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8 reviews

The Memory Painter: A Novel

by Gwendolyn Womack

Published: 2015-04-28
Hardcover : 336 pages

8 members reading this now
8 clubs reading this now
4 members have read this book

Recommended to book clubs by 7 of 8 members

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Introduction

What if there was a drug that could help you remember past lives?
What if the lives you remembered could lead you to your one true love?
What if you learned that, for thousands of years, a deadly enemy had conspired to keep the two of you apart?

Bryan Pierce is an internationally famous artist whose paintings have dazzled the world. But there's a secret to his success: Every canvas is inspired by an unusually vivid dream. When Bryan awakes, he possesses extraordinary new skills...like the ability to speak obscure languages and an inexplicable genius for chess. All his life, he has wondered if his dreams are recollections, if he is re-experiencing other people's lives.

Linz Jacobs is a brilliant neurogeneticist, absorbed in decoding the genes that help the brain make memories, until she is confronted with an exact rendering of a recurring nightmare at one of Bryan's shows. She tracks down the elusive artist, and their meeting triggers Bryan's most powerful dream yet: visions of a team of scientists who, on the verge of discovering a cure for Alzheimer's, died in a lab explosion decades ago.

As Bryan becomes obsessed with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the scientists' deaths, his dreams begin to reveal what happened at the lab, as well as a deeper mystery that may lead all the way to ancient Egypt. Together, Bryan and Linz start to discern a pattern. But a deadly enemy watches their every move, and he will stop at nothing to ensure that the past stays buried.

A taut thriller and a timeless love story spanning six continents and 10,000 years of history, The Memory Painter by Gwendolyn Womack is a riveting debut novel unlike any you've ever read.

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

ONE

The paintings hung in the dark like ghosts. Too many to count—not an inch of wall space remained. The canvas eyes looked alive in the darkness, staring at their surroundings as if wondering what alchemy had transported them to this place. ...

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Discussion Questions

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Weblinks

»	Reading Guide
»	Author's web site
»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Book Trailer
»	Library Journal Q&A
»	Q&A with Paste Magazine

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

No notes at this time.

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 7 of 8 members.

Don't do it

by faye2020 (see profile) 08/16/15

Waist of time

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"Fantastic story and great characters"by Tracey K. (see profile) 05/22/22

This was such a fun book to read!! I was captivated the entire time. Although there are many characters through time the author did a great job of making it logical to follow. Would highly recommend and... (read more)

"different"by Suzanne s. (see profile) 11/10/16

A book with many layers and it keeps you guessing

by Carol P. (see profile) 12/11/15

by Bonnie R. (see profile) 12/10/15

"Loved the Walk into History"by Nancy B. (see profile) 11/06/15

I am always amazed when I read a book thinking I am going to be get one type of story and receive something completely different. This story had a bit of everything -- mystery, romance, hi
... (read more)

"Who What When Where and Why?"by Faye C. (see profile) 08/16/15

I would have enjoyed fewer characters with better development of each. A lot of research was done to prepare for this book. I would have enjoyed knowing more are fewer cultures. Transition from one event... (read more)

"Memory Painter"by Carene O. (see profile) 07/10/15

I really liked this book, but I had the luxury of reading it over only a couple of days. I imagine that if you tried to read just a little at a time, it would be very hard to follow, as it jumps around... (read more)

"This book is hard to put down!"by Gail R. (see profile) 04/05/15

When the story begins, a famous painter, Bryan Pierce, is having a “dream”. When he awakens, in a trance, he begins to paint. This has been a recurring event in his life causing him grea... (read more)

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