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sydna_lowe's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Written entirely in letter format. A sweet, sentimental story about a mass shooting, the victims' recoveries, mental health, and healing. I was rooting for the main character the whole time and was very endeared to him. The ending was touching.
The audio narration was excellent.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book but not one that is going to stick with me long term.
The audio narration was excellent.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book but not one that is going to stick with me long term.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
thespinystacks's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
rmkhen's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
mollyjordan's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
squiggidy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Gun violence
rachelleahdorn's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Beautiful but too sad for me
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
starswallowingsea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
nina_av's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
The best-selling author of Silver Linings Playbook, and a host of other novels, Matthew Quick released his first book in five years earlier this month. We Are the Light is a relatively short novel with a powerful message — our relationships are medicine.
The novel is written in the form of 18 letters addressed to Karl Johnson, a local Jungian psychoanalyst, from his “most loyal analysand” Lucas Goodgame. Lucas writes in the wake of a movie theater shooting that has impacted him, Karl, and the whole community of Majestic, Pennsylvania, for the worst. As Lucas embarks to heal through the creation of an indie film with teenage outcast Eli, he also grapples with the loss of his wife and mental health.
This is a moving and emotional piece, and the unique style of narration is a refreshing change from the omnipresent and detached narrator I often find myself reading. You can sense Lucas’ ups and downs, his deteriorations, his fears and anxieties, and what he’s holding back. For me, the desire to learn what he leaves unsaid from letter to letter is what compelled me to keep reading. The riveting prose was just a plus.
We Are the Light is an easy 5/5 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, and Murder
Moderate: Self harm
abigailweisse's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
oceanwriter's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this. I loved the notion of a book that included the presence of guardian angels, so I took the chance.
After a tragic incident in town, Lucas is grieving the death of his wife and battling the survivor's guilt that goes along with it. The way he copes is by writing a series of letters to his former analyst. These letters go unreplied, but he persists. In the meantime, he befriends Eli, a young man Lucas finds camping in his yard. They forge a friendship and begin a project together that further helps the healing process.
I enjoyed the structure of the book as well as the psychology involved. It was also an interesting interpretation of angels and how so often when we lose someone close to us there's a part of them that we hang on to. It manifests itself in different ways for each of us. As for the story itself, something was lacking for me. I didn't remain invested all the way through. Still, I enjoyed it perhaps more than I thought I would.
After a tragic incident in town, Lucas is grieving the death of his wife and battling the survivor's guilt that goes along with it. The way he copes is by writing a series of letters to his former analyst. These letters go unreplied, but he persists. In the meantime, he befriends Eli, a young man Lucas finds camping in his yard. They forge a friendship and begin a project together that further helps the healing process.
I enjoyed the structure of the book as well as the psychology involved. It was also an interesting interpretation of angels and how so often when we lose someone close to us there's a part of them that we hang on to. It manifests itself in different ways for each of us. As for the story itself, something was lacking for me. I didn't remain invested all the way through. Still, I enjoyed it perhaps more than I thought I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Self harm