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Pale Morning Light With Violet Swan: A Novel of a Life in Art
The story of a famous abstract painter at the end of her life—her family, her art, and the long-buried secrets that won’t stay hidden for much longer.
Ninety-three-year-old Violet Swan has spent a lifetime translating tragedy and hardship into art, becoming famous for her abstract paintings, which evoke tranquility, innocence, and joy. For nearly a century Violet has lived a peaceful, private life of painting on the coast of Oregon. The “business of Violet” is run by her only child, Francisco, and his wife, Penny. But shortly before Violet's death, an earthquake sets a series of events in motion, and her deeply hidden past begins to resurface. When her beloved grandson returns home with a family secret in tow, Violet is forced to come to terms with the life she left behind so long ago—a life her family knows nothing about.
A generational saga set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America and into the present day, Violet Swan is the story of a girl who escaped rural Georgia at fourteen during World War II, crossing the country alone and with no money. It is the story of how that girl met the man who would become her devoted husband, how she became a celebrated artist, and above all, how her life, inspired by nothing more than the way she imagines it to be, will turn out to be her greatest masterpiece.
Ninety-three-year-old Violet Swan has spent a lifetime translating tragedy and hardship into art, becoming famous for her abstract paintings, which evoke tranquility, innocence, and joy. For nearly a century Violet has lived a peaceful, private life of painting on the coast of Oregon. The “business of Violet” is run by her only child, Francisco, and his wife, Penny. But shortly before Violet's death, an earthquake sets a series of events in motion, and her deeply hidden past begins to resurface. When her beloved grandson returns home with a family secret in tow, Violet is forced to come to terms with the life she left behind so long ago—a life her family knows nothing about.
A generational saga set against the backdrop of twentieth-century America and into the present day, Violet Swan is the story of a girl who escaped rural Georgia at fourteen during World War II, crossing the country alone and with no money. It is the story of how that girl met the man who would become her devoted husband, how she became a celebrated artist, and above all, how her life, inspired by nothing more than the way she imagines it to be, will turn out to be her greatest masterpiece.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
90 people are currently reading
1129 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Reed
5 books199 followersDEBORAH REED is the author of seven novels, most recently Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan, and The Days When Birds Come Back, both published with Mariner, now an imprint of Harper Collins. Her novel, Things We Set On Fire, sold over 100,000 copies in the first six months, and another, Carry Yourself Back To Me, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick of the Year.
She has taught novel writing at the Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece, the UCLA extension program in Los Angeles, and was previously the co-director of the Black Forest Writing Seminars at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany. Until June of 2022, she was the owner of Cloud & Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon. She now lives and writes in Berlin. Her forthcoming novel will be announced soon.
She has taught novel writing at the Hellenic American University in Athens, Greece, the UCLA extension program in Los Angeles, and was previously the co-director of the Black Forest Writing Seminars at Albert-Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany. Until June of 2022, she was the owner of Cloud & Leaf Bookstore in Manzanita, Oregon. She now lives and writes in Berlin. Her forthcoming novel will be announced soon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
October 6, 2020
I enjoy slow, quiet novels and this was one of those although it begins with an earthquake, which certainly isn't quiet, when a house is moving, things are falling off the walls, furniture is shifting, and the body and mind are in an uproar. During the earthquake, we are with 95 year old Violet Swan, a renowned abstract artist, at the end of her days. While she is still on the floor of her loft, her mind goes back to the past, and later, she will revisit the past in her dreams, the retelling of her memories to her producer grandson, and in her art, her last masterpiece. Violet has secrets, about exactly how the fire started that caused the burns on half her body, about brutality to her body and soul, about where she came from and why she ran.
The arrival of her grandson, Daniel, to the home where Violet lives with her son Francisco and his wife Penny, is the catalyst for Violet to finally tell her secrets. Violet's art is known to evoke "tranquility, innocence, and joy". Even as a young Violet was struggling to survive day by day, with barely enough to eat, working long hours, wearing threadbare clothes, she knew she wanted to paint and spent every non working minute learning her art. She also had an address, all the way across the country, and she made it to that address and the man she would marry, after a hard four year journey.
In the background of this story are the sounds of the bird that bangs on her gutter, in Violet's last days, a sound that Violet enjoys, the sound of her old cat, the sound of her son and daughter in law arguing, and later the sound of her grandson Daniel and the sound of his surprise. And now there is going to be the sound of Violet telling her story as Daniel films a documentary about her and her life, in her loft, among her art supplies and paintings, in the place she most wants to be. There is a melancholy feeling to this story that leads into a sense of contentment, a gift from Violet, to her family, that I didn't expect.
Published Oct 6, 2020
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
The arrival of her grandson, Daniel, to the home where Violet lives with her son Francisco and his wife Penny, is the catalyst for Violet to finally tell her secrets. Violet's art is known to evoke "tranquility, innocence, and joy". Even as a young Violet was struggling to survive day by day, with barely enough to eat, working long hours, wearing threadbare clothes, she knew she wanted to paint and spent every non working minute learning her art. She also had an address, all the way across the country, and she made it to that address and the man she would marry, after a hard four year journey.
In the background of this story are the sounds of the bird that bangs on her gutter, in Violet's last days, a sound that Violet enjoys, the sound of her old cat, the sound of her son and daughter in law arguing, and later the sound of her grandson Daniel and the sound of his surprise. And now there is going to be the sound of Violet telling her story as Daniel films a documentary about her and her life, in her loft, among her art supplies and paintings, in the place she most wants to be. There is a melancholy feeling to this story that leads into a sense of contentment, a gift from Violet, to her family, that I didn't expect.
Published Oct 6, 2020
Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 28, 2020
3.5 stars
With prose that is by turns painterly and pedestrian, this novel tells the story of Violet Swan, a famous but reclusive abstract artist. Violet chose to live out her life on the coast of Oregon rather than moving to a big city where she would have been feted and fawned over by the arty cliques.
When we first meet Violet, she is in her nineties. She knows she is dying, but has shared her diagnosis with almost no one. She has been a secretive person all her life, partly out of heartache and partly out of shame and guilt. With death looming, she's ready to finally tell the story of who she was before she became Violet Swan, celebrated painter.
The novel alternates unevenly between past and present. It also alternates, maddeningly, among points of view. The portions that are told from Violet's point of view are written in a painterly and captivating fashion, giving us a glimpse of how an artist might see the world in terms of color and shape and beauty. We get tantalizing bits of her history woven in like teasers for what is to come when (almost) all is revealed in the final documentary.
Violet shares her house with her son Frank and daughter-in-law Penny. The portions told from their perspectives are frustrating and pedestrian. Frank and Penny are in their sixties, married a long time, and they don't much like each other any more. Their sniping is petty and repetitive, and these passages interfere with the momentum of the story. When their son Daniel arrives from Los Angeles with a big surprise, he injects new life into the household dynamic, and our characters start to re-examine their habitual ways of interacting with each other.
Through Violet's story, the secrets she kept and the life she built around those secrets, we see how easy it is to assume we know all we need to know about the people closest to us. It hurts our hearts when we discover that they didn't feel safe enough to tell us the things that wounded them most and shaped who they became. But the longer we keep a secret, the harder it is to break the silence. How can we be sure that another person's love is strong enough to withstand our grief and soothe our shame?
Review copy provided by the publisher through Net Galley. Thank you.
February 16, 2021
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the author for a chance to review this book.
The title of the book has an enchanted feeling. It made me think of dawn and the first light that creeps thru the windows and the feeling of tranquility or serenity on a good day. Pale Morning Light of Violet Swan transports a reader to that realm of absolute gratification, the writing so unhurried that it leaves us with contentment and bliss.
We meet Violet when she is 93 yrs. old, knowing that her days are numbered and along with Violet we begin a journey to her fire-eaten scarred hands and legs. Her life has always been about art and not about who she is. Extremely private, there are parts of her life that even her son is unaware of. Her grandson Daniel’s request for a documentary on her mysterious life has so far been unsuccessful but an earthquake opens up the fissures in her heart and the locks have been opened and the memories that Violet has kept hidden for decades refuse to be tied up again.
The story is in fact a celebration of life lived to the fullest in spite of the terrible losses and trauma that Violet has suffered. Her son Frank and his wife Penny are also at the crossroads of their life, years together creating such deep resentments that it has boiled over. Daniel returns to this place he has always been happy growing up with a life-altering secret that breathes a new beginning for everyone involved.
I loved Deborah Reed’s exploration of relationships especially motherhood and its varied forms thru Violet and Penny. The use of art and colors and the beauty of the nature by the author adds a bewitching quality to the whole story that some parts of it left me spell-bound. Another first-time author for me, I am so thrilled to have read and for the smile that this book left me with, I am rating it 5stars.
The title of the book has an enchanted feeling. It made me think of dawn and the first light that creeps thru the windows and the feeling of tranquility or serenity on a good day. Pale Morning Light of Violet Swan transports a reader to that realm of absolute gratification, the writing so unhurried that it leaves us with contentment and bliss.
We meet Violet when she is 93 yrs. old, knowing that her days are numbered and along with Violet we begin a journey to her fire-eaten scarred hands and legs. Her life has always been about art and not about who she is. Extremely private, there are parts of her life that even her son is unaware of. Her grandson Daniel’s request for a documentary on her mysterious life has so far been unsuccessful but an earthquake opens up the fissures in her heart and the locks have been opened and the memories that Violet has kept hidden for decades refuse to be tied up again.
The story is in fact a celebration of life lived to the fullest in spite of the terrible losses and trauma that Violet has suffered. Her son Frank and his wife Penny are also at the crossroads of their life, years together creating such deep resentments that it has boiled over. Daniel returns to this place he has always been happy growing up with a life-altering secret that breathes a new beginning for everyone involved.
I loved Deborah Reed’s exploration of relationships especially motherhood and its varied forms thru Violet and Penny. The use of art and colors and the beauty of the nature by the author adds a bewitching quality to the whole story that some parts of it left me spell-bound. Another first-time author for me, I am so thrilled to have read and for the smile that this book left me with, I am rating it 5stars.
June 15, 2020
Is the world asking too much of us?
Or are we trying to be all things to all people at all times?
Deborah Reed visits the pressing reality of what it means to be human. Flawed, prone to mistakes and misjudgments, misguided and existing in self-imposed stone, humans seem like they were never meant for this world. And nothing speaks more poignantly than the reflective voice of a ninety-three year old woman who has experienced life from all angles and all times.
Violet Swan sits in the upstairs art studio in a house that she's lived in most of her adult life. The Oregon coast has given her the impetus for the rise and fall of her abstract creations that have gained her notoriety in the art world throughout the years. But being renowned and being accepted didn't always come easy. Reed will take us back to Violet's early beginnings in Rockwood, Georgia and a house fire that will change her life and force her to take to the back roads at the tender age of fourteen. Violet's early years are the most fascinating in Pale Morning Light. Reed's talent is evident in the unveiling of her main character who is the draw and the vortex of swirling and unstable events in Pale Morning Light.
Fast forward to the present and we meet the members of Violet's family who seem to stand on shifting sand. Violet, true to her nature, passes no judgment on her son Frank and his wife Penny's daily altercations downstairs. Soon her beloved grandson, Daniel, arrives with a bruised soul and a life-changing secret. Pale Morning Light is deeply character driven. Perhaps we will see a reflection in these waters of long-kept secrets, the draw of being territorial, the refusal to see life from the other side of the road. I think that the best way to experience this novel is just to allow Deborah Reed to set you adrift in these waters of humanity. Rough, at times, but eventually calm and smooth as glass when giving in to release.
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and to Deborah Reed for the opportunity.
Or are we trying to be all things to all people at all times?
Deborah Reed visits the pressing reality of what it means to be human. Flawed, prone to mistakes and misjudgments, misguided and existing in self-imposed stone, humans seem like they were never meant for this world. And nothing speaks more poignantly than the reflective voice of a ninety-three year old woman who has experienced life from all angles and all times.
Violet Swan sits in the upstairs art studio in a house that she's lived in most of her adult life. The Oregon coast has given her the impetus for the rise and fall of her abstract creations that have gained her notoriety in the art world throughout the years. But being renowned and being accepted didn't always come easy. Reed will take us back to Violet's early beginnings in Rockwood, Georgia and a house fire that will change her life and force her to take to the back roads at the tender age of fourteen. Violet's early years are the most fascinating in Pale Morning Light. Reed's talent is evident in the unveiling of her main character who is the draw and the vortex of swirling and unstable events in Pale Morning Light.
Fast forward to the present and we meet the members of Violet's family who seem to stand on shifting sand. Violet, true to her nature, passes no judgment on her son Frank and his wife Penny's daily altercations downstairs. Soon her beloved grandson, Daniel, arrives with a bruised soul and a life-changing secret. Pale Morning Light is deeply character driven. Perhaps we will see a reflection in these waters of long-kept secrets, the draw of being territorial, the refusal to see life from the other side of the road. I think that the best way to experience this novel is just to allow Deborah Reed to set you adrift in these waters of humanity. Rough, at times, but eventually calm and smooth as glass when giving in to release.
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and to Deborah Reed for the opportunity.
October 28, 2020
Probably more like a 3.5/3.75, but rounding up for some seriously gorgeous writing. More thoughts to come.
May 8, 2020
*3.75 stars rounded up*
Many thanks to Net Galley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is an exploration of artist Violet Swan's life. The reader first meets 93-year-old Violet and is taken back through time to various points in her life. Constantly alternating between past and present, this book brings to life the many heartaches, hard times, and precious moments that occur during Violet's ninety three years. The novel also explores Violet's family (her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson) and provides an intimate look at their family dynamics.
Reed's characters are interesting and engaging. I felt extremely connected to Violet and loved hearing her story. I also enjoyed the connection to art and nature in this novel, which added a sense of beauty and peace even during the most difficult times.
Overall, a captivating read that would make for an excellent book club read/discussion.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is an exploration of artist Violet Swan's life. The reader first meets 93-year-old Violet and is taken back through time to various points in her life. Constantly alternating between past and present, this book brings to life the many heartaches, hard times, and precious moments that occur during Violet's ninety three years. The novel also explores Violet's family (her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson) and provides an intimate look at their family dynamics.
Reed's characters are interesting and engaging. I felt extremely connected to Violet and loved hearing her story. I also enjoyed the connection to art and nature in this novel, which added a sense of beauty and peace even during the most difficult times.
Overall, a captivating read that would make for an excellent book club read/discussion.
June 9, 2020
This story touches on the art of Violet Swan a bit, but mainly it's about the characters and their family dynamics. Violet at 93 is in failing health, but living in her loft studio her main focus is to finish more paintings before the end comes. Below her live her son Francisco and his wife Penny. When their son comes home to Oregon for a visit, he has a couple surprises for them, one being his intention to film a documentary of Violet's long, mysterious, fascinating life. Francisco has only bits of memories from his childhood, which will be clarified once the filming begins, and some are rather shocking.
