Book Review: Painted Dresses by Patricia Hickman

Title: Painted Dresses
Author: Patricia Hickman
Publisher: WaterBrook Press, Colorado Springs
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 346
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7199-9
Genre: Christian fiction/literary

A failed wife travels to her father's home for his funeral and a somber family reunion. As Gaylen travels, she recalls memories of her deceased parents. She also dreads seeing her younger sister, Delia, whom Gaylen frequently considers as being not quite right in the head. Gaylen ponders how to use the inheritance their father left them to help Delia, who can't manage her own money well. Soon, however, this question takes the back burner.

Delia's most recent romantic relationship involved a married man. Gaylen takes Delia home one day to retrieve some items. The man's wife shows up to threaten Delia, who shouts back at the woman and shoots her with a gun Delia snuck out of Daddy's house. Delia refuses to explain things to the police, so Gaylen takes Delia to a remote family property so she can think what to do. Here, Gaylen discovers that a deceased aunt left some of her artwork to various family members and friends. As Gaylen and Delia travel the country to deliver this artwork, Gaylen begins to unravel secrets that provide better insight into her strange family and her own failures.

Painted Dresses, More Than a Title
The title of this book, Painted Dresses, might arouse your curiosity. But more importantly, it describes the most important object in this novel. The artwork Gaylen delivers are these actual dresses that her aunt has rescued at various times. She then dipped these dresses in paint and added designs, other embellishments, or background details and framed them. Aunt Amity didn't just choose any old dresses; she redeemed discarded dresses that held deep meaning for her family and friends.

These painted dresses, besides drawing interest, move the plot forward in several ways. First, they propel Gaylen physically on a quest to meet or reunite with different family members and friends. These encounters help her to find answers to the mysteries she grapples with. Secondly, the painted dresses also serve an important symbolic purpose. They represent redemption, reconciliation, closure. Therefore, Hickman uses these painted dresses skillfully both to move ahead her plot and drive home her message to readers in a fresh and memorable way.

Pacing and Character
Painted Dresses starts out with a slow pace and probably includes too much background information. However, as things started to happen, I gained interest in the story. Several plot lines unfold. Gaylen begins to understand and tolerate Delia better as they spend more time together. Gaylen unpacks the issues between her and her estranged husband. At the same time, she seeks answers for family secrets that have long haunted her.

Although several forces combine to carry this story, the characters are probably the most important aspect. I was surprised to find I didn't know how to feel about some of the characters. On one hand, Gaylen's husband, Braden, seems to be a rude and cold man, from some of the memories Gaylen recalls. Yet, as the story unfolds, we also see another side of Braden.

Likewise, Delia appears to be everything negative-obnoxious, immature, foolish, immoral. Yet we see that she is capable of love, at least to a limited degree. Another review has depicted Painted Dresses in a negative light for this kind of ambivalence. I, however, assume Hickman crafted her story this way on purpose.

I find it's always easy to have a judgmental spirit toward someone when I stand at a distance. But when I become more involved and invested with that person, understanding begins to take place. We may never develop a close friendship, and I may not ever admire that person; but when I begin to see things from her perspective, I can't criticize her as easily. I think this is somewhat the process that Gaylen undergoes as she spends so much time with her sister.

And the mixed picture of Braden adds authenticity to the story. Many couples that love each other deeply still hurt each other-say and do stupid things to each other. If Braden always did everything right, I'd suspect Gaylen, who narrates the story, is either a liar or a very stupid woman for allowing anything to separate them. But she's neither.

The Bottom Line for Painted Dresses
In the end, Hickman uses Painted Dresses to convey a story of redemption. I believe a great many women walk around feeling that they are broken. Perhaps they feel they carry pieces of broken relationships, families, marriages, or sexuality. I think Painted Dresses offers hope and encouragement for any of these women. A book that accomplishes such a feat in today's cultured deserves praise.