Mary E Hughes

This is an epistolary historical fiction novel, meaning a novel written as a series of letters from one person to another, about musician, wife and mother Violet Courtenaye during the years 1898-1906. This book focuses on the joys and frustrations of motherhood, and the life of a musician's wife. It takes place mainly in Canada, where Violet moved with her husband.

Like the first book in this trilogy, I thought this novel gentle and beautiful; a relaxing read in stressful times. It was not boring, but as the author said previously, it does not lend itself to speed-reading and should best be savored slowly. I enjoyed it almost as much as the first in the series, but you definitely need to be in a certain mood/mindset to read it. Four stars.… (más)

Imagining Violet was a good read for a change of pace. The book begins and Violet is just 16 in the late 1800's traveling to Leipzig, Germany to continue her musical education in the violin at the Conservatory. The entire novel, written in the form of letters to her parents, friends and later her fiance, chronicles her life. Violet shares her frustrations not only with tutors, peers, and life in a foreign country, but also with social conventions at the time such as various limitations put on women, like not being able to go anywhere as a young girl without a chaperone, the inability of talking to a stranger of the opposite sex without being properly introduced first, etc. She also shares her hopes for the future for all women: the hope of one day being able to vote, the possiblility of women being able to tour with ease as musicians and be excepted without prejudice, and longs for a day when people will not be judged solely based on the social class they were born into and have class not dictate who could be friends. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and liked reading the author's interpretation of Violet, the author's grandmother, and based upon what facts she knew of Violet's life. The novel spans her years at Conservatory, to her engangement and marriage. I received this book in exchange for an honest review-- thank you!… (más)