Cave of the Painter’s Mind

Cave of the Painter’s Mind
Joe Dennis
Ringbolt Books
ISBN: 0-9772950-0-1
Fiction, Psychological Thriller
Reviewed by Qetesh

If you are looking for a metaphorical book that has unusual characters, intriguing plot twists and a killer ending that does not disappoint, you have stopped looking now.
Set in Iowa in 1993, this book is a personal journey that takes a deep look inside the insane mind of a painter. The writing is unique in perspective because it is a constant personal narrative of this man’s thoughts. Written in a stream of consciousness style; the prose rambles intelligently in a free form; yet brilliantly coherent manner that reminds me of the poetry of Virginia Woolf. You watch while the main character experiences multiple episodes of deja vu that begins to eat away at his grip on reality. He creates a series of paintings in the book that seem to hold keys that connect him to both his future and his past.
The book has gorgeous illustrations for each chapter that correspond to the mood or overall theme that the author is trying to convey through this character. It is dark, brooding, intelligent, metaphorical and gripping. Is he losing his mind because the love of his life left him? Is he losing his mind because his wife is running away from him? Who is the man in the black suit? These are just a few of the questions that he tries to unravel as he goes back and forth between lucidity and madness. This book is brilliant, it will change the way you see everything around you.