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A review by ilewis
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
5.0
This was a beautiful book. It made me think a lot of thoughts. Then I had a book club on this which made me think even more thoughts. This review will be a bit long.
The Light Pirate follows the life of Wanda, a child named after the hurricane she is born during. She grows up in a very small Florida town. It's written in snippets of her life as she grows through childhood, young adulthood, and to old age. She lives in a Florida dealing with catastrophic climate change. The population of the town slowly decreases as people flee and the sea levels continue to rise. It is a sad book, but sad in a good way and ultimately somewhat hopeful. It's sad because you feel for the characters, you understand them, and you see the love between them. These are the same aspects that make the book so beautiful. You feel the tragedies and satisfactions of their lives.
The characters are deeply flawed, but sympathetic in their love for one another and doing the best with the faculties that they have. What draws them altogether is Wanda, and she's the centerpiece of understanding this changing landscape and society. Two of the main characters that make up substantial parts of the book are Kirby and Phyllis. Kirby, Wanda's father, is the type of man who is overconfident and set in his ways, but is willing to change for those who he loves (although maybe a bit late). Phyllis is a local survivalist who is alienated from her family due to her single-minded focus on survival after doomsday, but gets pulled out of her isolation by Wanda. These are the types of characters that would be left behind in a small town after a catastrophe.
Kirby and Phyllis are the type of people who I would find frustrating in everyday life. Indeed, I can recognize the type from the small town I grew up in in Kansas. However, Brooks-Dalton does not treat them as stereotypes and portrays them as distinct individuals. Their flaws are apparent and not washed over, but Brooks-Dalton also presents their struggle to do the best for those they love and overcome their natural tendencies. Even when they fail. To me, the source of the beauty of this book is Brooks-Dalton's sympathetic treatment of her characters.
As to Wanda, she is born during anf named after a devastating hurricane, which haunts her throughout her childhood. It clouds how her community treats her, with many people viewing Wanda as a bad omen. However, Wanda is irrepressible, which is what ties her bio and chosen family to her. The title of the book originates from Wanda's ability to cause phosphorescence in certain organisms in the water.
A particular worry of mine is that mainstream authors will use magical realism/science fiction elements in a gimmicky way that just covers a standard narrative by introducing an "interesting idea." Brooks-Dalton does not fall into this trap. The light that Wanda causes is not essential to the plot, and without the light I think there is still a great novel here. The light was like icing on a great cake. It serves to enhance the story by injecting a bit of magic and beauty into a world. The light seems to seek out souls that need the magic because of the tragedy they suffer.
For me, that's what makes the book so successful. Brooks-Dalton keeps her focus on the characters. She treats her characters with a sympathy and tenderness that is reminiscent of two of my favorite authors, Graham Greene and William Maxwell. Brooks-Dalton allows us to see the characters' struggles and flaws, as well as their love. On top of that, she dashes in a bit of magic to enhance their lives figuratively and literally. The sadness that is in this book comes from a good place and is not manipulative. You feel the death's like a gut punch, but don't regret the time spent with these people. Even after all the sadness, Brooks-Dalton ends on an optimistic note.
In the end, I was happy to spend time with these characters, this story, and look forward to coming back to them in the future during re-reads.
Spoilers below
First, I wanted to comment on Brooks-Dalton's handling of two deaths: Kirby's and Phyllis's. One of my favorite things an author can do is give characters a moment of peace just to reflect on the pleasure of life. After all their struggles, Brooks-Dalton gives Kirby and Phyllis those moments. While it makes the deaths more tragic, it injects some humanity and hopefulness in even the most devastating moments of life.
For Kirby, in some sense he's given a "good death." He's thinking about his future with and love of Wanda, when tragedy strikes. His last moments are spent reflecting on what is most important in his life and being optimistic.
For Phyllis, she's suffered a traumatic brain injury and is losing her memory. However, before she loses all her memory, she's given a moment of clarity to remember her life with Wanda. She reflects on the importance of this human connection, and how Wanda brought joy in her life, even as she's losing her memory.
