msnyderk's review against another edition
3.0
I am hovering between three and four stars so I'm thinking three and a half. This book is so different than The Art of Racing in the Rain, which I loved. Something fell short for me even though I love a good old house, spirits and dysfunctional family story. Still worth the read.
hercomfortbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I just need 2 days to read it and i cried. To be honest this book made me miss my relationship with my dad, I'm speechless. Thank you very much
gwennielb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a “blind date” book, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the writing! It wasn’t life changing for me, but definitely a good read!
britlaccetti's review against another edition
5.0
A Sudden Light is a modern novel about a boy named Trevor who is forced across the country with his father to deal with an old and crumbling estate. Clever Trevor meets his grandfather and strange Aunt Serena and he is instantly amazed at the grand estate that his father never mentioned to him.
Trevor digs into the past to find out the history of the estate and why it's so important to either A. Develop it, or B. Let it crumble to the ground and become one with nature. There is a ghost, Ben, who "haunts" the estate who tries to convince Trevor to do the latter.
It's a coming-of-age story for Trevor - he is forced to make difficult decisions that will impact his entire future. Stein's writing is poetic and beautiful. The reader is able to feel exactly like Trevor and feel the mysteriousness of the Estate. Overall I really enjoyed this "read" (I actually listened to the audiobook which was really good) and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a modern writer with the talent of description.
Trevor digs into the past to find out the history of the estate and why it's so important to either A. Develop it, or B. Let it crumble to the ground and become one with nature. There is a ghost, Ben, who "haunts" the estate who tries to convince Trevor to do the latter.
It's a coming-of-age story for Trevor - he is forced to make difficult decisions that will impact his entire future. Stein's writing is poetic and beautiful. The reader is able to feel exactly like Trevor and feel the mysteriousness of the Estate. Overall I really enjoyed this "read" (I actually listened to the audiobook which was really good) and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a modern writer with the talent of description.
erin1096's review against another edition
2.0
DNF. I'll give it a second star for some early 20th century queer representation, but that's it, I literally could not trudge myself past page 210. It was a ghost story with all telling and no showing, with weird intermittent social commentary that was clearly from the author and had no place in the story, and some bizarre aunt fetishizing that added nothing. It was on my shelf and I'm committed to giving the books I own a shot, but I simply could not get through it.
moogen's review against another edition
3.0
I bought this book without so much as reading the blurb on the strength of Garth Stein's previous book "The Art of Racing in the Rain". I suspect "A Sudden Light" was better crafted. But it didn't knock me over. That said, it was still entertaining and money reasonably well spent.
mdcnlmldrm's review against another edition
4.0
The architecture of the Riddell house and the family secrets its ghosts slowly revealed to the narrator really hooked me, and I stayed up until dawn to finish it on the third day of reading it. The gay scenes may make some readers uncomfortable, though it was Sister Serena's relationship with her family which gave me the heebie-geebies. But that's what makes a good book right, unexpected plot twists that may or may not creep you the hell out?
All sorts of emotions occurred for me at the end. For those readers who reviewed saying they got bored... they really missed out on a captivating read. Glad to start my 2017 challenge off with this book!
All sorts of emotions occurred for me at the end. For those readers who reviewed saying they got bored... they really missed out on a captivating read. Glad to start my 2017 challenge off with this book!
scijessreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Not quite gothic, but definitely a story of a house haunted by ghosts. Family ghosts trying to hold others to promises. A family full of regret and anger and haunted by those that came before.
While there were moments of drag, I did enjoy the story of Trevor Riddell and his family, forces to go back to their ancestral estate near Seattle to try and get Grandpa Samuel to sell it for profit. However, there was a promise made years before that it would be returned to the city to atone for mistakes made by the original builder and family patriarch Elijah.
Trevor must come to terms with ghosts of family past, an aunt that is seriously unhinged and manipulative, and a father that is clinging to guilt and regret.
The audiobook was well-narrated, and I think helped move the story along in the slower parts.
While there were moments of drag, I did enjoy the story of Trevor Riddell and his family, forces to go back to their ancestral estate near Seattle to try and get Grandpa Samuel to sell it for profit. However, there was a promise made years before that it would be returned to the city to atone for mistakes made by the original builder and family patriarch Elijah.
Trevor must come to terms with ghosts of family past, an aunt that is seriously unhinged and manipulative, and a father that is clinging to guilt and regret.
The audiobook was well-narrated, and I think helped move the story along in the slower parts.