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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
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