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Where The Light Falls
Where the Light Falls tells the story of Andrew, a photographer in his 30s who comes back to Australia when he hears that his former girlfriend has disappeared. By the time he gets back, her body has been found, and everything points to suicide, though the coroner's findings are left open. As Andrew unravels the mystery of her death, he puts his current relationship at risk for reasons he barely understands. At the same time he meets a damaged teenage girl whom he knows will be a riveting subject for his new series of photos. As he struggles to understand why his ex's death has affected him so viscerally, Andrew realises that photography has become an obsession predicated on his need to hold on to the things he has lost in his life. He finds himself re- evaluating his past, his art, and what he wants his life to mean.
This is a stunning, gripping and deeply moving novel from a young writer whose star is on the rise.
This is a stunning, gripping and deeply moving novel from a young writer whose star is on the rise.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
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227 people want to read
About the author
Gretchen Shirm
8 books14 followersGretchen Shirm is a writer and lawyer. She has been published in The Best Australian Stories, Etchings, Wet Ink, and Southerly. She was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Australian Novelists for her collection, Having Cried Wolf. Her new novel, Where the Light Falls (Allen & Unwin), follows a photographer's efforts to understand his former girlfriend's death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 21, 2016
Andrew is a photographer who lives in Berlin with his girlfriend Dom. He is a very introspective man who has trouble expressing his feelings and opening himself up to people. He specialises in photographing flawed and damaged people bringing out the ordinariness in them. He ran away from Australia to escape a damaging relationship with a girl called Kirsten. Although they had stopped living together he continued to sleep with Kirsten for some years after they broke up although little love was involved and the relationship satisfied neither of their needs. However, when Kirsten's car is found abandoned next to a lake and she is presumed to have drowned herself, Andrew feels guilty and returns to Australia to find out what happened.
This is a well written, thoughtful almost meditative, debut novel describing a man who has gone back to his past to answer some questions about himself and what has formed him. While in Australia he meets Phoebe, a young girl with facial damage who becomes one of his photographic subjects and questions his ethics in taking these photos and exposing these often vulnerable people to the world. Although the reasons for Kirsten's disappearance are never really discovered, Andrew learns much more about himself and his relationships. Gretchen Schirm's writing is very polished and evocative and her novel is carefully paced. Although a slow novel, the narrative maintains interest by alternating between Andrew's hunt for answers to Kirsten's disappearance and his interactions with his mother and with Phoebe and his insights into himself.
This is a well written, thoughtful almost meditative, debut novel describing a man who has gone back to his past to answer some questions about himself and what has formed him. While in Australia he meets Phoebe, a young girl with facial damage who becomes one of his photographic subjects and questions his ethics in taking these photos and exposing these often vulnerable people to the world. Although the reasons for Kirsten's disappearance are never really discovered, Andrew learns much more about himself and his relationships. Gretchen Schirm's writing is very polished and evocative and her novel is carefully paced. Although a slow novel, the narrative maintains interest by alternating between Andrew's hunt for answers to Kirsten's disappearance and his interactions with his mother and with Phoebe and his insights into himself.
February 6, 2017
"Art is not about art. Art is about life." Gretchen Shirm's novel, Where the Light Falls, starts with this provocative epigraph - provocative because this is a novel which is most decidedly about art, the artist and the process of artistic creation.
A successful photographer living with his German girlfriend in Berlin, and about to hold a major exhibition in London, the protagonist, Andrew, hears news of the disappearance of an ex-girlfriend, Kirsten, back in Australia. Inexplicably, it seems, he jumps aboard the next plane and heads "home" to Sydney, jeopardising his relationship and his career in order to find out what has happened. As he delves into the past, his personality and life choices are revealed to the reader and subjected to his own forensic gaze. Guilt and self-doubt beset him as he weighs the price of pursuing his career as a photographic artist and portrait-maker. Questions arise for him, and for the reader. Is pursuing an artistic career worth the potential cost to oneself and others? What drives the artist? A desire to make sense of one's life? To express the ineffable? To connect?
At times when reading Where the Light Falls, I had the sense that I was reading a study in pathos, but only half expected a big emotional pay off at the end. Instead, Shirm held back, the emotion as restrained as the narrative. The dilemmas faced are awarded no easy solutions, but leave the reader with more than a glimmer of hope.
A successful photographer living with his German girlfriend in Berlin, and about to hold a major exhibition in London, the protagonist, Andrew, hears news of the disappearance of an ex-girlfriend, Kirsten, back in Australia. Inexplicably, it seems, he jumps aboard the next plane and heads "home" to Sydney, jeopardising his relationship and his career in order to find out what has happened. As he delves into the past, his personality and life choices are revealed to the reader and subjected to his own forensic gaze. Guilt and self-doubt beset him as he weighs the price of pursuing his career as a photographic artist and portrait-maker. Questions arise for him, and for the reader. Is pursuing an artistic career worth the potential cost to oneself and others? What drives the artist? A desire to make sense of one's life? To express the ineffable? To connect?
At times when reading Where the Light Falls, I had the sense that I was reading a study in pathos, but only half expected a big emotional pay off at the end. Instead, Shirm held back, the emotion as restrained as the narrative. The dilemmas faced are awarded no easy solutions, but leave the reader with more than a glimmer of hope.
July 30, 2016
Where the Light Falls is the story of Andrew, an Australian photographer who resides in Germany. Andrew is a man who has difficulty connecting with his feelings, especially after the death of his Father when he was a young boy. When Andrew receives an email notifying him of the disappearance of his ex girlfriend Kirsten in Australia, he feels compelled to return to Australia. When he arrives in Australia, Andrew attends Kirsten’s memorial service. Andrews learns that it has been assumed that Kirsten drowned in a lake, as it was where she was last seen. The lack of body does not offer anyone, including Andrew, full closure. Andrew decides to explore the circumstances leading up to Kirsten’s disappearance, while at the same time exploring his own unresolved feelings towards his ex. In doing this, he also puts his happy relationship with his girlfriend Dom in Germany at risk. However, it is clear that Andrew feels this is something he must do. In the process, Andrew comes across a young girl named Phoebe, who becomes the muse and principal feature for his new photography collection. Meeting Phoebe comes at just the right time and her unusual look is exactly what Andrew is seeking to use in his upcoming London exhibition. There are implications to Andrew’s use of Phoebe, as Phoebe is a girl with damaged facial features. This makes Andrew question his own ethics in his quest to showcase his photography. Andrew realises he must confront both his past and present and assess his moral compass in Australia before he is ready to return to Germany.
I always welcome the opportunity to engage with the work of new writers, especially Australian based writers, which is what enticed me to read Where the Light Falls by Gretchen Shirm. Although Gretchen Shirm is new to the publishing scene, her writing appears polished and carefully delivered. Where the Light Falls is a book that is focussed on a single character’s journey - Andrew, an expat photographer. Using his photographer’s lens view of the world, Andrew’s perspective on the world he lives is quite unique. As a result of this deep character exploration, the reader gets a good insight into Andrew’s innermost thoughts, feelings and motivations throughout the progression of the novel. Andrew is an interesting main protagonist, I thought that Shirm explored his back story and his past well, balancing this with his life in the present. Shirm also finely captures the moral dilemmas Andrew faces as he deals with his decision to display photographs of a facially disfigured young girl. Inner torment and right vs. wrong is handled both realistically and sensitively by Shirm. What also came across quite strongly to me as I read the novel, was the sense of the character of Andrew battling to reconcile his fairly comfortable life in Germany with Dom, to the past and his home life in Australia, which he has never really let go. The added story thread of Andrew’s ex girlfriend Kirsten’s disappearance adds a mystery element of the book, which encouraged me to read on until the end. The closure of the book is satisfying and echoes the contemplative tone of the novel as a whole.
It is clear from this first novel by Australian author Gretchen Shirm there are more things to come. Where the Light Falls is a moving and engaging read from an author to watch.
* I wish to thank the publisher, Allen & Unwin and Goodreads for a copy of this book for review.
