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The Painter
Life can be complicated for a liar and fake artist. As a university art student in 1992, Andy has stealing bits and pieces from other works down to a science. His deception is rooted so deep within himself, he's even beginning to believe his own lies. When Andy meets Henry, an actual artist, his life tumbles farther down the rabbit hole. Henry lives in the shadows of Athens, Georgia, unable to face humanity for his own dark reasons. When the two join forces, Henry gives Andy the keys to the art kingdom, a move which will alter both of their lives. As Andy and Henry's duplicity takes form, an eclectic cast of characters add to the deceptive backdrop Andy is creating with his lies. A girlfriend and her roommate, a musical bartender, a blind man and a crazy beatnik all take shape in Andy's colorful life. Within a story of love, laughter, hangovers and lies, Andy must decide between the life he's painted using someone else's brush, or finding his true self within the gray.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2015
9 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 6, 2016
I never really felt connected to the characters but kept reading because the references to Athens amused me. Any novel that talks about the transition of Shrimp Boat to China Boat and dipping pennies in Guthrie's sauce is worth a read. It was fun to read about Athens and UGA in the 1990's since that is when I was actually going to the bars.
December 28, 2015
A funky stroll through an eclectic rock’n’roll town
Reading this book is like taking a walk through that funky Southern town, Athens, GA. A town known for 80s bands the B-52s and R.E.M., it has developed into an arts hotbed. The music scene is still thriving and artists of all varieties long ago joined the party. The town may be small, but it has the cultural assets of a big city, which is what makes it so unique, so loved, so special.
In this story set in Athens we meet Andy who struggles with a past he can barely admit to himself. He wants to be something he's not; a visual artist. Paintings live and breathe to him, but he doesn’t think much of his own efforts to create them. So he lies, fabricates, pretends. As the novel begins, he happens into an artist who doesn't want to be the face of his own art -- Henry -- and the two make a matched set. Together, with Andy as the face of the art and Henry as the maker, things seem to be going tickety-boo.
The journey takes us to football games, university classes, drinking to excess, and experimentation that come with coming of age. Oh, we can’t forget love: Andy meets Grayson, a girl who shares his tendency toward excess and he wonders if he’s found his partner for life.
Andy’s development as an artist culminates in a touching sequence on how to communicate the colour red. Although the final reveal of this sequence is disappointing, we are rooting for Andy every step of the way.
What this book does well is give us characters and moments that sparkle. Henry is a study in the gruff softy with an artistic focus that can’t be broken. Ruby, who comes later in the book, is painted with a few swift strokes that burst with energy.
The writing itself is at times cheeky, truthful and surprising, "It smelled like grandmas and funky old gas stations"; or playful, "She locked the door and dropped her towel and the next twenty-five minutes have been censored from this edition..."
The storyline itself is character based, quirky in its trajectory, surprising in some of its dead ends and destinations.
And yet...
The central struggle of the main character is his tendency to lie…. Now, it's an interesting thing we do, lying. We do it to save ourselves from shame, keep from admitting our disappointing behaviour, errors, fatal flaws, mis-judgements. Thus, the questions: What defines a lie, when does a “white lie” cross into the harm zone? How are we all lying to ourselves, to others? How far can a lie be taken before it has gone too far? Can a lie ever become the truth? In a world where everyone seems to be lying to us ("Your call is important to us!") how and why do our little lies matter? So, it's definitely a theme worth exploring. But in this book, these or other questions aren't raised. No exploration, consideration is done. Because of that, the book didn’t satisfy this reader.
Also, although the writing at times sings, it lacks consistency. In some stretches, particularly the drinking scenes, we are left wondering if this is more memoir than novel, as the shards we're shown seem too haphazardly lifelike, lacking meaning or connections.
Athens may be the setting, but anyone not familiar with the town will need to Google the local references, as many are not described. Rock’n’roll aficionados may know 40 Watt Club, but probably not The Engine Room (now closed)? Some of the bars seem to be chosen because… well… because they were there.
And yet… the story is also a bit like popcorn, quick and easy to digest. It is quirky, eclectic, Southern fun.
This book could be an enjoyable read to those interested in walking the streets of a funky town, returning to the freedom of university student-dom, getting a smoking or drinking contact high, or of course, for Athens townies who enjoy seeing themselves reflected in the arena of fiction.
Reading this book is like taking a walk through that funky Southern town, Athens, GA. A town known for 80s bands the B-52s and R.E.M., it has developed into an arts hotbed. The music scene is still thriving and artists of all varieties long ago joined the party. The town may be small, but it has the cultural assets of a big city, which is what makes it so unique, so loved, so special.
In this story set in Athens we meet Andy who struggles with a past he can barely admit to himself. He wants to be something he's not; a visual artist. Paintings live and breathe to him, but he doesn’t think much of his own efforts to create them. So he lies, fabricates, pretends. As the novel begins, he happens into an artist who doesn't want to be the face of his own art -- Henry -- and the two make a matched set. Together, with Andy as the face of the art and Henry as the maker, things seem to be going tickety-boo.
The journey takes us to football games, university classes, drinking to excess, and experimentation that come with coming of age. Oh, we can’t forget love: Andy meets Grayson, a girl who shares his tendency toward excess and he wonders if he’s found his partner for life.
Andy’s development as an artist culminates in a touching sequence on how to communicate the colour red. Although the final reveal of this sequence is disappointing, we are rooting for Andy every step of the way.
What this book does well is give us characters and moments that sparkle. Henry is a study in the gruff softy with an artistic focus that can’t be broken. Ruby, who comes later in the book, is painted with a few swift strokes that burst with energy.
The writing itself is at times cheeky, truthful and surprising, "It smelled like grandmas and funky old gas stations"; or playful, "She locked the door and dropped her towel and the next twenty-five minutes have been censored from this edition..."
The storyline itself is character based, quirky in its trajectory, surprising in some of its dead ends and destinations.
And yet...
The central struggle of the main character is his tendency to lie…. Now, it's an interesting thing we do, lying. We do it to save ourselves from shame, keep from admitting our disappointing behaviour, errors, fatal flaws, mis-judgements. Thus, the questions: What defines a lie, when does a “white lie” cross into the harm zone? How are we all lying to ourselves, to others? How far can a lie be taken before it has gone too far? Can a lie ever become the truth? In a world where everyone seems to be lying to us ("Your call is important to us!") how and why do our little lies matter? So, it's definitely a theme worth exploring. But in this book, these or other questions aren't raised. No exploration, consideration is done. Because of that, the book didn’t satisfy this reader.
Also, although the writing at times sings, it lacks consistency. In some stretches, particularly the drinking scenes, we are left wondering if this is more memoir than novel, as the shards we're shown seem too haphazardly lifelike, lacking meaning or connections.
Athens may be the setting, but anyone not familiar with the town will need to Google the local references, as many are not described. Rock’n’roll aficionados may know 40 Watt Club, but probably not The Engine Room (now closed)? Some of the bars seem to be chosen because… well… because they were there.
And yet… the story is also a bit like popcorn, quick and easy to digest. It is quirky, eclectic, Southern fun.
This book could be an enjoyable read to those interested in walking the streets of a funky town, returning to the freedom of university student-dom, getting a smoking or drinking contact high, or of course, for Athens townies who enjoy seeing themselves reflected in the arena of fiction.
November 21, 2015
Tremendous. An honest and startlingly bold story, with excellent pacing. Seemingly unconnected themes come together late in the book in a way that makes you shake your head. A true story of redemption. One of my favorite books of the year.
Want to read
October 30, 2015Rec'd by Colleen Hoover
May 3, 2018
When I was half way done with this book, I started trying to figure out how I wanted it to end. I decided I wanted Henry to be ok being out to the world, and I wanted Grayson to forgive.
You see Andy's world is made up of lies. Not hurtful lies, just lies. He lies and tells everyone that Henry's art is his. Hernry wants him to. Unfortunately that means lying to Grayson.
Andy has such a big heart and connects so deeply with everyone. His love with Greyson is on another planet. He is sweet to a mentally handicapped man, he tries to help a blind man see red.
As the book comes closer to it's end and Andy realizes he loves to act, and Henry comes out of his shell, I realize that I'm not going to get my perfect ending.
The ending made me feel like you do the moment you know you'll never see someone again. Shaky and sick in the stomach, yet foolish for feeling that way. I still love the book regardless of it ripping a hole in my heart.
You see Andy's world is made up of lies. Not hurtful lies, just lies. He lies and tells everyone that Henry's art is his. Hernry wants him to. Unfortunately that means lying to Grayson.
Andy has such a big heart and connects so deeply with everyone. His love with Greyson is on another planet. He is sweet to a mentally handicapped man, he tries to help a blind man see red.
As the book comes closer to it's end and Andy realizes he loves to act, and Henry comes out of his shell, I realize that I'm not going to get my perfect ending.
The ending made me feel like you do the moment you know you'll never see someone again. Shaky and sick in the stomach, yet foolish for feeling that way. I still love the book regardless of it ripping a hole in my heart.
January 3, 2025
wow
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I loved these characters so much. The writing reminded me so much of Kurt Vonnegut, and his crazy casts of characters. I feel like these people are real and I. Wish them well. I wish there was a part two and a part three and a part for an a part five and I could keep reading about them forever.
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. I loved these characters so much. The writing reminded me so much of Kurt Vonnegut, and his crazy casts of characters. I feel like these people are real and I. Wish them well. I wish there was a part two and a part three and a part for an a part five and I could keep reading about them forever.
March 4, 2017
Loved reading about Athens in the 90's. Couldn't put this one down!
November 27, 2015
I enjoyed this tale of a very untalented art major at university who is persuaded to present an exceptionally talented painters work as his own. There is a foray through his college life, his friends and his search for himself
November 26, 2015
unique plot
Fell in love with each character, couldn't put the book down. Quick ending. I didn't want it to be over.
Fell in love with each character, couldn't put the book down. Quick ending. I didn't want it to be over.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews