there isn't much of a story at all. Not until 45% into the book does anything really happen, and it can easily be skimmed to the last 20% without missing anything. In fact, I think 70% of this book could easily be overlooked as repetitive fluff that does nothing to drive this story forward. As if that wasn't enough, the characters, especially the main one, are so flat and unlikeable. Skip this.
May 10, 2016
This is a difficult book for me to review.
Overall I liked the story development between Cat and Grayson. There are many twists and turns which surprised me because I wasn't expecting them. The book is well written but at times very slow moving. Because of the surprises it kept me reading. Both of the main characters, Cat and Grayson, are complex and I think that is because they don't share much with each other. As a reader, I don't feel I got to know them well.
Most readers will find this book enjoyable and I would like to read another by this author.
Overall I liked the story development between Cat and Grayson. There are many twists and turns which surprised me because I wasn't expecting them. The book is well written but at times very slow moving. Because of the surprises it kept me reading. Both of the main characters, Cat and Grayson, are complex and I think that is because they don't share much with each other. As a reader, I don't feel I got to know them well.
Most readers will find this book enjoyable and I would like to read another by this author.
September 13, 2016
I am the very lucky winner of this book from Goodreads Book Giveaways! Not only author signed, but signed personally to me!
I don't know who could read this story and not reflect on their own past. It is heart-aching to think that growing up in Cat's, Gray's or Rance's childhood can actually be a reality. Barbara Forte Abate portrays this reality through the characters in her story who silently suffer until they reach the point where they find themselves capable of moving on. Eloquently written, Painted From Memories will leave you wanting more from this gifted writer.
I don't know who could read this story and not reflect on their own past. It is heart-aching to think that growing up in Cat's, Gray's or Rance's childhood can actually be a reality. Barbara Forte Abate portrays this reality through the characters in her story who silently suffer until they reach the point where they find themselves capable of moving on. Eloquently written, Painted From Memories will leave you wanting more from this gifted writer.
November 17, 2014
I had never heard of Barbara Forte Abate until I saw her book on Goodreads and entered to win it. I did win it and Barbara autographed it and also included some swag. I was very impressed with the book. It was contemporary but it had happiness, sadness and a lot of other emotions. There was mystery and secrets in it. I really enjoyed it and I do plan on reading more of her books. It was well worth the time it took to read it.
November 16, 2014
Although the story was ok the author takes an awfully long time to get her point across. The story line jumps all over the place. As a reader I wanted to reach out and grab Cat the main character and shake her by the shoulders for being so stubborn and stupid. Just not realistic enough for me I guess.
November 10, 2014
Intense story of painful, abusive childhoods and how they affect young, struggling, adults. This tale was hard to keep up with since much of it dealt with fractured memories and fear. I couldn't stop reading, however. I'm glad I finished it - I found it worthwhile, though still with unresolved memories and losses.
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