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At the dawn of the Belle Epoque, an artist in Paris tells his students to “study where the light falls and where the shadows lie.” In many ways, Where the Light Falls
does just that–looks at the light and shadows in the lives of the American expatriates who flocked to Paris in the 1880s to learn art and life, and to find themselves and who they really want to be.
Jeanette Palmer knows she’ll get into trouble when she helps a fellow student elope from Vassar College with a young man considered unsuitable by the bride’s family. But she doesn’t expect to actually get expelled. At first she’s devastated, but she manages to talk her family into letting her go to Paris to study art, as long as she’s chaperoned by her middle-aged Cousin Effie, a spinster since her one true love was killed in the Civil War.
The two arrive, find a suitable pension, and enroll Jeanette in art school. They begin to make friends with other single women artists, some with male chaperones (brothers, husbands) and some there alone. We are offered a glimpse into Paris of that era, with its dingy attics that were too hot in summer and freezing in winter, its crooked and dirty alleyways, its quartiers that are now trendy and expensive but then were considered on the outskirts of town and very accessible to those of limited means. We see women beginning to make their way as serious artists, and the prejudices they face as such. We see the temptations that befall them, to cheapen their work into sketches for money, to turn to the easy out of drug use to face difficult situations.
Where the Light Falls also follows the path of Edward Murer, a Civil War veteran now a pharmacist, struggling with an addiction to laudanum. Visiting Paris with his brother’s family after a trip to their family home in Germany, Edward decides to stay and begins to spend time with Jeanette and Effie. At the same time, Jeanette is beginning to win some recognition for her work. In a timeless quandary, she will have to decide how to balance art and love, or indeed if such a balance should even be attempted.
Where the Light Falls offers a tantalizing glimpse into Europe of the times. Jeanette, Effie and some of their friends spend the month of August in Brittany. Edward attends an art show of artists whose works weren’t permitted in The Salon, people like Monet, Cassatt and Degas. He spends some time in Italy and the south of France as well.
Characters grow, develop and change. My favorite was the character of Effie. Semi-despised by her nieces and nephews who she’s helped raise in her role as the washed-up, faded spinster aunt, she comes into her own as a independent woman in a new place where she’s accepted, or not, on her own terms. I also enjoyed watching Edward emerge from a lonely bachelorhood in Ohio to a man about town amongst the expatriates of Paris, and watching Jeanette develop as an artist and as a person, as she watches her friends face consequences of their actions.
Author Katherine Keenum drew upon her own family history as inspiration for this story. Her great-grandmother was dismissed from Vassar after helping another student elope and spent time in Paris. However, since none of her actual diaries have survived, Keenum drew on other sources and her own imagination to create the characters that people this novel. She has obviously researched the times and places she portrays, as they are well-presented and accurately drawn, and mix historical and fictional characters.
I’m pleased to announce that one of you can win a copy of Where the Light Falls. Just enter to win in the rafflecopter below.
susan smoaks says
i do most of my reading in the bathtub
rachel travis says
On the couch in front of the fireplace or in bed!
🙂
Allison says
Before bed! All curled up
cassandra mccann says
my living room
Caitlin McClure says
I mostly read before sleep
Kimberly Hilbert says
I do most of my reading right before bed.
James Coyne says
In my bedroom
Lisa says
right before bed
Kari Flores says
In the middle of the day, outside relaxing on the porch.
Charlene S says
I like to read at night.
Stephanie Larison says
Right before bed.
mary renshaw says
I read the most in the spring or summer while the kids are outside playing and I sit close by and watch and read. Also before bed!
Julia Packer says
I read everynight after I lie down in bed, its peaceful and helps my eyes get ready for sleep
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
in bed at night
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Ed Nemmers says
In a comfortable chair!
kathy pease says
I usually read at night in bed
Tricha says
I love to read before bedtime
Paula Tavernie says
At night!
ptavernie at yahoo dot com
Jennifer Paige says
I do most of my reading before bed, makes me sleepy.
Charlotte Padgett says
I’m single so I read in bed.
Rebecca Peters says
I like to read BEfore bed
Beth C says
i read at night
LOIS PAYTON says
in the afternoon, GOD BLESS YA’LL
Hesper Fry says
I read in the evening before I go to bed.
april yedinak says
I read all day long- when I am eating, cooking, watching TV, etc. I always have a book with me.
Kelli B says
I like to read before I go to sleep.
Darlene Ysaguirre says
Late at night after hubby and kids go to sleep
danielle lima says
at night before bed
Van says
More so on the weekends.
Katie says
On lunch hour or before going to bed
Linda White says
In the evening before bedtime.
Don says
Sometimes during lunch hour.
Shannon Baas says
in the evening while relaxing.
Edna Williams says
I do most of my reading during the evening before I go to sleep.
Karen Gonyea says
In bed right before sleep 🙂
Daniel M says
in bed before sleep
Chuck says
I get most of my reading done when I’m not feeling well.
Anita Yancey says
I do most of my reading in the afternoon and early evening.
Beth C says
Most of my reading is done at night before I go to sleep.
June says
On long road trips in the car.
Mozi Esmes Mom says
Late night – after kiddo is sleeping…
Tammy Shelton says
Bedtime, right before zzzzzzz
nannypanpan says
at the beach
[email protected]
Jenny says
At night, before I go to sleep.
Lori D. says
I read a lot when I’m sick in bed.
Natalia says
When the kids are in school
DEBIJOT says
Usually right before bedtime.
Sandra K321 says
In the evening when there isn’t anything on TV.
Carol Wong says
Sorry, accidently posted twice.
Carol Wong says
I do most of my reading in the evening when everything is done. Love that time of the day.
Carol Wong says
I do most of my reading when everything is done. I really look forward to that time.
Stephanie Hanes says
I often read at night after the kids are in bed or sometimes when I’m watching them take a bath. 😉
Jean Lewis says
At night before bed. And on days off.
Cindi says
My paternal grandmother came over here from Calais, France,with her
parents on a cattle ship, around the time period
of this book..
I enjoy reading in our family room. I have a very comfortable
chair to read in…
Many thanks, Cindi
paige aka mrs. bacon says
Usually, whenever I can get a few minutes…naptime, locked in the bathroom, before bed.
Liz V. says
Any time I have a chance. Try to have a book with me always.
anne says
right before I go to sleep.
Garrett says
At night when I’m having a hard time getting to sleep.
Donna says
During the evening time
Wehaf says
I mostly read in the hour before I go to sleep.
amyc says
During the evening after the kids are in bed.
Rose says
I do most of my reading in the evening, before bed.