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Indigo
Indigo is a color the human eye can never truly see, a slice of the spectrum imbued with the promise of invisibility. But in the dark world occupied by Jack Chambers' father, indigo will also lead to places of unknown treachery, and ultimately, to madness. As Jack tries to fulfill the terms of his father's last will and testament, he is led on a journey of the flesh and spirit, through the ancient landmarks of Rome, to a group of people who will stop at nothing in their pursuit of invisibility Among them, Jack will enter an incendiary relationship with a woman with an insatiable appetite for pleasure, dabble in a liaison forbidden by blood, and explore the exotic undersides of two cities worlds apart. Only after Jack glimpses both the intoxicating pleasures and hidden pitfalls of indigo can he perceive its horrid danger. Blending an exploration of the senses with a complex tale of relationships, Indigo is a stunningly literate thriller that signals the arrival of a powerful new voice.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
22 people are currently reading
511 people want to read
About the author
Graham Joyce
73 books570 followersGraham Joyce (22 October 1954 – 9 September 2014) was an English writer of speculative fiction and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 12, 2013
Rich, eccentric Tim Chambers, resident of Chicago and Rome, has died, and his estranged son Jack has been named executor of the estate. Chambers was a master of manipulation, and has left a manuscript with instructions for its publication. Entitled Indigo, A Manual of Light, it is nothing less than a set of instructions for teaching oneself to assume the aura of invisibility. Jack has inherited nothing of his father's fortune, which goes to half-sister Louise and to a protege named Natalie, but he's been designated the estate executor. Resentful and perplexed, he sets out to accomplish his assignment as quickly as possible. Traveling to Rome with Louise, Jack is greatly disconcerted to find himself powerfully attracted to her. When he meets Natalie, an artist, he is equally drawn to her. His time in Rome grows increasingly surreal, as Natalie encourages him to follow the bizarre process set out in the Manual of Light.
Beautifully written, author Joyce imbues his tale with the imagery of light and color, which works especially well in the Roman setting. The deceased Tim Chambers is very much a presence, though not in the ghostly sense. The narrative is interrupted by both a series of flashbacks and chapters from the manual, and at times, like Jack, the reader wonders what is real and what is illusion. He gradually arrives to the realization that his father is still manipulating him and others from the grave, which creates a sort of mild paranoia. Compelling on the psychological and metaphysical levels, the novel ends with a final conundrum that does not quite dispel all its mysteries.
Beautifully written, author Joyce imbues his tale with the imagery of light and color, which works especially well in the Roman setting. The deceased Tim Chambers is very much a presence, though not in the ghostly sense. The narrative is interrupted by both a series of flashbacks and chapters from the manual, and at times, like Jack, the reader wonders what is real and what is illusion. He gradually arrives to the realization that his father is still manipulating him and others from the grave, which creates a sort of mild paranoia. Compelling on the psychological and metaphysical levels, the novel ends with a final conundrum that does not quite dispel all its mysteries.
November 12, 2012
υπάρχει άραγε το 9 ο χρώμα? μεταξύ του μπλε και του ιώδους?
καλούτσικο θα έλεγα, πέρασα ευχάριστα την ώρα μου και δεν με κούρασε παρά μόνο στο τέλος. έχω σκοπό να διαβάσω άλλο ενα του ίδιου ούτως ώστε να διαμορφώσω μια πιο ξεκάθαρη άποψη.
καλούτσικο θα έλεγα, πέρασα ευχάριστα την ώρα μου και δεν με κούρασε παρά μόνο στο τέλος. έχω σκοπό να διαβάσω άλλο ενα του ίδιου ούτως ώστε να διαμορφώσω μια πιο ξεκάθαρη άποψη.
June 27, 2015
What did I just read?!?!
I think this is the worst book i've ever read.
Ok, I don't read too many bad books but this is one of those books that you read, you point out problems and then halfway though you realize that this is one of the worst books you will ever have the displeasure of reading.
And I read it all the way though! What possessed me to do that?
Ok, I think I need to slow down and process all this stuff.
This book is about Jack Chambers, He ranges from boring to unlikeable, his father Tim Chambers dies and names him executor of the will (Gee never heard that before) He goes to Chicago to sell his father's house and meets his stepsister, Louise. Despite not really knowing each other they form a uh Special bond I'll get into later. Before Jack can rid himself of his father's influence, he has to publish this book on invisibility his father wrote. More and more stuff happens and Jack and Louise have to untangle this exciting story of lies and mystery. Or at least it would be if this was a good book.
Ugh, I can't even get though a plot synopsis without yelling about how awful this.
Ok what's good about this book, Um, The baby is a good character. hmmmm, what else? Oh, They did a good job of making me hate Tim Chambers but I'm not sure that's what they wanted. Uhhhhhhh, The relationship between Jack and Louise is nice... for like 10 pages.