I always welcome the opportunity to engage with the work of new writers, especially Australian based writers, which is what enticed me to read Where the Light Falls by Gretchen Shirm. Although Gretchen Shirm is new to the publishing scene, her writing appears polished and carefully delivered. Where the Light Falls is a book that is focussed on a single character’s journey - Andrew, an expat photographer. Using his photographer’s lens view of the world, Andrew’s perspective on the world he lives is quite unique. As a result of this deep character exploration, the reader gets a good insight into Andrew’s innermost thoughts, feelings and motivations throughout the progression of the novel. Andrew is an interesting main protagonist, I thought that Shirm explored his back story and his past well, balancing this with his life in the present. Shirm also finely captures the moral dilemmas Andrew faces as he deals with his decision to display photographs of a facially disfigured young girl. Inner torment and right vs. wrong is handled both realistically and sensitively by Shirm. What also came across quite strongly to me as I read the novel, was the sense of the character of Andrew battling to reconcile his fairly comfortable life in Germany with Dom, to the past and his home life in Australia, which he has never really let go. The added story thread of Andrew’s ex girlfriend Kirsten’s disappearance adds a mystery element of the book, which encouraged me to read on until the end. The closure of the book is satisfying and echoes the contemplative tone of the novel as a whole.
It is clear from this first novel by Australian author Gretchen Shirm there are more things to come. Where the Light Falls is a moving and engaging read from an author to watch.
* I wish to thank the publisher, Allen & Unwin and Goodreads for a copy of this book for review.
July 11, 2016
First I would like to thank the Author for letting this book be a Goodreads win book. It is so exciting when you win a book and it come through the post. So thank you.
The writing style got me from the first page - 'The night had a texture, a thick woven fabric, fine as knitted wool'. There are a lot of beautiful sentences like this one through the book.
Andrew who is an art photographer. He lives in Germany with his girlfriend Dom.
One night he gets an email from a friend to say that Andrew's long ago girlfriend has gone missing in his home town in Australia. Andrew decided to go back home to find out what happened to her.
The story is about Andrew going over his life and his relationship with Kirsten Rothwell. I felt Andrew was a bit self absorbed and I didn't like all the analysing going on in the story. But maybe that's what made him good at taking art photos because he could look deeper into things.
Not my favourite book, but I liked reading it.
The writing style got me from the first page - 'The night had a texture, a thick woven fabric, fine as knitted wool'. There are a lot of beautiful sentences like this one through the book.
Andrew who is an art photographer. He lives in Germany with his girlfriend Dom.
One night he gets an email from a friend to say that Andrew's long ago girlfriend has gone missing in his home town in Australia. Andrew decided to go back home to find out what happened to her.
The story is about Andrew going over his life and his relationship with Kirsten Rothwell. I felt Andrew was a bit self absorbed and I didn't like all the analysing going on in the story. But maybe that's what made him good at taking art photos because he could look deeper into things.
Not my favourite book, but I liked reading it.
November 25, 2016
Another wonderfully assured Australian debut novel.
Andrew, a Berlin based artist, returns home to Sydney, after an old girlfriend goes missing. What he finds on his return is a study in how childhood loss and trauma informs who we become as adults.
While the mood is sombre there is a lyricism and lightness to Shirm's writing that lifts it off the page. An absorbing story, with an intriguing cast of supporting characters, this was an effortless book to read and I devoured it in a couple of sittings.
Andrew, a Berlin based artist, returns home to Sydney, after an old girlfriend goes missing. What he finds on his return is a study in how childhood loss and trauma informs who we become as adults.
While the mood is sombre there is a lyricism and lightness to Shirm's writing that lifts it off the page. An absorbing story, with an intriguing cast of supporting characters, this was an effortless book to read and I devoured it in a couple of sittings.
October 2, 2016
An enjoyable read. I liked Gretchen Shirm's style of writing , images, descriptions, characters and her ability to encourage the turning of pages as I was intrigued to know the outcome of the disappearance of Andrew's former girlfriend, Kirsten. .
September 5, 2016
Gretchen Shirm's Where the Light Falls (Allen & Unwin, Jul. 2016) is an eloquent and tightly-written debut.
That said, I found it a conflicting read. On the one hand, Shirm's prose is striking, evocative and deeply layered, and the story is tightly controlled—every detail essential to developing Andrew's character and the interlinked emotional and artistic crises he faces. From a technical point of view, it's beautiful to read and difficult to fault, save perhaps Shirm's occasional habit to show and tell, when showing would suffice, and I was not in the least surprised to learn that Where the Light Falls made up the creative component of Shirm's PhD.
However, I found Andrew a challenging character to ride with. He's deeply self-centered, to the point where he makes Kirsten's disappearance and apparent suicide about him. In questioning her grieving family and revisiting their relationship, he appears only to be trying to learn about himself. Similarly, he struggles to understand his mother and girlfriend outside their relationship to him. He even exploits people's vulnerability to further his artistic career:
"He photographed other people's faces and traded off them. It was a background worry he always had about his work—that he was seeking out people who were in some way damaged and exposing them to the light. All of his successes, he felt, owed more to his subjects than to his skill."
To be fair, the story is, in part, about Andrew recognising his introspection, and he does face a moral dilemma over whether or not to exhibit the photographs of the little girl. But, to my mind, he doesn't do enough to warrant redemption. The story is ultimately about his self-discoveries and healing, and the characters around him are largely tools to help facilitate that process.
For me, it didn't help that the supporting characters and their stories were, for the most part, more appealing than Andrew himself. Their problems seemed larger and more urgent: Kirsten is an extraordinarily talented artist who struggles with severe mental health issues and drops out of art school to work a corporate job and pay the bills while Andrew focuses on his art. Phoebe, the little girl he photographs, has been left disfigured after an accident and is just beginning to feel self-conscious about her appearance and to question what role it will play in shaping her identity as she gets older. By comparison, Andrew's problems seem small, and I found him difficult to invest in.
However, while I struggled to connect with Andrew's story, Shirm's writing shows great promise and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Where the Light Falls in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
That said, I found it a conflicting read. On the one hand, Shirm's prose is striking, evocative and deeply layered, and the story is tightly controlled—every detail essential to developing Andrew's character and the interlinked emotional and artistic crises he faces. From a technical point of view, it's beautiful to read and difficult to fault, save perhaps Shirm's occasional habit to show and tell, when showing would suffice, and I was not in the least surprised to learn that Where the Light Falls made up the creative component of Shirm's PhD.
However, I found Andrew a challenging character to ride with. He's deeply self-centered, to the point where he makes Kirsten's disappearance and apparent suicide about him. In questioning her grieving family and revisiting their relationship, he appears only to be trying to learn about himself. Similarly, he struggles to understand his mother and girlfriend outside their relationship to him. He even exploits people's vulnerability to further his artistic career:
"He photographed other people's faces and traded off them. It was a background worry he always had about his work—that he was seeking out people who were in some way damaged and exposing them to the light. All of his successes, he felt, owed more to his subjects than to his skill."
To be fair, the story is, in part, about Andrew recognising his introspection, and he does face a moral dilemma over whether or not to exhibit the photographs of the little girl. But, to my mind, he doesn't do enough to warrant redemption. The story is ultimately about his self-discoveries and healing, and the characters around him are largely tools to help facilitate that process.
For me, it didn't help that the supporting characters and their stories were, for the most part, more appealing than Andrew himself. Their problems seemed larger and more urgent: Kirsten is an extraordinarily talented artist who struggles with severe mental health issues and drops out of art school to work a corporate job and pay the bills while Andrew focuses on his art. Phoebe, the little girl he photographs, has been left disfigured after an accident and is just beginning to feel self-conscious about her appearance and to question what role it will play in shaping her identity as she gets older. By comparison, Andrew's problems seem small, and I found him difficult to invest in.
However, while I struggled to connect with Andrew's story, Shirm's writing shows great promise and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Where the Light Falls in exchange for an honest review.
For more bookish bits, head on over to Lectito, or get the latest Lectito reviews delivered to your inbox.
April 5, 2017
At school, it was always the quiet ones who concerned me. In whole class discussions – even in small group discussions with carefully chosen participants with empathy and patience – the students who would take forever to make any contribution used to worry me. These were smart, thoughtful children, often capable in non-verbal activities of producing original ideas in creative ways. But in the rough and tumble of a classroom or a playground, their habit of thinking long and hard while we waited for what seemed to be a forthcoming response only to have them lapse into an impenetrable silence, made things difficult. What would become of them in a workplace, I used to wonder, and how would their relationships work out?
