PAINT IT BLACK

Janet Fitch's first novel was WHITE OLEANDER, an Oprah selection. The perfectly paced chapters of her second novel seem written as much for the listener as for the reader. How many times can a 20 year old from the wrong side of the tracks whose lover has just killed himself begin again? In Fitch's skilled hand, there are infinite possibilities. No matter how many times Josie goes over pre-suicidal scenes, Fitch encapsulates them in imagery that neither bores nor frightens. Narrator Jen Taylor doesn't make tonal distinctions between a decrepit neighborhood and a Hollywood mansion; all hints of snottiness or desire are saved for the characters' thoughts and words. R.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 07]