Title: The Color of Pain
Author: Melisa E. Arnold
Publisher: Reading Glass Books
ISBN: 979-8894791166
Pages: 320
Genre: Fiction / Drama
Reviewer: Barbara Miller
Hollywood Book Reviews
Cultural differences, namely between life in Belize and England are incorporated into a deeply woven character-driven book by author Melisa E. Arnold in her novel The Color of Pain. A narrative which moves between moments of warmth, periods of deep turmoil, romance, hardship and social reflection, Arnold crafted a book mirroring the unpredictable nature of real life. This will have a profound effect on all readers, which is exactly what a book of this genre should achieve.
The book centers around a driven mother, Cathlean, with her son Alexander, often called Alex, creating a life in Belize. Cathlean meets John, a British soldier and the three of them eventually establish a life together in England. What appears to be a straightforward tale of reinvention soon unfolds into a far broader story about identity, loyalty and the long-lasting effects of personal choices.
Alex experiences the thrills and uncertainties of young love in a coming-of-age relationship with Sherrette, known simply as Sherr, which captures much of the excitement and vulnerability of teenage romance. Geography also moves between England and British Honduras, playing an important role in shaping the narrative by illustrating the cultural backgrounds and how it shapes the characters’ lives. Arnold’s writing style is very emotionally perceptive yet accessible, showing the characters’ inner conflicts in a way which explains their questionable decisions. As suggested in the title, pain proves especially fitting as the story unfolds, being portrayed not as a single emotion but a spectrum of feelings manifesting in different forms across relationships. The mixture of feelings between John and Cathlean, and later with Alex bringing in his teenage romance with Sherr are all woven into authentic and credible ways.
The Color of Pain is ideal for readers who enjoy love stories, especially those with excellently developed characters and exotic locations. It has the elements of Alex’s coming-of-age romance with Sherr, along with the aspirations of Cathlean’s maternal determination coupled with John’s interactions to both Cathlean and Alex. All-in-all it’s a romance novel which won’t be forgotten in readers’ minds for a long time. From moments of devastating loss to unexpected hope, Arnold captures the emotional truths that connect us all.