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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Paintings: Love by Joe Trabocco is a moving exploration of the many forms love takes throughout a lifetime. Through a series of interconnected stories, Trabocco captures the quiet, often unspoken moments that define relationships, those fleeting instances of connection, longing, and endurance that linger long after they pass. The collection begins with Purples and Blues, a bittersweet tale of unfulfilled love that spans decades. Trabocco’s ability to articulate the ache of missed opportunities and the weight of unspoken feelings is masterful. The story’s refrain, “Purples and blues,” becomes a haunting reminder of the colors of love that never fade, even as time moves on. The Piano offers a tender portrayal of grief and the possibility of new beginnings. It is a story about making space for love after loss, and Trabocco handles the subject with grace and sensitivity. Each story is deeply ingrained in symbolism, imagery, repetition, metaphor, and allusion.
Paintings: Love is an introspective and poetic collection that explores themes of love, memory, and human connection through deeply emotional and reflective storytelling. It blends narrative with lyrical prose to evoke the universal experiences of longing, loss, and enduring relationships. Joe Trabocco’s ability to capture the essence of love is unparalleled. The afterwords that follow each story offer thoughtful reflections, inviting readers to see their own experiences mirrored in the text. The author reminds readers that love is not always grand or dramatic. Sometimes, it is found in the smallest moments—a glance, a touch, a shared memory. Readers of Mitch Albom and Rainer Maria Rilke won’t want to miss this book.
