I very much enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a fast paced action packed book, go elsewhere. If you’re looking for a slow burn glimpse in to the life of an amazing main character with some interesting secondary characters, you’ve come the right place.
How much do we reveal of our true selves to others? How do we hold on to those we love? When, if ever, is the right time to do the ‘right’ thing?
I’m glad I got the chance to spend some time with Violet and her family.

Thank you to Book Club Girls and Net Galley for access to this book in return for my honest opinions.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3315667272
*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.

A Saga about a 93 year old artist, Violet Swan.

This story was full of secrets. The best type of stories. It was also a multi-generational saga, which is one of my favorite kinds of novels.

Violet Swan is an artist. She has also endured a lifetime of tragedy and woe. She puts all of her trauma she has suffered into her art. When her grandson comes to visit her however, she must account for a lifetime of secrets she has kept under wraps.

I very much enjoyed Reed's writing style. This was an excellent story, filled with deep connection and meaning.

Highly recommended and a good choice for bookclub.

A rather disjointed tale that jumps around among time periods and points of view, this is the life story of Violet Swan, an artist who suffered multiple traumas as a child and teenager and who is now in her nineties and terminally ill. The novel alternates between Violet's life story and the effects of those events on her family during the summer leading up to her death. (Netgalley review)

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48706592-pale-morning-light-with-violet-swan

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book. Violet just pulled me in. This is not a book I would normally pick up but I was drawn to the description of this 93 year old artist . This tale is told through such lyrical writing, you can’t help but want to read and know more. I was fascinated by Violet and the life she led.

I loved this book! Couldn’t put it down. Excellent character development, interesting and compelling character interaction and relationships, well paced story. Violet’s history, her past experiences, and how she moved forward to craft a life that allowed her to move past all she had suffered was inspiring.

There are many good things about wonderful netgalley.com not the least of which is being introduced to authors and books you might never read. Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan was one of these for me. Thanks to the publisher, Mariner Books and netgalley for providing an uncorrected proof prior to publication.

This is the story of a famous abstract painter who has lived a very private life. Suffering from lung cancer, she finally gives in to her grandson, a filmmaker, and lets him produce a documentary. Her life is an adventure spanning decades from World War II to present day, filled with heartache and love which she describes through her painting. Rich with descriptive prose and flawed characters, Violet Swan will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

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.

Thanks to NetGalley & publisher Mariner Books for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

The heat warming sorry of Violet and her trials as a struggling artist. While life dealt her some tough blows , she was a fighter who refused to give up on her dreams. Love, life and family at its finest.

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.

Reed did a wonderful job of interweaving several generations of family and still keeping focus on the protagonist. The storytelling is at the right pace to unfold enough to keep you interested but not too fast that I could guess what happened. The book is full of surprises and I absolutely fell in love with the main character, Violet.

Reed developed three dimensional characters with their own faults and good qualities while providing interesting stories about the families while focused on Violet. It wasn't as historical as I normally liked but I found that I didn't care because of the stories Reed wove about the characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys books about generations of families learning about each other.

This story of 93 year old, painter, Violet, is at times melancholy and sometimes just plain sad, but keep reading. The writer expertly weaves Violet’s memories of her past into events of the present. It is sad that Violet never could trust anyone enough to share the events of her early life, but it all comes out in the end in a beautiful way.

This book is about Violet Swan, a renowned abstract painter who is dying of lung cancer at the age of 93. The reader is taken on a journey through Violet's life which she recounts to her grandson who is filming a documentary about her. Although the story starts out slowly it gains momentum as we learn about Violet's life. The author's develpment of Violet andeach person in Violet's life is complex and compelling. The descriptions of Violet's family, friends, and art are beautifully written.

Pale Morning Light... is a beautifully written saga of a woman who finds herself in a precarious situation in Georgia after the tragic death of her father and sister and sets out at age 14 to make a life for herself. After many trials and tribulations along the journey, she finds herself on the coast of Oregon in a delightful small town where she creates a wonderful life and fulfills a lifelong dream of becoming a world famous artist. She finds herself telling her oft hidden life story to her grandson. The twists and turns, ups and downs of family come to life as Deborah Reed weaves a wonderful novel. In the end It is just a warm feel good story, but the way the author ties it all together is just fantastic. I would recommend it highly.

Nearing the end of her life, renowned abstract artist Violet Swan experiences an earthquake living on the Oregon coast and revisits her 93 year life in a series of flashbacks. We weave our way through the past and present as stories are shared by Violet, her son Francisco, his wife Penny and grandson Daniel.. There are moments of tragedy and triumph, survival, love, truths and long kept secrets. This is a portrait of a strong woman who painted tranquil beauty out of hardship. Violet Swan life story and hidden secrets are shared through her art. The prose are vivid, magnificent and rich as the colors on Violet Swan's palette.
This is a powerful, mesmerizing read that will satisfy and bring great discussion to book clubs.
Thank You Deborah Reed & Net Galley for this satisfying experience.

The story of the life of Violet Swan, a 93 year old renowned artist, told through flashbacks. Intertwined with Violet’s story, we learn how her life affected her son Francisco, his wife Penny, and her grown grandson Daniel. This is a character driven book, exploring secrets, as well as tensions and lack of communication between family members. Beautifully written, it has a melancholy feel, but ultimately hopeful.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I picked up this book. However once I started reading I was drawn into Voilet's life story and the lives of her family. I enjoyed getting to know the characters little by little and to watch how they interacted. Voilet's life was fascinating as it unfolded slowly through the flashbacks. And her present day family life was just as interesting.

Haunting, lyrical, moving - a book full of great and ordinary love, deep loss, and fierce determination. Violet Swan is a dying artist with secrets she does not want to die with her. Her son Francisco, daughter Penny, and grandson Daniel, and a cast of memorable characters are woven into the story seamlessly as she lives out the final chapter of her life. They are wonderful and terrible, loved and feared - beautifully human even as their flaws are revealed. A sense of heartbreak and longing gently permeates every chapter.

Deborah Reed has done a masterful job of taking us on this journey with Violet, reminding us of things we often overlook in our recollection of the past - how a young girl can be taken advantage of, the terrible ways in which war affects everyone it touches, how hard it was for women to make their way in the world. In the end, this is a book about love - it shimmers like that pale morning light of the title and reaches into your soul.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Violet Swan is 93 and dying of lung cancer.  The famous painter has lived most of her life on an island off the Oregon coast, cherishing the beautiful coastline for its inspiration as well as privacy.  Violet’s son, Francisco, takes care of Violet’s business and he and his wife, Penny, live with Violet.  A small earthquake hits, and Violet’s son, Daniel, will be returning home from LA.   Daniel has a secret to tell, and soon everyone in the family is spilling secrets, remembering the past and learning some hidden truths.

It took quite a while for this book to warm-up.  The story moved very slowly, and it was very dismal and bleak.  It finally took an interesting turn when Violet began talking about her past.  The stories are told from Violet, Francisco, Penny and Daniel’s perspectives, unfolding slowly and mostly through flashbacks in their dialogue.  The writing is lovely, Violet’s life is interesting, but be aware that this is still a dismal and bleak tale.

www.candysplanet.wordpress.com

This book was a surprise to me. It was beautifully written, full of hope and forgiveness. I fell in love with the characters who were as real and flawed as we all are. This book was about a woman's survival, about motherhood, about love and family. Violet was as real to me as my grandmother, my mother and all the strong women who were part of my family and helped me be the person I am today. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced read and Deborah Reed. Review also published on Goodreads.