Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Blood Water Paint

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

32 reviews

kristenjiannotti's review

dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was a super fast read. Listened on audiobook and it was a harrowing tale inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi, who was an Italian painter in the Boroque period. I found the way this story was told to be absolutely fascinating, as Artemisia's tale was told through the lens of her late-mother's stories that Artemisia had remembered from childhood. These biblical stories of Susanna and Judith had fueled Artemisia's drive toward justice for herself and for women of her time period. It is absolutely inspiring. However, my only reason for a 4 star rating was the narrator Xe Sands. Sands was enjoyable to listen to, but the acting felt just a little bit too forced for me to be fully immersed in the story. I think if I would have read Blood Water Paint physically then this really could have been a five star read!

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bookishaddictions's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Blood Water Paint tells the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a historical Italian painter, through poetry and prose. I love historical fiction, but I normally don’t care for poetry; McCullough may have just changed my perspective though. Artemisia’s story is heartbreaking, and yet it speaks to the harsh truth that many women have faced. It considers the misogynistic beliefs of our past, but it offers advice and insight that are arguably still relevant today. We also get to experience some of history’s favorite subjects in a way rarely painted before. Artemisia’s courage and passion are inspiring, and McCullough’s poetry is a compelling compliment to the story. I would recommend snagging yourself a copy if possible; I found mine on @libby.app 🖌️

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