The tattoo artist

While fascinating and beautifully written, this book is a little darker than I'd expected. The main character, a New York artist in the 1920s, ends up being stranded on a remote South Pacific island for three decades and the story follows her as she adapts her outlook and art to her situation.

Much of the book takes place on Manhattan, but the heart of the story centers on the character's experiences on the island. The author's descriptions and explanations of the tattoos are very creative and moving.

I read this book in a rush, because although it's not what I'd call fast-paced, I was very quickly pulled into the character's world and was anxious to learn her story. Readers interested in the lives of artists will enjoy the passion in this novel.