The Age of Light started off just a little slowly for me, but nevertheless was entirely worth the read! By the end, I was so sad it was over. It makes you grapple with what you would sacrifice in your own life, and makes me really want to read more into the life of Lee Miller!

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had all the aspects to make it a fantastic read: Paris, art scene, drama and complicated relationships. Unfortunately I couldn’t get to the next level because I had a hard time with the characters. I wanted so badly to connect with Lee and Man Ray but I couldn’t feel it!

I did enjoy the overall premise of the story as well as the plot. That kept me engaged throughout the read. . But it never made it to that next level for me.

An exquisite story from beginning to end. I became as captivated reading the words as one would have looking at photos taken by Man Ray and Lee Miller. All of us are flawed and AGE OF LIGHT balanced both the good and bad in each of us. Beautifully written and highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for my honest review.

A must read!! Rarely do I pick up romance or ANY book pertaining to love; however, this one is so relatable! The author did a phenomenal job of making the main character someone you can connect with. You'll grow to cheer for her and feel anger at her injustices! The story takes place in that transitional time when women were just gaining their rights to do more than have babies and stay home. Lee is wild, curious, talented, and beautiful. While her love for Man helps her personality and talents flourish, she finds that truly loving someone forces you to make sacrifices and put up with things you might not have otherwise. Is it all worth it? Where do you draw the line? I love how this story kept flashing back to Lee's time fighting the war. She spends her life searching for peace and without giving anything away...it took living and growing old to finally understand what being at peace meant.

I feel a little duped. This is a steamy romance novel masquerading as a historical fiction book.

I appreciated the bits of the book about photography and the war and those scenes totally redeemed the book for me. Maybe if I had not read other novels about Lee I would have felt different. I just didn't expect the book to focus so much on her sex life.

I appreciated the book and thought it was ok.

Thank you Little Brown for my copy.

I do love a book based on a real person, and The Age Of Light did not disappoint.
I admit I knew nothing about Lee Miller or Man Ray until I read this book, but I quickly got caught up in their story of making art, making love, and the life that happens in between.
Scharer is a strong writer, and the character development and pacing of this book is excellent. Miller is written with a tenacity and realism that is uncommon for women portrayed during that part of history, and it's frankly refreshing. She's deeply flawed and you find yourself loathing her at times, but ultimately rooting for her the entire time as she finds her way to the woman she wants to be - not what Man Ray, or her father, or society frankly expects of her.

I wanted to like this book. Clearly the author did a lot of research about photography. The Bohemian lifestyle of Paris seem to be the main thrust of this book in addition to the topic of photography as a source of income for the main characters. The main character seemed confused regarding her ability to understand real relationships. That became obvious towards the end of the book and pretty much the book ended a chapter after that. Very disappointing ending to what I thought was leading up to some sort of resolution.

I have mixed feelings after reading this book. I enjoyed it, but oh the heartache. I loved Lee, I hated Lee. I felt bad for Man, I was angry and frustrated with Man. Whitney knows how to tug at the heartstrings for sure. A great historical fiction read, especially for the lovers of art, romance and all the scandal to go along with it.

This book was a bit of a drag to be honest. I liked the idea of learning more about Lee Miller the photographer, but felt like I learned more about Lee Miller's sex life than I did about the art she created with her camera.
I do judge a book on my own eagerness to pick it up and read it, and this one was put down much more often than it was picked up. I can't quite pinpoint what made it slow going though, I guess other readers will have to judge that for themselves.

I had no expectations for this book after reading a few conflicting reviews. I was gladly surprised by the contents and atmosphere of the story.

Since I didn’t know that Lee Miller or Man Ray were real people, nor that this was a fictional tale of their relationship, I imagined my own characters entangled in 1930s Paris. It was only after I finished the book that I discovered they were real people. Surprise!

Loved the narrative, the contrast between pre-war Paris and its excesses, and the snippets of Lee’s life as a war correspondent during WWII. Lee Miller was a creative, beautiful woman ahead of her time.

I had the pleasure to listen to this title as an audiobook beautifully narrated by Thérèse Plummer. In addition, I receive a copy from Little, Brown, and Company in exchange for an honest review.

While this book wasn't my cup of tea, I know a lot of customers who come in the library will enjoy it's romance and sense of place. I did like the author's description of the setting. It was lush, and easy to feel as though I were there at times. I had no idea the main character is based on a real woman, who I found really interesting when I began researching her.

I think I would have liked more about her adventures as a photo journalist and less of her falling in love. However, for readers who like a bit of romance, this will be great!

