You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. It begins on Easter in 1938, where 19-year-old Ivy roams her family's English country estate and prepares to meet her brother's girlfriend. She lives in an unconventional household for the times: her mother and father are separated and living apart with their respective partners, but they still come together as a family, and they're all renowned artists. From that day, we follow Ivy through five other days over different decades.
I think this was meant to be a slice of life book, focused on Ivy's growth over the years and her coming into herself, but I just wasn't very interested in Ivy or her story. I appreciated the way this book interrogated the limitations of being a woman in the 1930s, even an upper-class woman, but I just didn't connect with Ivy enough to really care. There are some gorgeous depictions of the English countryside, though. This is likely other people's cup of tea, it's just not mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I think this was meant to be a slice of life book, focused on Ivy's growth over the years and her coming into herself, but I just wasn't very interested in Ivy or her story. I appreciated the way this book interrogated the limitations of being a woman in the 1930s, even an upper-class woman, but I just didn't connect with Ivy enough to really care. There are some gorgeous depictions of the English countryside, though. This is likely other people's cup of tea, it's just not mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War
emotional
reflective
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
Days of Light is really the story of a life, focussed on six pivotal days spanning six decades. We first meet Ivy on Easter Sunday, 1938, when she is just 17. Ivy's family is upper-class but decidedly unconventional, and have come together that day to meet her brother's girlfriend. A tragedy occurs later in the day that will impact Ivy in varying ways over the decades to come. Ivy's life story was quietly and beautifully told. While I found some of her decisions flawed or incomprehensible her struggle with what to do with her life felt very believable, as did her getting caught up in events and just going with the flow rather than making conscious decisions. When she was older, Ivy made a decision that must surely have surprised many in her life. I loved both the fact that she made this decision and the fact that years later, she changed her mind when that choice was no longer right for her. There's no shame in changing your mind, and it is never too late to go after what you want in life, regardless of how old you are. This is a very character driven novel, but the sense of time and place is so well-depicted it's almost cinematic and I could easily visualise many scenes, with the English setting, and the many ways it changed over the decades, seeming to appear right before my eyes. The exploration of themes like art, grief, love, longing, faith, and finding yourself were all well canvassed, albeit with a light hand. I really enjoyed the understated nature of this book, and the way the gaps in the narrative lent it a spacious feel and left room for the reader to intuit some of what had happened and why.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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:
No
What a lovely book.
Days of light follows Ivy through her life by narrating specific impactful days throughout the years. Days, on which the trajectory of her life changed in some way or another.
The writing in this was deliciously atmospheric, lots of purple prose that pulled me right in. I myself felt like a family member inside the cottage or a fly on the wall in Ivy’s bedrooms. I found the characters very endearing overall as well.
I do have to admit that some of the decisions Ivy makes were not 100% understandable to mespecifically her becoming a nun as well as the book’s theme generally shifting to becoming very religion centered but surprisingly that didn’t bother me so much.
This reminded me a lot of The Safekeep a lot of the time, another novel that I enjoyed a lot.
This book is not something Id usually go for but it worked very well for me. Great writing and nice narrative concept.
4.25 Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC.
Days of light follows Ivy through her life by narrating specific impactful days throughout the years. Days, on which the trajectory of her life changed in some way or another.
The writing in this was deliciously atmospheric, lots of purple prose that pulled me right in. I myself felt like a family member inside the cottage or a fly on the wall in Ivy’s bedrooms. I found the characters very endearing overall as well.
I do have to admit that some of the decisions Ivy makes were not 100% understandable to me
This reminded me a lot of The Safekeep a lot of the time, another novel that I enjoyed a lot.
This book is not something Id usually go for but it worked very well for me. Great writing and nice narrative concept.
4.25 Stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the eARC!
In Days of Light, we follow our main character Ivy across 6 days throughout different decades, starting in 1938 and always occurring in April. The first 2 days take place around Easter 1938, and those 2 days set the trajectory of Ivy’s path, showing how tragedy can shape you for the rest of your life.
I loved the reflections on grief and longing! I also enjoyed Ivy’s introspective ruminations on not always feeling like a person and questioning who you’re meant to be/what you should be doing in life.
This character driven novel was beautifully written; it felt quiet and, at times, claustrophobic.
This character driven novel was beautifully written; it felt quiet and, at times, claustrophobic.
While I was initially pulled in by the novel, it really loses momentum around day 3 or 4. I began to feel bored and struggling to stay connected, especially as the story went in a confusing direction. It also felt as if Ivy’s development stilted and we only got to know so much about her (despite staying with her the entire time and being in her head).
The book had so much potential and started off strong but lost me along the way, ending with a not so satisfying story. I felt the same way about The End We Start From so I’m unsure if it’s worth reading more from Hunter or if her storytelling just isn’t for me.
The book had so much potential and started off strong but lost me along the way, ending with a not so satisfying story. I felt the same way about The End We Start From so I’m unsure if it’s worth reading more from Hunter or if her storytelling just isn’t for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, War
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
really poetic & overflowing in a way.. effusive? in its writing abt emotion and the natural world. very pretty.
-
I read this a few weeks ago, so my memory of the specifics is a tad hazy, but I really loved the format. This novel is told through six days that transform the narrators life in some way. We start on Easter Sunday, 1938, when Ivy is nineteen and awaiting the arrival of her brother's new girlfriend. A whole world of possibilities awaits, but the day takes a tragic turn. What follows are five other days that alter Ivy's world in some way.
-
I read this a few weeks ago, so my memory of the specifics is a tad hazy, but I really loved the format. This novel is told through six days that transform the narrators life in some way. We start on Easter Sunday, 1938, when Ivy is nineteen and awaiting the arrival of her brother's new girlfriend. A whole world of possibilities awaits, but the day takes a tragic turn. What follows are five other days that alter Ivy's world in some way.
I love a story told in vignettes, so this was right up my alley. I loved watching Ivy grow up through these short, but pivotal, glimpses into her life. Hunter's writing is full of feeling, making it easy to become engrossed in Ivy's story and feel close to her and her family. There's a lovely, slow romance that adds a really nice sense of closure to the story. Just an all-around charming, and very British, story of one woman coming into herself. I really liked it!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent