The Violet Hour

The Violet Hour is, to me, quintessentially a literary fiction. I’ve spent so much of my Bookstagram time in romance and fantasy that this particular book speaks like the subject that it surrounds: the harsh world art and those that deal in it. The tone feels very mature, as we follow several characters going through various points of emotional moments in their lives. The main characters are between middle age to senior, their personalities pronounced in their individual selves. When I say mature, almost every scene seems to have some sense of seriousness to it when it comes to their relationships (friends, family, lovers, business, etc.). 

To me, this book reads as if I’m looking at art. Now, to be honest, I don’t understand modern art. But as someone that’s crafty and creative, I can understand that the person who duct taped a banana to a wall had a vision and so, too, did the author of this book. The descriptions of expensive brands to names of well known artists sets a particular mood that I couldn’t quite relate to. The best way I can describe reading this is like walking through an art museum, but only understanding half the names and reasoning behind the art within said museum. 

Complex, weighty, definitely for a certain kind of reader. It’s very well written, heavy on descriptions. I feel as if I’d understand better what’s happening if it was on a cinematic level. I’d certainly have to read it again because the points where there’s flashbacks to the past blended too well with the present and I got confused. I can say this is not a book for my dad. While there is some family conflict (money related, standings on queerness), the fact that the characters have money to buy and live expensively is not relatable. I don’t regret having read this as this was a good exposure to something crafted in a genre I don’t generally read.
Thank you to  Colored Pages Book Tours and Pegasus Books for the gifted copy.

The Violet Hour is available in hardcover, e-book (kindle via the link) and audiobook.