Before It Gets Dark

by Ken Levine

Ken Levine's second novel, Before It Gets Dark, powerfully explores what happens when a person’s expectations for a better life are raised, only to have those expectations dashed by a shattering event that illuminates how fragile life can be. Boyd may be nearly seven feet tall, but everything else about the socially awkward custodian is ordinary. At the factory in a small southern town where he works, Boyd happens upon pregnant and lonely Marcy Travers crying in a bathroom stall. The novel traces the tumultuous lives of Marcy and her sister Tanya with their troubled young mother Jo. As Marcy grows to an adult, she strives to avoid her mother’s mistakes, yet finds herself about to repeat them before Boyd comes into her life. Their chance meeting transforms Boyd's unexceptional life into one with purpose and meaning and provides Marcy the stability she craves. Boyd creates a bond with Marcy's daughter Katie, and through her he becomes the father he never imagined he could be. But his new life comes crashing down in a momentary spasm of violence that sets him off on an unpredictable journey with Katie that will forever change all of their lives.

Genres: Fiction

245 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2016

About the author

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I currently reside in Bergen County, New Jersey with my wife and three children. Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1970s with its disparate neighborhoods with characters that literally spill out of its Irish bars, Italian restaurants, bowling alleys, sprawling apartment complexes, gritty public schools, and mom and pop shops has provided rich material for my novels. Conflict was never far away with working class white neighborhoods abutting minority enclaves as people tried to figure out how to move forward after the tumult of the 1960s.

I’ve always loved telling stories and wanted to be an author ever since I was a child. As an English major, I wrote short stories and poetry into my twenties but didn’t take novel writing seriously until the last decade. In the last seven years I have had a burst of creativity and have now penned six novels, three of which have been published. Anyone reading my work can see my background as a short story writer. My novels are thinly veiled collections of stories that weave back and forth in time to paint a portrait of the lives of my characters. Clearly, I love playing with time and memory as some of my novels (like The Widow Verses) stretch back and forth across as much as thirty or more years. Additionally, anyone who has read my novels can tell that I am fascinated by how single events can impact a series of lives and has a cascading effect on anyone touched by the event. Before It Gets Dark is an exploration of that principle. The positive feedback from readers and from book reviewers like Kirkus provide me with sustenance to continue to create more stories for readers to enjoy.

Reviews

[Patti · Rating 2 out of 5]

***Received via Goodreads Giveaway***

I did not like the bouncing around of each chapter, with a different character, a different time, not in any kind of order. Really hard to keep track of timing and who knew who, etc.

The writing was simplistic, which isn't usually a problem with me. But it needed an editor and the ending was very abrupt. Most I can say about this one is that it passed the time and I finished it.

[Antonella Gramola-Sands · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story (or stories) is not bad, even interesting. The characters are not sympathetic though and the writing is a bit simplistic. Too many short sentences and descriptions. But what really ruins the book is the abrupt end. Such a pity!

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before it Gets Dark is a fair read. There were aspects of the book's story that attracted my interest. The story's conclusion of simply "The end" was however unfair to the characters and an overall disappointment.

I received a copy of the book through a Goodreads giveaway.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can not get into this book. It feels like the story is all over the place and the writing itself isn't grabbing my attention. I might try to read this again at a later time but maybe it's just not a book for me.

[Brad Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ken Levine creates compelling characters, thrust into bad situations and comes out with a realism that's unusual in fiction today. A good read!

[Belinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much for me, it made my head hurt trying to keep up with the story going back and forth from past to present with so many characters.

[Corissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

UMM...

This was a great story. That is until the end. What!!! How do you just stop the story like that?

[Juju · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the author just got tired of writing. This book ended terribly with unanswered questions and undeveloped characters.

[Clipinchick]

I received this book for free from the author/publisher in response for an honest review of the book. I have not had the opportunity to read this book at this time. I will add my review of this book once I have read the book. Thank k you for allowing me the optometrist review your work. I look forward to reading this book.