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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
4.5 was it a thriller? Was it a mystery? Was it horror? No idea, but it was captivating with a sense of other. I'm very curious to read more of the authors works
In The Bright Lands, Fram takes on small town life in all of its quintessential "Americanness", breaks it apart, and doesn't promise to put the pieces back together. Told from multiple points of view, this is a a story of a small Texas town that worships the American way of life and football. And I don't just mean that the residents of this town are fans of football, I mean that the axis this town spins upon, is football. Despite living squarely in "Big 12" territory myself, I don't know anything about football and I found some of technical aspects of the book, especially the game scenes, a bit overwhelming. But that's just me! This is a thriller that I think is going to really blow some people away and tick all of their boxes.
Despite shifting through multiple view points, the story unfolds primarily from Joel's perspective. Joel is a young financial consultant who left Bentley on the heels of scandal nearly a decade ago and hasn't looked back. That is until he receives a disturbing message in the middle of the night from his younger brother, Dylan, the star quarterback on the football team, and sends Joel racing back to Texas. But Joel's efforts are in vain. Dylan has disappeared and Joel thinks that the residents of Bentley know why. When ways of life are threatened, the residents of Bentley celebrate what it knows best; they come together under the bright halogen bulbs of a football stadium and watch athletes with their whole lives ahead of them play for their futures.
The Bright Lands is a WILD story that went in so many unexpected places that I spent most of my time meditating on certain sections and looking for deeper meaning within its pages. Strong LGBTQ+ characters and exquisite storytelling make this one of the most dramatic, suspenseful, and peculiar books of 2020.
Don't read too many reviews about this book BEFORE you actually read it. Promise me. Go in as cold as you can and let Fram tell you a story of an isolated town, disappearing boys, corruption, abuse, and scandal that will leave you terrified of your neighbors.
Despite shifting through multiple view points, the story unfolds primarily from Joel's perspective. Joel is a young financial consultant who left Bentley on the heels of scandal nearly a decade ago and hasn't looked back. That is until he receives a disturbing message in the middle of the night from his younger brother, Dylan, the star quarterback on the football team, and sends Joel racing back to Texas. But Joel's efforts are in vain. Dylan has disappeared and Joel thinks that the residents of Bentley know why. When ways of life are threatened, the residents of Bentley celebrate what it knows best; they come together under the bright halogen bulbs of a football stadium and watch athletes with their whole lives ahead of them play for their futures.
The Bright Lands is a WILD story that went in so many unexpected places that I spent most of my time meditating on certain sections and looking for deeper meaning within its pages. Strong LGBTQ+ characters and exquisite storytelling make this one of the most dramatic, suspenseful, and peculiar books of 2020.
Don't read too many reviews about this book BEFORE you actually read it. Promise me. Go in as cold as you can and let Fram tell you a story of an isolated town, disappearing boys, corruption, abuse, and scandal that will leave you terrified of your neighbors.
This novel had a lot going for it. Football in Texas is big and this had the feel of another Friday Night Lights story with a compelling mystery thrown in. When one of the key players is found murdered, the entire football team, as well as a few others, were cast as likely suspects.
As much as I was enjoying the mystery, other parts of the book were so off-putting that I began to dread reading it. These players and this small town were nothing like what I grew up around in Texas. Every town has secrets, but this town has secrets on steroids.
Heavy drug use, homosexual activities, paranormal elements, bad language and disreputable characters filled the pages and fueled the secrets. This book pretty much lost me at some point after the halfway mark when the sexually explicit details and the paranormal elements came into play. I’m sure there are readers who will like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I think this would have made a great story if the author had simply written it as a murder mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
As much as I was enjoying the mystery, other parts of the book were so off-putting that I began to dread reading it. These players and this small town were nothing like what I grew up around in Texas. Every town has secrets, but this town has secrets on steroids.
Heavy drug use, homosexual activities, paranormal elements, bad language and disreputable characters filled the pages and fueled the secrets. This book pretty much lost me at some point after the halfway mark when the sexually explicit details and the paranormal elements came into play. I’m sure there are readers who will like this book, but it just wasn’t for me. I think this would have made a great story if the author had simply written it as a murder mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Final read of June: #TheBrightLands by #JohnFram
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The Bright Lands is a story of brotherhood, of human cruelty, and of supernatural evil. Dylan is the typical praised Texas quarterback and star of Friday night lights. At least that’s what everyone believes. Everyone except his brother, Joel, who he told he wants to quit football and leave the town of Bentley forever.
.
Joel has escaped Bentley but is drawn back when his brother starts to send him some cryptic messages. Shortly after his return, Dylan is found dead, clearly murdered. Desperate for answers, Joel joins forces with Starsha Clark, a deputy investigating his brother’s murder.
.
Together the two learn about the darker undersides of a town where powerful men will stop at nothing. Further, there’s something sinister at play, an evil force that’s been praying on the youth of Bentley luring them into The Bright Lands.
.
This is Fram’s debut novel but it doesn’t read like a debut. The cast of characters is diverse and Fram’s prose is unyielding. The pacing of the novel was off for me, though. Some parts seemed to drag. Still, the fact that it speaks truth to the dangers of narrow world views is important in today’s climate.
.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
.
The Bright Lands is a story of brotherhood, of human cruelty, and of supernatural evil. Dylan is the typical praised Texas quarterback and star of Friday night lights. At least that’s what everyone believes. Everyone except his brother, Joel, who he told he wants to quit football and leave the town of Bentley forever.
.
Joel has escaped Bentley but is drawn back when his brother starts to send him some cryptic messages. Shortly after his return, Dylan is found dead, clearly murdered. Desperate for answers, Joel joins forces with Starsha Clark, a deputy investigating his brother’s murder.
.
Together the two learn about the darker undersides of a town where powerful men will stop at nothing. Further, there’s something sinister at play, an evil force that’s been praying on the youth of Bentley luring them into The Bright Lands.
.
This is Fram’s debut novel but it doesn’t read like a debut. The cast of characters is diverse and Fram’s prose is unyielding. The pacing of the novel was off for me, though. Some parts seemed to drag. Still, the fact that it speaks truth to the dangers of narrow world views is important in today’s climate.
.
.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So overall, I really liked the beginning of this novel. I was interested in the mystery and loved the way I didn't know exactly what was coming. I also thought the ending was a huge shocker that I wasn't expecting and the way things linked together was fascinating and amazing. However, it lost a few points for me because I felt like it tried to be TOO shocking for me. It went to a real-life mystery to a paranormal experience. I just felt it wasn't there for me. I DO think people should read this, though. Just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it isn't for lots of other people. People RAVE about this book and I think they have a point. It was just a miss for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Bright Lands by John Fram is an intense book combining LGBTQ+ and football with a story of returning home to face demons and figuring out what happened to your brother who is now missing. In short it is a supernatural thriller about old secrets, modern anxieties and the price young men pay for the price of glory. (Swipe For full synopsis).
This book left me so conflicted! I really enjoyed the atmosphere the author built, the characters and struggle of facing things you thought were well in your past. I struggled with the supernatural aspects, the many, many points of views and the ending. Oh that ending.
This book left me so conflicted! I really enjoyed the atmosphere the author built, the characters and struggle of facing things you thought were well in your past. I struggled with the supernatural aspects, the many, many points of views and the ending. Oh that ending.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very interesting read! I kept wondering where the story would go the entrie time. Joel was an emotional main character to follow. You despise and root for the characters all in different ways.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Murder