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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I would like to thank Candlewick Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Light Fantastic by Sarah Combs is a book that gave me a new perspective on common everyday life in the United States of America. As a Canadian, you would think our lifestyles and our daily way of life would be similar considering how close we are to one another…I mean we’re literally attached for crying out loud. So why is it that our lives are so very different from one another? I’m not saying that as a Canadian I live this perfect and sheltered life, but tragedies such as school shootings that are the main focus of The Light Fantastic, just aren’t as common here as they are in the United States. They definitely happen in Canada, don’t get me wrong…but even while watching the news at home, I hear so many horror stories that come out of the States that genuinely shock me.
The Light Fantastic takes place in a few different states and is told in the multiple perspectives of different characters throughout each of these states. The story takes place not too long after the Boston Marathon bombings that took place in 2013. It deals with the aftermath of that terrible event and how it has effected multiple teenagers throughout America. The Light Fantastic is definitely a dark read as it deals with some pretty heavy, and all too realistic, topics.
“…real-life shootings kept happening. All the time. No: all the time. These things could barely get a WTF out of anyone anymore, such was their frequency.”
While I typically enjoy multiple perspectives as a storytelling device, I found the amount of perspectives in The Light Fantastic to be a little confusing. I found it difficult to keep track of which characters were from which state and I found it hard to differentiate the characters from one another. Because this story was relatively short and due to the multiple perspectives, I found it really hard to connect to any of the characters. They felt a little flat and I didn’t feel as though I really got to learn much about them as people. There was definitely the potential to have interesting and dynamic characters throughout The Light Fantastic. I wanted to learn more about April and her memory. I wanted to learn more about “The Mastermind” and what made him tick and why he was the way that he was. While I did find the amount of perspectives to be a little much, I did love how they were all connected in varying ways regardless of the fact that they were all from different locations across America.
The Light Fantastic is such an important read, especially because of how realistic and truthful it is. As a Canadian, The Light Fantastic gave me a new perspective on what living life in constant fear of the next attack must feel like. I’m lucky enough to have grown up in a country with strict gun laws and I’m honestly really grateful for it. Once again, it’s not like terrible things don’t happen here, but I’m so glad that it isn’t something that feels like a common everyday occurrence.
“So I sit back down, go back to the only place there is to go, the last place I want to be: inside my own mind. It’s getting dark in there.”
The Light Fantastic definitely opened up my eyes to something that is happening right next door. It is an important read that deals with topics that need to be discussed more frequently. I hope that one day soon, these tragedies will feel less like the norm and more like a thing of the past.
--
Initial post reading thoughts:
While this book dealt with extremely important and all too real topics, I was a little underwhelmed by it. It was pretty slow and didn't pick up until the final chapters. I'm left with a few questions and the writing style just wasn't for me.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't feel like the story lines were resolved and I was left confused at many points in time. Disliked how many povs it switched between which lead to me being disinterested in the characters and confusion on what was actually important to the plot
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt
Everyone I know who has read this book loved it. It got amazing reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. I think I might be the only person in the history of the world who didn't like it. In fact, I couldn't even bring myself to finish it. There is no particular reason that I can put my finger on, other then the fact that the author's style and my brain just didn't jive well. I'm sure it's a great book... I don't even feel like I can offer a concise and negative review, because I honestly think it was me and not the book. So... I'd recommend reading someone else's review if you're interested in this book.
The date is April 19th, 2013, which just happens to be April Donovan's birthday. April has hyperthymesia, which in very basic terms means she has a superhuman memory. This can be good and bad. For example, remember that birthday part you had as a little kid? Imagine remembering every single amazing detail. Now think of the worst thing that's happened in your life, and imagine remembering every single horrible detail. Remember 9/11. Remember the Boston Marathon bombings. Remember school shootings. These are the things April has to deal with.
This novel is told from multiple perspectives, from April herself, to her friends, to people she's never met. They all intertwine in some way, and while I usually enjoy that I felt it wasn't executed perfectly. There were many times where I'd start a new chapter and I would have no idea who was talking, then I'd find out a few pages later and have to re-read to fully comprehend what just happened. Apart from that, I did enjoy the writing. I felt most of the characters had little quirks that shone through every now and then.
