A Prayer for Dawn

by Nathan Singer

The lives of a dozen people in Cincinnati, Ohio are inextricably linked in this unrelenting first novel by Nathan Singer. A publicist who writes checks to charities to relieve a guilty conscience, a convict who rants in an underground 'zine, an artist with a controversial portfolio, a runaway engaging in 'petty terrorism', and an eight year old girl named Dawn at the center of it all watch as the world falls down around them.

Genres: Fiction

213 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2004

Reviews

[Aaron Ritchey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked Ben LeRoy the darkest book he's ever read. He immediately said A Prayer for Dawn. I read it and the book is dark. Nathan Singer has a dark mind, and yet, strangely hopeful. There is light in the darkness. The wonder of this book is that he can juggle the dark, the ridiculous, and the hopeful all at once. Not for the weak of mind and not for the squimish.

While the writing and ideas vibrate with life, I needed more of a story, a central idea, and Singer does a good job juggling characters, though he goes off on tangents that didn't quit work for me. I needed more of a traditional story to go along with the darkness. But definitely worth the roller coaster ride into a carwreck.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, terrible, haunting book. Singer's first novel explores dark places in ways that presage his later novels, and shows a huge volume of empathy that is noticeably lacking in edgy fiction nowadays. You truly care about these characters, and when terrible things inevitably happen to them, you truly care. Singer's imagination knows no equal, and his ability to take you to the dark side of humanity and make you glad that you visited is unparalleled. Highly and unequivocally recommended.

[Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this is indeed a dark tale.

But, in the darkness there is a light, although not bright, still it shines.

For within the random tangle of body parts that constitute these characters, parts that were, neglected, run over, scarred, abused, put back together and sadly misaligned.

Still ..within this mangled mess, two things hold true, hearts still beat and dreams continue to survive.

[Random · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it; I couldn't put it down. This is my kinda book.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I really enjoyed the colorful language and characters, but I just didn't feel like this had a plot or a resolution. I felt like it ended so abruptly...

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Prayer for Dawn is a tremendous story. Read it!