In the end, Phyllis is proven wrong and Wanda does find a community to dedicate her life and future to. Brooks-Dalton treats Wanda's death in old age tenderly as well. After being left alone, she finds love and community in the new world. Brooks-Dalton gives Wanda peace in life after all the tragedies. In the end she's surrounded by her family of choice, love, and the lights that have seen her through life.
I read this book as part of a book club, and there was quite a bit of discussion about the purpose of the lights and the "mutations" of the children at the end of book. In particular, do the lights that follow Wanda serve any purpose and were the mutations realistic.
For me, the lights weren't about serving a purpose. They don't help Wanda survive. In fact, in some circumstances they threaten her survival. However, as hinted at above, they seem to search out people who need a bit of beauty in their life. Wanda suffers many tragedies, but has a strength of character to persevere. In the end, as she's dying, Wanda sees the lights move to another young woman with her shoulders set. It seems the lights are searching out another soul who needs some beauty, but has the perseverance to see it through.
I also don't think the "mutations" are meant to be taken completely literally. All these mutations help the children of the next generation survive in their environment. I think the mutations are meant to reflect a future generation's adaptation to their environment, their ability to continue survival, and the continued possibility of taking joy in what they excel at.
Finally, we also had many discussions about Wanda's surviving brother. He visits Wanda and Phyllis one last time, and afterwards we lose all contact with him. Indeed, we don't know what happens in the outside world after he leaves. There were complaints about this, since it's clear society is undergoing a wholesale collapse and that story might be interesting to know.
For me, Brooks-Dalton made the right choice here. This isn't a story about the collapse of society, but a story about those that are left behind. Wanda's brother leaves their community, so this isn't his story. This is Kirby's, Phyllis's, and Wanda's story. The strength of the narrative comes from this focus. There is no way Wanda or Phyllis could have kept contact with her brother. Once he leaves the final time, that's the end of their lives together. Effectively, it's another death. Wanda's reaction to his leaving makes it clear she understands this, and suffers his departure as such.
The Light Pirate follows the life of Wanda, a child named after the hurricane she is born during. She grows up in a very small Florida town. It's written in snippets of her life as she grows through childhood, young adulthood, and to old age. She lives in a Florida dealing with catastrophic climate change. The population of the town slowly decreases as people flee and the sea levels continue to rise. It is a sad book, but sad in a good way and ultimately somewhat hopeful. It's sad because you feel for the characters, you understand them, and you see the love between them. These are the same aspects that make the book so beautiful. You feel the tragedies and satisfactions of their lives.
The characters are deeply flawed, but sympathetic in their love for one another and doing the best with the faculties that they have. What draws them altogether is Wanda, and she's the centerpiece of understanding this changing landscape and society. Two of the main characters that make up substantial parts of the book are Kirby and Phyllis. Kirby, Wanda's father, is the type of man who is overconfident and set in his ways, but is willing to change for those who he loves (although maybe a bit late). Phyllis is a local survivalist who is alienated from her family due to her single-minded focus on survival after doomsday, but gets pulled out of her isolation by Wanda. These are the types of characters that would be left behind in a small town after a catastrophe.
Kirby and Phyllis are the type of people who I would find frustrating in everyday life. Indeed, I can recognize the type from the small town I grew up in in Kansas. However, Brooks-Dalton does not treat them as stereotypes and portrays them as distinct individuals. Their flaws are apparent and not washed over, but Brooks-Dalton also presents their struggle to do the best for those they love and overcome their natural tendencies. Even when they fail. To me, the source of the beauty of this book is Brooks-Dalton's sympathetic treatment of her characters.
As to Wanda, she is born during anf named after a devastating hurricane, which haunts her throughout her childhood. It clouds how her community treats her, with many people viewing Wanda as a bad omen. However, Wanda is irrepressible, which is what ties her bio and chosen family to her. The title of the book originates from Wanda's ability to cause phosphorescence in certain organisms in the water.
A particular worry of mine is that mainstream authors will use magical realism/science fiction elements in a gimmicky way that just covers a standard narrative by introducing an "interesting idea." Brooks-Dalton does not fall into this trap. The light that Wanda causes is not essential to the plot, and without the light I think there is still a great novel here. The light was like icing on a great cake. It serves to enhance the story by injecting a bit of magic and beauty into a world. The light seems to seek out souls that need the magic because of the tragedy they suffer.
For me, that's what makes the book so successful. Brooks-Dalton keeps her focus on the characters. She treats her characters with a sympathy and tenderness that is reminiscent of two of my favorite authors, Graham Greene and William Maxwell. Brooks-Dalton allows us to see the characters' struggles and flaws, as well as their love. On top of that, she dashes in a bit of magic to enhance their lives figuratively and literally. The sadness that is in this book comes from a good place and is not manipulative. You feel the death's like a gut punch, but don't regret the time spent with these people. Even after all the sadness, Brooks-Dalton ends on an optimistic note.
In the end, I was happy to spend time with these characters, this story, and look forward to coming back to them in the future during re-reads.
Spoilers below
Spoiler
First, I wanted to comment on Brooks-Dalton's handling of two deaths: Kirby's and Phyllis's. One of my favorite things an author can do is give characters a moment of peace just to reflect on the pleasure of life. After all their struggles, Brooks-Dalton gives Kirby and Phyllis those moments. While it makes the deaths more tragic, it injects some humanity and hopefulness in even the most devastating moments of life.
For Kirby, in some sense he's given a "good death." He's thinking about his future with and love of Wanda, when tragedy strikes. His last moments are spent reflecting on what is most important in his life and being optimistic.
For Phyllis, she's suffered a traumatic brain injury and is losing her memory. However, before she loses all her memory, she's given a moment of clarity to remember her life with Wanda. She reflects on the importance of this human connection, and how Wanda brought joy in her life, even as she's losing her memory.
In the end, Phyllis is proven wrong and Wanda does find a community to dedicate her life and future to. Brooks-Dalton treats Wanda's death in old age tenderly as well. After being left alone, she finds love and community in the new world. Brooks-Dalton gives Wanda peace in life after all the tragedies. In the end she's surrounded by her family of choice, love, and the lights that have seen her through life.
I read this book as part of a book club, and there was quite a bit of discussion about the purpose of the lights and the "mutations" of the children at the end of book. In particular, do the lights that follow Wanda serve any purpose and were the mutations realistic.
For me, the lights weren't about serving a purpose. They don't help Wanda survive. In fact, in some circumstances they threaten her survival. However, as hinted at above, they seem to search out people who need a bit of beauty in their life. Wanda suffers many tragedies, but has a strength of character to persevere. In the end, as she's dying, Wanda sees the lights move to another young woman with her shoulders set. It seems the lights are searching out another soul who needs some beauty, but has the perseverance to see it through.
I also don't think the "mutations" are meant to be taken completely literally. All these mutations help the children of the next generation survive in their environment. I think the mutations are meant to reflect a future generation's adaptation to their environment, their ability to continue survival, and the continued possibility of taking joy in what they excel at.
Finally, we also had many discussions about Wanda's surviving brother. He visits Wanda and Phyllis one last time, and afterwards we lose all contact with him. Indeed, we don't know what happens in the outside world after he leaves. There were complaints about this, since it's clear society is undergoing a wholesale collapse and that story might be interesting to know.
For me, Brooks-Dalton made the right choice here. This isn't a story about the collapse of society, but a story about those that are left behind. Wanda's brother leaves their community, so this isn't his story. This is Kirby's, Phyllis's, and Wanda's story. The strength of the narrative comes from this focus. There is no way Wanda or Phyllis could have kept contact with her brother. Once he leaves the final time, that's the end of their lives together. Effectively, it's another death. Wanda's reaction to his leaving makes it clear she understands this, and suffers his departure as such.