As always there were characters I loved and characters I disliked. I loved April, her abundance of facts around dates was always interesting and while I realise it would be annoying to constantly have those thoughts in real life, it was interesting for me to read. Pheobe was also a character I enjoyed. After joining an online forum, she ends up meeting a bunch of other teenagers and there comes The Plan. As the date for The Plan's execution draws closer she starts to have doubts. I loved that she was just a regular girl, I guess it helps dispell the stereotype of people that commit gun crimes.
This book deals with a lot of serious topics. Firstly, gun violence in America. I know everyone jokes about how gun crazy the USA is but I think Combs shone a much-needed spotlight on it. I think it would be interesting to hear an American's opinion on this, obviously, they wouldn't think anything that happens in this is "normal" but I feel a large proportion of American's have been desensitised to guns. The thing I liked about the book in regard to guns is that ordinary people are the ones that have guns, and I guess it makes you realise that it's normal people that usually conduct these horrible shootings.
This definitely an interesting read, and has many important messages people should be thinking about.
This novel is told from multiple perspectives, from April herself, to her friends, to people she's never met. They all intertwine in some way, and while I usually enjoy that I felt it wasn't executed perfectly. There were many times where I'd start a new chapter and I would have no idea who was talking, then I'd find out a few pages later and have to re-read to fully comprehend what just happened. Apart from that, I did enjoy the writing. I felt most of the characters had little quirks that shone through every now and then.
As always there were characters I loved and characters I disliked. I loved April, her abundance of facts around dates was always interesting and while I realise it would be annoying to constantly have those thoughts in real life, it was interesting for me to read. Pheobe was also a character I enjoyed. After joining an online forum, she ends up meeting a bunch of other teenagers and there comes The Plan. As the date for The Plan's execution draws closer she starts to have doubts. I loved that she was just a regular girl, I guess it helps dispell the stereotype of people that commit gun crimes.
This book deals with a lot of serious topics. Firstly, gun violence in America. I know everyone jokes about how gun crazy the USA is but I think Combs shone a much-needed spotlight on it. I think it would be interesting to hear an American's opinion on this, obviously, they wouldn't think anything that happens in this is "normal" but I feel a large proportion of American's have been desensitised to guns. The thing I liked about the book in regard to guns is that ordinary people are the ones that have guns, and I guess it makes you realise that it's normal people that usually conduct these horrible shootings.
This definitely an interesting read, and has many important messages people should be thinking about.
I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of this book. My problem was mostly the writing, which felt very childish to me and didn't have a very good flow. Also I just couldn't connect to the story at all and found it mostly pretty weird, but not in a good way.
Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of this book. My problem was mostly the writing, which felt very childish to me and didn't have a very good flow. Also I just couldn't connect to the story at all and found it mostly pretty weird, but not in a good way.
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
3 and a half stars.
I loved this book in the beginning, especially April's chapters. The way real life events are mentioned throughout made the story more believable, and the writing is what kept me interested.
However, as the story develops, more and more narrators are brought in which means it becomes a little confusing. A number of the narrators could easily have been left out of the story, which would have helped it flow better and kept the tension up. The teacher's is the strangest of all as she has very little to do with the story.
Overall, I think the book is worth a read for the author's writing.
3 and a half stars.
I loved this book in the beginning, especially April's chapters. The way real life events are mentioned throughout made the story more believable, and the writing is what kept me interested.
However, as the story develops, more and more narrators are brought in which means it becomes a little confusing. A number of the narrators could easily have been left out of the story, which would have helped it flow better and kept the tension up. The teacher's is the strangest of all as she has very little to do with the story.
Overall, I think the book is worth a read for the author's writing.
Not sure how I feel about this one. Pretty much the only thing I knew going in was that it was partly set in Delaware (and tbh that is 95 percent of the reason why I picked it up). It ended up being way more intense than I expected. There were a lot of narrators and it was sometimes difficult to keep track of which ones knew each other and where they were located. They did mostly have distinct voices, but sometimes I found them annoying. (Example: I am extremely opposed to characters thinking in hashtags. It is distracting and weird and unnecessary and what will people think reading them in twenty years or whatever when hashtags are just a distant memory?)
The other thing about this book is that it should be a home run for me because a. Delaware and b. Spoiler I guess??: one of the main characters, it turns out, is diabetic. Diabetes and Delaware, could this book be any more up my alley?? But the portrayal of diabetes was nothing more than a super convenient plot device. Early in the book, the mastermind narrator is thinking of things his body remembers how to do and lists "how to inject yourself with insulin" (109). At the time, I thought it was a tasteless example of things a person might use muscle memory for, because it's not until way later - when the mastermind has a conveniently serious hypoglycemic episode - that it becomes clear he actually has diabetes. And it conveniently - spoiler spoiler spoiler - keeps him from finishing his master plan.
There are so few diabetic characters in literature (like, I can count the ones I know on two hands, maybe even one), and the ones that do exist basically always have a severe and dramatic hypo- or hyperglycemic event because ~*~why else would the author have included it~*~. That is not what being diabetic is actually like. 99 percent of the time it's not dramatic and I dislike when books make it seem that way.
ALSO it seems like the author didn't do that much research because the character is having clear symptoms of low blood sugar and thinks, "That granola bar was ages ago. He should've brought his insulin pen" (209). That's not how low blood sugar works - he obviously didn't need his insulin pen, he needed more carbs. To be fair, I read a galley copy - maybe that error was corrected for the final printing. But still. Frustrating that the few portrayals of diabetic characters in literature are so hyperbolic/inaccurate.
The other thing about this book is that it should be a home run for me because a. Delaware and b. Spoiler I guess??: one of the main characters, it turns out, is diabetic. Diabetes and Delaware, could this book be any more up my alley?? But the portrayal of diabetes was nothing more than a super convenient plot device. Early in the book, the mastermind narrator is thinking of things his body remembers how to do and lists "how to inject yourself with insulin" (109). At the time, I thought it was a tasteless example of things a person might use muscle memory for, because it's not until way later - when the mastermind has a conveniently serious hypoglycemic episode - that it becomes clear he actually has diabetes. And it conveniently - spoiler spoiler spoiler - keeps him from finishing his master plan.
There are so few diabetic characters in literature (like, I can count the ones I know on two hands, maybe even one), and the ones that do exist basically always have a severe and dramatic hypo- or hyperglycemic event because ~*~why else would the author have included it~*~. That is not what being diabetic is actually like. 99 percent of the time it's not dramatic and I dislike when books make it seem that way.
ALSO it seems like the author didn't do that much research because the character is having clear symptoms of low blood sugar and thinks, "That granola bar was ages ago. He should've brought his insulin pen" (209). That's not how low blood sugar works - he obviously didn't need his insulin pen, he needed more carbs. To be fair, I read a galley copy - maybe that error was corrected for the final printing. But still. Frustrating that the few portrayals of diabetic characters in literature are so hyperbolic/inaccurate.
A short review, with a longer one to (possibly) follow:
The Light Fantastic is a mess of a book that never gets to a point. With the seven narratives, we're meant to be given this interconnected tale with some sort of profound message. In reality, we're given a book with seven voices that don't differ from each other at all. It's written in a stream of consciousness style, but nothing is done to separate April from the Mastermind. If the chapter titles hadn't been there, I would have never been able to tell the difference between any of them.
I didn't feel that anything happened in this book either. The main events of the novel just felt very contrived in order to give the reader a message--which, as I said before, completely missed its mark with me. There was nothing special about this book. The events of the novel have been done before and they've been done in more emotionally invested ways.
Perhaps if the characters had actually had any sort of a personality I'd feel different. The author should have focused on building the characters instead of trying to give us a message. Luckily it was a short read, but I'm still disappointed I spent my time reading it. I kept waiting for it to get better. It sounded like such a good book.
The Light Fantastic is a mess of a book that never gets to a point. With the seven narratives, we're meant to be given this interconnected tale with some sort of profound message. In reality, we're given a book with seven voices that don't differ from each other at all. It's written in a stream of consciousness style, but nothing is done to separate April from the Mastermind. If the chapter titles hadn't been there, I would have never been able to tell the difference between any of them.
I didn't feel that anything happened in this book either. The main events of the novel just felt very contrived in order to give the reader a message--which, as I said before, completely missed its mark with me. There was nothing special about this book. The events of the novel have been done before and they've been done in more emotionally invested ways.
Perhaps if the characters had actually had any sort of a personality I'd feel different. The author should have focused on building the characters instead of trying to give us a message. Luckily it was a short read, but I'm still disappointed I spent my time reading it. I kept waiting for it to get better. It sounded like such a good book.
I wrote a review of this book for The Washington Independent Review of Books:
http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/the-light-fantastic
http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/bookreview/the-light-fantastic