Reviews

A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke

amy_heferen's review against another edition

dark emotional funny reflective 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

3.25

olivia_lauren_reads's review against another edition

2.0

Was expecting more out of this novel. I’m assuming this is semi-autobiographical? Main character cheats on his famous wife when they have two small children. He then suffers the consequences in the public’s eye, rightly so.

The sex scenes were male chauvinist cliché drivel that seem to be written by a high schooler. All the women characters were just bodies and their only dimension was wanting to have sex with the main character, married or not, they were willing. If I read one more line about a woman’s “giant heaving breasts”, I may have thrown the book in the bonfire.

Also, I think Hawke must not have interacted with his children much because 3 and 5 year old children do NOT have the prolific conversations that they had with their Dad in this book.

A BIG “don’t waste your time or money” from me. However, if I could have ripped every tasteless sex scene from this book and kept the rest, my review maybe would go up by another star.

eri_andherbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

dianametzger's review against another edition

3.0

The parts of the story about putting on a Shakespeare play on Broadway are great and honestly the reason for the three stars. Everything else is so repetitive of the kind of stuff Hawke has tackled in his films and his previous novels—father abandonment. The life stuff about a high profile divorce and celebrity was thinly veiled so should have maybe felt like a look inside or gossipy fun but instead it felt so empty and self important. Mostly why I’m so disappointed is that all the men in the book get to be these great philosophical figures and all the women are gorgeous ciphers or sexy and empty. Without the really interesting, insiders backstage theatre stuff this book feels like very amateur guy in your MFA crap.

latterman's review

2.0

While not without redeeming qualities (specifically around descriptions of the theater life), Hawke disappoints with this measly, self-insert, self-indulgent and misogynistic novel.

Lots of faux pretentiousness, poorly, disgustingly written women and black characters, tonal inconsistencies, you name it.

I’d not recommend it.

taydoe's review against another edition

4.5

4.5 averaged (my literary taste: 4 stars but 5 stars for accomplishing what the genre should)
10/10 narration - Ethan Hawke deserves an award!!

lenjagehrke's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

henrymarlene's review against another edition

2.0

I pose whether this novel can be considered two ways: the high and lows of a celebrity actor, or a recount of lowlights from possible real experiences? Either way, we are introduced to William Harding, a famous film actor, who has begun his first foray on Broadway (that rhymes!) as Hotspur in Shakespeare's Henry IV. At the very same time, his marriage to an famous rockstar crumbles away. Why? Well, William decided to have an affair in South Africa, and has now arrived back home to a New York hotel. His children stay with him; he buys them a 'guilt puppy'. And they have very philosophical discussions (for a 5 and 3 year old). Everyone wants to tell William why his did the wrong thing and what to do next. William never really listens to anyone, apart from his own victim layererd mind, and he continues to sleep with other women. He didn't seem sorry. Well, he said it once to his wife. But I didn't feel it. Where was the emotion, the commitment, the drive to want to make it better. Where was the method acting? Was he only sorry he was caught out?

The novel also provides a critical observation of the highs and lows of Shakespearian acting. The weaving of this craft, and the words of Henry IV into the life and mind of William was intriguing and that is where William's suffering was stunningly brought to life. It was in these moments one could forget that he was an idiot, and a sex-crazed, self-absorbed 30-year old who had hit rock bottom. Was William really grappling with first world problems which were the aftermath of his own stupid choices? Was he ever sorry or accepting for any of his choices and actions - his early marriage, his relationships with his parents, marriage breakdown, and taking resonsibility for his own actions?

lb151's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nledge's review against another edition

3.0

3.5