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The Light that Gets Lost
A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there's no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he's only small, he swears that he'll get revenge one day.
Years later, Trey enters a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's he not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark.
Years later, Trey enters a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's he not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2015
7 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Natasha Carthew
15 books20 followersNatasha Carthew is a working-class writer from Cornwall. She is published by Hodder, Bloomsbury, Quercus and the National Trust. Her new book Undercurrent: A Cornish Memoir of Poverty, Nature and Resilience, is out now with Coronet/Hodder.
She is known for writing on Socioeconomic issues and working-class representation in literature for several publications and programmes; including The Booker Prize Foundation, ITV, Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, The Royal Society of Authors Journal, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, The Bookseller, The Guardian, The Observer, Mslexia, The Dark Mountain Project, The Big Issue and The Economist. Natasha guest edited the working-class edition of The Bookseller (Nov 2022) and is recipient of The Bookseller Rising Star Award 2022.
Natasha is Founder and Artistic Director of The Working Class Writers Festival and The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers in association with Octopus/Hachette.
She is represented by Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedman Literary Agency.
She is known for writing on Socioeconomic issues and working-class representation in literature for several publications and programmes; including The Booker Prize Foundation, ITV, Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, The Royal Society of Authors Journal, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, The Bookseller, The Guardian, The Observer, Mslexia, The Dark Mountain Project, The Big Issue and The Economist. Natasha guest edited the working-class edition of The Bookseller (Nov 2022) and is recipient of The Bookseller Rising Star Award 2022.
Natasha is Founder and Artistic Director of The Working Class Writers Festival and The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers in association with Octopus/Hachette.
She is represented by Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedman Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 14, 2016
I'm so confused on my thoughts concerning this!
Troubled teenager Trey's fate was decided when he witnessed the murder of his entire family whilst just a toddler. A decade later, he is sent to a camp for wayward children where he believes he will find the perpetrator for his parent's untimely demise. His continual struggle to control his emotions makes him appear as just another troubled teen, but Trey knows he is different from the troublemakers that reside there. That is, until he makes the acquaintance of the self-certified as crazy, Lamby; and the mysterious and beautiful Kay. They teach him that both people and life have more shades to them than black and white.
I was immediately captivated by the lyrical genius of the writing. The elegance of style and the abstract lilt to the narrative made me sure this was going to be a new favourite read: I am always drawn to odd, polarizing fiction. Unfortunately, I found that, whilst I continued to find solace in the writing, the believability of the plot began to evade me. I felt distanced from the events that took place and, therefore, the characters as I could not validify the credibility of the plot's meandering journey.
I would be interested in reading more from this author as her skill in penmanship has won me over, however, I think I will write this book off as a case of 'just not for me'.
Troubled teenager Trey's fate was decided when he witnessed the murder of his entire family whilst just a toddler. A decade later, he is sent to a camp for wayward children where he believes he will find the perpetrator for his parent's untimely demise. His continual struggle to control his emotions makes him appear as just another troubled teen, but Trey knows he is different from the troublemakers that reside there. That is, until he makes the acquaintance of the self-certified as crazy, Lamby; and the mysterious and beautiful Kay. They teach him that both people and life have more shades to them than black and white.
I was immediately captivated by the lyrical genius of the writing. The elegance of style and the abstract lilt to the narrative made me sure this was going to be a new favourite read: I am always drawn to odd, polarizing fiction. Unfortunately, I found that, whilst I continued to find solace in the writing, the believability of the plot began to evade me. I felt distanced from the events that took place and, therefore, the characters as I could not validify the credibility of the plot's meandering journey.
I would be interested in reading more from this author as her skill in penmanship has won me over, however, I think I will write this book off as a case of 'just not for me'.
January 2, 2016
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/12/t...
Trey constantly refers to the Demon when talking about his drive to avenge his parents. At first I assumed it was a metaphor used to describe his anger, I'm not sure whether it was part of Trey's journey but he seemed to believe the Demon was a physical being that possessed him that was never clarified. Another aspect of the storyline that I found difficult to connect with was the dialogue between the characters. The characters all had a very distinct British dialect and even being Australian, I couldn't follow it. Int (short for isn't it) was overused and was incredibly irritating after a few short chapters. To be honest, I wanted to take to the little bastards with a frying pan.
I loved the concept. Not being a religious person, I'm fascinated by fictional cults and religious based institutions but sadly due to the lack of world building, I just couldn't immerse myself. I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen, but it seemed to lose direction and cause.
I always write less than positive reviews with a heavy heart and although I enjoyed the rawness of the writing, this one was not for me sadly. The Light That Gets Lost is a strange journey that had the making of a truly wonderful read, but never realised. It lacked direction, much needed world building and perhaps tried to be too clever and lyrical which amounted to a disappointing read. The cover is absolutely gorgeous though.
Trey constantly refers to the Demon when talking about his drive to avenge his parents. At first I assumed it was a metaphor used to describe his anger, I'm not sure whether it was part of Trey's journey but he seemed to believe the Demon was a physical being that possessed him that was never clarified. Another aspect of the storyline that I found difficult to connect with was the dialogue between the characters. The characters all had a very distinct British dialect and even being Australian, I couldn't follow it. Int (short for isn't it) was overused and was incredibly irritating after a few short chapters. To be honest, I wanted to take to the little bastards with a frying pan.
I loved the concept. Not being a religious person, I'm fascinated by fictional cults and religious based institutions but sadly due to the lack of world building, I just couldn't immerse myself. I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen, but it seemed to lose direction and cause.
I always write less than positive reviews with a heavy heart and although I enjoyed the rawness of the writing, this one was not for me sadly. The Light That Gets Lost is a strange journey that had the making of a truly wonderful read, but never realised. It lacked direction, much needed world building and perhaps tried to be too clever and lyrical which amounted to a disappointing read. The cover is absolutely gorgeous though.
February 9, 2016
This book had potential but it just wasn't reached. I didn't even finish this book and although there were some parts where I enjoyed the authors writing, a lot of didn't flow or make sense. I got lost in this book too often and it drained any enjoyment I had for it. It's looks nice though.
November 13, 2015
DNF at 45%
I'm sorry. I just can't. I tried so hard to like this book. There were so many positive reviews, the blurb & cover were attractive, and it generally looked like such an appealing book. I felt like I found my perfect read. However, I couldn't have been more wrong.
Most of the people said they flew through this book. I, however, felt like I was swimming through mud. This book ruined my reading pace by being so sluggish and slow. I'd keep checking how many pages were left every 20 minutes. And let me tell you, that definitely was no fun. What was even more baffling was the amount of 3-5 star reviews this book received. The praise was rolling in like waves in a thunderstorm and I have no idea why.
First of all, the writing style of this book is either going to make it or break it for you. I consider myself part of the latter group. I was so put off by the writing style; it was just too disconcerting. Were the run-on sentences supposed to be lyrical? Poetic? Frankly, I'd rather read my English textbook. This book is inundated with overtly descriptive paragraphs that'll bore you to death, and (see above) nonsensical run-on sentences that are more confusing than informative. I'll admit though, sometimes these sentences take a turn into the 'beautiful and lyrical' territory, but more often than not, that isn't the case. They just left me scratching my head in puzzlement. Here's an example from the prologue:
"Mum was flat out on the floor. She'd spilt something and was caught in a half-thought going under the bed [...] the sticky was growing and it branched out like creeping fingers under the rug and the boy shouted for her but it was too late, the bed had her."
It was supposed to resemble some kind of poetic imagery, but all it did was make me think "What the hell did I just read?"
Also, I'm not sure if this was because of the writing style or something else, but I felt absolutely nothing for the characters. I kept waiting for something to happen but... Nope, nothing. Nada, zero, zilch. I never connected with any of the characters and I just felt like I was watching them from afar. I thought that they'd maybe gain more depth as the book progresses, but unfortunately that didn't happen. The main character made me uncomfortable. He was weird. Not quirky. Just plain old weird - synonymous to creepy. There was nothing that made me relate to any of the characters or even like them; they really grated on my nerves.
Maybe I could've forgiven the above points if the book even had a purpose or anything remotely resembling a plot, but that aspect also disappointed. This is the kind of book that'd have you thinking Oh maybe it'll get better in a few pages. And Maybe the next chapter? And Something's going to happen now, I feel it. But you're already at the end and you feel nothing. For all you know, you could've just read through a bibliography without knowing the difference.
One of the things that my English teacher continuously emphasized was that a plot always had to have rising action that led to a climax and, in turn, a resolution. That wasn't present in this book. When we discover who killed the MC's parents, I was just like "You don't say?!" There was no buildup and it was so clearly obvious from the start that I wasn't sure if he was being seriously surprised or not. It was so boring and nothing like what the blurb promised. Where was the revenge-quest? All we got was some type of “Lord of the Flies” fanfiction.
Another thing that bothered me was the world-building & setting. We have a group of teenagers in a remote camp somewhere in England. They have no outside contact. However, there are hints about the outside. I think it was some kind of dystopian society or weird future in which the army has control of everything. To be honest, this information didn’t really play an essential role in the plot. Furthermore, it was riddled with more holes than a rotting piece of wood. Maybe it was part of the ‘charm’ of this whole book, but the fact that we know practically nothing about the world was just irritating and leaves the reader feeling very displaced.
Overall, I think this book was a very confusing jumble of inarticulate writing, one-dimensional characters, and hole-riddled plot with no sense of purpose or direction. Some people may think that it’s a masterpiece of lyrical writing and perfect plot, but I’d be inclined to disagree. Unfortunately, this just isn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Bloomsbury, for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sorry. I just can't. I tried so hard to like this book. There were so many positive reviews, the blurb & cover were attractive, and it generally looked like such an appealing book. I felt like I found my perfect read. However, I couldn't have been more wrong.
Most of the people said they flew through this book. I, however, felt like I was swimming through mud. This book ruined my reading pace by being so sluggish and slow. I'd keep checking how many pages were left every 20 minutes. And let me tell you, that definitely was no fun. What was even more baffling was the amount of 3-5 star reviews this book received. The praise was rolling in like waves in a thunderstorm and I have no idea why.
First of all, the writing style of this book is either going to make it or break it for you. I consider myself part of the latter group. I was so put off by the writing style; it was just too disconcerting. Were the run-on sentences supposed to be lyrical? Poetic? Frankly, I'd rather read my English textbook. This book is inundated with overtly descriptive paragraphs that'll bore you to death, and (see above) nonsensical run-on sentences that are more confusing than informative. I'll admit though, sometimes these sentences take a turn into the 'beautiful and lyrical' territory, but more often than not, that isn't the case. They just left me scratching my head in puzzlement. Here's an example from the prologue:
"Mum was flat out on the floor. She'd spilt something and was caught in a half-thought going under the bed [...] the sticky was growing and it branched out like creeping fingers under the rug and the boy shouted for her but it was too late, the bed had her."
It was supposed to resemble some kind of poetic imagery, but all it did was make me think "What the hell did I just read?"
Also, I'm not sure if this was because of the writing style or something else, but I felt absolutely nothing for the characters. I kept waiting for something to happen but... Nope, nothing. Nada, zero, zilch. I never connected with any of the characters and I just felt like I was watching them from afar. I thought that they'd maybe gain more depth as the book progresses, but unfortunately that didn't happen. The main character made me uncomfortable. He was weird. Not quirky. Just plain old weird - synonymous to creepy. There was nothing that made me relate to any of the characters or even like them; they really grated on my nerves.
Maybe I could've forgiven the above points if the book even had a purpose or anything remotely resembling a plot, but that aspect also disappointed. This is the kind of book that'd have you thinking Oh maybe it'll get better in a few pages. And Maybe the next chapter? And Something's going to happen now, I feel it. But you're already at the end and you feel nothing. For all you know, you could've just read through a bibliography without knowing the difference.
One of the things that my English teacher continuously emphasized was that a plot always had to have rising action that led to a climax and, in turn, a resolution. That wasn't present in this book. When we discover who killed the MC's parents, I was just like "You don't say?!" There was no buildup and it was so clearly obvious from the start that I wasn't sure if he was being seriously surprised or not. It was so boring and nothing like what the blurb promised. Where was the revenge-quest? All we got was some type of “Lord of the Flies” fanfiction.
Another thing that bothered me was the world-building & setting. We have a group of teenagers in a remote camp somewhere in England. They have no outside contact. However, there are hints about the outside. I think it was some kind of dystopian society or weird future in which the army has control of everything. To be honest, this information didn’t really play an essential role in the plot. Furthermore, it was riddled with more holes than a rotting piece of wood. Maybe it was part of the ‘charm’ of this whole book, but the fact that we know practically nothing about the world was just irritating and leaves the reader feeling very displaced.
Overall, I think this book was a very confusing jumble of inarticulate writing, one-dimensional characters, and hole-riddled plot with no sense of purpose or direction. Some people may think that it’s a masterpiece of lyrical writing and perfect plot, but I’d be inclined to disagree. Unfortunately, this just isn’t for me.
Thank you to the publisher, Bloomsbury, for providing me with a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2015
Source: I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley via the publisher, Bloomsbury! Thanks to both!
Cost: Free
Title: The Light That Gets Lost
Author: Natasha Carthew
Genre: YA, contemporary
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Trey was only a kid when it happened, when he saw his parents killed. And now, as someone older and more mature, he wants one thing. Revenge. And when he ends up at a camp, he finds that maybe revenge isn't that far of a stretch away.
I enjoyed the plot of this book. Trey was a great character, he was strong willed. Or stubborn, depending on your view. He was someone you really liked and you wanted the best for him throughout. Lamby was brilliant too.
My only issue with this book was that it reminded me a lot of Of Mice and Men and in all honestly, that book has bad connotations. *shudders at the thought of GCSE English*
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful though!
Cost: Free
Title: The Light That Gets Lost
Author: Natasha Carthew
Genre: YA, contemporary
Overall Rating: 3 stars
Trey was only a kid when it happened, when he saw his parents killed. And now, as someone older and more mature, he wants one thing. Revenge. And when he ends up at a camp, he finds that maybe revenge isn't that far of a stretch away.
I enjoyed the plot of this book. Trey was a great character, he was strong willed. Or stubborn, depending on your view. He was someone you really liked and you wanted the best for him throughout. Lamby was brilliant too.
My only issue with this book was that it reminded me a lot of Of Mice and Men and in all honestly, that book has bad connotations. *shudders at the thought of GCSE English*
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful though!
February 21, 2017
Finished reading: February 16th 2017
“His life had been set upon by circumstances beyond his control. He wasn't ad for the kick of things; he'd grown bad like bacteria on foul meat.”
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
November 14, 2015
I received a free copy of this through NetGalley
I was hooked on this from the first page. I don't want to say too much about this yet given that it isn't being released for a little while but keep your eyes out. The Light That Gets Lost was heartbreaking, funny and captivating - everything you need in a good book.
I was hooked on this from the first page. I don't want to say too much about this yet given that it isn't being released for a little while but keep your eyes out. The Light That Gets Lost was heartbreaking, funny and captivating - everything you need in a good book.
October 13, 2015
I'm sorry, this is not for me. I tried.
December 31, 2021
Review in Wrap Up Vlog
https://youtu.be/GxEyavbkCXE
https://youtu.be/GxEyavbkCXE
December 20, 2015
3.5 stars
It took me a little while to get into this book, mostly due to the writing style. I struggled a bit with the accent of the dialogue and all the run-on sentences. I understand that both of these were deliberate, but they did make it a bit harder to read.
