The Sky Manifest: A Novel

by Brian Panhuyzen

A dark and riveting journey of one man in a broken world With nothing left to lose, Nathan Soderquist is moving west; his wife is dead, his infant daughter too, all because of a kiss and a snowstorm and his failure to prevent distant consequences. In his desperate isolation, he commits acts of violence, cowardice, nobility, and bravery as he passes through vacant landscapes and encounters beguiling characters. A road accident leaves his body broken, and his convalescence plumbs the depths of addiction. Relentless in his need to bridge epic distances, his journey moves from car to bicycle to foot as his anger grows, spurring a desire for revenge. Ultimately, a midnight confrontation spirals out of control, and from its extraordinary violence Nathan is presented with two final one ends in destruction; the other could lead to redemption. Written in taut, muscular prose and punctuated by brief poetic journal entries that document the ever-changing sky, Panhuyzen’s debut novel recounts one man’s story in a world revved with suspense and alive with wonder.

328 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2013

Reviews

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sky Manifest by Brian Panhuyzen is an eminently melancholy novel. Nathan Soderquist is on a quest across Canada - a quest wrought from pain and memories. After his wife and 18 month-old daughter are killed in an accident, Nathan is trying to escape from the pain and the memories by traveling. Nathan is filled with anger over his loss and seems bent on self-destruction. While he is driving, living a nomadic existence, he's also seemingly seeking out confrontations and fights. He is drinking too much. But he is also writing poetic descriptions of the ever-changing weather.

The escalating anger Nathan displays and the increasing violence he demonstrates cannot release him from his memories or his culpability. Nathan feels inconsolable and he is seeking out punishment, but what he really wants is atonement for the role he played in his wife and child's death. While he meets several people along the way and we know that there are others who would help him, Nathan is bent on self destruction and that makes his acts distressing to follow at times. He actively runs away from any help or consolation.

While the protagonist may not be able to control himself, Panhuyzen’s prowess with language elevates this sombre, distressing novel above the ordinary. The Sky Manifest is not an easy novel to read. The raw violence and emotions can be overwhelming. highly recommended

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of ECW Press via Netgalley for review purposes.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense and well written. I became really invested in Nathan, wanting good things to happen for him. Even now I’m worried about what comes next. Not exactly the feel good novel of the year, but it will suck you in.

[Eva Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book at first, but enjoyed it more as it went on. Made me feel things , good and bad (mostly bad)- which is why we read, isn’t it? Satisfying read overall. I don’t know who I would recommend this to.

[David Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sky Manifest is my forty-seventh book that I have received from Goodreads. I really enjoyed reading this book. The story is about a man named Nathan, who lost his wife and child in a car accident that he felt was his fault. Nathan is unable to escape the pain of losing both his wife and child and deceides on traveling to ease the pain. Nathan is driving and drinking, and full of anger and rage, he is bent on self destruction.
On his journey Nathan meets different people that try to help him, and others that are a hindrance to him.
The author Brian Panhuyzen, does a great job of putting you into the characters and problems Nathan under takes. He makes you feel the raw emotions and violence that Nathan feels.
At the end of the book, I did not see this book ending the way it did.

[Melanie Ransome · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully written emotional read. The main character Nathan has lost his wife and child in a car accident that he is believes is his fault. Unable to cope with this he travels, running away from himself in a sense. On his journey he is faced with many things that in some ways break him down but in others, put him back together.

I will say that this book is full of raw emotion, but the author has done an amazing job with his words.

I believe that if an author can get you to feel for a character and truly "feel" it, then they are a great writer.

I was not expecting the ending.

[Geoffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I've felt saddened to finish a novel, but The Sky Manifest did it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. As much as I was keen to turn the pages and discover what happens next, I spent a bit of time re-reading impressive sentences, and letting scenes wash over me. At times, the language is precise and descriptive in a way that may discourage casual readers, but this also lent to the magic of the story.

[Julia Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a crazy read with a crazy story. It was also a story of many, many words. It took a while for me to get into the book because of all the adjectives and metaphors, but once I got my bearings in the land of uber-description, I thought the book was really well written.

[Peter Darbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Coen Brothers take a wild road trip into Cormac McCarthy country. But with a Canadian sensibility.

[Jeff Mckishen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author spent a LOT of time referring to his thesaurus, still, GOOD STUFF.

[Indy Mitra · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh!

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

gripping. intense. whirlwind. powerful.

and doesn't let up... like riding a tornado from start to finish.

highly recommended

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some books are gripping, consuming. They suck you in and don't let you go until you've finished, craving more. Others are powerful in a different way. The Sky Manifest is like a heavy blanket - it doesn't suck you in. It surrounds you. At times the weight becomes claustrophobic and you shrug it off, but you always come back.

I saw a reviewer call this book "melancholy" and I can't think of a better word to describe it. Nathan's profound sadness is palpable and very relatable. I think many of us know that person who can't bear a sadness so deep and they run - but as much as they run, they still want connection and soothing.

The writing is moody and atmospheric and Panhuyzen does a good job of taking the reader along on Nathan's journey. However, at times the journey is erratic and choppy and I found myself muttering Really? Really? because sometimes things got a bit too far fetched for me. And I couldn't decide if Panhuyzen's jarring habit of combining words (applejuice) was annoying or endearing.

All in all, I found this book pretty enjoyable. Although it's not the typical novel I dive into and barely come up for air, it is distinct and powerful in its own way. I'm still deciding if it will have a home on my bookshelf or if it will go on to someone else.