The Memory Painter

By: Gwendolyn Womack

Narrated by: Will Damron

Two lovers who have traveled across time, a team of scientists at the cutting edge of memory research - a miracle drug that unlocks an ancient mystery....

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 wakes, 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 reexperiencing 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 is a riveting debut novel unlike any you've ever listened to.

©2015 Gwendolyn Womack (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Creative plot

Any additional comments?

The Memory Painter by Gwendolyn Womack has a great premise. An artist, Bryan, has been haunted his whole life with 'remembering' previous lives. He has no control over it, and goes into a fugue-like state where he paints a scene from that life. Interestingly he gains the skills of the individual - chess master level chess skills, fluency in the language, samurai fighting skills and so on. One day he meets Lyns, a specialist in brain chemistry and memory. He recognizes her as a soul he's been connected to repeatedly. She has had recurring nightmares about being put to death in 3rd century Rome. She is shocked when she see's Bryan's painting of that nightmare.

Over the course of the novel, Bryan tries to convince Lyns of their connection, but his most recent memories of he last life point to Lyns' father's involvement in his death, along with Lyns in her previous incarnation. The novel moves at a good clip and we see Bryan in various incarnations and Lyns as she tries to make sense of all the seemingly random connections with Bryan. The individual lives are interesting, eventually bringing the reader to ancient Egypt and the idea that there was once an advanced civilization whose knowledge was lost to later generations. The idea is well executed and based on the nature of the past lives connections, plot incidences that might otherwise feel coincidental or even 'deus ex machina" make sense in the context. The characters were distinct enough and there were enough twists and suspense to keep my engagement high. Then ending worked well, although it left enough open that I wonder if there will be a sequel.

I enjoyed the dips into history and the brushes with the famous. Womack knew her the individuals she based 'past lives' on as well as their settings and the history. Womack used myth well to pull the threads together. While not the literary event of the year, it was an entertaining read that was thought provoking. Over all I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced mystery based in science and in history.

its great!!!

The book was great and very interesting this should be made a movie the ending was mind blowing and the narrorators voice was very soothing 10/10 would recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Need more of this writer

What did you love best about The Memory Painter?

loved the way she made this story woven with personal histories through time. I've now read both of Ms. Womack books and can't wait for the next one. This book I did not want to end but wanted to know the ending. I believe those are the best books

What did you like best about this story?

several life times of history

Which scene was your favorite?

Egypt. This writer with the help of the reader can bring to life a scene.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I just liked the flow. Not to long in any place but moving at just the right pace.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next book!

Loved it

Really enjoyed this story and the giant plot twist towards the end. At this point I’ve read two of Womack’s book and haven’t been disappointed or bored.

LOVE

Love all of the stories written by Gwendolyn Womack. Can’t stop reading or listening. Looking forward to more.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

I love this book. I couldn't stop listening, staying up several nights until the wee hours of the morning. I am beyond impressed with the authors ability to weave history into this novel so thoroughly, and tie up all the stories into the conclusion. I enjoyed the magic of past lives, and how we reconnect with people.

best book in so many ways!

this book was quite captivating! loved it !
what an imagination the author has! I could listen to it again!!

Beautiful and haunting

Beautiful and haunting. Brilliant story-crafting and incredible detail to every character across the pages. I only wish the author would continue the story as there is so much more she could tell of the story! Here’s to the hope she’ll write a sequel or two. I can’t wait to read this again as I believe I will find little details I missed. Absolutely stunning. I am now a Gwendolyn Womack fan for life!!!

Captivating!

This book took me on a wild ride through time and space. I could not stop listening!

Incredible!

This book could help revolutionize the world as we all remember who we are. Much love and gratitude to this brilliant author and ancient soul.