Happy Wednesday, My Lovelies! How is your week progressing so far? This week I'm sharing a special What I'm Reading Wednesday Post featuring Barbara O'Neal's latest novel Memories of the Lost. I have read almost all of her novels, and you might remember my review of The Place of Wonder HERE.
About Memories of the Lost:
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (July 30, 2024)
Hardcover: 285 pages
According to Goodreads:
An unsuspecting artist uncovers her late mother’s secrets and unravels her own hidden past in a beguiling novel by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.
Months after her mother passes away, artist Tillie Morrisey sees a painting in a gallery that leaves her inexplicably lightheaded and unsteady. When a handsome stranger comes to her aid, their connection is so immediate it seems fated, though Liam is only visiting for a few days.
Working on her own art has always been a refuge, but after discovering a document among her mother’s belongings that suggests Tillie’s life has been a lie, she begins to suffer from a series of fugue states, with memories surfacing that she isn’t even sure are her own. As her confusion and grief mount, and prompted by a lead on the painting that started it all, Tillie heads to a seaside village in England. There, she hopes to discover the source of her uncanny inspirations, sort out her feelings about Liam, and unravel truths that her mother kept hidden for decades.
The fluidity of memory, empowering strength of character, beauty of nature, and love of family braid together in this artful tapestry of a novel.
My Review:
Although this novel isn't very long, there is a lot of depth to the characters and plot. It's categorized as women's fiction, yet it's also a romance, mystery, and there is definitely an element of magical realism because of the cosmic force bringing the main characters Tillie and Liam together at a critical time in both of their lives. Their "meet cute" is during a stormy night in New York City: Millie is rushing to her best friend's opening night reception, and Liam sees her help a homeless woman by giving away her umbrella. This scene compels him to go meet this kind, generous woman. At the show, she is drawn to the painting of a house (not painted by her friend), and it causes her to get a terrible migraine. Liam, owner of a popular meditation app, helps her through it and both are strongly and inexplicably drawn to each other.
Tillie, also an artist, paints scenes from visions and dreams she's experienced for most of her life. Grieving over her recently deceased mother, her visions and migraines increase in frequency and intensity especially due to the mysterious painting from the show. She starts to believe that perhaps her visions are repressed memories, and while cleaning out her mother's belongings from her Upstate New York farmhouse, Tillie discovers shocking documents and ephemera. As she and Liam quickly become closer in their relationship, her mental health worsens at the same fast pace. Unfortunately he has business commitments in Europe and leaves her at her most vulnerable. Soon after Liam's departure, Tillie hears from the artist who painted the house that precipitated her downward spiral and learns that the house is located on the northern coast of Devon. She doesn't hesitate to follow this lead and leaves for England.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but there is a dual storyline. They are brilliantly woven together enabling the reader to be empathetic to all the characters and their challenges. Most are searching, and many are spiritual in a New Age hippie kind of way. The mystery is wrapped-up rather well, and the ending is more than satisfying. If you enjoy fiction featuring family mysteries and secrets, strong female characters, and psychological elements that keep you thoroughly engrossed in the story, then you should love Memories of the Lost. It is my favorite of O'Neal's novels.
DISCLOSURE: I received a softcover copy of Memories of the Lost from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank-you! I truly loved it!
Have you read any good books so far this summer?
Until next time...
Happy reading!
Ricki Jill
Sounds like a very good ready. Have a great week. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thorough and honest review. I'm not familiar with this author, I will be checking her out!
ReplyDeleteJenna from the Painted Apron
I always appreciate your book reviews. :-)
ReplyDelete