Welcome to Litsy!

1. This year has been a bit underwhelming so far, but the standouts have been the tagged narrative poem and The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
2. From this past holiday weekend

@eggs #wondrouswednesday

1600s-the story of Artemesia Gentilesche, a painter who had so many obstacles to cope with…
#SetInAnotherCentury #BookMoods @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

A very powerful novel in verse about a young woman whose father signs his own names to her painting. Someone who orders a commission then rapes her and she must debate bringing charges against him in a world where she doesn't have a voice.

This was a beautifully written story and the narrator did an excellent job, but the content was not always easy to read. I‘d like to know more about the real Artemesia Gentileschi - Im Going to have to do some research!

My #jolabokaflod gifts from my wife

Artemisia Gentileschi lost her mom at 12 and thus became a painter alongside her father in the 1600s. She underwent a heinous ordeal at age 17, novelized here in verse. The story is told so well, though it‘s wrenching. Content warnings under a spoiler tag below.

May reads read. For The Win kept up the tech corruption/ dystopian theme from Little Brother and brought in the new webblies.

The story of Artemisia Gentileschi told in poetry and prose.

I really had no idea what to expect when I started this one, but WOW. It was so good. I used to steer clear of books written in verse until I read The Poet X and realized that some books in verse are better than others. This one combines verse & prose and does it so well. This is the type of book that has me making a list of everyone I need to recommend it to!

Not my best month. SO close to #bookspinbingo I needed another week in November.
Tagged book was my favorite. Overall a pretty good month

4 ⭐
Blood, Water, Paint
An African In Greenland
Sissy
Red Island House

3 ⭐
Chestnut Man
Wind Up Bird Chronicles
Midnight @ The Bright Ideas Bookstore

2 ⭐
Mistress of Spices (what even was this)
Miss Benson's Beetle (one character ruined it all)
This Mournable Body (mourned my lost hours of reading)

I need to read more novels in verse this is my second this year and both blew me away on their impact.
I love how the mythology of Susanna and Judith are interwoven throughout the fictionalized take of the real Artemisia Gentileschi. Women who are often overlooked or their stories told from the men's POV.
This is a lyrical and rich story, and it had me googling to make sure I knew which paintings were actually hers.

Artemisia Gentileschi

Self portrait.

So many vivid imagery and rememberace of powerful paintings.

Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith.

Reading this and the story of Susanna is weaved throughout, this is the most famous painting of this story. Susanna and the Elders.

Wow, this book was so good. Heavy, but so good. It's a YA historical fiction novel in verse about a woman named Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th century painter who faced down a public trial to bring her rapist to justice. The story itself is powerful, but it has even more of an impact reading it in Joy McCullough's beautiful poetic voice.

Matching my outfit to my book like 👀
#oregonbattleofthebooks

Though forced to mix paint for her stern (painter) father, Artemisia shows an #incipient skill for oil painting and becomes a famous artist in the 17th century
#beautifulwords @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @OriginalCyn620

#libraryhaul

A stunning debut novel based on the true story of the iconic painter, Artemisia Gentileschi. Her mother died when she was twelve, and suddenly Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint. She was an artist in her own right in 17th century-her story is a powerful one. Above is her self-portrait. Recommend💖

Don't just stand there ... Applaud!

A spectacular debut.
A story that deserves to be told (and heard)
Definitely recommend.

Historically, Artemisia has been better known for her participation in the trial of her rapist, her former art teacher - a trial she won by the way. It's only recently that she's become renowned in her own right as an accomplished 17th century artist. Originally set as a play by the author, this book is set in verse. The format strips away sentiment without losing feeling. There's a raw essence to reading her story this way. An excellent read!

A biography in verse of Artemisia Gentileschi, a 17th century Italian painter apprenticed to her father. I love this point in #LMPBC because the book is starting to get full of notes from the group! On its way to you, @BookishThoughts

I‘m gonna preface this with saying I am such a bad person! I totally forgot to tell you @mklong that I sent this out to you last week, I hope you got it (the tracking said it‘s delivered).
This book was amazing and I can‘t wait to see what you think. So sorry I didn‘t post sooner!!!
#LMPBC #greatreads

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. All the stars. Heavy at times, but important & historical. Can‘t wait to read everyone‘s thoughts. I‘ll mail this out soon! #lmpbc @Bookishthoughts @HufflepuffGirl90 @mklong

Wow. This writing!!