Gretchen Shirm’s debut novel Where the Light Falls features a character like this. Andrew has solved the workplace problem by becoming a notable photographer. He works his own hours – free from routines, suits and deadlines – and by moving from Australia to Berlin he has been able to build a career that doesn’t have to include photographing cat food or weddings. He’s not wealthy, but enough art lovers buy his photographs for him to have solo exhibitions.
He has a nice girlfriend too. She’s a dance teacher called Dom (Dominique) and she wears bright and colourful hats that are a cry of protest in the grey Berlin streets. But – consistent with Andrew’s interest in the honesty in broken things – she is wounded by her experience as a dancer never having quite got the break she wanted. Andrew admires the way she can talk about failure. He doesn’t seem to be able to talk about anything.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/04/05/w...
Gretchen Shirm’s debut novel Where the Light Falls features a character like this. Andrew has solved the workplace problem by becoming a notable photographer. He works his own hours – free from routines, suits and deadlines – and by moving from Australia to Berlin he has been able to build a career that doesn’t have to include photographing cat food or weddings. He’s not wealthy, but enough art lovers buy his photographs for him to have solo exhibitions.
He has a nice girlfriend too. She’s a dance teacher called Dom (Dominique) and she wears bright and colourful hats that are a cry of protest in the grey Berlin streets. But – consistent with Andrew’s interest in the honesty in broken things – she is wounded by her experience as a dancer never having quite got the break she wanted. Andrew admires the way she can talk about failure. He doesn’t seem to be able to talk about anything.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/04/05/w...
August 18, 2020
One word describes Andrew Spruce and that is selfish. Loss and grief are raw in the people around him but Andrew does not understand or consider their needs. He can’t face up to his relationship with current girlfriend Dom, or his mother, nor his best mate. Now his ex-girlfriend Kirsten is missing. Andrew’s quest to find Kirsten grows in epic proportions threatening to destroy his tenuous grasp on future happiness.
Andrew takes photos of physically damaged people for profit under the banner of art. His connection with young subject Phoebe is definitely odd although she’s wise beyond her years. Andrew’s got a London photo exhibition coming up, clouding his mind. He says “...there were things he also had to know about himself. He’d become so used to keeping quiet in his life that it was difficult for him to speak openly and find a way to explain himself...” so images speak for him.
Andrew is often on the brink of tears. They don’t translated into deep emotion, usually his own self-pity and remorseful thoughts. At times a description of a certain character or the environment surrounding him, e.g. Sydney or Berlin, his visit to Canberra and Lake George, laps in a chlorinated swimming pool, ring clearly and poetically before dragging me back to angsty Andrew.
I’ve added a star for the clever bookcover art – look closely. I guess melancholy readers wouldn’t have a story to read if Andrew had figured out that no amount of mental hand-wringing will fix a situation. Is the ending really left open? Nevertheless, a life lesson is to be learned from this literary journey.
Andrew takes photos of physically damaged people for profit under the banner of art. His connection with young subject Phoebe is definitely odd although she’s wise beyond her years. Andrew’s got a London photo exhibition coming up, clouding his mind. He says “...there were things he also had to know about himself. He’d become so used to keeping quiet in his life that it was difficult for him to speak openly and find a way to explain himself...” so images speak for him.
Andrew is often on the brink of tears. They don’t translated into deep emotion, usually his own self-pity and remorseful thoughts. At times a description of a certain character or the environment surrounding him, e.g. Sydney or Berlin, his visit to Canberra and Lake George, laps in a chlorinated swimming pool, ring clearly and poetically before dragging me back to angsty Andrew.
I’ve added a star for the clever bookcover art – look closely. I guess melancholy readers wouldn’t have a story to read if Andrew had figured out that no amount of mental hand-wringing will fix a situation. Is the ending really left open? Nevertheless, a life lesson is to be learned from this literary journey.
November 20, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. The central obvious premise of this novel was of finding what happened to Andrew's former girlfriend and yet this investigation is never fully completed. Why Kirsten killed herself remains a mystery. However the journey Andrew goes on emotionally & literally is impressive. Gretchen Shirm's use of language to explain everyday events is outstandingly good , "a darkness more bitter than the cold". She has a real talent for describing the minutiae of psychological dilemmas faced by some individuals and how tiny actions can have huge impacts on life. An interesting thought provoking read.
September 16, 2017
*A full review for this book appears on my blog Genie In A Book*
Gretchen Shirm is a promising young voice in the Australian literary scene. Her prose is full of imagery and she captures every moment and nuance her characters experience with an artist's eye. While there wasn't the full closure you may crave at the end of this read, it is one which will make you think about the transience of relationships and the different lenses through which we view the world around us.
Gretchen Shirm is a promising young voice in the Australian literary scene. Her prose is full of imagery and she captures every moment and nuance her characters experience with an artist's eye. While there wasn't the full closure you may crave at the end of this read, it is one which will make you think about the transience of relationships and the different lenses through which we view the world around us.
August 8, 2016
Finished reading … Where the Light falls / Gretchen Shirm … 06 August 2016
ISBN: 9781760113650
I loved the writing. The premis of the story is good: looking back, in your 30s/40s to childhood events that shaped you and re-evaluating what that has made you and how you don't have to stay in that mould. But …
The setting of the story is so improbable that it ruined it for me, hence only two stars.
Would someone in a happy relationship really go halfway around the world to see if their treatment of a former, years ago, girlfriend, had anything to do with her recent disappearance – and be so intrusive in looking for answers? Maybe it's my lack of imagination that I can't see it.
Neither did it ring true that there would be a funeral and inquest for anybody missing for only six weeks, no body found – a long time for the person's relatives and friends but no time at all in legal terms.
I did like that you are left wondering if his current partner is still waiting for him when he finally goes home and starts to climb the stairs to their apartment. Is it the last of the daylight, or the electric light of 'someone at home', that seeps underneath the door. Or perhaps I read too much - or too little - into that.
My local library bought this book at my request
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway. Beautifully written but quite sad story of Andrew, a man out of step with his feelings. Intense, tortured with an artistic temperament moulded by the silence from his mother over the death of his father when he was a child. An unhealthy relationship with Kirsten was never fully resolved so when he heard of her disappearance he felt compelled to go home to Australia and find out what happened. He sabotaged his wonderful relationship with Dom on this crusade. During his visit he meets a mother and daughter . The girl has a damaged face and he wants to photograph her for an upcoming exhibition of his work. As a photographer he is drawn to damaged people and in doing their portraits finds beauty in their flaws. Phoebe touches his heart and in many ways teaches him a lot about himself. Hopefully he can put the past behind him and really fully live his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2016
I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of Where The Light Falls by Gretchen Sturm from Goodreads. It is a beautifully thoughtful book with much introspection and interesting observations. The writing is skilful and engaging and Andrew's passion for photography is fascinatingly explored.
This book unfolds in a slower, more restrained pace than many other contemporary novels. Perhaps it is this contrast which had me at a couple of times frustrated with Andrew's actions (or lack thereof!). However it is completely in sync with the overall almost meditative feel of the work, which to me seems as if replicating the process of creating a masterpiece.
Overall a thought provoking and intriguing novel. Many thanks to Goodreads for the opportunity to read and review Where The Light Falls.
This book unfolds in a slower, more restrained pace than many other contemporary novels. Perhaps it is this contrast which had me at a couple of times frustrated with Andrew's actions (or lack thereof!). However it is completely in sync with the overall almost meditative feel of the work, which to me seems as if replicating the process of creating a masterpiece.
Overall a thought provoking and intriguing novel. Many thanks to Goodreads for the opportunity to read and review Where The Light Falls.
February 19, 2018
I think this book was stalking me. I kept coming across it in stores and the library but it took me a while to actually pick it up. Once I did I was captived and couldn't put this book down.
I also enjoy reading other people's descriptions of locations that I know well. It brings a new colour and perspective to some thing familiar.
I also enjoy reading other people's descriptions of locations that I know well. It brings a new colour and perspective to some thing familiar.
June 22, 2017
This book was wall to wall angst from start to finish.
Everyone was unintentionally hurting their nearest and dearest.