I really loved The Age of Light! Whitney Scharer did a wonderful job writing such an amazing love story that takes you back in time! Whitney does an amazing job transporting me as the reader to a magnificent location in such an romantic time! It was def a book that kept me interested!
I look forward to read more from her!

[4.5 stars]

I don’t normally love historical fiction or love stories (and The Age of Light is both), but I loved Scharer’s take on it! Mainly because it’s not just a love story or historical fiction…it could also be called a “badass lady book.” It’s the story of a woman who is defined by the man in her life trying to break out on her own…to be known for her own work. And, I do have an excellent track record with these kinds of historical fiction love stories (ex: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, Loving Frank). Scharer immediately immerses you in 1930’s Paris and I was engrossed in the story right from the beginning. Man Ray and Miller have a complicated relationship…he’s her teacher, boss, mentor, lover, and creative partner, but she also teaches him. I appreciated the fight in Lee…her drive to be known for her own work and her gumption at the end of the book. My one complaint is that I always love the Author’s Note in these kinds of books because it usually tells you where the story is historically accurate and where he/she took liberties for the sake of the story…this Author’s Note just contained the usual thank you’s to her team, family, etc. I should also warn you that this one is steamy…if that bothers you.

I loved the photography premise behind this story. It just introduces a whole new perspective on what the true art of photography was. It's just a bit hard for me to get into stories that have a war reference to them. I did like the steamy romance aspect.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

So having spent time on Google researching about Lee Miller and Man Ray and their outstanding work in surrealist photography and paintings, I was expecting maybe a bit too much from this novel. Alternating between the couple's chaotic relationship in the 1920's to Lee Miller's work during WWII, the best bits of the story are when the focus is on the art productions. With a fair bit of rationalizing, I rounded this story up to a 3 because the war bits are phenomenal and show Lee Miller's lasting legacy as an artist. No influence on the rating but more of a personal reaction- I felt both Lee and Man Ray were very unlikeable.

Decadent and captivating, THE AGE OF LIGHT is a sumptuous trip to a time when imagination flowed throughout Paris and the artists who we revere today drank champagne all night and created all day. Unraveling the artistic, political and social movements of the time, Whitney Scharer tells her story of 1930s Paris and the battlefields of World War II through the eyes of Lee Miller, esteemed photographer and photojournalist --- and lover of painter and photographer Man Ray. Told in nearly photographic prose, this debut novel crystallizes an iconic moment in time, and highlights the birth of Surrealism, photojournalism, and the roles of women in these and many other movements.

THE AGE OF LIGHT opens in 1966, when Lee is a middle-aged woman whose years of edgy photography and traversing war-torn Europe are seemingly behind her. Desperate to wake her from her artistic slumber, her editor at Vogue magazine visits her at her farm in Sussex, and asks her to write a piece about her years with Man Ray. At this point, both Lee’s editor and the reader are expecting a dreamy love story, but bold, tenacious Lee has something else in mind: the truth. So begins a story of toxic love, steamy sex and one of the most creative eras of our time.

When beautiful young model Lee Miller arrives in 1920s Paris, she is determined to make her way behind the camera. For years she has posed for her father, his friends and the fashion photographers of Vogue, but now she is ready to make her own way, on her own terms. Unfortunately, despite her good looks, she finds Paris unwelcoming and cold --- not to mention a bit dismissive of an American model. Her luck changes following a particularly terrible evening when she meets the Surrealist artist Man Ray. Employing her brash stubbornness and wicked determination, she convinces Ray to hire her not as a model, but as an assistant.

Surrounded by the glamour of Paris with their senses heightened by their artistic natures, Lee and Man soon begin to toe the line between colleagues and something more. Before long, Lee is not only Man’s assistant, but also his muse and lover, and Paris --- as well as art, sex and creativity --- come to life for her. But it is not always easy for Lee to play wife, coworker and fantasy, and her relationship is fraught with tension. Intellectual companionship and sexual intimacy can only support these two tortured artists for so long, and their tale is riddled with moments of passion, grief and borderline abuse.

I should say here that THE AGE OF LIGHT is definitely a steamy read. But unlike so many novels where men take the lead, this is all about Lee’s sexuality and how she learns to come to terms with her body. She is a confident woman, yes, but she also has suffered for her beauty, and when she begins to discover herself, the book takes on a wonderfully feminist bent.

Interspersed with these glittering chapters about the Parisian art scene are hard, cutting vignettes of Lee’s future life as a photojournalist during World War II. The Lee we meet here has shed her glamorous skin and become hardened, ugly and alcoholic. Her hatred for the Nazis burns off the page, as does her trauma: photographing dying and deceased soldiers day and night, turning to substance abuse to numb the pain, and employing sex as both a weapon and medicine. Where Scharer’s Paris chapters will make you swoon and soar, these will shock and horrify, resulting in a daring and vivid portrait of a complicated woman whose tenacity knows no bounds.

Through it all, it is Lee’s connection to her camera, and the art and science of photography, that truly grounds her and connects her to readers. Lee is not always “likable” --- her brash combination of determination, sexuality and talent will scare off some --- but when she is holding a camera, THE AGE OF LIGHT turns into a heartfelt love story. Scharer writes about photography with a passion that feels pure and obsessive, and her descriptions of finding the perfect image are absolutely scintillating. Even amateur photographers (like yours truly, who somehow manages to include her finger in every photo) will be dazzled by Lee’s love of photography and the way it allows her to better process the world around her.

That said, the area where Scharer truly shines is her descriptions of trauma and the means we use to recover. Even before arriving in Paris, Lee is no stranger to abuse --- she was raped as a child, her father photographed her in questionable attire, and her mother was distant and jealous --- but when she finds herself in yet another toxic relationship and later on the battlefields, her emotional pain leaps off the page. Scharer does not shy away from the harsh realities of Lee’s PTSD either, showing her disassociate, bed strangers, and even turn to alcohol and pills in order to numb herself or heighten her senses enough to produce the work required of her.

The shock of seeing Lee abuse liquor makes her previous scenes of downing champagne with Man Ray and his posse just a bit darker and all the more ominous. Despite the rawness of these scenes, it is clear that Scharer has a compassion for her version of Lee that makes her feel incredibly real, if not always relatable. You will not always agree with Lee’s choices, but you will certainly respect them, which is the sign of a talented author who knows how to develop her characters with grace and humanity.

Mesmerizing, wickedly sexy and full of girl power, THE AGE OF LIGHT is historical fiction for the modern reader. This unflinching portrait of one of the most iconic and yet often underlooked female artists will fill in many of the blanks in your knowledge of art history, while simultaneously reminding you to celebrate women’s contributions to the industry. Whether you have a Lee Miller print hanging in your home right now or have only ever heard of Man Ray, THE AGE OF LIGHT will immediately pull you in.

Historical fiction at it's best. Whitney Scharer's debut novel is beautifully written. The novel immerses us into Paris life during the 1930s. It introduces us to Lee Miller, a model, photographer, journalist, and war correspondent. As all good historical fiction novels should do - I found myself googling Lee Miller to learn more about her. She was a strong and amazing woman. Miller, I believe, never saw herself as a strong and accomplished person but I see her as one. She moved from America to Paris with little to no money with a dream to get out from in front of the camera to become the one behind it - to produce her own photographic art. She had an abusive childhood but she pursued avenues to make her dreams come true during a time when women weren't encouraged by society to accomplish things on their own.
In Paris, she meets Man Ray, the famous photographer, and lobbies to work for him. She gets the job and learns much about photography from him. Their relationship becomes intimate. Her life was quite the adventure - from her creative endeavors to her time as a war correspondent. She excelled as an accomplished chef toward the end of her life. She had her demons and turned to alcohol during her time as war correspondent and toward the end of her life which was a shame because she had such potential to accomplish even more. She lived before her time - when society did not admire women for what they could accomplish.
This novel made me think about our lives. If we weren't so busy living and could step out of our day to day to see the whole picture of what we are accomplishing - we just might be happier. Step back every now and then and look at the good things in your life - you just might be amazed - as I was with the life of Lee Miller!

Age of Light is geared toward readers who enjoy coming of age stories about personal growth. Lee is a character who is very unlikable; she is materialistic, vain, confident, and beautiful, as she likes to remind you throughout the novel. She looks down on others and believes she is more beautiful than the majority of females throughout the novel. I would say readers who enjoyed reading The Bell Jar would most likely enjoy the storytelling in this book, unfortunately, I did not enjoy either.

The story has three different timelines. The past where Lee moves to Paris due to be tired of modeling and wanting to find her own pathway. The present where she is an old woman with an alcohol problem and struggles to write/take photos. The mid-way point where she is smack dab in the middle of the war where she captures what is happening with her camera. The majority of the time period is her account of her relationship with the famous photographer, Man Ray, and her development of her photography skills. Although this novel takes place in the early 1900’s I struggled with the “historical fiction” aspect since the history was brief. Since the time line switches throughout the novel, I expected more of a plot or story, but everything felt extremely disjointed. The author fails to answer the first timeline of Lee as an older woman and why she is the way she is: What happened? Why does she drink to excess? The timeline where she is in the midst of a war is captivating, but extremely rare. In addition, you do not know how she even became involved in becoming a photographer for the war and writing stories.

Lee is an independent woman who does not always makes the right choices or knows what she wants in life.
She is a free spirit who does not want to be tied down yet loves fiercely in the moment. The characters were vividly described, and I could see every aspect of them, their looks, their personalities, their best/worst qualities. However, the plot was disjointed and lacking terribly. The timelines were sporadic and did not align with each other. I was intrigued at first, but the main timeline had me struggling to continue. This novel would interest a certain audience, but unfortunately it was not me.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the writing in this book - it was evocative of a time and place, with lots of descriptions of food and art and clothing. I enjoy those sorts of details. I also appreciated that this was not a historical fiction where the author throws all their research in your face, though the name-dropping did get a bit much sometimes. Overall, you can tell that Scharer did a lot of research about Lee Miller, and this book made me want to know more. I'd say with any historical fiction, if you've made me want to know more, it was successful.

My one issue was the description of the book didn't quite match what we got. I expected there to be more psychological exploration of the relationship between Lee and Man, but it was more... sensual, and the emotions were mostly limited to love and passion, rather than the darker aspects. Which I expected to see more, especially later. Lee's conflict when Man tells her she can only do the film with Cocteau if she promises to be with him forever would have been a good place to insert that more contemplative character exploration.

{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
The Novel’s Structure – I really liked the way debut author Whitney Scharer chose to set up her book. It begins with a prologue set in 1969. In it we see Lee Miller long past her glory days as a Vogue model and a WWII photographer/correspondent. She’s a mess and I immediately wanted to know more. From there the story shifted to 1929 when Miller fled to Paris, abandoning her modeling career and wanting to do something with photography. We see her love for the art and her drive to learn to be better at it. Most of the book spans just the couple of years she worked intensely with Man Ray, first as his assistant, then his muse, eventually his lover, and finally an artist in her own right. The Miller/Ray story in itself was fascinating, but interspersed with it were very short chapters from Miller’s years as a WWII photographer. These were brilliant and gave you just a hint of the trajectory that drove her life to where it was in the prologue.

A Woman in Evolution – I’ve read other stories about Lee Miller and have always admired all she managed to accomplish in her own era. For a beautiful woman to move from in front of the camera to behind it and travel across bloody battlefields was truly a feat. Scharer did a wonderful job highlighting that. Yes, The Age of Light is historical fiction, but it felt like Miller’s true story and her actual feelings, which is exactly what I want in good historical fiction.

“She thinks of telling Man about her picture: the woman’s mouth rounded into a perfect O, her emotions as visible as her flesh. But it is not Man she wants to tell. She wants to tell herself, so she plays it back in her mind, reliving again and again the feeling of power she got when she released the shutter at the exact right moment.”

A Love Story/Not a Love Story – The main focus of this debut is definitely the relationship between Lee Miller and Man Ray. Their’s might be described as a typical artist/muse relationship if The Age of Light wasn’t written from Miller’s perspective. The evolution of their love proceeded exactly as one might expect, until it didn’t any longer. Miller was a complicated woman with an even more complicated past and she wanted more then to be the woman behind a famous man. That fact made her story so much more interesting.

An Epilogue That Works! – As many of you know, I’m not generally a fan of epilogues. I feel like they too often put an unnecessary neat and tidy bow on a story, but in The Age of Light the epilogue worked. Miller’s story had to have some sort of resolution, the circle of her life had to be completed and that’s exactly what Scharer did with the end of her book. I loved it!

What Didn’t
Slower Middle – For me there were a few chapters toward the middle of the book where it sort of lost its momentum. These chapters were important to the growth of Miller, but they might have been a little more succinct. Overall, they slowed the book just a bit.

{The Final Assessment}
You will RARELY hear me say anything like this, but The Age of Light left me wanting a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Miller during her first few years in Paris, but the hints of what she accomplished later in her career and especially of her years as a war correspondent left me hungering for more. I want to know more about what she did in the years between the early 30’s and the start of WWII and I especially want to travel with her in the harsh years of that war.

“If they knew – they had to know – there is no way they didn’t know –

If she – the smell. She will write of it to Audrey.

One by one the members of the press corps leave. Lee stays. She must bear witness. The film canisters fill her pockets, grenades to send out for publication.”

If that follow up ever comes along, I’ll be first in line to grab it! Grade: A

Note: I received a copy of this book from the Little, Brown and Company in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!