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A review by ameliasbooks
Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
If you liked A Little Life or are interested in these kind of books, this is a book for you. Don't get me wrong, this is a story dealing with trauma, but the main protagonist is dealing with it in a very different way. It is a story about foster care, abuse, trauma, but also about resilience, about survival, about trying to own a life. The main protagnist is such an interesting character and portrayed really well.
It is a tough book, but so worth reading and it deserves much more attention. I already can hear people shouting 'trauma porn' and I am happy for these people to have a life, in which only once in a while bad things are happening or nothing really that bad at all. And I'm hoping, that they are able to live protected in that bubble for good. Because out there are people, who have to suffer through a lot.
My only criticism about this book is a familiar one: it is a bit too long and the ending is a bit rushed and somehow neat. Authors seem to be able to create interesting stories and to be weaving in a lot of ideas and details, but often don't really know how to wrap everything up with the same intensity and plausibility.
Nonetheless this is a hot candidate for one of my books of the year.
It is a tough book, but so worth reading and it deserves much more attention. I already can hear people shouting 'trauma porn' and I am happy for these people to have a life, in which only once in a while bad things are happening or nothing really that bad at all. And I'm hoping, that they are able to live protected in that bubble for good. Because out there are people, who have to suffer through a lot.
My only criticism about this book is a familiar one: it is a bit too long and the ending is a bit rushed and somehow neat. Authors seem to be able to create interesting stories and to be weaving in a lot of ideas and details, but often don't really know how to wrap everything up with the same intensity and plausibility.
Nonetheless this is a hot candidate for one of my books of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Alcohol