Violet has been having flashbacks of her life as well, which are scattered throughout her normal activities, just like they would be in our thoughts as we go about our days. Presented in this way, it felt disjointed at first but soon I was caught up in her life as it is slowly, meticulously revealed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. Recommended to those who enjoy a slow burn of a character study.
Violet has been having flashbacks of her life as well, which are scattered throughout her normal activities, just like they would be in our thoughts as we go about our days. Presented in this way, it felt disjointed at first but soon I was caught up in her life as it is slowly, meticulously revealed.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. Recommended to those who enjoy a slow burn of a character study.
April 8, 2024
this is a moving story about a famous painter who is nearing the end of her long life. the story moves between past and present with beautiful language + descriptions of art, family life, & the complicated inner thoughts that make us human. the author was inspired by the artist agnes martin's life & writes about the emotional lives of her characters w/such nuance & compassion. it kept me absorbed in such a way that I finished it in two sittings and it hasn’t been far from my thoughts since. recommended.
April 9, 2020
Really enjoyed this one! For some reason I found reading about the life of Violet Swan and hearing perspectives from her son, grandson and daughter in law quite soothing. I enjoyed my moments with this book.
October 6, 2020
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for writing an impartial review. Scheduled publication - October 6, 2020.
The first thing I have to acknowledge is that I wanted to read this book because I recently began taking art lessons and thought a novel about an artist would coincide nicely with my budding interest. Unfortunately, despite this being a moderately short book (288 pages), it took me more than two weeks to finish it. That's because whenever I wanted to sit down and read, I just never felt like picking this one up. I simply didn't find the story very compelling.
At its center is Violet Swan -- a successful and still-working artist, an older widow, but in declining health. She lives on the West Coast near the ocean, on the second floor of a home with her 65 year old son, Frank, and daughter-in-law (Penny) below. Her closest relationship is with her grown grandson, Daniel, a filmmaker living in Los Angeles.
Theirs is a family full of tension. Frank and Penny's relationship is strained. Violet's relationship with Frank is awkward. The shadow of Violet's much-loved, late husband hangs over everyone. And Violet has her own troubled past that is only SLOWLY revealed as you progress through the book. There are various types of family dysfunction, some mental illness, and plenty of personal secrets long buried. What begins to bring all of them to light is Daniel's desire to make a documentary about his famous grandmother -- something Violet has, up until now, refused to do.
A lot of promise here, right? But for me, it never quite came together. Aside from assorted references to obscure names of colors, it really isn't very much about an artist's life. The main characters are distinct and fully drawn and do develop and grow as the family secrets are exposed. But I found I didn't really care much about any of them. So, I don't feel like I can strongly recommend this book, though if you look at other reviews, there are many others who enjoyed the book more than I did.
The first thing I have to acknowledge is that I wanted to read this book because I recently began taking art lessons and thought a novel about an artist would coincide nicely with my budding interest. Unfortunately, despite this being a moderately short book (288 pages), it took me more than two weeks to finish it. That's because whenever I wanted to sit down and read, I just never felt like picking this one up. I simply didn't find the story very compelling.
At its center is Violet Swan -- a successful and still-working artist, an older widow, but in declining health. She lives on the West Coast near the ocean, on the second floor of a home with her 65 year old son, Frank, and daughter-in-law (Penny) below. Her closest relationship is with her grown grandson, Daniel, a filmmaker living in Los Angeles.
Theirs is a family full of tension. Frank and Penny's relationship is strained. Violet's relationship with Frank is awkward. The shadow of Violet's much-loved, late husband hangs over everyone. And Violet has her own troubled past that is only SLOWLY revealed as you progress through the book. There are various types of family dysfunction, some mental illness, and plenty of personal secrets long buried. What begins to bring all of them to light is Daniel's desire to make a documentary about his famous grandmother -- something Violet has, up until now, refused to do.
A lot of promise here, right? But for me, it never quite came together. Aside from assorted references to obscure names of colors, it really isn't very much about an artist's life. The main characters are distinct and fully drawn and do develop and grow as the family secrets are exposed. But I found I didn't really care much about any of them. So, I don't feel like I can strongly recommend this book, though if you look at other reviews, there are many others who enjoyed the book more than I did.
July 14, 2020
Violet Swan, famous abstract painter who has lived an extraordinarily private life, is dying and has spent her whole life creating — art, life, love, and secrets. She now feels ready and willing to tell her story via a documentary film— and one last painting — so that the truth is finally known.
As Violet’s small family gathers around to view the documentary at long last, the sense of finality and the love they share for each other and for Violet balance out wonderfully in that room and comes across on the page. Sitting here now, I still can’t help but feel that I want to hear more about Violet Swan and her art and life from that documentary. Her own words, when Reed gave them to her, were beautiful and filled with the art she created. I want to listen alongside her family as they rediscover Violet and learn things about her life they never knew or could’ve known.
I don’t know if it’s my propensity for the cinematic, the stretched story, the paint pulled across the canvas, but I couldn’t help but wish the entire book had been delivered in the way of the Epilogue via the documentary bearing the same title of her last work of art (and the title of the novel) Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan. Reed delivers this particular segment with more surety, weight, and beauty tangled up in the narrative of Violet’s story than the whole of the book. Everyone is pulled in closer, whereas the rest of the novel is told at a distance.
Reed does bring about an interesting story for Violet Swan — but it runs along the lines of being fairly typical in terms of layout and structure. Reed handles the telling of Violet’s life with alternating timelines as Violet readies herself for the end of her fascinating life and to tell her truth finally to her documentary-making grandson, Daniel. On top of that, Violet’s son, daughter-in-law, and great granddaughter feature heavily in the present day story and all have side stories of their own to follow — and I’m not sure that was needed. At least not to the level into which it was delved. An unnecessary sidetrack or plumping up. The characters on the whole are rather fuzzy — I’m not sure what any of them looked like other than Violet being tall and having scars from a fire. It doesn’t truly matter except that makes for an odd dreamlike recollection that I am not sure lends itself nicely to the already distant narrative.
But make no mistake, Violet’s story is an artist’s story — and an artist’s story is rarely dull. From humble beginnings with devastating turns in the road, Violet’s path and destination is what she creates. She’s an extraordinary character who lived a fascinating life.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
As Violet’s small family gathers around to view the documentary at long last, the sense of finality and the love they share for each other and for Violet balance out wonderfully in that room and comes across on the page. Sitting here now, I still can’t help but feel that I want to hear more about Violet Swan and her art and life from that documentary. Her own words, when Reed gave them to her, were beautiful and filled with the art she created. I want to listen alongside her family as they rediscover Violet and learn things about her life they never knew or could’ve known.
I don’t know if it’s my propensity for the cinematic, the stretched story, the paint pulled across the canvas, but I couldn’t help but wish the entire book had been delivered in the way of the Epilogue via the documentary bearing the same title of her last work of art (and the title of the novel) Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan. Reed delivers this particular segment with more surety, weight, and beauty tangled up in the narrative of Violet’s story than the whole of the book. Everyone is pulled in closer, whereas the rest of the novel is told at a distance.
Reed does bring about an interesting story for Violet Swan — but it runs along the lines of being fairly typical in terms of layout and structure. Reed handles the telling of Violet’s life with alternating timelines as Violet readies herself for the end of her fascinating life and to tell her truth finally to her documentary-making grandson, Daniel. On top of that, Violet’s son, daughter-in-law, and great granddaughter feature heavily in the present day story and all have side stories of their own to follow — and I’m not sure that was needed. At least not to the level into which it was delved. An unnecessary sidetrack or plumping up. The characters on the whole are rather fuzzy — I’m not sure what any of them looked like other than Violet being tall and having scars from a fire. It doesn’t truly matter except that makes for an odd dreamlike recollection that I am not sure lends itself nicely to the already distant narrative.
But make no mistake, Violet’s story is an artist’s story — and an artist’s story is rarely dull. From humble beginnings with devastating turns in the road, Violet’s path and destination is what she creates. She’s an extraordinary character who lived a fascinating life.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review.
December 21, 2020
Violet Swan at 93 yo is a formidable character - a famous abstract painter living along the Oregon coast in the second story of a house she shares with her son Frank and his wife Penny. Violet our unlikely heroine, whose long life is filled with mystery and intrigue, awaits to be discovered.
An earthquake brings a series of sudden changes to Violet’s life, while also discovering her stories as her grandson Daniel films a documentary about her life.
For nearly a century, Violet’s life had been a mystery to her family. With only the scars that leave a trace to the life she left behind in Georgia, Reed takes us into this generational saga, a tranquil journey of a life in art.
A beautiful and tranquil read to be enjoyed and savored.
An earthquake brings a series of sudden changes to Violet’s life, while also discovering her stories as her grandson Daniel films a documentary about her life.
For nearly a century, Violet’s life had been a mystery to her family. With only the scars that leave a trace to the life she left behind in Georgia, Reed takes us into this generational saga, a tranquil journey of a life in art.
A beautiful and tranquil read to be enjoyed and savored.
October 8, 2020
While enjoying this novel, I couldn’t help but think of the elderly version of Rose in James Cameron’s Titanic, when she reveals that, “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” That perfectly explains our heroine in the Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan, a Novel of Life in Art.
An out-of-the-blue earthquake shakes up more than just the terra firma in this tale of family, long-buried secrets, and undying, though often unexpressed, familial love.
Violet, her son Frank, and daughter-in-law Penny are living a peaceful life of daily sameness on the peaceful Oregon coast when they are jostled into alertness and self-awareness. Sure, the house is a bit tossed on the inside – shelves fallen down, a bump on Frank’s head. But it is what is unfolding inside the hearts of the home’s inhabitants that moves this tale along.
That’s not to say that life has always been easy for the Swan family. Violet viciously misses her husband Richard, and so does her son Frank. Both Violet and her Penny are concerned about Frank, who seems caught up in a cycle of staring at his cell phone and testy moodiness. Then there is Violet’s grandson who lives in California, but who hasn’t been back home in years, despite the fierce closeness he and Violet share.
As the cast our characters thaw before our eyes, we also travel back in time with Violet as she tells the reader of her tale of how she came to live in coastal Oregon, the trials she met along the way, meeting the love of her life and Frank’s father Richard, and why she’ll never leave her coastal home. As Violet herself tells us, “The thing about time was that no matter how Violet had changed on the outside, on the inside she had remained every age she ever was.”
Then, too, as if the hauntingly beautiful landscape of coastal Oregon on which this story is cast isn’t enough, the tale is also painted along the way with Violet’s soul-stirring art.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is a life-affirming read, if a bit slow-going and moody at times. If you’re a fan of stories with feisty older ladies such as Hazel Prior’s How the Penguins Saved Veronica or Danielle Steel’s Neighbors, then this might just be for you.
A big thank you to Deborah Reed, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
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#ANovelOfLifeInArt
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#MarinerBooks
#HoughtonMifflinHarcourt
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An out-of-the-blue earthquake shakes up more than just the terra firma in this tale of family, long-buried secrets, and undying, though often unexpressed, familial love.
Violet, her son Frank, and daughter-in-law Penny are living a peaceful life of daily sameness on the peaceful Oregon coast when they are jostled into alertness and self-awareness. Sure, the house is a bit tossed on the inside – shelves fallen down, a bump on Frank’s head. But it is what is unfolding inside the hearts of the home’s inhabitants that moves this tale along.
That’s not to say that life has always been easy for the Swan family. Violet viciously misses her husband Richard, and so does her son Frank. Both Violet and her Penny are concerned about Frank, who seems caught up in a cycle of staring at his cell phone and testy moodiness. Then there is Violet’s grandson who lives in California, but who hasn’t been back home in years, despite the fierce closeness he and Violet share.
As the cast our characters thaw before our eyes, we also travel back in time with Violet as she tells the reader of her tale of how she came to live in coastal Oregon, the trials she met along the way, meeting the love of her life and Frank’s father Richard, and why she’ll never leave her coastal home. As Violet herself tells us, “The thing about time was that no matter how Violet had changed on the outside, on the inside she had remained every age she ever was.”
Then, too, as if the hauntingly beautiful landscape of coastal Oregon on which this story is cast isn’t enough, the tale is also painted along the way with Violet’s soul-stirring art.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is a life-affirming read, if a bit slow-going and moody at times. If you’re a fan of stories with feisty older ladies such as Hazel Prior’s How the Penguins Saved Veronica or Danielle Steel’s Neighbors, then this might just be for you.
A big thank you to Deborah Reed, Mariner Books, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.
#PaleMorningLightWithVioletSwan
#ANovelOfLifeInArt
#DeborahReed
#MarinerBooks
#HoughtonMifflinHarcourt
#NetGalley
May 8, 2023
4.4
Not action-packed. Not a thriller. Not a romance. Good!
This kept me reading when I should have been sleeping. Good characters. Intertwines a person's life history with present day actions/interactions. Addresses death but not depressingly. Enough subtle plot twists to keep the story flowing.
For the most part, fiction, but includes references to Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock.
odd for a 93 yo lady: has several falls in the beginning but seemingly has no trouble getting up, walks on uneven ground and for distances but no mention of a cane or walking stick (but Violet's mind does stray)
Not action-packed. Not a thriller. Not a romance. Good!
This kept me reading when I should have been sleeping. Good characters. Intertwines a person's life history with present day actions/interactions. Addresses death but not depressingly. Enough subtle plot twists to keep the story flowing.
For the most part, fiction, but includes references to Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock.
odd for a 93 yo lady: has several falls in the beginning but seemingly has no trouble getting up, walks on uneven ground and for distances but no mention of a cane or walking stick (but Violet's mind does stray)
May 4, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley & publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
Wow! I loved this! It was a beautifully written story of fictional artist Violet Swan, told in present day and flashing back to her youth until by the end of the novel when Violet is 93 years old you know all that Violet has experienced and what has influenced her. Written from various points of view (Violet, her daughter-in-law, grandson, and son) the novel has both dimension and perspective that kept me turning the pages. What made it so amazing was the accomplished writing style and tone, as well as the skillful depiction of Violet's life. She was a woman determined to paint no matter where she was or what was happening. Adding depth to the novel is her family and their relationships with her and with each other. Violet seemed so real I had to remind myself that while her paintings were inspired by the great works of artist Agnes Martin, this is a work of fiction. Themes of family, mothers, and forgiveness are woven throughout. I've added this to my list of favorites, and I encourage you to read this book.
