Reviews

Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler

andrearbooks's review

4.0

Light from Other Stars by Erika Swyler was an interesting read. The description of the book didn't share this had an element of science fiction. Once I figured out it did, the plot all made far more sense. The story focuses on Nedda during two timeframes. First, there is 11 year old Nedda. Her father has been let go from NASA, and he is taking on projects in her basement around how to control and alter time. Then, there is Nedda as an astronaut. She is on a mission, and she is reflecting on her work and what led her there. When Nedda was 11, the Challenger tragedy happened, and by virtue of her dad, she knew those who were on the mission, so this connection is interwoven. This one was all-around intriguing, but I also wanted so much more in a good way. There were so many stories of characters that weren't told, as well as "Wait, what?" reveals where I had questions and wanted to have so many more details. This is a little off the beaten path of what I would normally read, but the relationships and connections between Nedda and her dad were quite wonderfully written. It keeps secrets and makes reveals in such a captivating way. I wasn't sure what I was getting in this one, but came out on the other side really loving what I'd read. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to check out this read!

kirstenhands's review

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

maviemerveilleuse's review

challenging emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

awesomejen2's review

5.0

I really enjoyed this book and surprisingly not for the sci-fi elements. While this book had sci-fi elements, in my opinion it was in no way the focus of the book. The book (in my opinion) was more about family relationships (particularly between parents and children), sacrifice, and the processing of grief.

akcurtis's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

jerseygrrrl's review

4.0

Beautiful, brainy, and full of love.

thisbookbelongstosk's review

4.0

**Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the advanced copy of Light From Other Stars in exchange for an honest review.**

This book is fascinating, shocking and still very much grounded in the real world, making it an incredible science fiction novel that doesn't even need to leave earth.

Although, it does inevitably take the reader into space by using 2 timelines as a narrative device, I found the most intriguing story developments happened on earth in the 1980s.

We are introduced to a few characters in the small Floridian town of Easter (near Cape Canaveral and NASA), but are mostly viewing the story through the eyes of Nedda, her mother Betheen, and father (disgraced NASA scientist) Theo.

Theo invents a machine that is intended to fight entropy, but instead wreaks havoc on the town of Easter and it's residents. As the book progresses, I found myself struggling to accept or respect what Theo had done, but the author does a wonderful job of challenging the reader to see all sides of the characters' circumstances.

Some of the descriptions of the "event" that the author provides are beautifully written in all their horror.

I really liked this book. At times it felt like I was reading scientific nonsense, and there's obviously a certain suspension of disbelief that needs to exist in the reader to not overanalyze the math or science involved, but the story as it unfolded, had me glued to the page.

sneakyawe's review

3.0

I wasn’t really a fan of the way this book was written. I enjoyed the concept, but it was way too flowery for me. I liked the way things came together though, it flowed together nicely.

***Won in GoodReads contest***

dpj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

rclyburn's review

5.0

I enjoyed the portrayal of Nedda's changing relationships with her parents. My favourite line from Betheen was, "'Don't think for one second he's the only reason you're smart.' Nedda's shocked expression was both satisfying and sad." My own mother said something very similar recently. I liked the cut-ins in 1986 of the side characters' points of view; it kept the narrative feeling fresh and the world large and authentic.

I felt like there was a lag in the pacing from the beginning of the problem in 1986 to when the problem is recognized and the solving begins. This may be because Theo's point of view chapters stop.