Reviews

Gerda Blees weaves a captivating tale about individuals grappling with the void in their lives. Through deliberate acts of deprivation, whether it be forgoing food or material possessions, they attempt to reclaim a sense of control in the face of helplessness. Yet, as their self-imposed sacrifices reveal their inherent fragility, their pursuit of abstinence becomes increasingly absurd.

Muriel, Petrus, Melodie, and Elisabeth fall prey to unscrupulous 'saviors' who preach salvation at a steep price: Believe fervently, with the right mindset and disciplined self-control, and you can survive without sustenance, sustained solely by light. As the members of this small community waste away, they stubbornly perceive their emaciation not as evidence of deception, but as a testament to their own inadequacies, leading to a tragic outcome.

The book delves into themes of isolation, manipulation, and the eternal quest for meaning. What sets it apart as an exceptional reading experience is the ingenious and surprising narrative: a chorus of multiple voices that gives expression not only to humans, but also to various entities, objects, and even abstract concepts. This ranges from the highly exalted to the mundane: Night, sound and love all find their voice, but so do the crime scene, a juicer, and two cigarettes.

Gerda Blees skillfully crafts characters who have little left to offer, their strength depleted in every aspect of their lives. The depth of their thoughts and emotions is more hinted at than explicitly captured, yet they emerge as richly developed and multifaceted personalities.

The writing style is a delight: sophisticated, creative, captivating, and clear – truly one of a kind. This cleverly staged drama leaves a subtle yet profound impact, making it a remarkable debut!

frissariss's review

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dark emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

abbie_'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC in exchange for a review!

I loved this unique little book from The Netherlands, taking a look at a tragic event from the perspectives of some highly unusual narrators. We Are Light examines the run-up and aftermath of the death of Elisabeth, the oldest resident of the Sound & Love commune, who has died emaciated in her living room watched by her sister and two housemates.

The first chapter sets the scene, narrated by the Night on the night of Elisabeth’s death. I initially thought this was just a quirky prologue, but it soon became clear that Gerda Blees had a unique narrator in mind for every chapter. We hear from a slice of bread, the neighbours as a collective group, a pen, the internet, the facts, Elisabeth’s body, and so many more. I worried that I’d quickly tire of this device, I realise it could easily come off as gimmicky, but honestly I thought Blees pulled it off amazingly well! There were perhaps a couple where it felt more like we were just inside the heads of the suspects, instead of a cigarette or the scent of oranges, but for the vast majority of the book, it’s done impeccably.

It was wild how much of an insight we managed to get into the lives of both Elisabeth and those around her from these random perspectives. Like the chapter narrated from the POV of Elisabeth’s corpse was extremely moving, it put you right in the grip of her death AS she was dying, and told you about the devastating lack of closeness she’d shared with anyone while alive. Then we had a chapter narrated by senile dementia which was similarly heartbreaking and effective - the choppy style worked perfectly, and showcased Michele Hutchinson’s immense translation talent. I also loved the chapters with internet and ‘the facts’ - they felt very ominous and were a reminder of how easy it is to fall prey to scams, cults, fads, and how little responsibility people on the internet end up bearing for the consequences of their actions.

Can’t recommend this one enough, a sharp and unusual examination of blame, responsibility and self-deception, though please tread carefully if you’re sensitive to discussion of disordered eating.

Content Warnings

mpatshi's review against another edition

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3.0

mooi boek, leuk geschreven vanuit het perspectief van heel uiteenlopende mensen en elementen.
De ouders, het huis, de nacht, twee sigaretten,... komen aan het woord en vertellen hun deel van het verhaal.

Wat is er gebeurt en is iemand schuldig aan de dood van 1 van de bewoners van Klank en licht.
Klank en licht , een woongroep met 4 leden die denken te kunnen leven van enkel licht en geluid.

heel sterk laatste hoofdstuk.
Sterk debuut.

zarlynsnook's review

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informative tense fast-paced

3.0

I enjoy reading this book mainly because it introduced me to an idea I never knew before. The commune that characters belong to in the book is something I didn't know exists. I was so intrigued with the idea of "living on light" and the premise of not eating food as a form of meditation. This topic is really a serious one and I think should be tackled cautiously. Upon finishing this book, I concluded that all this book has done was an introduction.It didn't really dive deeper into what the commune is all about and whatever things or happenstance the characters have experienced in order for them to choose this way of life. In short, it lacks chararterization and backstory. Despite the unique narrative of using non-human narrators, it still lacks tha wow factor I was aiming to experience while reading the book.

mldirenz's review

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5.0

This was an incredible, unique read that I couldn't put down. One of the easiest five stars I've given and I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone remotely interested in the story.

The premise of the book is on the Sound and Love Commune, a group of 4 members who follow alternative psychological healing strategies and attempt to live on minimal food. This results in one of the cult members dying, and throughout the novel you follow the 3 survivors through the repercussions of that.

The style of the book is incredibly unique; in each chapter, you follow the perspective of an inanimate object and their view of the cult. For example, you read from the perspective of their house, instruments, and their juicer. The voice of each chapter feels very distinct and gives you a nuanced perspective of each of the 3 main characters. One of the chapters is addressed to the reader directly, breaks the fourth wall, and does some very unexpected things which I absolutely loved.

The book does a great job tackling our perceptions of death from a cultural, spiritual and sociolegal perspective. Throughout the novel you really understand the inner workings of the cult, what might prompt someone to join it, and the damaging effects that wellness culture can have on vulnerable individuals. It very much feels like something conjured up in the Goop laboratory, and expertly straddles between satire and serious tones.

I can see how the ending might be not universally praised, but I personally really enjoyed the final chapter and viewed it as a very natural conclusion to the story.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

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