Wow! I loved this! It was a beautifully written story of fictional artist Violet Swan, told in present day and flashing back to her youth until by the end of the novel when Violet is 93 years old you know all that Violet has experienced and what has influenced her. Written from various points of view (Violet, her daughter-in-law, grandson, and son) the novel has both dimension and perspective that kept me turning the pages. What made it so amazing was the accomplished writing style and tone, as well as the skillful depiction of Violet's life. She was a woman determined to paint no matter where she was or what was happening. Adding depth to the novel is her family and their relationships with her and with each other. Violet seemed so real I had to remind myself that while her paintings were inspired by the great works of artist Agnes Martin, this is a work of fiction. Themes of family, mothers, and forgiveness are woven throughout. I've added this to my list of favorites, and I encourage you to read this book.
December 13, 2020
What a brilliant, luminous, gorgeous book!
Margaret Renkl in her blurb calls Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan “heartlifting,” and I agree. It’s such a BIG story, and Violet Swan is such an epic character. In telling her story, Reed tells the story of the twentieth century, of all ambitious women who had had to survive violence and danger and heartbreak to bring their vision into the world. We get a grand sweep of history, but most of all we get the extraordinary intimacy of being invited into Violet’s mind, learning the secrets she has hidden from everyone all her life. Reed manages, just as Violet does, to use art to miraculously turn tragedy into harmony and beauty “The sight of it is like the sun itself warming the air.” That’s a description of Violet’s paintings. The same could be said of the beauty of Deborah Reed’s writing.
Margaret Renkl in her blurb calls Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan “heartlifting,” and I agree. It’s such a BIG story, and Violet Swan is such an epic character. In telling her story, Reed tells the story of the twentieth century, of all ambitious women who had had to survive violence and danger and heartbreak to bring their vision into the world. We get a grand sweep of history, but most of all we get the extraordinary intimacy of being invited into Violet’s mind, learning the secrets she has hidden from everyone all her life. Reed manages, just as Violet does, to use art to miraculously turn tragedy into harmony and beauty “The sight of it is like the sun itself warming the air.” That’s a description of Violet’s paintings. The same could be said of the beauty of Deborah Reed’s writing.
September 11, 2020
The blurb that is written for this book is so spot-on and descriptive, it’s hard to elaborate. I’ll attempt by noting the aspects of this wonderful new novel that stuck with me personally.
Deborah Reed brings to life a 93-year old famous abstract artist in the waning of her life, who has learned she’s dying of cancer. The personal life of a famous artist is something we’re not familiar with. But Reed seems to know exactly what she’s doing in describing where and how Violet Swan has gotten her motivation and incentive to create her popular world-renowned works. Violet shares her home with her son Francisco and his wife, Penny. Their son Daniel is on his way home after years of being away and has something of importance to discuss with the family.
The gripping part of this lovely novel is Violet’s memories of her youth. Growing up in Rockwood, Georgia with a loving family, a tragedy ruins her home and Violet ends up fleeing on her own. WW II is in full swing and the country is in turmoil. As she struggles to reach Oregon, Violet crosses paths with both good and terribly evil people. Once she meets the love of her life, the dark episodes of her youth come back to haunt her and cripple her mental stability.
Flash forward to the peaceful home and loving family she has created, and the joyous yet shocking news her grandson gives, it seems to be time to openly share her story with her family, who will in turn share it with her fans and the world.
Reed has such beautiful and heartfelt writing, making her characters real and sensitive. This is a solemn read with a life lesson weaved quietly within. I was sad for the book to end, and have pondered on Violet’s life many times since.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Mariner Books and NetGalley for making it available.)
Deborah Reed brings to life a 93-year old famous abstract artist in the waning of her life, who has learned she’s dying of cancer. The personal life of a famous artist is something we’re not familiar with. But Reed seems to know exactly what she’s doing in describing where and how Violet Swan has gotten her motivation and incentive to create her popular world-renowned works. Violet shares her home with her son Francisco and his wife, Penny. Their son Daniel is on his way home after years of being away and has something of importance to discuss with the family.
The gripping part of this lovely novel is Violet’s memories of her youth. Growing up in Rockwood, Georgia with a loving family, a tragedy ruins her home and Violet ends up fleeing on her own. WW II is in full swing and the country is in turmoil. As she struggles to reach Oregon, Violet crosses paths with both good and terribly evil people. Once she meets the love of her life, the dark episodes of her youth come back to haunt her and cripple her mental stability.
Flash forward to the peaceful home and loving family she has created, and the joyous yet shocking news her grandson gives, it seems to be time to openly share her story with her family, who will in turn share it with her fans and the world.
Reed has such beautiful and heartfelt writing, making her characters real and sensitive. This is a solemn read with a life lesson weaved quietly within. I was sad for the book to end, and have pondered on Violet’s life many times since.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Mariner Books and NetGalley for making it available.)
October 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this tale of elderly artist Violet Swan who is now approaching the end of her life and I found it a compelling read. Violet, after an inauspicious start in life, has now achieved fame and renown as an abstract painter. As her end nears, long hidden secrets start to come to the fore, not least when her much loved grandson Daniel persuades her to let him make a documentary about her life. Violet is a complex character and it’s a joy to get to know her. The book is an exploration of family, family relationships and family dynamics, and also about art and the power of art. Dramatic things have happened in Violet’s life, but the book is a quiet and calm one, which unfolds through a series of flashbacks – flashbacks which are expertly handled by the author so the that narrative proceeds seamlessly. A slow read, but a well-written and well-paced one, and a story that is both moving and heart-warming.
April 1, 2025
I enjoy a novel the has a slow pace coupled with good writing and strong character development. The writing in this novel felt uneven. The description of the Oregon coast was beautiful and poetic but Violet Swan and her family were flat. The 93 year old artist had a rough start, but the same incidents were visited several times with few new revelations. I would have liked a clearer picture of the family. Everyone has secrets, what I find interesting is how all of the characters process them. I wanted more from this book. 2.5 rounded up.
October 7, 2020
I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, Deborah Reed, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt - Mariner Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am happy to recommend Deborah Reed to friends and family. She writes a tight tale with interesting and varied protagonists and her descriptive passages take you there.
Violet Swan is a very self-contained, secretive 93-year-old widow, a successful artist with a very small family, close physically but with relationships beginning to fray at the seams. Violet, who is from Georgia, has been since she was about 18 a resident of the small coastal Oregon town of Nestucca Beach. Everyone misses her husband Richard, every day of the twenty years he's been gone. Her son Frank and his wife Penny live downstairs in Violet's home, while she spends most of her time upstairs in her studio and apartment. Frank has taken Richard's place is promoting and representing Violet's much-in-demand work. Grandson Daniel has been for too long making his way up the film production ladder in Los Angeles. Penny is visibly unhappy and stressed out, seriously considering returning to the realtor workforce she belonged to before Daniel was born, and perhaps just moving on. Frank is always checking the world news, always angry, often sad. Violet is failing physically and second-guessing her lifelong habit of keeping all of her secrets to herself - some of the things that formed her life and personality were not even known by her beloved Richard. And everything seems to come to a head with the earthquake.
Frank is injured when a spice shelf falls during the quake and cuts his head and has to have several stitches. Daniel is compelled to make the often postponed trip home to check on every one and share the surprise he has been hinting at for some time and to again encourage Violet to allow him to do a film of her life story while there is still time. Only Violet knows just how limited that time really is. And Daniel's surprise is a doozie - Danielle is three years old, speaking French but learning English quickly, a bright, sparkling child with the face of her Grandfather Richard. Her mother, a one-night-stand while Daniel was in France, is currently in jail and has given Richard full uncontested custody of Dani. And there is something screwy with the DNA results Daniel received when proving his paternity of Dani. That child is just the catalyst needed to bring this family back around to the focus of being a family. Will it be enough to convince Violet to share her life story with her family and fans?
pub date October 6, 2020
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -Mariner Books
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on June 16, 2020. Reviewed on October 7, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Violet Swan is a very self-contained, secretive 93-year-old widow, a successful artist with a very small family, close physically but with relationships beginning to fray at the seams. Violet, who is from Georgia, has been since she was about 18 a resident of the small coastal Oregon town of Nestucca Beach. Everyone misses her husband Richard, every day of the twenty years he's been gone. Her son Frank and his wife Penny live downstairs in Violet's home, while she spends most of her time upstairs in her studio and apartment. Frank has taken Richard's place is promoting and representing Violet's much-in-demand work. Grandson Daniel has been for too long making his way up the film production ladder in Los Angeles. Penny is visibly unhappy and stressed out, seriously considering returning to the realtor workforce she belonged to before Daniel was born, and perhaps just moving on. Frank is always checking the world news, always angry, often sad. Violet is failing physically and second-guessing her lifelong habit of keeping all of her secrets to herself - some of the things that formed her life and personality were not even known by her beloved Richard. And everything seems to come to a head with the earthquake.
Frank is injured when a spice shelf falls during the quake and cuts his head and has to have several stitches. Daniel is compelled to make the often postponed trip home to check on every one and share the surprise he has been hinting at for some time and to again encourage Violet to allow him to do a film of her life story while there is still time. Only Violet knows just how limited that time really is. And Daniel's surprise is a doozie - Danielle is three years old, speaking French but learning English quickly, a bright, sparkling child with the face of her Grandfather Richard. Her mother, a one-night-stand while Daniel was in France, is currently in jail and has given Richard full uncontested custody of Dani. And there is something screwy with the DNA results Daniel received when proving his paternity of Dani. That child is just the catalyst needed to bring this family back around to the focus of being a family. Will it be enough to convince Violet to share her life story with her family and fans?
pub date October 6, 2020
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt -Mariner Books
Reviewed on Goodreads and Netgalley on June 16, 2020. Reviewed on October 7, 2020, at AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
March 8, 2021
Phew! Boy did I struggle with this one. It took we a couple weeks to get through it, but that has nothing to do with the writing or the story itself. I considered giving up more than a few times, but I knew that if I just continued on I would be rewarded, and I certainly was. This isn't a easy read, or at least it wasn't for me. I believe the subject matter is quite esoteric. I am not completely sure that I got all the nuanced references and messages, but what I did get touched my heart and soul. There are a lot of lessons to learn in these pages. People keep secrets for many reasons that only make sense to them. As someone looking in, we can't always understand yet are happy to judge them. People only let us see what they want to share with us. But things are seldom what they seem to be at first glance. This is a simple, character driven telling of the story of the life of Violet Swan and the people who orbit her. She is fascinating and the complexities run deep.
June 17, 2020
Many thanks to Net Galley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Mariner Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.I
What a wonderful Women’s story about love and all that it has to offer for those of us who are willing to put ourselves out there.
Violet is 94, and has lived a full life up to this point. Painting has been her way of surviving what we call ‘life’. If you like books that take you back to the past and read how it entwines with the present day, than this is certainly a book for you.
I really enjoyed this book very much, what a wonderful way to spend my hours when not dealing with real life. Certainly a Good Read.
What a wonderful Women’s story about love and all that it has to offer for those of us who are willing to put ourselves out there.
Violet is 94, and has lived a full life up to this point. Painting has been her way of surviving what we call ‘life’. If you like books that take you back to the past and read how it entwines with the present day, than this is certainly a book for you.
I really enjoyed this book very much, what a wonderful way to spend my hours when not dealing with real life. Certainly a Good Read.
Read
January 18, 2021Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan: A Novel of a Life in Art by Deborah Reed
Reviewer: Caitlin Hicks
Marvelous and painful, truthful and penetrating, this novel, with every page, requires the reader to sense, to live in and cherish the present moment. A 93-year-old woman, Violet Swan, celebrated for her abstract paintings, finds herself at the end of her life experiencing the fleeting days of her dwindling existence.
The all-knowing narrator who describes the activity of the novel sounds like the artist herself, seeing the full color and detail that artists observe so well: “The base coat on her canvas was only half finished, and still she remained at the windows, distracted by the light, the yard and the thick forest beyond the grass, the warm sun drawing heat from the trees, an orange gas rising. Periwinkle crocuses streamed over the lawn like lightbulbs with golden filaments. Barn swallows flitted to and from phone wires, their steely-blue wings and mustard bellies flashing in the sun.”
Literature speaks to readers in direct relation to their life experience; one day a book is interesting because yesterday the reader lived a moment of it, or imagined it; the next day another reader tosses the same work aside, waiting to step into his own shimmering, evolving life.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan sees existence through an artist’s eyes nearing the end of her days. So it’s not for everyone. Even the joy of a new phrase describing a familiar detail can be postponed for the next decade when you might be searching, desperately, for the meaning of a life remembered. Not many get to be 93. And Violet sees the colors of the world around her with hopeful acceptance of another dawn, another noon, another night. So it feels worthy, to sit with Violet Swan and contemplate the shimmering stones of her life.
In writer’s circles, the first page of a novel is critical as it needs to be full of the urgency of reading this particular story; it has to engage the reader immediately. And yet here, Deborah Reed, the author, talks of speckles of pale ochre slipping from a paintbrush to the drop cloth and the fir floor under that. The earthquake and Violet’s memory of a burning farmhouse that chars the right side of her body when she was 14—that takes place on page three, seamlessly woven into the narrative.
There is a dream-like quality to Violet’s inner monologue that consistently brings the reader back to the past, seamlessly, visiting her, appearing uninvited, like memories do. It’s a gentle thing, capturing Violet’s personal experiences in memories that fleet into consciousness but stay because they resonate: “Again that feeling descended on her, a convergence of time and space, as if she existed everywhere at once. She’d reached out her hand, as if to touch her father’s gramophone, with its oak horn sprouting like a giant hollyhock filled with crackling tunes . . .”
This is the charm of this novel. “The thing about time was that no matter how Violet had changed on the outside, on the inside she had remained every age she ever was.”
“She could hear her father’s voice cutting through the music as clearly as a trumpet’s flare. As clearly as if he had never gone away. Listen to this, Violet. It’s a dandy. Go get your mother. And don’t forget Em.”
So like this, Violet’s life unfolds to the reader, the secrets, the yearning. What is she trying to solve in these last days? What can she say that will comfort? Complicating this is her family surrounding her: her son Frank and his wife Penny, who live below Violet and whose conversations she can sometimes hear through the heating vent. Her beloved grandson, Daniel, who for half of the book is on his way to Blueberry Lane where Violet lives. He brings with him a big secret, and in the meantime, more of Violet’s life as a young woman has come into the readers consciousness like a vision, fading up and down and mixed with current concerns. For example, when the earthquake shakes their foundations in the first chapter, Penny’s determination to leave Frank is thwarted by a gash in his head.
As the novel progresses, as her grandson finally receives her permission to film a documentary on her life, secret after secret is revealed to the mutual shock of all: a fire that tore through her house when she was seven and burned one half of her body was not really caused by the Christmas tree burning; she speaks fluent French; she’s dying of cancer. And then, new relatives are presented and what was the story that brought them to life? Through it all, Violet paints with confidence and dwindling energy.
