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captainchunk503's review against another edition
4.0
"She knew he was lost now, blinded by the dirty sun and oozing out into forever.."
Where the Sun Shines Out is a story about two brothers who are kidnapped from a local festival. One brother escaped, and the story goes on to show his struggles throughout the next 20+ years, along with others in his life. This book was a great,dark read. It was heartwrenching at times. It was written in such a creative way, going through the years of these characters lives. What made the story even more interesting, to me, is that it was actually based in a local town near me called Chittenango. Which made the story, while a work of fiction, really hit close to home.
I can't wait to read what Kevin comes up with next!
Where the Sun Shines Out is a story about two brothers who are kidnapped from a local festival. One brother escaped, and the story goes on to show his struggles throughout the next 20+ years, along with others in his life. This book was a great,dark read. It was heartwrenching at times. It was written in such a creative way, going through the years of these characters lives. What made the story even more interesting, to me, is that it was actually based in a local town near me called Chittenango. Which made the story, while a work of fiction, really hit close to home.
I can't wait to read what Kevin comes up with next!
tashareece's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Where the Sun Shines Out by Kevin Catalano is a dark and gritty debut that is quite enthralling despite the utter heartbreak that follows the kidnapping of two young boys.
In 1992, ten year old Dean Fleming and his younger brother Jason are kidnapped while they are attending the town's annual Oz Festival. Dean manages to survive the ordeal and in the years that follow, he remains wracked with guilt and caught in an increasingly downward spiral. Over the next 22 years, his life touches other residents of their small town and no one escapes unscathed.
Each of the chapters feature different characters and how their lives are affected in the aftermath of the tragedy. The first chapter is dedicated to the kidnapping and the traumatic outcome that virtually destroys the Fleming family. Dean is unable to tell authorities what they need to know to capture one of the kidnappers and in the years that follow, he bullies his only friend Brett Patrick.
The next chapters continually move forward in time and jump from character to character.and eventually circle back to Dean. Attempting to quash his pain, anger and confusion, he goes down a very dark path that leaves destruction and despair in his wake. Just as it appears that he has finally conquered his haunting past, Dean finally must face his demons but will this final showdown destroy him?
Where the Sun Shines Out is an emotionally compelling read that is impossible to put down. The characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic. The storyline is full of angst with Dean and the residents whose lives intertwine with his with making choices that end with devastating consequences. Kevin Catalano brings this bleak novel of despair and dysfunction to a bit of a cliffhanger conclusion that will leave readers wondering what the future holds for Dean Fleming.
In 1992, ten year old Dean Fleming and his younger brother Jason are kidnapped while they are attending the town's annual Oz Festival. Dean manages to survive the ordeal and in the years that follow, he remains wracked with guilt and caught in an increasingly downward spiral. Over the next 22 years, his life touches other residents of their small town and no one escapes unscathed.
Each of the chapters feature different characters and how their lives are affected in the aftermath of the tragedy. The first chapter is dedicated to the kidnapping and the traumatic outcome that virtually destroys the Fleming family. Dean is unable to tell authorities what they need to know to capture one of the kidnappers and in the years that follow, he bullies his only friend Brett Patrick.
The next chapters continually move forward in time and jump from character to character.and eventually circle back to Dean. Attempting to quash his pain, anger and confusion, he goes down a very dark path that leaves destruction and despair in his wake. Just as it appears that he has finally conquered his haunting past, Dean finally must face his demons but will this final showdown destroy him?
Where the Sun Shines Out is an emotionally compelling read that is impossible to put down. The characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic. The storyline is full of angst with Dean and the residents whose lives intertwine with his with making choices that end with devastating consequences. Kevin Catalano brings this bleak novel of despair and dysfunction to a bit of a cliffhanger conclusion that will leave readers wondering what the future holds for Dean Fleming.
ssham92's review against another edition
4.0
"Dean woke to a soft hot ear branding his cheek."
So, begins this bleak, but haunting book. This book starts off with two brothers who get kidnapped, but only one survives. The story continues on the aftermath of the kidnapping, and the brother who survived. Each chapter in the book is from a different perspective, and novel goes through a span of 22 years. As the time goes on, the author is not kind to his characters. They have flaws, make poor decisions, and some of them are outright cruel. However, each character is fascinating, and most are sympathetic. As a reader, multiple perspective drive me nuts, but the multiple pov, in this story, was done perfectly, and I wanted to know the story of each character and how they connected to the main story.