It was around the 30% mark that I started getting interested in the story and the characters. I particularly liked the character of Lamby, as he had a certain childish innocence and playfulness about him, even though he'd been through a lot. The main character, Trey, was a little harder to like. His obsession with revenge and all his talk about this inner demon got rather tedious after awhile. After that settled down, I really enjoyed the ending, where he came to realise the futility of holding on to the awful things in his past, and instead focused on the future; I think there is a great lesson in that.
It was hard for me to decide on a rating for this book. I enjoyed how the story developed in the second half, and if it was just up to that, I would have rated it 4 stars. However, I can't ignore the fact that the writing style was a little challenging to read through. It took me quite a while to get used to it, so I didn't really enjoy the beginning; it nearly made me not want to continue reading. Thankfully, I did push on.
If I were to read this book again, I would no doubt enjoy it more, as I would already be accustomed to Carthew's particular style of storytelling.
Overall, I think this is quite a good novel and has a nice non-traditional coming-of-age feel about it.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
It took me a little while to get into this book, mostly due to the writing style. I struggled a bit with the accent of the dialogue and all the run-on sentences. I understand that both of these were deliberate, but they did make it a bit harder to read.
It was around the 30% mark that I started getting interested in the story and the characters. I particularly liked the character of Lamby, as he had a certain childish innocence and playfulness about him, even though he'd been through a lot. The main character, Trey, was a little harder to like. His obsession with revenge and all his talk about this inner demon got rather tedious after awhile. After that settled down, I really enjoyed the ending, where he came to realise the futility of holding on to the awful things in his past, and instead focused on the future; I think there is a great lesson in that.
It was hard for me to decide on a rating for this book. I enjoyed how the story developed in the second half, and if it was just up to that, I would have rated it 4 stars. However, I can't ignore the fact that the writing style was a little challenging to read through. It took me quite a while to get used to it, so I didn't really enjoy the beginning; it nearly made me not want to continue reading. Thankfully, I did push on.
If I were to read this book again, I would no doubt enjoy it more, as I would already be accustomed to Carthew's particular style of storytelling.
Overall, I think this is quite a good novel and has a nice non-traditional coming-of-age feel about it.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
June 21, 2016
I received a free copy of this book by the book's publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
When I picked up this book, I had high expectations. The blurb drew me in and I had read a couple of good reviews before deciding to give it a go for myself. I wanted this book to be brilliant so much, but it ended up being one of the most disappointing books I have read this year.
Trey is a teenager who has seen his parents killed. Now he has only one focus, revenge. His hunt for the man who killed is parents is on. His arrival at a mysterious camp with strange cliques and jobs might just lead him exactly where he needs to be...
It sounds good doesn't it, unfortunately the book doesn't live up to the hype. It was exceptionally slow to begin with and was pretty laborious reading until about 35% through. Whenever Trey is angry, he constantly refers to the Demon being inside him and driving his revenge but whether he is the Demon or if it is simply a metaphor, it is never explicitly stated. The story itself seems to jump about and many loose threads seem to just be left unresolved.
I felt very disappointed by this book because it has so much potential. The plot and entire concept was fantastic but its execution was far less so. Carthew's writing style was far more descriptive, poetic and metaphoric than focused upon the plot, which some people may enjoy but it definitely wasn't for me. The ending of the story felt like I had stopped reading this book and had picked up at the end of Lord of the Flies instead. A very frustrating read, which had far more potential and could have been something fantastic.
When I picked up this book, I had high expectations. The blurb drew me in and I had read a couple of good reviews before deciding to give it a go for myself. I wanted this book to be brilliant so much, but it ended up being one of the most disappointing books I have read this year.
Trey is a teenager who has seen his parents killed. Now he has only one focus, revenge. His hunt for the man who killed is parents is on. His arrival at a mysterious camp with strange cliques and jobs might just lead him exactly where he needs to be...
It sounds good doesn't it, unfortunately the book doesn't live up to the hype. It was exceptionally slow to begin with and was pretty laborious reading until about 35% through. Whenever Trey is angry, he constantly refers to the Demon being inside him and driving his revenge but whether he is the Demon or if it is simply a metaphor, it is never explicitly stated. The story itself seems to jump about and many loose threads seem to just be left unresolved.
I felt very disappointed by this book because it has so much potential. The plot and entire concept was fantastic but its execution was far less so. Carthew's writing style was far more descriptive, poetic and metaphoric than focused upon the plot, which some people may enjoy but it definitely wasn't for me. The ending of the story felt like I had stopped reading this book and had picked up at the end of Lord of the Flies instead. A very frustrating read, which had far more potential and could have been something fantastic.
October 19, 2015
Trey joins an odd camp in Cornwall. He is looking for someone so that he can avenge the death of his parents, and there is a fire that is burning inside of him, threatening to escape at all times.
I found this really odd. It didn't feel like it was set in Cornwall at all, it felt like it was set in America in the 1920s. It just felt like Of Mice & Men - retelling.
Now, I have nothing against Of Mice & Men at all, far from it, I think it's a fantastic story, but there was so much that felt similar about it, and then it kind of changed into Lord Of The Flies towards the end!
There is another element to it though, the people running the camp - those in charge obviously have something to hide, and there is something wrong afoot in the world.
I don't know whether I missed something, but I couldn't work out if this was set in an alternative past, or a dystopian near-future - and if the latter was true, what had happened.
i wanted to like this book so much, and I think more could have been done with it, but I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters, and the story felt slow and a little confused.
I found this really odd. It didn't feel like it was set in Cornwall at all, it felt like it was set in America in the 1920s. It just felt like Of Mice & Men - retelling.
Now, I have nothing against Of Mice & Men at all, far from it, I think it's a fantastic story, but there was so much that felt similar about it, and then it kind of changed into Lord Of The Flies towards the end!
There is another element to it though, the people running the camp - those in charge obviously have something to hide, and there is something wrong afoot in the world.
I don't know whether I missed something, but I couldn't work out if this was set in an alternative past, or a dystopian near-future - and if the latter was true, what had happened.
i wanted to like this book so much, and I think more could have been done with it, but I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters, and the story felt slow and a little confused.
November 3, 2015
ARC kindly provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I started reading this and immediately didn't like the writing style. I tried going on for a few pages, but I can't get into books with this kind of writing. Trey's memory at the beginning was explained in what I think was supposed to be a child's point of view, but in my opinion wasn't written well enough to come across in a way that hooks you and makes you hold on.
Trey as an adolescent seems to come across in third person, and although less jumpy, is still written in a writing style I can't get into, or find myself being hooked on.
I like to get hooked into a story right from the start, and this one just doesn't have that feeling, so I'm putting it down. A great theory for a book, and for those who enjoy this writing style, its probably a great story. Just not for me.
I started reading this and immediately didn't like the writing style. I tried going on for a few pages, but I can't get into books with this kind of writing. Trey's memory at the beginning was explained in what I think was supposed to be a child's point of view, but in my opinion wasn't written well enough to come across in a way that hooks you and makes you hold on.
Trey as an adolescent seems to come across in third person, and although less jumpy, is still written in a writing style I can't get into, or find myself being hooked on.
I like to get hooked into a story right from the start, and this one just doesn't have that feeling, so I'm putting it down. A great theory for a book, and for those who enjoy this writing style, its probably a great story. Just not for me.
November 30, 2015
DNF. The writing was beautiful and the plot was interesting but ultimately I was left confused from the very beginning and the setting was not something I enjoyed, particularly the feeling that the book gave me.
Read
June 11, 2020Review to come...
When I first started this, I was interested in it because obviously the rating is not the best and I was wanted to know why. I was even intrigued as the beginning was quite promising and I found that I was actually enjoying the book. But I think this kind of goes downhill.
The plot goes to places that I would have never have guessed and yeah it is pretty weird. While it goes this, I did find it enjoyable, but I think what is more it gives you information about the farm that they are on and does very little with this. I think if this was developed it may have been quite different and I would feel a different way about it.
Although the characters are not developed wholly, I did enjoy what we did get of them and I liked the kind of found family elements that are weaved into the story. Trey is a somewhat a unique character but again he is kind of a product of the writing, in the sense that it is poetic and lyrical and no teenage boy would actually speak like that. I also did like Lamby and the whole ending was quite gripping and hopeful.
As I briefly mentioned before one of the highlights of this book was the writing. The opening of the book was really beautiful and although this led to a slight disconnect at the end, I do think that the writing was one of the strong points throughout.
The Verdict:
The Light that Get's Lost is an interesting story that explores what happens when you find your tribe in the oddest of places.
When I first started this, I was interested in it because obviously the rating is not the best and I was wanted to know why. I was even intrigued as the beginning was quite promising and I found that I was actually enjoying the book. But I think this kind of goes downhill.
The plot goes to places that I would have never have guessed and yeah it is pretty weird. While it goes this, I did find it enjoyable, but I think what is more it gives you information about the farm that they are on and does very little with this. I think if this was developed it may have been quite different and I would feel a different way about it.
Although the characters are not developed wholly, I did enjoy what we did get of them and I liked the kind of found family elements that are weaved into the story. Trey is a somewhat a unique character but again he is kind of a product of the writing, in the sense that it is poetic and lyrical and no teenage boy would actually speak like that. I also did like Lamby and the whole ending was quite gripping and hopeful.
As I briefly mentioned before one of the highlights of this book was the writing. The opening of the book was really beautiful and although this led to a slight disconnect at the end, I do think that the writing was one of the strong points throughout.
The Verdict:
The Light that Get's Lost is an interesting story that explores what happens when you find your tribe in the oddest of places.
September 11, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there's no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he's only small, he swears that he'll get revenge one day.
Years later, Trey goes to a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark...
I am so sorry...I just couldn't do this. The story-telling just lost me early on and I couldn't get into it at all.
I have given it two stars solely for the cover.
Paul
ARH
A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there's no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he's only small, he swears that he'll get revenge one day.
Years later, Trey goes to a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark...
I am so sorry...I just couldn't do this. The story-telling just lost me early on and I couldn't get into it at all.
I have given it two stars solely for the cover.
Paul
ARH
May 16, 2018
Read 33 pages and I was already sick of the writing style, so I gave in. This has to be the record for the least amount of pages I've read before dropping a book by far.
So apparently this is set in England?? Well, apart from "innit" I have never heard any English person talk like the characters in this book in my 18 years of living here. I've heard Americans talking like that, but no Brits.
Also, if this is set down south like everyone I know is saying, I've never heard a southerner say "innit" since it's a very Northern word.
But anyway, I couldn't stand this books writing style at all. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to reading it. The cover is amazing and the blurb really pulled me in, the concept is good as well but it's just so poorly executed.
Never been so glad a book was free in my life.
So apparently this is set in England?? Well, apart from "innit" I have never heard any English person talk like the characters in this book in my 18 years of living here. I've heard Americans talking like that, but no Brits.
Also, if this is set down south like everyone I know is saying, I've never heard a southerner say "innit" since it's a very Northern word.
But anyway, I couldn't stand this books writing style at all. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to reading it. The cover is amazing and the blurb really pulled me in, the concept is good as well but it's just so poorly executed.
Never been so glad a book was free in my life.
October 20, 2017
I gave this book as many chances as I could possible give it, but it just wasn't the book for me.
That's not to say there is anything wrong with the story, it was quite interesting and the writing style was very unique, but it just wasn't my type of story.
I gave up at about half way, and I feel guilty for doing so, but I just didn't connect with the characters and became bored of the story.
That's not to say there is anything wrong with the story, it was quite interesting and the writing style was very unique, but it just wasn't my type of story.
I gave up at about half way, and I feel guilty for doing so, but I just didn't connect with the characters and became bored of the story.
June 22, 2017
I was a little into the story but I wanted to rip the page every time I read a metaphor. And there was a lot. The book was soaked in it.
February 8, 2019
I didn’t really see the point.
August 19, 2020
3.5 stars
ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a really long time to read this book. Twenty days to be exact. And yes I could say that I’ve been insanely busy lately, but I was just as busy when Queen Of Shadows released and that book had 600+ pages and I finished it in just a couple of days. So that’s no excuse. The book is mostly to blame. The beginning was really slow. The first chapter was interesting, but then it just took too long before anything of significance happened. For the first 30% of the book I really couldn’t care less what became of the main character.
The writing was another factor to slow me down. Its very unique, but whether it’s good or bad unique is debatable. The dialect, the abrupt dialogue, the long lyrical run-on sentences were very deliberate. They brought a certain atmosphere to the story. And even though I definitely appreciated the effort, it just felt really stiff in the beginning - to the point where it actually started to bother me. It took me too long to get used to it. Maybe it has something to do with English not being my native tongue, but I can’t imagine I’m the only one who feels this way. I did get used to it eventually and I learned to even like it, but by then I was well over the halfway mark. It felt like too little too late.
The Light That Gets Lost has a male protagonist, Trey, and is written in third person POV. It’s hard to tell whether I liked him. I definitely didn’t in the beginning, but he matured a lot through the course of this story and I liked the guy he became at the end a lot more. As if he was years older instead of merely weeks. At some point Trey started realizing that he was chasing ghosts and wasting his life on the idea of revenge. He stood up to fight his inner demons and started hoping for a better future. It made him an entirely different person, one who started to appreciate the value of life and love and friendship.
It took pretty long for us to really get to know the other characters. They were introduced rather soon, but for a while they were just faces in a crowd. Except for Lamby perhaps, no one really stood out. Once we learned who they really were, I started caring about them. It turned out I liked Kay a lot. She’s a girl Trey gets to know when he’s assigned to ‘farming’ in Camp Kernow. She was though and clearly bore the scars of a brutal past. Kay possessed the wisdom that usually comes with growing up too fast. She was wise beyond her years. I always admire that. Lamby was just as great, though in an entirely different manner. He’s the first guy Trey meets when he gets to camp and although he tries everything in his powers not to get attached to the kid, he eventually starts caring about him. Lamby was really young in spirits and therefore very optimistic, which I appreciated. With that came also a certain naivety and childish eagerness that was contagious. Yet Lamby could surprise everyone with his eye for detail and sudden cleverness. He knew a lot more than people would have wanted him to. He’s the sort of guy everyone underestimates by definition, but that has actually a whole lot to offer.
The plot was interesting, although it lacked credibility here and there. But it was creative at least and I certainly like the idea of Camp Kernow and the philosophy behind Trey’s motives. I’ve never read anything as such before. Some scenes weren’t as detailed as I would have liked and (I know this probably sounds really contradictory since I’ve basically been complaining non-stop about the slowness) some parts that were fundamental to the storyline were awfully rushed.
This is a coming of age tale and it’s surely not badly executed. It didn’t completely live up to its potential in my opinion, but it’s an intriguing read nonetheless. There are a lot of interesting thoughts and ideas in it. Some remarkable quotes as well. It’s worth the read!
This review and more can be found on All These Lives I Live
ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Penance tails up within. You only got yourself to answer to when you slap yourself over the head with it.
It took me a really long time to read this book. Twenty days to be exact. And yes I could say that I’ve been insanely busy lately, but I was just as busy when Queen Of Shadows released and that book had 600+ pages and I finished it in just a couple of days. So that’s no excuse. The book is mostly to blame. The beginning was really slow. The first chapter was interesting, but then it just took too long before anything of significance happened. For the first 30% of the book I really couldn’t care less what became of the main character.
The writing was another factor to slow me down. Its very unique, but whether it’s good or bad unique is debatable. The dialect, the abrupt dialogue, the long lyrical run-on sentences were very deliberate. They brought a certain atmosphere to the story. And even though I definitely appreciated the effort, it just felt really stiff in the beginning - to the point where it actually started to bother me. It took me too long to get used to it. Maybe it has something to do with English not being my native tongue, but I can’t imagine I’m the only one who feels this way. I did get used to it eventually and I learned to even like it, but by then I was well over the halfway mark. It felt like too little too late.
The Light That Gets Lost has a male protagonist, Trey, and is written in third person POV. It’s hard to tell whether I liked him. I definitely didn’t in the beginning, but he matured a lot through the course of this story and I liked the guy he became at the end a lot more. As if he was years older instead of merely weeks. At some point Trey started realizing that he was chasing ghosts and wasting his life on the idea of revenge. He stood up to fight his inner demons and started hoping for a better future. It made him an entirely different person, one who started to appreciate the value of life and love and friendship.
To see it was to know one way or the other, another step in his pursuit to find out the truth. In his heart he carried a sackful of sorrow an across his shoulders he saddled the burden of guilt. What it was to be alive when those he loved were not or almost not.
It took pretty long for us to really get to know the other characters. They were introduced rather soon, but for a while they were just faces in a crowd. Except for Lamby perhaps, no one really stood out. Once we learned who they really were, I started caring about them. It turned out I liked Kay a lot. She’s a girl Trey gets to know when he’s assigned to ‘farming’ in Camp Kernow. She was though and clearly bore the scars of a brutal past. Kay possessed the wisdom that usually comes with growing up too fast. She was wise beyond her years. I always admire that. Lamby was just as great, though in an entirely different manner. He’s the first guy Trey meets when he gets to camp and although he tries everything in his powers not to get attached to the kid, he eventually starts caring about him. Lamby was really young in spirits and therefore very optimistic, which I appreciated. With that came also a certain naivety and childish eagerness that was contagious. Yet Lamby could surprise everyone with his eye for detail and sudden cleverness. He knew a lot more than people would have wanted him to. He’s the sort of guy everyone underestimates by definition, but that has actually a whole lot to offer.
The plot was interesting, although it lacked credibility here and there. But it was creative at least and I certainly like the idea of Camp Kernow and the philosophy behind Trey’s motives. I’ve never read anything as such before. Some scenes weren’t as detailed as I would have liked and (I know this probably sounds really contradictory since I’ve basically been complaining non-stop about the slowness) some parts that were fundamental to the storyline were awfully rushed.
Trey had friends and family in a mix pot and something immediate in his life that wasn’t back-pedalling revenge but some kind of forward fight. No loaded gun but a heart packed with purpose.
This is a coming of age tale and it’s surely not badly executed. It didn’t completely live up to its potential in my opinion, but it’s an intriguing read nonetheless. There are a lot of interesting thoughts and ideas in it. Some remarkable quotes as well. It’s worth the read!
He put his hand into his pocket with the lighter gone and he held on to the empty space and all the possibilities that in time might settle there.
This review and more can be found on All These Lives I Live
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March 16, 2017A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there's no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he's only small, he swears that he'll get revenge one day. Years later, Trey goes to a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god-botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark ...
December 19, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
The Light That Gets Lost is an intense and powerful story about friendship, loss, and fear. Trey arrives at Camp Kernow with a plan to kill the man who murdered his parents and maimed his brother. But when he settles in he realises that doing so will not be as easy as he originally thought, particularly when friendships start to get in the way.
I will admit that this book was a little hard to get into at first. The first chapter is intriguing but after that things really quieten down for awhile. For most of the first few chapters we are stuck in Trey’s mind until he starts opening up to some of the other characters. For awhile there I didn’t care much about what happened to Trey, but things got SO MUCH BETTER. My interest was finally piqued at around the 50-page mark – this was when we started getting to know the other characters more, got more background on Trey and the camp that he was stuck in. I ended up being drawn into the story and was super glad I kept reading despite the fact that the writing style sometimes bogged me down a little.
The writing style is very lyrical and highly expressive. It is quite abstract at times, like when eight-year-old Trey refers to blood as ‘the sticky’. There were some parts where the language confused me a little, particularly with the run-on sentences, some of the descriptions, and the dialogue (I hate the word ‘int‘ being used instead of ‘isn’t it‘). After I started getting more into the story, though, I found that it was easier to understand the writing. It was the kind of style where you just need a little time to get used to it. Some of the prose was stunning and highly poetic, and although it took a bit of work to get into it and start appreciating it, the writing style worked well and led to some startling and beautiful moments between the three main characters.
I really enjoyed the characters in The Light That Gets Lost. Trey was very interesting because of his dark past, his plans for revenge, and the lessons he learned about life and friendship when he started opening up to Lamby and Kay. Lamby was a lot of fun – he was always stirring trouble, winding people up, and biting off more than he could chew. Kay was mysterious and tough, and I wish we could have gotten to know her a little more personally. Trey, Lamby, and Kay join forces to stand up for themselves against Wilder, a boy desperate for power and a sense of belonging.
The plot took some interesting turns and was quite different to what I was expecting. Without giving too much away, all I can really say is that Camp Kernow is not the place of salvation that it is advertised as – there is a lot of secrecy and trouble brewing just below the surface. Things go from bad to worse for Trey and his friends and they end up having to choose whether or not to stick up for themselves and to stay together, or to just give in and follow the crowd. Some of the messages within this story were quite thought-provoking and important. This book made me reflect about the way I live my life and the way that I think about myself and others.
Overall, The Light That Gets Lost is a powerful story written in an eccentric and expressive way. I really enjoyed the story and the characters, and only wish that things had moved a little faster at the beginning and that some aspects of the plot and the characters had been further-developed. All in all this was an interesting read and I would recommend that you give it a go if you’re feeling up to some poetics.
Blog: www.elanacoles.com
Instagram: theworldaroundmeblog
Twitter: @elanacoles
The Light That Gets Lost is an intense and powerful story about friendship, loss, and fear. Trey arrives at Camp Kernow with a plan to kill the man who murdered his parents and maimed his brother. But when he settles in he realises that doing so will not be as easy as he originally thought, particularly when friendships start to get in the way.
I will admit that this book was a little hard to get into at first. The first chapter is intriguing but after that things really quieten down for awhile. For most of the first few chapters we are stuck in Trey’s mind until he starts opening up to some of the other characters. For awhile there I didn’t care much about what happened to Trey, but things got SO MUCH BETTER. My interest was finally piqued at around the 50-page mark – this was when we started getting to know the other characters more, got more background on Trey and the camp that he was stuck in. I ended up being drawn into the story and was super glad I kept reading despite the fact that the writing style sometimes bogged me down a little.
The writing style is very lyrical and highly expressive. It is quite abstract at times, like when eight-year-old Trey refers to blood as ‘the sticky’. There were some parts where the language confused me a little, particularly with the run-on sentences, some of the descriptions, and the dialogue (I hate the word ‘int‘ being used instead of ‘isn’t it‘). After I started getting more into the story, though, I found that it was easier to understand the writing. It was the kind of style where you just need a little time to get used to it. Some of the prose was stunning and highly poetic, and although it took a bit of work to get into it and start appreciating it, the writing style worked well and led to some startling and beautiful moments between the three main characters.
I really enjoyed the characters in The Light That Gets Lost. Trey was very interesting because of his dark past, his plans for revenge, and the lessons he learned about life and friendship when he started opening up to Lamby and Kay. Lamby was a lot of fun – he was always stirring trouble, winding people up, and biting off more than he could chew. Kay was mysterious and tough, and I wish we could have gotten to know her a little more personally. Trey, Lamby, and Kay join forces to stand up for themselves against Wilder, a boy desperate for power and a sense of belonging.
The plot took some interesting turns and was quite different to what I was expecting. Without giving too much away, all I can really say is that Camp Kernow is not the place of salvation that it is advertised as – there is a lot of secrecy and trouble brewing just below the surface. Things go from bad to worse for Trey and his friends and they end up having to choose whether or not to stick up for themselves and to stay together, or to just give in and follow the crowd. Some of the messages within this story were quite thought-provoking and important. This book made me reflect about the way I live my life and the way that I think about myself and others.
Overall, The Light That Gets Lost is a powerful story written in an eccentric and expressive way. I really enjoyed the story and the characters, and only wish that things had moved a little faster at the beginning and that some aspects of the plot and the characters had been further-developed. All in all this was an interesting read and I would recommend that you give it a go if you’re feeling up to some poetics.
Blog: www.elanacoles.com
Instagram: theworldaroundmeblog
Twitter: @elanacoles
July 21, 2016
This review was written for The Review Diaries
You can read the full review here
Thanks to Netgalley & Bloomsbury for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
I wasn’t sold on that blurb but I was at least curious, curious enough to want to pick it up and give it a go. However it ended up being a hodge podge story of problems, confusion and lacked any sort of direction or purpose.
The writing style is either going to draw you in or put you off. Run on sentences that take up half a page, overly descriptive passages that sometimes veer into lyrical beauty and sometimes just leave you scratching your head wandering what the hell the author means. This style means that there are long sections of nothing happening at all, and I have to admit to skim reading whole chunks of this because I was just becoming so bored with the overly detailed passages. The actual characters are a bit of a mix. I never really connected with any of them, and I don’t know if that was the writing style or the story or just the un-likeability of them. They never gain any depth or sense of character and as a result I just didn’t care. Everything they say is either ‘said’ or ‘shouted’ and particularly when the characters are supposed to be being stealthy that starts to grate incredibly quickly.
The setting is particularly bizarre. It’s supposed to be set in Cornwall, England, but it feels more like America. At no point does it ever feel as though that setting rings true. Plus it’s hard to pin point exactly what the situation is for this camp that Trey ends up in. Some of the conversations in the second half of the book about other camps like this and the army regulating everything makes it sound like this is some sort of dystopian future, but there are no explanations, no backstory, nothing outside of Trey’s ‘quest’ to make this story more real and relatable to the reader. It’s just thrown out at you and you’re expected to accept it as is. If the rest of the elements were well done enough this might just work, but as it is it just leaves you feeling displaced and confused.
And then there’s the plot. I was expecting a revenge quest – after all that’s what the blurb tells us we’re getting, and yes revenge is a pre-dominant factor for the first half of the book. Never mind the fact that most of Trey’s planning and thinking has so many plot holes that if you tried to float it it would sink. It’s patchy at best, but then suddenly at the halfway mark everything is revealed and we take an abrupt side shuffle into some sort of ‘Lord of the Flies’ retelling. Its abrupt, it’s confusing, it makes zero sense. The revenge plotline is all but forgotten in favour of creating traps, defences and weapons, and having big showdowns. I was left more than a little baffled.
This could have been a fascinating story told in a unique and lyrical way. What we get is some cobbled together narrative with a bizarre setting, no real direction or purpose, and characters that don’t feel fully formed. It feels like a first draft, a concept yet to be finished and improved. I felt thoroughly disappointed and as though I’d just wasted my time.
You can read the full review here
Thanks to Netgalley & Bloomsbury for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
I wasn’t sold on that blurb but I was at least curious, curious enough to want to pick it up and give it a go. However it ended up being a hodge podge story of problems, confusion and lacked any sort of direction or purpose.
The writing style is either going to draw you in or put you off. Run on sentences that take up half a page, overly descriptive passages that sometimes veer into lyrical beauty and sometimes just leave you scratching your head wandering what the hell the author means. This style means that there are long sections of nothing happening at all, and I have to admit to skim reading whole chunks of this because I was just becoming so bored with the overly detailed passages. The actual characters are a bit of a mix. I never really connected with any of them, and I don’t know if that was the writing style or the story or just the un-likeability of them. They never gain any depth or sense of character and as a result I just didn’t care. Everything they say is either ‘said’ or ‘shouted’ and particularly when the characters are supposed to be being stealthy that starts to grate incredibly quickly.
The setting is particularly bizarre. It’s supposed to be set in Cornwall, England, but it feels more like America. At no point does it ever feel as though that setting rings true. Plus it’s hard to pin point exactly what the situation is for this camp that Trey ends up in. Some of the conversations in the second half of the book about other camps like this and the army regulating everything makes it sound like this is some sort of dystopian future, but there are no explanations, no backstory, nothing outside of Trey’s ‘quest’ to make this story more real and relatable to the reader. It’s just thrown out at you and you’re expected to accept it as is. If the rest of the elements were well done enough this might just work, but as it is it just leaves you feeling displaced and confused.
And then there’s the plot. I was expecting a revenge quest – after all that’s what the blurb tells us we’re getting, and yes revenge is a pre-dominant factor for the first half of the book. Never mind the fact that most of Trey’s planning and thinking has so many plot holes that if you tried to float it it would sink. It’s patchy at best, but then suddenly at the halfway mark everything is revealed and we take an abrupt side shuffle into some sort of ‘Lord of the Flies’ retelling. Its abrupt, it’s confusing, it makes zero sense. The revenge plotline is all but forgotten in favour of creating traps, defences and weapons, and having big showdowns. I was left more than a little baffled.
This could have been a fascinating story told in a unique and lyrical way. What we get is some cobbled together narrative with a bizarre setting, no real direction or purpose, and characters that don’t feel fully formed. It feels like a first draft, a concept yet to be finished and improved. I felt thoroughly disappointed and as though I’d just wasted my time.
December 4, 2016
This book was sent to me by the publisher, Bloomsbury Children's, at no cost. It's on sale now; RRP $19.99.
The promo material that comes with this says it's for 12+ years. Me, I wouldn't give this to a 12 year old that you wouldn't give Lord of the Flies to - and I'm guessing that's most of them. It's been a while since I read Lord of the Flies but there are definite overtones of that scenario in Carthew's book, especially in the second half. I rather feel a kid would need to be a bit robust to read and enjoy this, because it's certainly not all rainbows and cupcakes. I know dystopia is (was) all the rage but this feels a bit closer to home than that...
The set up sees Trey, as a small child, hiding in a cupboard while his parents are murdered. What a cheery opening, right? And then the story skips forward eight years and Trey is getting himself into a farm camp for juvenile criminals, in theory intended to train the adolescents in useful skills but in reality more like forced labour. Trey has willingly gone there in order to try and find the man responsible for his parents' deaths. Which is a bit messed up I think.
There are some really interesting ideas here, but for me some of the better ones are the ideas that get mentioned and then lost. It becomes clear int he second half that society outside of the camp isn't exactly the society of Britain (I think) in 2016... but exactly what's going on and how it got there is never explored. It's just mentioned in passing, almost for no reason, and then ploop... disappears. The entire set up of the farm isn't explored or explained in that much detail, so it just sort of... exists... as a place for things to happen.
The main focus of the story is friendship and revenge. Friendship in this kind of environment is always going to be a bit fraught, what with sadistic overseers and bullies and a system aimed at breaking kids down. The friendship between Trey and a boy in his bunk room, Lamby, is believable enough but I didn't always buy the friendship between Trey and Kay, a girl with whom he ends up doing farm work. It might have been a bit more believable if there had been other female characters with whom we got to see Kay interacting, or even Trey interacting with them.
The revenge aspect drives the initial part of the plot and again I didn't entirely buy the eight year old boy turning into an adolescent so driven by revenge that it's as if there's a demon under his skin. This idea of a demon gets a few mentions - including on the back cover - but isn't really explained; Trey occasionally talks to it but it's not clear what we're meant to think is going on. Maybe that's left deliberately ambiguous but it didn't work for me in this context. There is some resolution to this revenge plot but, again, it didn't entirely work for me.
This all makes it sound like I hated the book, but I didn't. I didn't love it, but neither did I loathe it. Cart hew writes beautifully on a sentence level; the Financial Times apparently described her as using "vivid, imagistic language" and certainly a lot of the language is vivid. Some of the lacunae are obviously deliberate and evocative, which I liked, it just didn't always sit well with the plot.
The promo material that comes with this says it's for 12+ years. Me, I wouldn't give this to a 12 year old that you wouldn't give Lord of the Flies to - and I'm guessing that's most of them. It's been a while since I read Lord of the Flies but there are definite overtones of that scenario in Carthew's book, especially in the second half. I rather feel a kid would need to be a bit robust to read and enjoy this, because it's certainly not all rainbows and cupcakes. I know dystopia is (was) all the rage but this feels a bit closer to home than that...
The set up sees Trey, as a small child, hiding in a cupboard while his parents are murdered. What a cheery opening, right? And then the story skips forward eight years and Trey is getting himself into a farm camp for juvenile criminals, in theory intended to train the adolescents in useful skills but in reality more like forced labour. Trey has willingly gone there in order to try and find the man responsible for his parents' deaths. Which is a bit messed up I think.
There are some really interesting ideas here, but for me some of the better ones are the ideas that get mentioned and then lost. It becomes clear int he second half that society outside of the camp isn't exactly the society of Britain (I think) in 2016... but exactly what's going on and how it got there is never explored. It's just mentioned in passing, almost for no reason, and then ploop... disappears. The entire set up of the farm isn't explored or explained in that much detail, so it just sort of... exists... as a place for things to happen.
The main focus of the story is friendship and revenge. Friendship in this kind of environment is always going to be a bit fraught, what with sadistic overseers and bullies and a system aimed at breaking kids down. The friendship between Trey and a boy in his bunk room, Lamby, is believable enough but I didn't always buy the friendship between Trey and Kay, a girl with whom he ends up doing farm work. It might have been a bit more believable if there had been other female characters with whom we got to see Kay interacting, or even Trey interacting with them.
The revenge aspect drives the initial part of the plot and again I didn't entirely buy the eight year old boy turning into an adolescent so driven by revenge that it's as if there's a demon under his skin. This idea of a demon gets a few mentions - including on the back cover - but isn't really explained; Trey occasionally talks to it but it's not clear what we're meant to think is going on. Maybe that's left deliberately ambiguous but it didn't work for me in this context. There is some resolution to this revenge plot but, again, it didn't entirely work for me.
This all makes it sound like I hated the book, but I didn't. I didn't love it, but neither did I loathe it. Cart hew writes beautifully on a sentence level; the Financial Times apparently described her as using "vivid, imagistic language" and certainly a lot of the language is vivid. Some of the lacunae are obviously deliberate and evocative, which I liked, it just didn't always sit well with the plot.
November 20, 2015
Originally posted here: https://heatherreviews.wordpress.com/...
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I was really intrigued by the blurb for this story when I first came across it. I also liked the cover, it was eye-catching enough to make me interested enough to click it and see more. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book when I first picked it up, and I’m still not really 100% sure how I feel about it now that I’ve read it.
When Trey was a young boy, he witnessed the murder of his parents in an attack that left his brother in a care home. Jumping from foster home to foster home and getting in trouble with the law, Trey is on a mission to find the man that killed his parents and get his revenge. And so he finds himself in a compound for troubled teens run by a group of reformed, religious men.
The idea behind this story was enough to get me interested in picking it up, but once I started reading, I found the disjointed narrative hard to get into and it took away from my enjoyment and overall understanding of the story.
I persevered, and I’m glad I did, but it is a proper slog getting through the beginning. Trey follows a rather dull routine as he joins the compound and starts making new friends. He immediately makes an enemy out of the ‘alpha’ kid there, which is the catalyst for things to come.
The ending of the book really brought up the rating for me. After a certain event, the adults all abandon the camp and the kids and it turns into a modern day Lord of the Flies, with a free-for-all war between the kids stuck in the camp.
Trey discovers something huge when he finally tracks down the man he believes is responsible for killing his family, and he begins to doubt himself and the dark thoughts he’s been harbouring for so many years. It irked me a little, that this seemed to be cast aside so quickly, but it was replaced with the rampaging kids so I couldn’t dwell on it for too long.
Trey and his group of friends work together to try and stay alive as well as escaping the camp. I really liked how his relationships with these kids evolved over his short time there, it was like the only happy thing about this book.
Bleak, yet hopeful, this story was something a bit different. Although I didn’t think I would like it when I first started reading, the book grew on me and I really enjoyed the end.
_____________________________
I was really intrigued by the blurb for this story when I first came across it. I also liked the cover, it was eye-catching enough to make me interested enough to click it and see more. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book when I first picked it up, and I’m still not really 100% sure how I feel about it now that I’ve read it.
When Trey was a young boy, he witnessed the murder of his parents in an attack that left his brother in a care home. Jumping from foster home to foster home and getting in trouble with the law, Trey is on a mission to find the man that killed his parents and get his revenge. And so he finds himself in a compound for troubled teens run by a group of reformed, religious men.
The idea behind this story was enough to get me interested in picking it up, but once I started reading, I found the disjointed narrative hard to get into and it took away from my enjoyment and overall understanding of the story.
I persevered, and I’m glad I did, but it is a proper slog getting through the beginning. Trey follows a rather dull routine as he joins the compound and starts making new friends. He immediately makes an enemy out of the ‘alpha’ kid there, which is the catalyst for things to come.
The ending of the book really brought up the rating for me. After a certain event, the adults all abandon the camp and the kids and it turns into a modern day Lord of the Flies, with a free-for-all war between the kids stuck in the camp.
Trey discovers something huge when he finally tracks down the man he believes is responsible for killing his family, and he begins to doubt himself and the dark thoughts he’s been harbouring for so many years. It irked me a little, that this seemed to be cast aside so quickly, but it was replaced with the rampaging kids so I couldn’t dwell on it for too long.
Trey and his group of friends work together to try and stay alive as well as escaping the camp. I really liked how his relationships with these kids evolved over his short time there, it was like the only happy thing about this book.
Bleak, yet hopeful, this story was something a bit different. Although I didn’t think I would like it when I first started reading, the book grew on me and I really enjoyed the end.
August 5, 2017
First of all I want to thank Goodreads first reads and the publisher Bloomsbury for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is very difficult for me to review, I usually fly through books of any length in a matter of hours to a day or two. However it took around a month for me to finish The Light That Gets Lost.
Let me explain why, the first half of the book was slow, hard to get lost in and truthfully I felt bored and disconnected from the story. I simply did not care about the characters. Frankly the writing itself was a little confusing at times. Yes, it was a little lyrical but at other times it was just lost to me.
For example:
"Mum was flat out on the floor. She'd spilt something and was caught in a half-thought going under the bed ... the sticky was growing and it branched out like creeping fingers under the rug and the boy shouted for her but it was too late, the bed had her."
Sorry, what?
Trey, the main character was so focused on revenge and the demon inside metaphor that he was just tedious to read about after a while. I understand it is a massive component of the plot but it was so intense and repetitive that it was just annoying.
And the backstory, nada, it was completely non-existent. The camp felt dystopian but there was no context. Only facts thrown into the storyline that made little sense, all of the relevant information was rushed and crammed into a sentence or two. No explanations. I feel like this would make a lot more sense if paired with a sequel.
But the second half felt like I was reading a completely different novel. The plot picked up gradually in this half and the last couple of chapters were great. Action-packed , suspenseful and interesting.
WHY WAS THE REST OF THE BOOK NOT LIKE THIS?
It seemed that the novel had no rising action, no build up. It was just a rambling description with the odd good page until the final few chapters where the climax came out of nowhere.
Without the second half my rating would have been a solid 1 star, no hesitations. However because I pushed on and found the second half was to good to ignore. Yet the first half was to bad to ignore.
2.5 stars from me.
This book is very difficult for me to review, I usually fly through books of any length in a matter of hours to a day or two. However it took around a month for me to finish The Light That Gets Lost.
Let me explain why, the first half of the book was slow, hard to get lost in and truthfully I felt bored and disconnected from the story. I simply did not care about the characters. Frankly the writing itself was a little confusing at times. Yes, it was a little lyrical but at other times it was just lost to me.
For example:
"Mum was flat out on the floor. She'd spilt something and was caught in a half-thought going under the bed ... the sticky was growing and it branched out like creeping fingers under the rug and the boy shouted for her but it was too late, the bed had her."
Sorry, what?
Trey, the main character was so focused on revenge and the demon inside metaphor that he was just tedious to read about after a while. I understand it is a massive component of the plot but it was so intense and repetitive that it was just annoying.
And the backstory, nada, it was completely non-existent. The camp felt dystopian but there was no context. Only facts thrown into the storyline that made little sense, all of the relevant information was rushed and crammed into a sentence or two. No explanations. I feel like this would make a lot more sense if paired with a sequel.
But the second half felt like I was reading a completely different novel. The plot picked up gradually in this half and the last couple of chapters were great. Action-packed , suspenseful and interesting.
WHY WAS THE REST OF THE BOOK NOT LIKE THIS?
It seemed that the novel had no rising action, no build up. It was just a rambling description with the odd good page until the final few chapters where the climax came out of nowhere.
Without the second half my rating would have been a solid 1 star, no hesitations. However because I pushed on and found the second half was to good to ignore. Yet the first half was to bad to ignore.
2.5 stars from me.
June 22, 2017
The Light That Gets Lost is a story of accepting the future and letting go of the past. A book of hope found in the grimmest of places. Getting over fiery revenge and finding the light that gets lost.
When Trey was a child, his family was brutally murdered by a stranger. With nothing left to hold onto, he holds on to revenge. His demon is born. Starting the sparks to create a fire, his quest for vengeance begins.
Years later Trey enters a camp for broken teens. His plan is finally turning into reality. Now all he has to do is find the killer. He is angry and damaged. His demon yearns for blood to be spilled as it’s the only vibrant colour in his world of white and black. As he starts to understand more, Trey finds himself captivated by a dangerous girl. To a dream of starting over, he begins his next quest. Will he accept the offer of friendship in the dark? Or will he find the light that got lost?
The Light That Gets Lost is a book I wouldn’t usually pick up. A grim and realistic book, it felt like perhaps the story was more aimed towards boys. This book surprised me. It was interesting and very unique.
I found the writing style unusual. The descriptions were beautiful but I think that Natasha Carthew is more of a poet than a prose writer. Natasha Carthew sort of lost herself with description when she should have been concentrating more on the plot. The characters in The Light That Gets Lost were portrayed as flawed and broken, unfixable like broken glass. They made me ask questions like: ‘What do you do when your life is ruined at a young age? Is there hope for a brighter future?’
The meaning of the story outweighed the actual plotline and characters. I did find myself quickly hooked at the beginning then having to put it down and pick it up again. Overall I think the ending was powerful and symbolic, and it was a gripping way to conclude a meaningful story.
But really not for me, someone who loves a gripping fantasy, with a twist of romance.
Thanks again for http://www.allenandunwin.co.nz/browse... for sending me a free copy
When Trey was a child, his family was brutally murdered by a stranger. With nothing left to hold onto, he holds on to revenge. His demon is born. Starting the sparks to create a fire, his quest for vengeance begins.
Years later Trey enters a camp for broken teens. His plan is finally turning into reality. Now all he has to do is find the killer. He is angry and damaged. His demon yearns for blood to be spilled as it’s the only vibrant colour in his world of white and black. As he starts to understand more, Trey finds himself captivated by a dangerous girl. To a dream of starting over, he begins his next quest. Will he accept the offer of friendship in the dark? Or will he find the light that got lost?
The Light That Gets Lost is a book I wouldn’t usually pick up. A grim and realistic book, it felt like perhaps the story was more aimed towards boys. This book surprised me. It was interesting and very unique.
I found the writing style unusual. The descriptions were beautiful but I think that Natasha Carthew is more of a poet than a prose writer. Natasha Carthew sort of lost herself with description when she should have been concentrating more on the plot. The characters in The Light That Gets Lost were portrayed as flawed and broken, unfixable like broken glass. They made me ask questions like: ‘What do you do when your life is ruined at a young age? Is there hope for a brighter future?’
The meaning of the story outweighed the actual plotline and characters. I did find myself quickly hooked at the beginning then having to put it down and pick it up again. Overall I think the ending was powerful and symbolic, and it was a gripping way to conclude a meaningful story.
But really not for me, someone who loves a gripping fantasy, with a twist of romance.
Thanks again for http://www.allenandunwin.co.nz/browse... for sending me a free copy
December 31, 2017
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Trey’s family was shot by a religious figure while he hid in the cupboard. Years in and out of foster homes has seen Trey finally end up in a compound run by priests – where perhaps he will be able to find his parents’ killer and enact his revenge.
Despite starting out like a corrective detention redemption and revenge novel, this rapidly degenerates to a Lord of the Flies drama. Trey is infected with a Demon that burns to burn things. The girl he likes has interesting looking scars on her back. Then all the adults go to hell, and the kids wreak havoc on everything. Power corrupts. What is new?
The imagery drove me nuts. Anyone for seeping red, sticky red, blood? Anyone want Trey to set fire to his own head, so that the ashes can match his heart, the landscape, everything else in sight?
I didn’t love a single one of the characters. Their language and consistent shortening of all words and the repetitive and obvious thoughts and actions that each ‘performed’ felt strange and strained. Trey, you’re an idiot. I don’t know how old you are really, but pull yourself together man!
This could be called future fiction, because the novel hints the whole time about the world outside the compound possibly being even worse for children than what they face with the Preacher in charge. Something to go along with that was the ending of the novel. If life out there is so good, why hadn’t they just done that earlier? Escape.
This is not a gripping novel. I drove myself to finish reading it, but it was a struggle. I had picked it up once, put it back down after trying to slog through the painful internal dialogue of Trey, then picked it up again because after all, I requested it! 1 star. Don’t bother wasting your time.
Trey’s family was shot by a religious figure while he hid in the cupboard. Years in and out of foster homes has seen Trey finally end up in a compound run by priests – where perhaps he will be able to find his parents’ killer and enact his revenge.
Despite starting out like a corrective detention redemption and revenge novel, this rapidly degenerates to a Lord of the Flies drama. Trey is infected with a Demon that burns to burn things. The girl he likes has interesting looking scars on her back. Then all the adults go to hell, and the kids wreak havoc on everything. Power corrupts. What is new?
The imagery drove me nuts. Anyone for seeping red, sticky red, blood? Anyone want Trey to set fire to his own head, so that the ashes can match his heart, the landscape, everything else in sight?
I didn’t love a single one of the characters. Their language and consistent shortening of all words and the repetitive and obvious thoughts and actions that each ‘performed’ felt strange and strained. Trey, you’re an idiot. I don’t know how old you are really, but pull yourself together man!
This could be called future fiction, because the novel hints the whole time about the world outside the compound possibly being even worse for children than what they face with the Preacher in charge. Something to go along with that was the ending of the novel. If life out there is so good, why hadn’t they just done that earlier? Escape.
This is not a gripping novel. I drove myself to finish reading it, but it was a struggle. I had picked it up once, put it back down after trying to slog through the painful internal dialogue of Trey, then picked it up again because after all, I requested it! 1 star. Don’t bother wasting your time.
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