zogg's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
deniset's review
3.0
When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory.
Over the next week, Cohen's childhood comes back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his parents' separation. The accident Cohen witnessed and the traumatic images he couldn't unsee. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Is he responsible for his father's death?
In Shawn Smucker captivating style, he weaves together a fascinating tale of forgiveness, reconciliation and hope even in the darkest time. I really enjoyed this story of real and broken people. It was a book that I quite enjoyed this book. I love how he weaves in some mystical and super natural elements with some of the very real and timely events. If you are a fan of authors like Billy Coffey and Ted Dekker, you will likely enjoy this book too.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Over the next week, Cohen's childhood comes back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his parents' separation. The accident Cohen witnessed and the traumatic images he couldn't unsee. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Is he responsible for his father's death?
In Shawn Smucker captivating style, he weaves together a fascinating tale of forgiveness, reconciliation and hope even in the darkest time. I really enjoyed this story of real and broken people. It was a book that I quite enjoyed this book. I love how he weaves in some mystical and super natural elements with some of the very real and timely events. If you are a fan of authors like Billy Coffey and Ted Dekker, you will likely enjoy this book too.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
danielharding's review
4.0
The truths were helpful although at times muddied in their presentation. Maybe a little too much internalizing for the protagonist. 3 for the story but a strong 4 for the truths.
cath518's review
4.0
A BookishFirst win.
This book is about the story of Cohen Marah, who is the son of a funeral home owner. Cohen has a sister, Kaye, who left with their mom when their parents separated. This book takes place over 5 days in the life of Cohen. It starts with him stepping over his dad's bloodied body inside the funeral parlor. His dad is brought to the hospital and an investigation is started. During the course of the investigation, Cohen encounters Ava, a girl from his childhood, who is now a detective. Cohen wonders if he killed his father but he isn't sure. During the course of this week, he relives a time from his childhood where he encounter Hippie and Than, siblings who are desperately trying to escape The Beast. Cohen joins them in their search with a disastrous ending. He had buried these memories and isn't quite sure why they are coming out now. While visiting his dad in the hospital, he befriends a young boy whose grandfather is in the next room.
I have never read a book by this author before and I almost gave up when The Beast was introduced but I stuck with the story. It was a good story but a bit hard to get through.
This book is about the story of Cohen Marah, who is the son of a funeral home owner. Cohen has a sister, Kaye, who left with their mom when their parents separated. This book takes place over 5 days in the life of Cohen. It starts with him stepping over his dad's bloodied body inside the funeral parlor. His dad is brought to the hospital and an investigation is started. During the course of the investigation, Cohen encounters Ava, a girl from his childhood, who is now a detective. Cohen wonders if he killed his father but he isn't sure. During the course of this week, he relives a time from his childhood where he encounter Hippie and Than, siblings who are desperately trying to escape The Beast. Cohen joins them in their search with a disastrous ending. He had buried these memories and isn't quite sure why they are coming out now. While visiting his dad in the hospital, he befriends a young boy whose grandfather is in the next room.
I have never read a book by this author before and I almost gave up when The Beast was introduced but I stuck with the story. It was a good story but a bit hard to get through.
kathryn_changedbychrist's review
5.0
Shawn Smucker is slowly but surely making his way into my favorite authors list with his mesmerizing and lyrical writing style and unique, gripping stories.
What I liked about this book:
The story. I honestly didn’t know whether I would like it or now but it surprised me. I though it would play out more as a murder mystery, what with them trying to find out what happened to Cohen’s father and all, but it was more of an emotional read about Cohen’s relationship with his father-and mother, to some degree. So even though it was unexpected, I loved it all the same.
The characters. There was something about this cast of characters that made me really connect with them. They were real and flawed and searching just like all the rest of us and that, mixed with Smucker’s writing style, made me fall in love with every person in this story.
The writing style. Yes, I know I’ve already mentioned this, but Smucker’s writing style is so amazing and lyrical and, oh, he just has the ability to draw readers in and never let them out!
What I didn’t like about this book:
The fact that it ended. There was absolutely nothing about this book that made me not want to read it. Nothing. Nothing that made me dislike is, and nothing that would make me not recommend it to any person I meet. Yes, it was that good.
**I received a complementary copy of this book but was in no way required to write an honest review. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my own.**
What I liked about this book:
The story. I honestly didn’t know whether I would like it or now but it surprised me. I though it would play out more as a murder mystery, what with them trying to find out what happened to Cohen’s father and all, but it was more of an emotional read about Cohen’s relationship with his father-and mother, to some degree. So even though it was unexpected, I loved it all the same.
The characters. There was something about this cast of characters that made me really connect with them. They were real and flawed and searching just like all the rest of us and that, mixed with Smucker’s writing style, made me fall in love with every person in this story.
The writing style. Yes, I know I’ve already mentioned this, but Smucker’s writing style is so amazing and lyrical and, oh, he just has the ability to draw readers in and never let them out!
What I didn’t like about this book:
The fact that it ended. There was absolutely nothing about this book that made me not want to read it. Nothing. Nothing that made me dislike is, and nothing that would make me not recommend it to any person I meet. Yes, it was that good.
**I received a complementary copy of this book but was in no way required to write an honest review. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my own.**
bargainandbooks's review
5.0
The very first reason I wanted to read this book was the cover and the title. I absolutely judged this book by its cover. It was so stunning and eye catching I didn’t even care what it was about. It was so much more than I expected. A story of love and loss, woven into two parallel times in Cohens life. This book touches on the struggles Cohen has within himself, his relationships with his parents, his faith, his past and the loss of his father. I thought the depiction of life and death coexisting in a somewhat symbiotic way was beautiful and sad. It was also beautiful to see how different people deal with (and don’t deal with) grief. I found the battle Cohen had inside himself while he struggled to find his faith was really well done, and relatable even if you are not a religious person.
fayelle's review
4.0
Almost pulsimg
Good book but hard to categorize for me... it seems to almost pulse with thrilling aspects and sentiment and drama and science fiction a little. I wavered between giving this 3 and 4 stars bc I wanted more thrill. I did really enjoy the thrilling aspects and yet was tangled up by the dramatic and simultaneously kind of boring relationships.
Good book but hard to categorize for me... it seems to almost pulse with thrilling aspects and sentiment and drama and science fiction a little. I wavered between giving this 3 and 4 stars bc I wanted more thrill. I did really enjoy the thrilling aspects and yet was tangled up by the dramatic and simultaneously kind of boring relationships.
laurathomas's review
5.0
Light from Distant Stars has been described as "eerie and enchanting"—I would concur! This beautifully written story digs deep into the childhood of the protagonist, Cohen, who is now a middle-aged man in a state of shock after discovering his father's almost-dead body. As readers, we are drawn into Cohen's vivid, fantastical memories as he attempts to make sense of his secret past and the complicated relationship he has with his father. Faith, grief, forgiveness, and hope all play their part in this highly original, well-crafted book.
I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher.
I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher.
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