Fair warning this book is dark, dark. Did I mention dark? But if the reader can handle it, it is so worth the read. This book is not gimmicky, and it doesn't portray the light side of life. Interestingly, this book is set in Chittenango, and there's a bunch of Wizard of Oz references in the story. (Which if you've read anything on Judy Garland, you'll never see the movie the same way). There's something very human, and tragic in this book that will grasp the reader and show them the things they are afraid to see. Ultimately, this book is definitely worth the read, and it'll make you wonder why more books aren't this powerful. If you love dark books, books that make you think, great characters, this book is for you! This book is fantastic, and I look forward to more of what the author writes!
So, begins this bleak, but haunting book. This book starts off with two brothers who get kidnapped, but only one survives. The story continues on the aftermath of the kidnapping, and the brother who survived. Each chapter in the book is from a different perspective, and novel goes through a span of 22 years. As the time goes on, the author is not kind to his characters. They have flaws, make poor decisions, and some of them are outright cruel. However, each character is fascinating, and most are sympathetic. As a reader, multiple perspective drive me nuts, but the multiple pov, in this story, was done perfectly, and I wanted to know the story of each character and how they connected to the main story.
Fair warning this book is dark, dark. Did I mention dark? But if the reader can handle it, it is so worth the read. This book is not gimmicky, and it doesn't portray the light side of life. Interestingly, this book is set in Chittenango, and there's a bunch of Wizard of Oz references in the story. (Which if you've read anything on Judy Garland, you'll never see the movie the same way). There's something very human, and tragic in this book that will grasp the reader and show them the things they are afraid to see. Ultimately, this book is definitely worth the read, and it'll make you wonder why more books aren't this powerful. If you love dark books, books that make you think, great characters, this book is for you! This book is fantastic, and I look forward to more of what the author writes!
jlynknight's review
4.0
This book was weird and disturbing, but not all books and stories need to be fuzzy and heart warming. This story is based in a town that experienced a tragedy and a family that just wasn’t able to handle it and deal with it. It happens and this book was realistic about it. We like to think that when children go missing they come home and all is well.. not the case.. a lot of people in the town are already hopeless and drug addicted which probably didn’t help with how the tragedy was seen or handled. This book just touches on things nobody would want you to know about in this world where we show off on social media. Some parts of it were uncomfortable, but that’s okay. This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read and that is what I liked about it! It also makes you think of your actions and how they could hurt those around you. It’s a very easy read. I finished in like 2 days because I wanted to know more.
alexcarbonneau's review against another edition
4.0
Catalano might very well redefine the Grit-Lit genre and i'm still pondering if this book went too far or if I wasn't just up for it. Full disclosure, I've had a very hard time reading this book.
Not because it isn't good, nor is it poorly written. To the contrary, Catalano's debut novel is a powerful work of fiction that I believe he worked on for almost a decade before its first publication.
The prose is beautiful and poignant and Catalano's best "tour de force" might be his ability to give the reader a stomach ache and/or have him/her shut the book close for not being able to handle what might comes next while doing so without being gore, obscene or seem desperate for sensationalism.
This novel feels like a collection of short stories that are all linked togheter somehow.
It feels disorganized, or maybe more like disjointed but it all ties up and makes for the kind of novel that I've never seen before. Call me ignorant, I probably am!
I might need to read something about unicorns after this one.
Not because it isn't good, nor is it poorly written. To the contrary, Catalano's debut novel is a powerful work of fiction that I believe he worked on for almost a decade before its first publication.
The prose is beautiful and poignant and Catalano's best "tour de force" might be his ability to give the reader a stomach ache and/or have him/her shut the book close for not being able to handle what might comes next while doing so without being gore, obscene or seem desperate for sensationalism.
This novel feels like a collection of short stories that are all linked togheter somehow.
It feels disorganized, or maybe more like disjointed but it all ties up and makes for the kind of novel that I've never seen before. Call me ignorant, I probably am!
I might need to read something about unicorns after this one.
charlesdoddwhite's review
5.0
A strongly written story of suffering and its consequences on both people and place.
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