Jessie Leigh's Reviews > Blood Water Paint

I am not a verse novel person. I love poetry but often telling a story from beginning to end through that medium loses the impact and urgency, for me. I have a hard time consolidating the imagery into a plot and characters; it just gets lost in the words. Blood Water Paint is the exception. Joy McCullough paints a vibrantly realized Artemisia Gentileschi with obvious care. She reaches out from the page and will not be denied. Her voice is strong, identifiable, and angry. I loved the anger in this book and in Artemisia -- it's more than warranted. I can't believe I waited so long to read this. It is going to stay with me a long time.