Yeah, thats it.
Ok time to really rip into it.
This book has thriller written all over this book. The dust jacket calls it "an extraordinary thriller" and Steven king calls it "Clever engrossing and very scary"
So why is this book sooooooooo boooooooring.
This is not a thriller for the first half of this book, this is an Erotic Romance.
Allow me to let you think about that for a sec. The thriller. Thriller, as in a deep and interesting story turns into a love triangle and lots and lots of sex.
It's not even good romance, It boils down to the typical safe girl who he'd love to sit by a fire and drink wine with and then you have the person that excites him and he just makes great love with. I've seen it before and much, much better.
And oh boy, I've dodged this long enough, this love triangle, It's between Jack, a girl named Natalie Sheer and Louise.
Yes, this book advocates Insest. Insest.
"Oh but it's her stepsister. Oh they never actually do it. Oh but they don't get together in the end"
Writers I will be as clear as possible because it's not just you. Other books and writers seem to have this weird fascination with it.
Incest. is. Never. Ever. Ever. Ok. Period.
It doesn't matter if didn't have the same mother of father. I don't want to read about people who are related in any way talking about how they want to do each other. Unless you want me to feel disconnected and make me question your characters sanity keep insest far away from your books!
How would you feel if you met someone who was in love with their sister in real life? I personally would be weirded out and I would feel awkward talking to him or her because I don't understand how or why they would come to that conclusion. So why is this any different?
It is completely useless is this story or almost any story for that matter and it taints their relationship because it feels like the only reason they like each other for the sex appeal. They could have had a great, brother-sister relationship but instead we have this.
I don't feel i'm not overreacting, why would I ever want to read about that?! This should not be rant because this problem should not exist. This happens far too often because it happens at all!
Halfway though the writer remembers that he is supposed to be interesting and the book becomes more of a mystery about the life of Tim Chambers.
And it makes no sense.
Ok, first off is Tim Chambers supposed to be off his rocker? He rambles on and on about how indigo is some color hidden in the cosmos that when you see will open your eyes and you'll be chasing it for the rest of your life and somehow this makes you invisible.
What?!
Ok, there was and still may be a theory going around that Indigo is in fact not a real color, that Indigo is just a color they would define as blue and as such doesn't really count. I don't know all the details but even if that was true that doesn't mean it's some mythical force that can make you orgasm (Not kidding) Isaac Newton defined indigo when he was dissecting the how and what of how wavelengths look to the human eye. He didn't see indigo when he went to rome to a random place and decided to stare at the sun.
Speaking of that Tim Chambers believes that people who wear sunglasses or don't like bright lights or doesn't stare directly at the sun are weakening the eyes. Uh dude there a reason people wear sunglasses. It's so their eyes don't get hurt or damaged! In other words, you telling people to hurt their eyes so they don't hurt their eyes! I'd check your sense of logic Mr Chambers.
We are supposed to at first think him insane and then as the book deepens you learn he's just gifted. But there has to be some logic somewhere in here. "Indigo looks kinda like blue therefore Indigo must be a cosmic force of nature" is not logic!
While we are at it what is the point of "Natalie Sheer" or Sarah I couldn't be bothered to remember her last names's plan? Later on in the book the person that you know as Natalie Sheer turn out to be someone else named Sarah someone. One question. WHHHHHHHHY?
This makes no sense. You have no reason to be Sheer. Sheer was going to inherit the house but you could have just bought the house as yourself sense nobody knows where the real Sheer is. And even then, you had no clue that the house was going to Sheer in the first place. And also, you can't just say your someone and then win an inheritance. You have to have proof, drivers license, id, birth certificate. This is going to come up during the process. Also they can run background checks on you. And what happens when someone, any guy off the street releases your not Sheer. This plan has more holes then swiss cheese!
Other then the plot holes and pointless dribble on indigo. The plot is dull and pointless.
None of the characters are likable at all.
Jack is a sex addict. He literally says it in the book. He does nothing likable throughout the whole book. Stalks numerous people. It's always about him, him, him how it affects him. And at the end how is he changed? Well he talks about Indigo and that's it. And we are supposed to root for this guy?
Louise is a stick with a tragic backstory. She always talks about how 'She lives her life in her father and everything she does is for her father and how tragic this is because she never gets to have her own life" Is this shown? N.O.P.E! She seems perfecctly happy to me and never actually does anything wrong besides that Insest thing. You can say whatever you want about someone. I could say a character have a disease that makes him unable to use his legs but if he's always walking is every scene he's in then it means nothing! Show don't tell.
Natalie or Sarah or whoever she wants to be called, is nutso! She makes this nonsense plan about pretending to be someone else. And is also obsessed with sex and indigo. She shoves people into rivers, breaks into a house and lies about her identity to multiple people for again No reason. She shows no remorse until the end. And even then, she gets away with multiple crimes and nothing with her is ever resolved.
Everybody else are either sticks with little to no character to them, or annoying people that never learn anything!
The writing isn't horrible but it likes to let you know about that one pillar Jack is standing next to. Or that cup of coffee he just drank. There is literally a whole chapter about lap dancers and the quality's that make them great. And what does any of this have to do with the story? Three things. Nothing. Nothing. And Nothing!
Also this book is flowery to the max. So many adjectives pepper every sentence! It's hard to explain but if you've ever read a bad romance novel. Yeah, it's like that. Are we sure he wasn't just writing bad fan fiction and it somehow got out so he played it off as his next book?
And the ending. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH.
So this group of people, try to find this elusive Indigo by having surgery to remove a piece of the brain. Because that's a great idea! Guess what, a girl goes though so much pain that it drives her insane and now she's in a mental hospital. Who would have guess something bad would happen? This girl is the real Natalie Sheer which leads to the stupid plan from earlier and the death of the other two. Sarah gets found out and then she talks about love and how there really is no Indigo and Blah blah blah. Just end already. She leaves to parts unknown, Jack stops finding indigo I guess. But wait Someone has taken Natalie from the hospital who may or may not be Tim Chambers. And then the end.
This could actually be an ok ending if it made any sense.
Why does Sarah just leave? What the heck is the point of indigo? Why did it need to be ambiguous? Why did Tim need his book published? Why does removing a piece of your brain the key to seeing indigo? What is your message? What are we supposed to learn? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ANY OF THIS?!
I should throw this book away but no, this will in fact have a special place on my shelve. To remember how awful it was and also so that when I'm reading anything else I can at least say I'm not reading Indigo.
I think this is the worst book i've ever read.
Ok, I don't read too many bad books but this is one of those books that you read, you point out problems and then halfway though you realize that this is one of the worst books you will ever have the displeasure of reading.
And I read it all the way though! What possessed me to do that?
Ok, I think I need to slow down and process all this stuff.
This book is about Jack Chambers, He ranges from boring to unlikeable, his father Tim Chambers dies and names him executor of the will (Gee never heard that before) He goes to Chicago to sell his father's house and meets his stepsister, Louise. Despite not really knowing each other they form a uh Special bond I'll get into later. Before Jack can rid himself of his father's influence, he has to publish this book on invisibility his father wrote. More and more stuff happens and Jack and Louise have to untangle this exciting story of lies and mystery. Or at least it would be if this was a good book.
Ugh, I can't even get though a plot synopsis without yelling about how awful this.
Ok what's good about this book, Um, The baby is a good character. hmmmm, what else? Oh, They did a good job of making me hate Tim Chambers but I'm not sure that's what they wanted. Uhhhhhhh, The relationship between Jack and Louise is nice... for like 10 pages.
Yeah, thats it.
Ok time to really rip into it.
This book has thriller written all over this book. The dust jacket calls it "an extraordinary thriller" and Steven king calls it "Clever engrossing and very scary"
So why is this book sooooooooo boooooooring.
This is not a thriller for the first half of this book, this is an Erotic Romance.
Allow me to let you think about that for a sec. The thriller. Thriller, as in a deep and interesting story turns into a love triangle and lots and lots of sex.
It's not even good romance, It boils down to the typical safe girl who he'd love to sit by a fire and drink wine with and then you have the person that excites him and he just makes great love with. I've seen it before and much, much better.
And oh boy, I've dodged this long enough, this love triangle, It's between Jack, a girl named Natalie Sheer and Louise.
Yes, this book advocates Insest. Insest.
"Oh but it's her stepsister. Oh they never actually do it. Oh but they don't get together in the end"
Writers I will be as clear as possible because it's not just you. Other books and writers seem to have this weird fascination with it.
Incest. is. Never. Ever. Ever. Ok. Period.
It doesn't matter if didn't have the same mother of father. I don't want to read about people who are related in any way talking about how they want to do each other. Unless you want me to feel disconnected and make me question your characters sanity keep insest far away from your books!
How would you feel if you met someone who was in love with their sister in real life? I personally would be weirded out and I would feel awkward talking to him or her because I don't understand how or why they would come to that conclusion. So why is this any different?
It is completely useless is this story or almost any story for that matter and it taints their relationship because it feels like the only reason they like each other for the sex appeal. They could have had a great, brother-sister relationship but instead we have this.
I don't feel i'm not overreacting, why would I ever want to read about that?! This should not be rant because this problem should not exist. This happens far too often because it happens at all!
Halfway though the writer remembers that he is supposed to be interesting and the book becomes more of a mystery about the life of Tim Chambers.
And it makes no sense.
Ok, first off is Tim Chambers supposed to be off his rocker? He rambles on and on about how indigo is some color hidden in the cosmos that when you see will open your eyes and you'll be chasing it for the rest of your life and somehow this makes you invisible.
What?!
Ok, there was and still may be a theory going around that Indigo is in fact not a real color, that Indigo is just a color they would define as blue and as such doesn't really count. I don't know all the details but even if that was true that doesn't mean it's some mythical force that can make you orgasm (Not kidding) Isaac Newton defined indigo when he was dissecting the how and what of how wavelengths look to the human eye. He didn't see indigo when he went to rome to a random place and decided to stare at the sun.
Speaking of that Tim Chambers believes that people who wear sunglasses or don't like bright lights or doesn't stare directly at the sun are weakening the eyes. Uh dude there a reason people wear sunglasses. It's so their eyes don't get hurt or damaged! In other words, you telling people to hurt their eyes so they don't hurt their eyes! I'd check your sense of logic Mr Chambers.
We are supposed to at first think him insane and then as the book deepens you learn he's just gifted. But there has to be some logic somewhere in here. "Indigo looks kinda like blue therefore Indigo must be a cosmic force of nature" is not logic!
While we are at it what is the point of "Natalie Sheer" or Sarah I couldn't be bothered to remember her last names's plan? Later on in the book the person that you know as Natalie Sheer turn out to be someone else named Sarah someone. One question. WHHHHHHHHY?
This makes no sense. You have no reason to be Sheer. Sheer was going to inherit the house but you could have just bought the house as yourself sense nobody knows where the real Sheer is. And even then, you had no clue that the house was going to Sheer in the first place. And also, you can't just say your someone and then win an inheritance. You have to have proof, drivers license, id, birth certificate. This is going to come up during the process. Also they can run background checks on you. And what happens when someone, any guy off the street releases your not Sheer. This plan has more holes then swiss cheese!
Other then the plot holes and pointless dribble on indigo. The plot is dull and pointless.
None of the characters are likable at all.
Jack is a sex addict. He literally says it in the book. He does nothing likable throughout the whole book. Stalks numerous people. It's always about him, him, him how it affects him. And at the end how is he changed? Well he talks about Indigo and that's it. And we are supposed to root for this guy?
Louise is a stick with a tragic backstory. She always talks about how 'She lives her life in her father and everything she does is for her father and how tragic this is because she never gets to have her own life" Is this shown? N.O.P.E! She seems perfecctly happy to me and never actually does anything wrong besides that Insest thing. You can say whatever you want about someone. I could say a character have a disease that makes him unable to use his legs but if he's always walking is every scene he's in then it means nothing! Show don't tell.
Natalie or Sarah or whoever she wants to be called, is nutso! She makes this nonsense plan about pretending to be someone else. And is also obsessed with sex and indigo. She shoves people into rivers, breaks into a house and lies about her identity to multiple people for again No reason. She shows no remorse until the end. And even then, she gets away with multiple crimes and nothing with her is ever resolved.
Everybody else are either sticks with little to no character to them, or annoying people that never learn anything!
The writing isn't horrible but it likes to let you know about that one pillar Jack is standing next to. Or that cup of coffee he just drank. There is literally a whole chapter about lap dancers and the quality's that make them great. And what does any of this have to do with the story? Three things. Nothing. Nothing. And Nothing!
Also this book is flowery to the max. So many adjectives pepper every sentence! It's hard to explain but if you've ever read a bad romance novel. Yeah, it's like that. Are we sure he wasn't just writing bad fan fiction and it somehow got out so he played it off as his next book?
And the ending. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH.
So this group of people, try to find this elusive Indigo by having surgery to remove a piece of the brain. Because that's a great idea! Guess what, a girl goes though so much pain that it drives her insane and now she's in a mental hospital. Who would have guess something bad would happen? This girl is the real Natalie Sheer which leads to the stupid plan from earlier and the death of the other two. Sarah gets found out and then she talks about love and how there really is no Indigo and Blah blah blah. Just end already. She leaves to parts unknown, Jack stops finding indigo I guess. But wait Someone has taken Natalie from the hospital who may or may not be Tim Chambers. And then the end.
This could actually be an ok ending if it made any sense.
Why does Sarah just leave? What the heck is the point of indigo? Why did it need to be ambiguous? Why did Tim need his book published? Why does removing a piece of your brain the key to seeing indigo? What is your message? What are we supposed to learn? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ANY OF THIS?!
I should throw this book away but no, this will in fact have a special place on my shelve. To remember how awful it was and also so that when I'm reading anything else I can at least say I'm not reading Indigo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2007
Eh. I have loved other books by Joyce, but this one had such clumsy prose that it was actively distracting. I remember him writing better than this! At times, it seems like he wrote the book to win a bet about who could use the word "lupine" most often in a single novel.
It's not a bad premise -- everyone says Indigo is in the spectrum, but is there really a separate color that's neither a shade of blue nor violet? "Indigo" claims there is, and that we've lost our ability to see it. Characters get mixed up with a manuscript purporting to teach readers to see indigo again, with chaotic results. It IS atmospheric and should have been more fun to read than it turned out to be; but the resolution is quite a letdown.
Skip it unless you are unduly fascinated by color theory and Roman architecture, and go read Joyce's much superior Dark Sister or The Tooth Fairy.
It's not a bad premise -- everyone says Indigo is in the spectrum, but is there really a separate color that's neither a shade of blue nor violet? "Indigo" claims there is, and that we've lost our ability to see it. Characters get mixed up with a manuscript purporting to teach readers to see indigo again, with chaotic results. It IS atmospheric and should have been more fun to read than it turned out to be; but the resolution is quite a letdown.
Skip it unless you are unduly fascinated by color theory and Roman architecture, and go read Joyce's much superior Dark Sister or The Tooth Fairy.
March 29, 2012
There is a blurb on the front of this book in which Stephen King calls this book "clever, engrossing..."
Stephen King is a liar.
Stephen King is a liar.
February 6, 2024
Really impressive ominous story that explores invisibility in Many different ways
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
September 5, 2019
Just finished it. Still mad. Interesting story, but the author butchered it. Very bad execution. Poor writing style, he blabbers a lot. Plenty unnecessary information and detail that serve nothing, except trying to impress the reader. Impetuous, hasty, overweening and arrogant. especially from the middle and towards to the end, it seems as if the author had no clear idea where it was going, and just finished it off. The characters are stereotypical and unoriginal. The main character development is hard to believe and unjustifiable. The whole idea was supposed to be deep and philosophical, but man, the execution was not only bad, but really supercilious. So, it's a no-no from me.
July 24, 2016
Δεν μου άρεσε.....το toothfairy το είχα λατρέψει πραγματικά.
Εδώ δεν μου άρεσε η γραφή, πολλές ατάκες και εικόνες ήταν εντελώς άχρηστες και θα μπορούσαν να λείπουν....για να την ακρίβεια νομίζω οτι θα έπρεπε να ήταν μικρή νουβέλα και όχι κανονικό βιβλίο.
Με τράβηξε σαν μυστήριο αλλά το τέλος το βρήκα άκρως αδύναμο και βιαστικό....θεωρώ οτι ήταν μία πολύ καλή ιδέα που όμως δεν μας την έδωσε σωστά.
Ο μόνος λόγος που το αγόρασα ήταν και η τιμή που το βρήκα στα 6.5€ αλλιώς δεν θα του είχα δώσει ευκαιρία εξ αρχής.
Εδώ δεν μου άρεσε η γραφή, πολλές ατάκες και εικόνες ήταν εντελώς άχρηστες και θα μπορούσαν να λείπουν....για να την ακρίβεια νομίζω οτι θα έπρεπε να ήταν μικρή νουβέλα και όχι κανονικό βιβλίο.
Με τράβηξε σαν μυστήριο αλλά το τέλος το βρήκα άκρως αδύναμο και βιαστικό....θεωρώ οτι ήταν μία πολύ καλή ιδέα που όμως δεν μας την έδωσε σωστά.
Ο μόνος λόγος που το αγόρασα ήταν και η τιμή που το βρήκα στα 6.5€ αλλιώς δεν θα του είχα δώσει ευκαιρία εξ αρχής.
August 5, 2017
I think this book was amazing, not scary as Stephen King said, but amazing. At the scary part it depends on the reader and what the reader have seen until now, who is the reader bla bla bla; after so many psychological movies it is kind of hard to believe that something is scary "just like that". Not impressed by its horror-duty, but I am impressed by its stunningly philosophical grip. In the end, it is not about by which means someone sees the indigo, but with whom and in what conditions. The steps to follow determining you to see the indigo are meant to kill you just because a mental ill guy wrote a guide book in how you must change in order to see a change outward. But this is bs, if I may state it like this, because if you want to see a change, you do not change everything just because "it is easier to do so", firstly you intend to perceive what is "wrong" with you. That`s why I loved it so much: this guy strives to see the indigo, but the only one possible way is to accept the fact that he will only be himself, not his father, which is quite pretty much of a deal. The rest of the characters are so malleable that you almost begin to empathize with all of them, they are just lost souls who seek to unleash the truth on the ground that they slobber over something bigger than them. They just want to feel the pressure of doing something that nobody else did, to endure their own perfection as so many saints did before us. Just like them, the main character is just a little mouse searching for his father`s protection when the latter died; while his entourage was being allured by drugs and by the fact that they could now be known, not only some shadows. This is a story of a wealthy man prepared to summon others, just like a god, to give them everything and then take it away if they don`t accept your domination, someone who loved to have everything planned and got hard thinking about how much power he had; like a god again he seemed to love knowing everything even from the grave; it was just maddening for him when a person had to choose. It is the power of the strong willed, over the weakest who are just as understandable as we all are because we all needed help, we will need help and a shoulder to cry on. All in all, this book had it all, it had mysticism, religion, science, madness, sanity, duality, psychological ravings, mystery, love (which was actually incest, but not quite), wild sex, wolves, history, mind control and paranoia. I deeply recommend it.
March 27, 2013
The second Graham Joyce book I've read (the other was Some Kind of Fairy Tale) and I like his writing a lot. I enjoy stories that dance on a fine line between psychological delusion and genuine manifestations of the occult - that seems to be a specialty of his. Less enjoyable to me is his treatment of sex which often seems to border on the prurient.
The story involves British ex-cop, now process server, Jack, and his inheritance of a book from his hated and estranged late father. This book purports to teach careful devotees a new way of seeing, enabling them to perceive the color indigo on the color spectrum. Indigo, Jack's father asserts, is so elusive that the normal eye can't see it - but after his training course one will not only be able to do so but will also achieve invisibility!
Jack travels to America to meet with his father's executor, and renews his acquaintance with his half-sister, Louise, to whom he feels a disturbing attraction. Together he and Louise, and her toddler son, travel to Rome to sell the apartment their father had owned there and also to follow the trail of ruined lives the "great man" has left behind. Against his better judgment Jack begins following the course of instruction in his father's book -- and it begins to change him in sinister ways....
Nothing is quite as it seems in this book and my feelings about it were similarly puzzled. I didn't like Jack much; found his sexual interest in his half-sister repulsive. However, he is not a dull character. The whole indigo theme was brilliant and intriguing: many people were destroyed in its pursuit and yet I was left wondering if, in the fictional reality of this book, we were meant to believe that there truly was something to the notion that this secret color opens up realms of transcendent power and insight.
Will definitely read past & future Graham Joyce books with interest.
The story involves British ex-cop, now process server, Jack, and his inheritance of a book from his hated and estranged late father. This book purports to teach careful devotees a new way of seeing, enabling them to perceive the color indigo on the color spectrum. Indigo, Jack's father asserts, is so elusive that the normal eye can't see it - but after his training course one will not only be able to do so but will also achieve invisibility!
Jack travels to America to meet with his father's executor, and renews his acquaintance with his half-sister, Louise, to whom he feels a disturbing attraction. Together he and Louise, and her toddler son, travel to Rome to sell the apartment their father had owned there and also to follow the trail of ruined lives the "great man" has left behind. Against his better judgment Jack begins following the course of instruction in his father's book -- and it begins to change him in sinister ways....
Nothing is quite as it seems in this book and my feelings about it were similarly puzzled. I didn't like Jack much; found his sexual interest in his half-sister repulsive. However, he is not a dull character. The whole indigo theme was brilliant and intriguing: many people were destroyed in its pursuit and yet I was left wondering if, in the fictional reality of this book, we were meant to believe that there truly was something to the notion that this secret color opens up realms of transcendent power and insight.
Will definitely read past & future Graham Joyce books with interest.
October 2, 2014
Ούτε συναρπαστικό ήταν ούτε με κράτησε ξάγρυπνο. Αν και όλα τα συστατικά ήταν εκεί κάτι έλειπε για να τα συνδέσει. Υπήρχαν κάποια κομμάτια που καταλάβαινες ότι ο συγγραφέας είναι καλός και ικανός να δημιουργήσει ατμόσφαιρα αλλά σε γενικές γραμμές από τα πιο αδιάφορα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει. Κρίμα γιατί άλλα του βιβλία είναι πολύ καλά αλλά εδώ δεν του πέτυχε.
September 5, 2011
An exceptional novel - brisk and chilly, complex and adventurous, this is gripping from start to finish. Very highly recommended.
March 22, 2016
3.5* από ατμόσφαιρα πολύ καλό...δεν καταλήγει όμως όσο καλά ξεκινάει.
October 16, 2020
Joyce keeps writing fabulous books. This is another one that I found totally engrossing and rich and could barely put down.
The story follows Jack Chambers as the executor of his estranged father's will. As he reluctantly starts the process he learns that he must publish his father's manuscript "Invisibility: A Manual of Light." He also meets his half sister whom he has more than sisterly feelings for. Together they search for the unknown woman who will inherit most of the estate while simultaneously being wrapped up in the search for the color indigo and the ability to be invisible.
As in other Joyce novels, his characters are extremely three dimensional and real; their actions and speech flow smoothly and create an elusive yet off-kilter atmosphere throughout the book. This really helps get across the obsession of the deceased father to see indigo. As a basis for a lot of the story, Joyce focuses on the "controversy" around indigo and how it may or may not be a true color. There is discussion of where it does not fit into the spectrum nor does it qualify as a primary (red, yellow, blue) or secondary (orange, green, violet) color. It was a bit freaky at times to read the story and realize that parts of it are true. And then to compound things, it really sounds as if the eye exercises recommended in the father's manuscript could lead you to see things that are outside the normal range of seeing. A creepy concept done in a very engaging manner. Definitely a thumbs up and a good read!
The story follows Jack Chambers as the executor of his estranged father's will. As he reluctantly starts the process he learns that he must publish his father's manuscript "Invisibility: A Manual of Light." He also meets his half sister whom he has more than sisterly feelings for. Together they search for the unknown woman who will inherit most of the estate while simultaneously being wrapped up in the search for the color indigo and the ability to be invisible.
As in other Joyce novels, his characters are extremely three dimensional and real; their actions and speech flow smoothly and create an elusive yet off-kilter atmosphere throughout the book. This really helps get across the obsession of the deceased father to see indigo. As a basis for a lot of the story, Joyce focuses on the "controversy" around indigo and how it may or may not be a true color. There is discussion of where it does not fit into the spectrum nor does it qualify as a primary (red, yellow, blue) or secondary (orange, green, violet) color. It was a bit freaky at times to read the story and realize that parts of it are true. And then to compound things, it really sounds as if the eye exercises recommended in the father's manuscript could lead you to see things that are outside the normal range of seeing. A creepy concept done in a very engaging manner. Definitely a thumbs up and a good read!
July 25, 2021
Maybe it was because Stephen King blurb the book, or because I was trying to find a fifth book for the sale that was going on, or a combination of both- I sadly regret buying this a little. I say a little because I feel this book had so much potential but it fell flat for me.
There were times while reading this book that made me think to myself that it may not be going anywhere, but there was also moments where I felt like the story was actually doing something that could potentially make this a three star read. I truly wanted to love Indigo, but I think it speaks to the old saying, "We can't love them all". Also, if you can't stand people just having thoughts of incest, I wouldn't recommend this book, it makes up like 50% of the content from what I remember from it. Really makes it hard to find a connection with the main character or like him.
I have been trying to come up with a helpful review since January that can better describe this book, but so much and so little happens in this story that I cannot find a way to express why people should read or not. If you're interested in this book from other reviews or the synopsis, I say give it a shot, not everyone likes/hates the same thing.
I can see why others would like it. But I personally am working on forgetting it, and maybe this review will act as some form of therapy.
There were times while reading this book that made me think to myself that it may not be going anywhere, but there was also moments where I felt like the story was actually doing something that could potentially make this a three star read. I truly wanted to love Indigo, but I think it speaks to the old saying, "We can't love them all". Also, if you can't stand people just having thoughts of incest, I wouldn't recommend this book, it makes up like 50% of the content from what I remember from it. Really makes it hard to find a connection with the main character or like him.
I have been trying to come up with a helpful review since January that can better describe this book, but so much and so little happens in this story that I cannot find a way to express why people should read or not. If you're interested in this book from other reviews or the synopsis, I say give it a shot, not everyone likes/hates the same thing.
I can see why others would like it. But I personally am working on forgetting it, and maybe this review will act as some form of therapy.
February 9, 2021
This was a really weird book. I love Graham Joyce's writing but this one didn't hit quite the same. His books usually have some fantasy element that happens in an otherwise realistic setting, and I like the element of wondering whether anything is real or not. This one is about a man who is just trying to see a cool color. He manipulates his own children, many sexual partners, and gains a following of people all willing to do anything to see this color (which is purported to be a transcendent experience.) He dies and his adult children (half siblings, raised separately) are left to get his affairs in order. He leaves behind a manuscript detailing his process and obsession with the color, and a very complicated will that the Brother must satisfy in order to get any money.
His books always have some sexual content, but this one was the most weirdly explicit that I've read so far. Otherwise, it was a super compelling read even when I wasn't all that interested in the subject matter. The action is interwoven with passages from the instructional manuscript and they sometimes felt overlong and unimportant. Stephen King must've been friends with Joyce or something, the quote on the dustjacket from him says "very scary" which this was not. It is a thrilling mystery, with a little bit of danger and intrigue, but never really scary.
His books always have some sexual content, but this one was the most weirdly explicit that I've read so far. Otherwise, it was a super compelling read even when I wasn't all that interested in the subject matter. The action is interwoven with passages from the instructional manuscript and they sometimes felt overlong and unimportant. Stephen King must've been friends with Joyce or something, the quote on the dustjacket from him says "very scary" which this was not. It is a thrilling mystery, with a little bit of danger and intrigue, but never really scary.
February 15, 2025
what Joyce does very well is a very British strand of folk horror light - his best work is characterized by the blurring lines between the mystical and the everyday, usually in homage to ancient Britain and her wise women & deep places. what he does not do well is anything else. rank this alongside Smoking Poppy, Requiem, The Silent Land, The Facts Of Life - lackluster storytelling and characterization marred by retrograde ideas of gender relationships, all elevated, but not saved, by scintillating prose.
July 3, 2023
De la mauvaise littérature, des personnages stéréotypés avec des attitudes glauques (cette fixette du mec sur sa demi sœur, sérieusement ?), une histoire inintéressante qui s'étire ; j'ai arrêté les dégâts au tiers du livre.
November 28, 2023
The writing was good. Stephen King lauded the book as scary. I disagree. Felt more like a police procedural. As with The Tooth Fairy, Joyce seems to have a predilection for sex scenes. While they moved the story forward, they could have been couched for more tension than satisfaction.
May 25, 2024
Disappointed
Where’s the plot, where’s the purpose of the rambling in this story? There were a few interesting moments in the story, which could have made a good book—but it went nowhere.
I can’t recommend this book to anybody.
Where’s the plot, where’s the purpose of the rambling in this story? There were a few interesting moments in the story, which could have made a good book—but it went nowhere.
I can’t recommend this book to anybody.
September 28, 2018
Shockingly bad
I wouldn't waste your time. Hard work
From start to finish
Skip read the last 25%
Did not enjoy this book
I wouldn't waste your time. Hard work
From start to finish
Skip read the last 25%
Did not enjoy this book
July 20, 2023
What a pointless, silly, slow-moving book.
December 19, 2024
Completely fascinating - so engrossing, I almost wanted to go and test out the instructions, forgetting it was all made up for the novel. The ending was beautiful.
August 20, 2013
Finally, a Graham Joyce book I didn't love without reservation. It's almost a relief. And even with this book, which I consider a mild disappointment, I was in danger of becoming obsessed. I felt like the progression towards the forbidden & inevitable & dangerous relationship between Jack and Louise was incredibly compelling, and it drove the middle third of the book for me. Unfortunately, that's not what the book was supposed to be about. For reasons that I don't believe are my fault, the indigo stuff never really came together for me. I felt like it amounted to a lot of false promise in the end, just a lot of vague and mysterious references that occasionally turned the plot. In my opinion, the real substantial stuff in this novel took place in the relationships -- both familial and otherwise, romantic & platonic, domestic & abroad. I felt like Billy, the fatherless child, was a brilliant addition, and it gave a lot of depth to the Jack & Louise sections. The love triangle was handled expertly, and the book did well by Chicago and Rome. Lots of choice passages. In the end, though, significantly less cohesive than the other Joyce novels I've read and loved.
February 5, 2011
When I read the back cover of Indigo I thought it sounded amazing. Pretty much the only aspect of the book that stood out was the fact that the main character couldn't keep his mind out of the gutter with thoughts about his half sister. It seemed like every chapter had the same epic struggle with the sexually frusterated monkeys in his head vs. his rationalily that said "IT'S YOUR SISTER FOR GOD'S SAKE!"
I got through half of the book and put it down (something I rarely do.) And I consider myself the most easily entertained peson I know. I'd finish the book but I can get the same sick feeling in my stomach by watching Jerry Springer.
I got through half of the book and put it down (something I rarely do.) And I consider myself the most easily entertained peson I know. I'd finish the book but I can get the same sick feeling in my stomach by watching Jerry Springer.
February 1, 2013
This book is billed on the cover as a thriller, but really it's more magical realism (won UK Fantasy Award in 2000). Graham Joyce is a great author, combining magic with the limits of magic in a modern context. In this novel, he goes behind the scenes, as it were, to expose both the brilliance and selfish manipulation of a "guru." The protagonist is charged with executing the will of his deceased father, a diabolically clever set of instructions that are intended to... (don't want to give too much away). What makes this even more interesting is the addition of unusual family dynamics and the mystery of invisibility -- both literal invisibility and "disappearing".
April 2, 2014
I love Graham Joyce. Everything I've read by him I've enjoyed, and that goes for Indigo as well, but I don't know that I'd classify it as a "thriller." Suspenseful, perhaps, but I was a bit disappointed by the fact that I didn't find it scary at all. Especially since I used to read a lot of Stephen King and there's a quote from him calling Indigo "very scary." Nonetheless, it was a good book, but I wish it had been more thrillerish.
February 25, 2015
In [B]Indigo[/B], Jack Chambers must act as executor in his recently deceased father's estate, but finds himself mixed up with an ex-girlfriend, his half-sister and a strange book his father wrote about attaining a level of enlightenment that results in invisibility.
This is the first novel of Graham Joyce's that I didn't go for; the premise sounds potentially interesting but the novel was very flat, with uninteresting characters and no excitement in the plot. Wouldn't recommend this one.
This is the first novel of Graham Joyce's that I didn't go for; the premise sounds potentially interesting but the novel was very flat, with uninteresting characters and no excitement in the plot. Wouldn't recommend this one.
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