Paint It Black

Paint It Black is a novel by Janet Fitch (White Oleander). It is a dark, depressing novel set in the 80s about a young woman whose boyfriend commits suicide. After his death, she learns about secrets that he kept from her, and forms a strange relationship with his mother. The two of them together, try to make sense out of the senseless act and forge forward with all they have left, each other.

This novel was artful, but gloomy. The main character, Josie, is deeply in love with her boyfriend. She is from the wrong side of town. He is from a rich family, but has written them off. He is trying to make his way as a struggling artist, trying to live a "real" life. When the depression gets the best of him, and he takes his life, Josie must go through the process of saying goodbye. His mother, who hated Josie, now clings to her as a last memento of her son's other life. And Josie clings right back, as his mother represents a last scrap of who her boyfriend was. The two woman form a very co-dependent relationship, each simply using the other for different reasons. Through the process, Josie learns of lies that her boyfriend told her and secrets that he kept from her, some of them very disturbing. As Josie moves through her process of grieving - laying blame, feeling anger and guilt - she has to decide whether she will move on, remain in this current state of mourning, or join her boyfriend. Through an unlikely source, she finally figures out which path to take.

This novel took some time to read, because I could only take so much at once. While it was a good book that delivered a message about living and dying, and I am glad that I read it, I don't know that I would recommend it. It was just too depressing. The novel's view on life was just too dismal. I really couldn't wait to be finished and move on to something lighter. This is a novel that makes it hard to even say...

Happy Reading!