Scan barcode
A review by shelleys_book_nook
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
A great book doesn't need a long review and let me tell you, All the Colors of the Dark is a great book. Chris Whitaker has done it again he's written one of my favourite books. We Begin at the End was my best read of 2020 and now his new release is my favourite read of 2024. Is it too early to pick my favourite book of the year? I don't think so because All the Colors of the Dark will be difficult to beat.
This book was epic. It takes place over 25+ years from 1976 to 2001. In it, we follow the lives of Saint and Patch as they navigate from their early teenage years to adulthood and the different trajectories their lives take. I loved reading about their small-town life and how the world treats the downtrodden. The writing is beautiful without being wordy and I felt myself there in the Ozarks tasting the honey, smelling the pine and hearing the buzz of the hive.
This is very much a literary novel because it isn't so much plot-driven and more of a character study. Still, there is a wonderful story between these pages and although it really isn't a thriller there is a whodunit and many surprises. I am purposely being vague because the less you know going in the better. I will say the book is a mix of genres including coming-of-age, romance, mystery and police procedural. If you've read lots of my reviews you'll know I don't usually like books with different genres intermingling, I find that they get watered down but Chris Whitaker has such a talent for storytelling I just got lost in the pages. If you enjoyed We Begin at the End and meeting Dutchess let me introduce you to Joseph "Patch" Macauley and Saint Brown. You won't be disappointed. If you're new to Whitaker you're in for a treat.
This book was epic. It takes place over 25+ years from 1976 to 2001. In it, we follow the lives of Saint and Patch as they navigate from their early teenage years to adulthood and the different trajectories their lives take. I loved reading about their small-town life and how the world treats the downtrodden. The writing is beautiful without being wordy and I felt myself there in the Ozarks tasting the honey, smelling the pine and hearing the buzz of the hive.
This is very much a literary novel because it isn't so much plot-driven and more of a character study. Still, there is a wonderful story between these pages and although it really isn't a thriller there is a whodunit and many surprises. I am purposely being vague because the less you know going in the better. I will say the book is a mix of genres including coming-of-age, romance, mystery and police procedural. If you've read lots of my reviews you'll know I don't usually like books with different genres intermingling, I find that they get watered down but Chris Whitaker has such a talent for storytelling I just got lost in the pages. If you enjoyed We Begin at the End and meeting Dutchess let me introduce you to Joseph "Patch" Macauley and Saint Brown. You won't be disappointed. If you're new to Whitaker you're in for a treat.