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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I'm very torn about how I feel about this book. Basically the ending. But the story itself was quite magical. The year is 2020, the icebergs are melting and the world is on the brink of a global snowstorm. Our protagonist, Dylan, a tattooed Londoner who was raised by his mother and grandmother in an old movie theater all his life has recently lost both of these women and he is soon to loose the theater and home he loves. He finds out his mother has bought a caravan (a travel trailer) in cash and off the books for him to move to in a remote area of Scotland. He packs up his mom and grandmothers ashes and moves to the caravan and discovers he has a motley assortment of neighbors around him. Most importantly is Constance...whom he glimpses for the first time when she steps out on her porch and appears to "polish the moon". He is immediately falling for her. Constance is a bit of an odd duck, furbishing furniture from the dump to make money with her daughter Stella. A transgender 12 year old who is having to deal with hormones, bullies and online love. She immediately thinks Dylan and her mom would make an ideal pair.
The story has the ongoing issue of dealing with the never ending snow and ice and how they are going to survive. There is also the issue of the men who are involved with Constance one of them being Stella's father who refuses to acknowledge his son is now a girl. All in all a very interesting read. I just didn't like how it ended. I kept turning the page on my Kindle thinking there had to be more and there wasn't. It was frustrating because it left too many things unanswered but maybe there will be another book.
The story has the ongoing issue of dealing with the never ending snow and ice and how they are going to survive. There is also the issue of the men who are involved with Constance one of them being Stella's father who refuses to acknowledge his son is now a girl. All in all a very interesting read. I just didn't like how it ended. I kept turning the page on my Kindle thinking there had to be more and there wasn't. It was frustrating because it left too many things unanswered but maybe there will be another book.
I really liked this book. My only complaint was the ending left me with questions.
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such beautiful narrative. Not a super fast paced plot but the atmosphere and characters are so compelling. Really enjoyed it.
The Sunlight Pilgrims is a beautiful and insightful novel.
Set in the winter of 2020/21 - the most extreme winter for 200 years, it tells the story of Constance, her daughter Stella and their neighbours Dylan.
Constance is a resourceful and intelligent woman - well-known in the area for having two lovers - and for not giving a hoot what anyone thinks of her for it.
Stella is a transgender girl struggling with all the usual teenage issues, hugely compounded by the onset of her male puberty. Her determination to be accepted as her true self, and her frustration at everything having to be a battle is a central theme.
Dylan is grieving for his mother and grandmother who both recently died. The arthouse cinema the family ran together has gone to the wall, and so he winds up at the caravan park at the edge of the world where Constance and Stella live.
As winter's grip increases on the land, the weather almost becomes a character in its own right; the plummeting temperature, the drifts of snow and huge icicles all contribute to an increasingly claustrophobic and every setting.
It's a delightful story, sensitively told - it may be early in the year, but I know this will be one of my favourite reads of 2018. Any book that gets you Googling meteorological phenomena has got to be winner.
Set in the winter of 2020/21 - the most extreme winter for 200 years, it tells the story of Constance, her daughter Stella and their neighbours Dylan.
Constance is a resourceful and intelligent woman - well-known in the area for having two lovers - and for not giving a hoot what anyone thinks of her for it.
Stella is a transgender girl struggling with all the usual teenage issues, hugely compounded by the onset of her male puberty. Her determination to be accepted as her true self, and her frustration at everything having to be a battle is a central theme.
Dylan is grieving for his mother and grandmother who both recently died. The arthouse cinema the family ran together has gone to the wall, and so he winds up at the caravan park at the edge of the world where Constance and Stella live.
As winter's grip increases on the land, the weather almost becomes a character in its own right; the plummeting temperature, the drifts of snow and huge icicles all contribute to an increasingly claustrophobic and every setting.
It's a delightful story, sensitively told - it may be early in the year, but I know this will be one of my favourite reads of 2018. Any book that gets you Googling meteorological phenomena has got to be winner.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Do not even attempt to read this book if you don't enjoy original writing. This author's writing is amazing, and very different from mainstream writers. I didn't realize going into it that it was Young Adult, but don't let that stop you from reading it if you normally don't like YA. This book is also a bit post apocalyptic and dystopian in feel, which is not my favorite genre, but again...the writing, oh my, the writing. The MC Stella is such a tender, wondrous character. My heart ached for her. The story is not really so much of a story to me, but an opportunity for the author to show her talent in combining words and sentences that make the reader want to reread those sentences. Not that that is a bad thing, but it's why the book for me was just 3.5 stars. I would have liked more of a story.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was kind of depressing to read given the current situation
I expected a book about the end of the world and instead found a strange and lovely exploration of strange and lovely humanity.
Review:
There was a lot to love about this book, first and foremost being the writing. It was vaguely stream of consciousness-esque, full of dreamy phrases and descriptions. The dialogue was real, sometimes crude, often funny. If you’re looking for something poetic and beautiful to read, this is it.
(Side note: I felt like I needed a British to American translator for a lot of this book. As someone who’s read and watched and lot of British media this was surprising, but there were many words and phrases I’d never encountered.)
The plot’s focus was not on the impending winter cold but rather on the development of the main characters and their interactions with each other and the town and weather. They were all quite unique and relatable, very odd and special, and a little lost. I loved witnessing how Constance supported her trans daughter. It was fascinating to see Stella’s coming of age in this isolated, snowy world. Dylan was a bit subtler, his journey more focused on grief and loss, but he was a joy to encounter as well.
I did find it a bit slow, eventually the pretty descriptions and internal focus got boring and I found myself skimming for the next thing to happen. The plot is definitely more introspective than anything, not a lot actually happens and the ending is left open and relatively unresolved.
Overall, I adored the writing, finding myself enthralled with many of the beautiful scenes and phrases, but I was disappointed that it wasn’t more action-packed. It’s definitely not a fluff book, more of an introspective, deep novel. I think this is a book that is better in retrospect than during reading. Afterword, certain scenes and phrases stand out and are haunting. I want to go back and analyze, mark up the prettiest parts and make fan content.
Disclaimer:
I received this book as an ARC from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
Review:
There was a lot to love about this book, first and foremost being the writing. It was vaguely stream of consciousness-esque, full of dreamy phrases and descriptions. The dialogue was real, sometimes crude, often funny. If you’re looking for something poetic and beautiful to read, this is it.
(Side note: I felt like I needed a British to American translator for a lot of this book. As someone who’s read and watched and lot of British media this was surprising, but there were many words and phrases I’d never encountered.)
The plot’s focus was not on the impending winter cold but rather on the development of the main characters and their interactions with each other and the town and weather. They were all quite unique and relatable, very odd and special, and a little lost. I loved witnessing how Constance supported her trans daughter. It was fascinating to see Stella’s coming of age in this isolated, snowy world. Dylan was a bit subtler, his journey more focused on grief and loss, but he was a joy to encounter as well.
I did find it a bit slow, eventually the pretty descriptions and internal focus got boring and I found myself skimming for the next thing to happen. The plot is definitely more introspective than anything, not a lot actually happens and the ending is left open and relatively unresolved.
Overall, I adored the writing, finding myself enthralled with many of the beautiful scenes and phrases, but I was disappointed that it wasn’t more action-packed. It’s definitely not a fluff book, more of an introspective, deep novel. I think this is a book that is better in retrospect than during reading. Afterword, certain scenes and phrases stand out and are haunting. I want to go back and analyze, mark up the prettiest parts and make fan content.
Disclaimer:
I received this book as an ARC from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
3.5 stars … slow start, but it kept me coming back and i found myself caring for the characters more and more throughout the book. i even let out an audible gasp, which certainly surprised me. overall a solid book :)