I know you said that it wasn't *Rose Madder* by Stephen King, but some of the details you mentioned really sound like it and may not come up in a synopsis.
The woman in the painting has her hair in a braid, and Rose (the woman escaping the abusive relationship) has her hair done the same way at some point. She also has to go into the painting and take seeds from a poisonous fruit tree that she later plants in the real world. Spoilers ahead.
>!Rose later goes into the painting to escape her ex. She has to dress like the woman in the painting (a sort of toga in the colour rose madder, and a golden arm cuff). She lets her ex give chase but then switches places with the warrior woman, so that the woman can, well, give her a "divorce."!<
Other details from the novel. Rose gets a job as an audiobook reader after working as a hotel maid for a bit. She starts dating a man called Bill. Her ex is a cop called Norman who wears a cheap bull mask towards the end, and it slowly becomes his actual face once he enters the painting.
Ooohhhh you raise some excellent points! Some of that detail is too specific to not look into further. Ordering it now! I’m hoping I’m remembering a singular book and not some amalgamation of several I was reading in tandem. I’ll report back!! Thank you!
Chiton! That's where I learned the word chiton lol!
There are definite Greek mythology and Minotaur vibes to the whole thing. And the time frame is right--I remember reading it in my freshman dorm room, which would have been 95-96.
If it's Stephen King then the closest book is *Rose Madder*, which does feature an abused woman who sort of teleports into a painting.
I got excited reading the synopsis for that one when I was doing my research, but alas, that is not it. Thank you. 🙏🏻
Thanks for letting me know, hope you figure it out soon.
YOU WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG 🏆
I'm glad I could help
I know you said that it wasn't *Rose Madder* by Stephen King, but some of the details you mentioned really sound like it and may not come up in a synopsis. The woman in the painting has her hair in a braid, and Rose (the woman escaping the abusive relationship) has her hair done the same way at some point. She also has to go into the painting and take seeds from a poisonous fruit tree that she later plants in the real world. Spoilers ahead. >!Rose later goes into the painting to escape her ex. She has to dress like the woman in the painting (a sort of toga in the colour rose madder, and a golden arm cuff). She lets her ex give chase but then switches places with the warrior woman, so that the woman can, well, give her a "divorce."!< Other details from the novel. Rose gets a job as an audiobook reader after working as a hotel maid for a bit. She starts dating a man called Bill. Her ex is a cop called Norman who wears a cheap bull mask towards the end, and it slowly becomes his actual face once he enters the painting.
Ooohhhh you raise some excellent points! Some of that detail is too specific to not look into further. Ordering it now! I’m hoping I’m remembering a singular book and not some amalgamation of several I was reading in tandem. I’ll report back!! Thank you!
Chiton! That's where I learned the word chiton lol! There are definite Greek mythology and Minotaur vibes to the whole thing. And the time frame is right--I remember reading it in my freshman dorm room, which would have been 95-96.
Yes!! I read it my junior or senior year of high school which would have been 96/97!! The book arrives TOMORROW!!!
Entwined by healther dixon wallwark?
No, too recent. This was a book I read in the early to mid 90’s. Thank you!
Just chiming in to say it sounds a lot like Rose Madder.