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Penny P. (Santa Barbara, CA)
The Blind Light
An interesting story of two men from different classes. Their commonality the threat of nuclear war and their service at doom town. A story that spans 70 years of the men and their families. The characters were well developed and I felt that I knew them even though I did not always like them. A good read about an interesting time in our history.
Florence H. (Laguna Woods, CA)
The Blind Light
Having lived through the fearful years of the Cold War it was interesting to read of Doom Town and the after effects of being trained to survive a nuclear attack. The disparity of income status of the two men influenced their friendships and the future of their families. The next generation of these families continue with the conflicts. Both families experience problems with children. Wealth appears to be no guarantee of happiness.
John_A
Bittersweet
Set in England, this multigenerational novel focuses on the interpersonal relationships between two families that started with the military service friendship of the two patriarchal figures. The book starts slowly as the reader is introduced to the characters and their backgrounds. In addition, the short chapters and the jumping around between the characters makes it challenging to truly get into the book until one has read more than one hundred pages. After that, the characters and their interactions steadily draw you in until you feel like you have known these people most of your life. It's a bittersweet story that reminds me of the emotions experienced when reading Stoner by John Edward Williams.
Mary_L2
History, family, and cold wars
The threat of a nuclear apocalypse underlies the unlikely and often strained friendship between two British military men, one from the working class (Drum) and one from the wealthy (Carter). Though an atomic bomb never brings the destruction, the ensuing 70 years of the novel as the two men marry, have families, and live out there lives. Both positive and destructive human dynamics as well as historical events impact their lives. Not an easy novel to read and often one can get lost in some stream-of-consciousness, but it leaves the reader with much to ponder.
Julie M. (St Paul, MN)
A Blind Light
A Blind Light is a slow burn of a novel exploring the power struggles both in friendships and families. It follows two English friends and their families from the late 1930s into the twenty first century where the characters and their relationships were vividly drawn. This is not a "feel good" story and not everyone is cast in a favorable light which is what made it such a satisfying read for me.
Barbara O. (Red Bank, NJ)
Nuclear Fallout
Stuart Evers novel "The Blind Light, " offers the reader an intriguing story of two men from different classes bonded by their common shared national service at "Doom Town". The effects of the aftermath of a nuclear strike are the background for their relationship and their formative years and each man finishes his service believing their friendship will endure. The writing is beautiful, the characters are not.
I found myself intrigued by the writer's stream of consciousness style and third person narrative intertwined to tell a story covering the story of the two men's families across a span of decades. The story is a slow starter but I found myself drawn into a story curious how each of the characters reveal their inner thoughts and their actions and hungry to learn more. A story well told. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Deb H
Dig in.
"The Blind Light" is a multi-generational novel that examines a friendship between two young men and the lasting impact of their time spent together during the Cold War. I believe Evers offers a compelling look at the impact of fear on our relationships as well as the lasting ramifications of social inequality. Credit to Evers for the interesting dynamic he created between Drummond and Carter and perhaps even more so between their wives.
This is an interesting book to read in current times as we face a health crisis previously unknown to us. Another fine offering in my favorite genre.
Nancy_Lay
The Ties That Bind
The Blind Light by Stuart Evans started slowly for me, but soon I was wanting to read more and more. Told over the course of sixty years, we watch members of two families bond in friendship, fight, despair, suffer losses, and stab each other in the back, all while the threats of atomic war and terrorism loom large. These are not all likeable characters, but it was fascinating to watch their development and growth over the decades as well as their tenacity through uncertain times. The Blind Light is a thoughtful look at the Ties that bind.
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