Complex and full of the richness of a life in the arts courageously lived, Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan never strays far from the artist’s palette, from what she sees in the dark shadows, only to reveal the pastels, the light, and ultimately the love and forgiveness. Because after all, what can we do with this marvelous moment we have been given?
This review was first published and can be found at New York Journal of Books
Reviewer: Caitlin Hicks
Marvelous and painful, truthful and penetrating, this novel, with every page, requires the reader to sense, to live in and cherish the present moment. A 93-year-old woman, Violet Swan, celebrated for her abstract paintings, finds herself at the end of her life experiencing the fleeting days of her dwindling existence.
The all-knowing narrator who describes the activity of the novel sounds like the artist herself, seeing the full color and detail that artists observe so well: “The base coat on her canvas was only half finished, and still she remained at the windows, distracted by the light, the yard and the thick forest beyond the grass, the warm sun drawing heat from the trees, an orange gas rising. Periwinkle crocuses streamed over the lawn like lightbulbs with golden filaments. Barn swallows flitted to and from phone wires, their steely-blue wings and mustard bellies flashing in the sun.”
Literature speaks to readers in direct relation to their life experience; one day a book is interesting because yesterday the reader lived a moment of it, or imagined it; the next day another reader tosses the same work aside, waiting to step into his own shimmering, evolving life.
Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan sees existence through an artist’s eyes nearing the end of her days. So it’s not for everyone. Even the joy of a new phrase describing a familiar detail can be postponed for the next decade when you might be searching, desperately, for the meaning of a life remembered. Not many get to be 93. And Violet sees the colors of the world around her with hopeful acceptance of another dawn, another noon, another night. So it feels worthy, to sit with Violet Swan and contemplate the shimmering stones of her life.
In writer’s circles, the first page of a novel is critical as it needs to be full of the urgency of reading this particular story; it has to engage the reader immediately. And yet here, Deborah Reed, the author, talks of speckles of pale ochre slipping from a paintbrush to the drop cloth and the fir floor under that. The earthquake and Violet’s memory of a burning farmhouse that chars the right side of her body when she was 14—that takes place on page three, seamlessly woven into the narrative.
There is a dream-like quality to Violet’s inner monologue that consistently brings the reader back to the past, seamlessly, visiting her, appearing uninvited, like memories do. It’s a gentle thing, capturing Violet’s personal experiences in memories that fleet into consciousness but stay because they resonate: “Again that feeling descended on her, a convergence of time and space, as if she existed everywhere at once. She’d reached out her hand, as if to touch her father’s gramophone, with its oak horn sprouting like a giant hollyhock filled with crackling tunes . . .”
This is the charm of this novel. “The thing about time was that no matter how Violet had changed on the outside, on the inside she had remained every age she ever was.”
“She could hear her father’s voice cutting through the music as clearly as a trumpet’s flare. As clearly as if he had never gone away. Listen to this, Violet. It’s a dandy. Go get your mother. And don’t forget Em.”
So like this, Violet’s life unfolds to the reader, the secrets, the yearning. What is she trying to solve in these last days? What can she say that will comfort? Complicating this is her family surrounding her: her son Frank and his wife Penny, who live below Violet and whose conversations she can sometimes hear through the heating vent. Her beloved grandson, Daniel, who for half of the book is on his way to Blueberry Lane where Violet lives. He brings with him a big secret, and in the meantime, more of Violet’s life as a young woman has come into the readers consciousness like a vision, fading up and down and mixed with current concerns. For example, when the earthquake shakes their foundations in the first chapter, Penny’s determination to leave Frank is thwarted by a gash in his head.
As the novel progresses, as her grandson finally receives her permission to film a documentary on her life, secret after secret is revealed to the mutual shock of all: a fire that tore through her house when she was seven and burned one half of her body was not really caused by the Christmas tree burning; she speaks fluent French; she’s dying of cancer. And then, new relatives are presented and what was the story that brought them to life? Through it all, Violet paints with confidence and dwindling energy.
Complex and full of the richness of a life in the arts courageously lived, Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan never strays far from the artist’s palette, from what she sees in the dark shadows, only to reveal the pastels, the light, and ultimately the love and forgiveness. Because after all, what can we do with this marvelous moment we have been given?
This review was first published and can be found at New York Journal of Books
January 1, 2021
3.5 stars. This book was billed as a story about a dying woman, Violet, who is revealing secrets from her past. While technically that it true, the story is very much a story of the present and not the past. The secrets that are revealed are shocking and tragic but they are told in such snippets that you feel cheated from truly understanding their magnitude and their impact on Violet as a woman in her nineties. Violet is a famous painter who has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer but she doesn’t want anyone to know because she wants to spend her last days painting. This is difficult to keep secret as she lives with her son, Frank, and daughter in law, Penny, who sense something is wrong but are wrapped up in their own marital drama. Their son, Daniel, comes home with his own surprise - a three year old daughter, Dani, who he just met and is the product of a one night stand with a bartender in France. Slowly, through snippets seen in Violet’s dreams and through the story she agrees to share with her grandson in the form of a documentary, we learn that Violet suffered tragedy at age 7 when her father’s still in the basement exploded, killing her father and little sister. Violet is guilty because she told the neighbor about the still and her mother blames her for their deaths. They move into a group home run by evangelicals where Violet, at age 14, is raped by a traveling preacher. Another preacher she meets soon after says that she has a gift with her painting that she needs to pursue and he tells her to look up his brother, Richard, if she is ever in Oregon. A week later she runs away, not knowing that she is pregnant. She gives birth to a stillborn and buries her in the desert. She hops trains and tries to make money when she can but ends up in another bad situation, gets raped and becomes pregnant again. Eventually she and her friend, Ada, make it to Oregon and get jobs in a factory during the war. She gives birth to a girl that she gives up for adoption and after the war finally makes her way to Richard. They fall in love, get married, have Frank and then Violet is undergoing shock treatments. I have to say that this part of the story is woefully unexplained. The snippets of flashbacks we see make it out like this is a pivotal piece of Violet’s life, even her son Frank remembers them and yet it gets a mere passing explanation in the documentary as being a treatment for depression, which Violet admits was probably postpartum depression. But that’s it. No further time was spent on it. Anyway, flash forward a few years to when Frank is 8 and discovers a painting in the closet, which he takes out to show his parents and Ada and her husband, John, which is of Ada in nude. This causes John to flip out and strangle Ada to death right in front of Frank with Violet and Richard in the kitchen making drinks. Huh? I found this to be incredulous. Violet and Richard heard nothing? Frank didn’t scream or cry? And then that’s it. We don’t really get any more details of Violet’s life after that until she is in her 90’s and dying from lung cancer. I have to say that I felt a bit cheated because I really wanted more of her life as an artist, how she came to have pictures in museums around the world, how this success impacted her life, etc. Most of that detail was lacking. However, the author did paint a lovely picture with her prose of the Oregon coast. Not a bad book, but, for me, it would have been most successful if Violet’s backstory was told in a more linear fashion and if it included more of her life as she became a successful artist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2020
Pale Morning Light With Viola Swan by Deborah Reed. Thanks to @mindbuckmedia and @marinerbooks for the gifted ARC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a slow, but beautiful story. We are introduced to Viola and her family with the drama that occurs; an earthquake and a family secret revealed. Viola’s past and her own secrets are slowly revealed throughout the story. The story is heartbreaking at times, but always lovely and poetically told. The story is about Viola’s legacy; not only through her art but through her history, which her family can now carry on after hearing her past. Viola’s past was revealed in a slowly developing method. This book needs to be deeply read and absorbed or you may miss a key moment for the past. Some reveals are done through a sentence of dialogue or a quick memory. At times I felt impatient and would have liked to dive a bit deeper into her past, but we are remembering it as Viola does, with her recollections, which was an important distinction the author was making.
“So much of her past had been thinned out, like trees, making room for other things to grow. But perhaps her fuller recollections had never really gone away, never quite been wiped out, after all. Perhaps they were instead driven underground, dormant as daffodils, waiting to reappear once conditions had changed.”
Pale Morning Light With Viola Swan comes out 10/6.
This was a slow, but beautiful story. We are introduced to Viola and her family with the drama that occurs; an earthquake and a family secret revealed. Viola’s past and her own secrets are slowly revealed throughout the story. The story is heartbreaking at times, but always lovely and poetically told. The story is about Viola’s legacy; not only through her art but through her history, which her family can now carry on after hearing her past. Viola’s past was revealed in a slowly developing method. This book needs to be deeply read and absorbed or you may miss a key moment for the past. Some reveals are done through a sentence of dialogue or a quick memory. At times I felt impatient and would have liked to dive a bit deeper into her past, but we are remembering it as Viola does, with her recollections, which was an important distinction the author was making.
“So much of her past had been thinned out, like trees, making room for other things to grow. But perhaps her fuller recollections had never really gone away, never quite been wiped out, after all. Perhaps they were instead driven underground, dormant as daffodils, waiting to reappear once conditions had changed.”
Pale Morning Light With Viola Swan comes out 10/6.
September 11, 2020
The blurb that is written for this book is so spot-on and descriptive, it’s hard to elaborate. I’ll attempt by noting the aspects of this wonderful new novel that stuck with me personally.
Deborah Reed brings to life a 93-year old famous abstract artist in the waning of her life, who has learned she’s dying of cancer. The personal life of a famous artist is something we’re not familiar with. But Reed seems to know exactly what she’s doing in describing where and how Violet Swan has gotten her motivation and incentive to create her popular world-renowned works. Violet shares her home with her son Francisco and his wife, Penny. Their son Daniel is on his way home after years of being away and has something of importance to discuss with the family.
The gripping part of this lovely novel is Violet’s memories of her youth. Growing up in Rockwood, Georgia with a loving family, a tragedy ruins her home and Violet ends up fleeing on her own. WW II is in full swing and the country is in turmoil. As she struggles to reach Oregon, Violet crosses paths with both good and terribly evil people. Once she meets the love of her life, the dark episodes of her youth come back to haunt her and cripple her mental stability.
Flash forward to the peaceful home and loving family she has created, and the joyous yet shocking news her grandson gives, it seems to be time to openly share her story with her family, who will in turn share it with her fans and the world.
Reed has such beautiful and heartfelt writing, making her characters real and sensitive. This is a solemn read with a life lesson weaved quietly within. I was sad for the book to end, and have pondered on Violet’s life many times since.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Mariner Books and NetGalley for making it available.)
Deborah Reed brings to life a 93-year old famous abstract artist in the waning of her life, who has learned she’s dying of cancer. The personal life of a famous artist is something we’re not familiar with. But Reed seems to know exactly what she’s doing in describing where and how Violet Swan has gotten her motivation and incentive to create her popular world-renowned works. Violet shares her home with her son Francisco and his wife, Penny. Their son Daniel is on his way home after years of being away and has something of importance to discuss with the family.
The gripping part of this lovely novel is Violet’s memories of her youth. Growing up in Rockwood, Georgia with a loving family, a tragedy ruins her home and Violet ends up fleeing on her own. WW II is in full swing and the country is in turmoil. As she struggles to reach Oregon, Violet crosses paths with both good and terribly evil people. Once she meets the love of her life, the dark episodes of her youth come back to haunt her and cripple her mental stability.
Flash forward to the peaceful home and loving family she has created, and the joyous yet shocking news her grandson gives, it seems to be time to openly share her story with her family, who will in turn share it with her fans and the world.
Reed has such beautiful and heartfelt writing, making her characters real and sensitive. This is a solemn read with a life lesson weaved quietly within. I was sad for the book to end, and have pondered on Violet’s life many times since.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / Mariner Books and NetGalley for making it available.)
August 8, 2020
I loved the main character Violet from the moment I met her. Initially I was rooting for her and as she grew older I simply admired her. Such a sophisticated and fun character to watch mature. There was plenty to the story to pull me in although I admit there was a point that I jotted in my notes that the story was taking too long to develop and my intrigue turned to tedium. But it was worth continuing on as when it picked up again it was just as engaging as the beginning. This would be a good book club read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release in exchange for an honest review
May 30, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley for the Advance Reader Copy.
By far my favorite read of the year, so far, and likely to hold that place. One can’t help but be enveloped, embraced by the lush descriptions and artistic viewpoint offered, layered over a life of drama, and extreme challenges. Immersive; I wish I could find a way to write that word to give it the proper impact.
The author’s own acknowledgements summarize her life and process, but she also mentions that this book is about motherhood, as much as anything else. Though not a blatant “all about motherhood” book, this statement is the exact feeling I was given when reading. I woke early after starting to read this the night before, my first thoughts to my three adult children, and wondering how I could approach each day with being the best and truest version of myself, for them.
This is a longer and more emotional review than is normal for me. I want to write off some of my love for this book as being influenced by all that’s on my mind and heart right now, but I’m not going to diminish the story and writing that way. Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is just that good.
By far my favorite read of the year, so far, and likely to hold that place. One can’t help but be enveloped, embraced by the lush descriptions and artistic viewpoint offered, layered over a life of drama, and extreme challenges. Immersive; I wish I could find a way to write that word to give it the proper impact.
The author’s own acknowledgements summarize her life and process, but she also mentions that this book is about motherhood, as much as anything else. Though not a blatant “all about motherhood” book, this statement is the exact feeling I was given when reading. I woke early after starting to read this the night before, my first thoughts to my three adult children, and wondering how I could approach each day with being the best and truest version of myself, for them.
This is a longer and more emotional review than is normal for me. I want to write off some of my love for this book as being influenced by all that’s on my mind and heart right now, but I’m not going to diminish the story and writing that way. Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan is just that good.
March 2, 2021
A fantastic read!
The author truly writes like an artist and the character of Violet Swan is someone who has seen both the beauty and horror of life and yet remains an intriguing and strong character that draws the reader in. A story of loss and love in so many ways but lets you see the beauty of the good and bad parts in life. If I live to be as old as Violet Swan I hope to have the same peace of mind about my life as she did.
The author truly writes like an artist and the character of Violet Swan is someone who has seen both the beauty and horror of life and yet remains an intriguing and strong character that draws the reader in. A story of loss and love in so many ways but lets you see the beauty of the good and bad parts in life. If I live to be as old as Violet Swan I hope to have the same peace of mind about my life as she did.
May 3, 2020
Violet Swan is 93 years old and reaching the end of her life. She is a well known abstract artist who lives in Oregon near the ocean. This book is a story that moves slowly. The first half explores the relationship of Violet and the son, Francisco, and daughter-in-law, Penny who live with her. The second half of the book picks up a bit when Violet's grandson, Daniel, comes home to work on a documentary about his grandmother's life. The story is filled with secrets of her life that she kept from her family and how those secrets reflected in the relationship. The documentary and story telling didn't go into a lot of depth at times and when a secret was revealed there were instances where I wished to know more. This is a book, I feel, can be read over and over again to understand more about the relationships.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
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