These are selections I‘m considering for our poetry group! @Bookishthoughts @mklong @HufflepuffGirl90 Let me know if you‘ve read any, if one jumps out at you more than others, or if there‘s any you‘d rather not read. Then I‘ll narrow it down to a single choice lol! #lmpbc
I‘ll tag the other books in the comments

“Piazzas, churches
named for a teenager
who gave life to Christ.
Sculptures, paintings, frescoes
devoted to her holiness.
But the only thing about her we remember:
she was a virgin.”

Great words 🥰

This was a powerful and moving novel. The issues in this book were addressed both realistic and empathetically. I think what made this even more powerful is not only the fact that I listened to this as an audiobook but that this story took place during the 1700's which shows that sexual assault happened even back then and is ongoing thing today.

Currently listening

This book was not what I was expecting and I loved it! In this book artist Artemisia Gentileschi tells her story, of becoming a painter before and after her rape. It‘s told in verse form and it‘s beautiful. Artemisia‘s voice rings loud and clear in this novelization of her life and as an art historian I can confidently say that McCullough got her facts right. Add this to your #tbr list right now if it‘s not already on there. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. The story within a story format was interesting and well done. Being written in verse, it went rather quickly but was no less hard hitting. I didn‘t even realize it was historical until I read the Afterword. Highly recommend since it is still UNFORTUNATELY relevant in our society today. It does involve sensitive issues though.

#springintoreading #water

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Incredible story of artist Artemisia Gentileschi is told in alternating time lines, one in verse. I knew nothing of this artist before I read the book and I wish the book featured some of her art but it was still an excellent story that needs to be heard.

Intriguing story told in verse from perspective of famous artist Artemesia Gentileschi. Art history meets rape culture in 17th century Rome. While her voice might be awkwardly modern, the author does portray events with a keen accuracy.

A beautiful, creative portrayal of the painter Artemisia Gentileschi as a young woman in 1610. Told part in prose and part in free verse, it is a powerful little story and very original in structure. My first 5 star book of the year. 👩‍🎨

Joy McCullough's Blood Water Paint is stunning. Told (mostly) in verse, this novel focuses on Artemesia Gentileschi, a painting apprentice during the Renaissance in Italy . . . who really is the painter who makes a living for her family. McCullough focuses here on women: on Artemesia; on her mother (who speaks to her in prose with advice to help her survive the challenges she knows she will face because of her gender; ⠀ (continued in comments)

This book is absolutely gorgeous. Written in verse, it‘s a fictionalized account of the real life of 17th century painter Artemisia Gentileschi, woven together beautifully with the stories of two ancient heroines. It‘s about a rape and a woman who came forward, but it‘s also about strength, telling our stories, and believing women. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I likely won‘t get to the other #NewYearWhoDis books (dang holds), but I have really enjoyed this! ❤️

If there was only one award I could give out this year, and it's currently January, I would give it to Blood Water Paint. Joy McClough has done a great service to Artemisia Gentileschi with this story. My heart still aches.

This passage is exactly what you see/feel when comparing Artemisia Gentileschi's version of Susanna and the Elders with male artists before and after her.

I can't get over how good this book is so far. I hesitated when I learned it was in verse and billed as YA, but I'm so glad my interest overruled my initial concerns. Verse is perfect. And while the protagonist is YA in the story, this is not at all typical of the YA genre.

Talk about the depressing realization that women have been enduring the same experiences for a really long goddamn time.

This book is amazing. I learned so much about a female artist who lived hundreds of years before me, as well as stories of women from either further back I wasn‘t familiar with. This story is universal. I always value a reminder that there have been plenty of strong, brave women who came before me. I hope to be like them.

“The world will tell you not to be outraged, love. They will tell you to sit quietly, be kind. Be a lady.

And when they do? Be Judith instead.”

Amazing bit of art history! McCullough beautifully paints a portrait of Artemisia Gentileschi in verse and also manages to weave in biblical heroines Susanna and Judith. I knew nothing about Artemisia and now I‘m intrigued.

Labeling this YA means many readers who would otherwise enjoy McCullough‘s obvious labor of love will miss out. What constitutes “YA?” 🤔

Trigger warning for rape, but nonetheless is a testament to the power of women.

I started to listen to this on audio and then decided I need it on paper. It‘s quite good and I feel like verse, because each word is so carefully chosen and meaningful, needs a slower more reflective read. I am looking forward to it!

I‘m really excited about my #NewYearWhoDis reading list from @VeganCleopatra 😃

There were 12 on the list, but I‘ve read Circe (it was on my top books list, too)... here are the other 11. I either already have each of these or can get it from the library, so I‘m hoping to read them all in January.

Written with verse and every word counts. An incredible achievement. It‘s even more incredible to think this is the author‘s 10th novel and 1st published novel.

This book is worth waking up early for.