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Where the Light Remains: A Novel
Set at either ends of a century, Where the Light Remains weaves the stories of two remarkable women linked by art, landscape, and the intricacies of marriage.
In 1886 Cornwall, an artist from the Newlyn School paints a portrait of a striking woman, Claira, the wife of a Methodist farmer. In the painting, Claira basks in the luminescence of a woodland sunset, violin in hand, the still air holding the notes she has just played.
In 1986, Claire, a painter, and her husband settle with their two boys in the Cornish farmhouse where Claira once lived. As Claire falls in love with the rugged landscape -- and her husband with another woman -- Claire makes two discoveries that change her as a woman and as a painter.
The lives that fill this elegant novel are a testament to the powerful ways that sensual discovery, creativity, and the experience of marriage connect women across time.
In 1886 Cornwall, an artist from the Newlyn School paints a portrait of a striking woman, Claira, the wife of a Methodist farmer. In the painting, Claira basks in the luminescence of a woodland sunset, violin in hand, the still air holding the notes she has just played.
In 1986, Claire, a painter, and her husband settle with their two boys in the Cornish farmhouse where Claira once lived. As Claire falls in love with the rugged landscape -- and her husband with another woman -- Claire makes two discoveries that change her as a woman and as a painter.
The lives that fill this elegant novel are a testament to the powerful ways that sensual discovery, creativity, and the experience of marriage connect women across time.
415 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 12, 2015
This was a very good read with a dual time line about two women, Claira from 1886 who is passionate about playing violin and marries a Methodist farmer and Claire from 1986 who is married with two boys and is rediscovering her love of painting and moves into the same house Claira lived.
What I liked about this novel:
The setting which was on the coast of Cornwall for both story lines and the author does a good job of describing the scenes.
The first quarter of the story is told in what feels like fragments, almost teasing the reader but made me want to keep reading to discover what happens.
A little sexual tension between Claira and her husband Munro.
I liked how well the author connects the two stories of Claira & Claire
Being someone who went to art school and college for art, I loved reading about the art, the drawing, painting and discriptions. How Claire was unsure about her talent and rediscovering it and about how Claira was asked to pose for a talented artist who paints her portrait. The artist who paints Claira's portrait is Elizabeth Armstrong who was an actual real artist from back in 1886, I looked online to see her paintings.
What I didn't like about this novel:
The ending left me feeling a tiny bit deflated.
What I liked about this novel:
The setting which was on the coast of Cornwall for both story lines and the author does a good job of describing the scenes.
The first quarter of the story is told in what feels like fragments, almost teasing the reader but made me want to keep reading to discover what happens.
A little sexual tension between Claira and her husband Munro.
I liked how well the author connects the two stories of Claira & Claire
Being someone who went to art school and college for art, I loved reading about the art, the drawing, painting and discriptions. How Claire was unsure about her talent and rediscovering it and about how Claira was asked to pose for a talented artist who paints her portrait. The artist who paints Claira's portrait is Elizabeth Armstrong who was an actual real artist from back in 1886, I looked online to see her paintings.
What I didn't like about this novel:
The ending left me feeling a tiny bit deflated.
April 1, 2009
A very interesting first novel. Two parallel stories both located in a farmhouse in Cornwall though separated by over a hundred years. Claire and her children have moved from London (her husband will follow on weekends). Claira has left her impoverished family to marry up – a man somewhat older than she and a strict Methodist. There are many small surprises in this narrative, and most of the characters are not stereotypes. Both Claira and Claire venture into the world of art, Claira’s portrait is painted by Elizabeth Armstrong (a real painter) and Claire finds this painting and has it restored. A great dip into art history via the modern world.
March 30, 2007
Why hasn't this author written more books?
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April 11, 2021I loved the artistry of this book the two women, two timelines and how they wove in and out. The landscape descriptions, the art and violin the juxtaposition between the two main characters was so intriguing.
I found myself identifying with both women. They were alike in many ways but also very different. The love stories that as one was just starting and the other ending was also a wonderful way of linking the two women from different times.
Beautiful writing. I highly recommend this book.
I found myself identifying with both women. They were alike in many ways but also very different. The love stories that as one was just starting and the other ending was also a wonderful way of linking the two women from different times.
Beautiful writing. I highly recommend this book.
June 29, 2022
A bit slow, very detailed, but characters were well developed and the story was interesting.
March 1, 2023
Enjoyed this book very much although it ended very abruptly.
April 17, 2008
This is yet another book I picked up off the library shelf based on the "Historical Fiction" label affixed to its spine. It did not disappoint.
Hayden Gabriel tells the story of two women, separated by 100 years, and linked by name, location, and art. They come to live in the same Cornish cottage, Claira as a new bride in 1886, Claire as a woman looking for a more peaceful life away from London in 1986. Both are artists; Claira is a virtuoso on the violin in a time and place where such talent can be dangerous, and Claire is a painter who has not allowed her talent to shine since becoming a mother. Eventually, both develop close relationships that support their art. The final link between the two women is a masterpiece Claire finds - a painting of Claira, although, of course, she doesn't know it.
The book takes a few pages to get used to, as it's written in the present tense, and the parallel stories both take place in the past (book published in 2002). Gabriel has a comforting voice, however, and I was quickly drawn in. The point of view alternates without pattern between Claira's and Claire's lives, but it doesn't seem choppy.
Hayden Gabriel tells the story of two women, separated by 100 years, and linked by name, location, and art. They come to live in the same Cornish cottage, Claira as a new bride in 1886, Claire as a woman looking for a more peaceful life away from London in 1986. Both are artists; Claira is a virtuoso on the violin in a time and place where such talent can be dangerous, and Claire is a painter who has not allowed her talent to shine since becoming a mother. Eventually, both develop close relationships that support their art. The final link between the two women is a masterpiece Claire finds - a painting of Claira, although, of course, she doesn't know it.
The book takes a few pages to get used to, as it's written in the present tense, and the parallel stories both take place in the past (book published in 2002). Gabriel has a comforting voice, however, and I was quickly drawn in. The point of view alternates without pattern between Claira's and Claire's lives, but it doesn't seem choppy.
June 16, 2013
I enjoyed this novel of marriage and art set in a Cornish farmhouse. It was a beautiful story of two women set 100 years apart. I like the fact that although their lives were connected by the house, that their stories were separate. It was beautiful and poignant. There were dream/thought passages, however that were disjointed. I'm sure that the author was reaching for that state when people are just waking up or are in the throws of great emotion, but I didn't think for the most part these passages either worked or were necessary. Otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Claira and Munro negotiated their marriage and how Claire 100 years later found her own passion in art. It is a story that will make one reflect on the merit of their own passions.
June 28, 2015
NOTICE: This is the same book as "The Quickening Ground ." Just a different title. I really liked this book. (And not just because it's written by my lecturer). The style and form brings immediate picturesque images of the end of the 19th Century set against the rugged nature of landscape overtime. The lifestyle and choices that people made at the end of both centuries (19th & 20th) is beautifully brought to life. I felt connected to the two protagonists through the descriptive language Gabriel uses. I especially liked the 1886 and Claira's chapters. It was very reminiscent. I recommend you read this.
August 3, 2011
This is a very easy read, quite light. The one thing that I did really like about it was the fact that it is based around a farmstead or home and written from two different perspectives...the people living in it in current time and the young married couple who owned it about 100 years ago. Very neat.
October 7, 2012
Beautiful descriptive writing but it weighs down the book,and the plot moves very slowly. The story is about two women, and, by the end, I am frustrated with one and disappointed with the other. The plot weaves in and out of each woman's life but does not bring a satisfying conclusion.
January 7, 2009
Parallels 2 stories, Claira in 1886 and Claire in 1986, in Cornwall. Artistry, creativity, and the beauty of nature. LOVELY
January 14, 2010
Set in Cornwall, historical fiction with a modern counterpart. Nice book, fun to read.
July 22, 2013
Enjoyed this book very much although it ended very abruptly.
April 2, 2016
Interesting parallel of lives a century apart. While two marriages struggle, the artistry of painting is described in detail. This book was a little slow to finish but enjoyable none the less.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews