A Sudden Light
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Garth Stein |
| Products | Book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
A Sudden Light represents the fourth literary work by American writer Garth Stein, released in 2014 through Simon & Schuster. The narrative unfolds in the year 1990 within Washington State.
Inspiration
This book draws its origins from Stein's 2005 theatrical production Brother Jones, which was performed at the Theater of Angels in Los Angeles. After the initial staging, Stein put the play aside but eventually returned to its characters, choosing to delve deeper into their backstories through a novel format. This approach provided a wider canvas for storytelling than the constraints of a stage play.
Plot summary
Set in 1990, the story follows 14-year-old Trevor Riddell as he endeavors to mend his parents' troubled marriage. Upon arriving with his father Jones at their expansive family mansion overlooking Puget Sound, Trevor encounters his aunt Serena and his grandfather Samuel, who is battling dementia. Jones and Serena intend to sell the property and move Samuel into a care facility. Trevor soon learns that the residence is inhabited by a spirit compelling the family’s ancestor Elijah to return the land to its pristine natural condition, seeking redemption for years of logging damage.
Reception
- Kirkus Reviews critiques the novel as implausible, particularly highlighting the selection of a teenage narrator to convey a complex narrative as a critical weakness. The review describes it as "a repetitive, poorly executed piece of pulp fiction."
- Publishers Weekly provides a more positive assessment, commending Stein's portrayal of familial conflicts while acknowledging that Trevor's voice occasionally appears overly mature and that the impact of the family history diminishes as the story progresses.