A Sudden Light is not just a ghost story, it's a multi-layered epic about the power of redemption and how the past influences our lives in more ways than we can imagine. This is a novel that I carefully read, devouring each and every word and description; A Sudden Light is a slow-paced, but brilliantly told novel with a story that spans generations and is so expansive in scope. This is such a rare coming-of-age novel with an ingenious mystery that's full of surprises, Garth Stein has written a splendid follow-up to The Art Of Racing In The Rain.
Trevor's life is on the rocks with his parents splitting up and he sees moving back with his dad to the family mansion as an opportunity to fix up his parent's marriage. Little does Trevor know that Riddell House is occupied by a ghost and is filled to the brim with hushed up family secrets. The ghost has very different wishes for the House than his Aunt Serena who is looking to make a pretty buck off of it.
A Sudden Light is at heart a coming-of-age tale about a boy coming to terms with his sexuality, manhood and the ugly past. Trevor undergoes a major transition from the beginning of this novel to the bitter end and his character makes a huge leap in maturity. Suddenly Trevor is forced to grow up and though he doesn't always handle this well, he makes the best of his crappy situation and becomes the best person he can be. Trevor doesn't have to take on the trouble of the past, yet he takes on the burden of his ancestors and tries to fix their heaps of errors.
This is a character-oriented novel and so, Trevor's family is put under a microscope for much of this novel. Between the characters who are alive and those that live on in the past, each family member is a hot mess and provide so much entertainment and drama for the reader. If you think you're family is a disaster, wait until you meet the Riddells who just might be the most messed up literary family ever.
A Sudden Light is a stunning literary work that will haunt readers long after finish and leave them with chills. Stein has written a beautifully written novel and this one has the potential to be one of the biggest books of the year. Those looking for a perfect book club pick or just something truly spectacular should definitely pick up A Sudden Light.
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ReplyDeleteStein creates a story that gives us pause one minute and food for thought the next. I loved it, and I am one who does not read ghost stories or fantasy. This novel never lags, and it's going down as one of my best reads in 2014.
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