I only finished as I wanted to know about how the photos of Phoebe went in the exhibition.
Everyone was unintentionally hurting their nearest and dearest.
I only finished as I wanted to know about how the photos of Phoebe went in the exhibition.
July 21, 2017
Beautifully written. Extremely poetic, insightful, artistic and gripping.
The only reason this book lost a star, was because it ended too soon - I want to know more! 🙌🏽
The only reason this book lost a star, was because it ended too soon - I want to know more! 🙌🏽
May 16, 2017
This is my review of Where the Light Falls by Gretchen Shirm. Andrew, is a Photographic Artist who has left his girlfriend Dom, in Berlin. Why? To travel to Sydney to investigate his ex girl friend Kirsten's disappearance. This, and other improbable actions and events occur throughout the story by him and other characters. Andrew is defined by his photos. He likes to takes portrait photos exposing the pathos in people faces, and photos of damaged or broken objects. Andrew depends on the right light for his photos, but keeps the light out of his own life. In Sydney, Andrew's emotional growth, and his involvement fully into life and people, slowly develops. By the end of the book Andrew has discovered himself, and Kirsten's body is never found. His art, however, will always win. Shirm's analysis of 'art and its artist' is excellent. Unfortunately, I can not say the same about the story.
October 31, 2020
This was an enjoyable read. Despite being based around a death, it is more of a journey of self discovery than investigation.
The characters were engaging, however lacked some depth. The responses of the girlfriend Dom and Andrew's mother, for example, felt a little generic and without nuance. Andrew being picked up by the police for being outside a school felt needlessly sensational.
I like the core messages of the story and would like to try another of Gretchen's books.
The characters were engaging, however lacked some depth. The responses of the girlfriend Dom and Andrew's mother, for example, felt a little generic and without nuance. Andrew being picked up by the police for being outside a school felt needlessly sensational.
I like the core messages of the story and would like to try another of Gretchen's books.
July 21, 2025
Somewhat unsatisfying...may I add Chapter 31?
Kirsten opened the door.
" Surprise" she said.
" What are you doing here, I thought you were dead...where's Dom?
" I explained who I was and she understood perfectly and left"
"That's fantastic news, you're looking rather damaged...can I take your photo?"
THE END
Kirsten opened the door.
" Surprise" she said.
" What are you doing here, I thought you were dead...where's Dom?
" I explained who I was and she understood perfectly and left"
"That's fantastic news, you're looking rather damaged...can I take your photo?"
THE END
April 23, 2020
The narrative is so heavy, I felt something sucking me in that was dark and I didn’t enjoy it. Andrew is an annoying character, I would describe him as a coward.
January 5, 2023
I enjoyed the writing style of this book but found both the plot and Andrew’s response to events unbelievable. His self absorption is the dominant player in the book and it all becomes too heavy.
November 4, 2024
It was not bad.
August 14, 2025
this was a did not finish for me .
October 2, 2025
Was a good I’m bored at work read but not my vibe
August 11, 2016
Another debut author. I feel especially priveleged to be given the opportunity to read debut novels when they are first published. We have so many great authors in Australia and Gretchen Shirm is no exception. This story follows Andrew,a photographer, who after returning to Australia when his former girlfriend goes missing, becomes embroiled in a quest to discover how much and what his art really means to him. there are several threads to his search. His own past life, the meeting with a young girl who becomes the focus for his next exhibition, the search for the missing girl and his relationship with his partner in Berlin. A very interesting read.
November 11, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Where The Light Falls in their recent giveaway. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and commend Gretchen Shirm for her skillful and absorbing writing. Andrew's character was complex, and at times frustrating as a reader to dutifully follow on with his actions. Andrew's fascination on Kirsten provided the means for a beautifully intricate connection to be explored, and I believe that Shirm fully used this to her advantage which made for an overall gripping and fascinating novel.
January 3, 2017
I found it hard to put this book down. The flow of the story is compelling, the observation of details exquisite and a reflection of the protagonist's way of looking at the world, as a photographer. Yup, really enjoyed this.
Read
February 3, 2017I really disliked Andrew and the writing style didn't engage me. This was a DNF for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews