A review by stamouliswill
A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke

dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this over the course of about 4 hours, and initially I was struck by how vulgar it all was, and how much I felt like it relied on shock value and debauchery to illustrate the spiral that William endures. By the end of it, however, it becomes a treatise on the power of the theatre, and the value that comes from losing yourself in a production, while also adequately capturing the depression that comes with it ending. This book left me feeling drained but appreciative in an oddly compelling way. 

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