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Some Distant Sunrise
"What have you ever done that felt better than this?"
A former DJ who lost everything to heroin addiction is slowly rebuilding his life when his ex-girlfriend seeks him out to offer him a second chance at their relationship. But the fresh start she hopes to make with him has one catch: She died of an overdose four months earlier, and she's come to talk him into joining her...
Some Distant Sunrise is a powerful, gritty dark-fantasy novella about junkies and ghosts, music and suicide, obsession and regret, and living through what remains after everything you've loved is gone.
A former DJ who lost everything to heroin addiction is slowly rebuilding his life when his ex-girlfriend seeks him out to offer him a second chance at their relationship. But the fresh start she hopes to make with him has one catch: She died of an overdose four months earlier, and she's come to talk him into joining her...
Some Distant Sunrise is a powerful, gritty dark-fantasy novella about junkies and ghosts, music and suicide, obsession and regret, and living through what remains after everything you've loved is gone.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2017
7 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 9, 2017
Yet again, he smashes one out of the park...
I am hampered by the fact that I am writing this review on my phone, while finishing up the final dregs of my break at work. I'm a night shifter, so it's 1:13 a.m. and my brain is fuzzy at best, further detracting from my ability to give this review the sustenance it deserves. But, I will give it my best and hope it's enough.
Elliott Downing is a god among men when it comes to his abilities behind a keyboard. When I first read his work, I was stunned by it's beauty, overwhelmed by it's strength, and in awe of the uninhibited mastery of the senses it provoked.
This was no different. The story here is painful, raw, and unequivocally real. At the same time, it is unlike any other I have read before. As is his habit, Mr. Downing has created a world that feels as though it could be real, yet stretches the boundaries of the mind well beyond anything one might have previously imagined.
If you enjoy beautiful prose and powerful stories, Elliot Downing will enthrall you. For the second time now, I find myself walking away from his story wondering if I just experienced history in the making. Years from now, I can see entire university courses devoted to Mr. Downing's powerful, thought provoking work. He will go down in the annals of history with the likes of Hemingway, Orwell, Fitzgerald, and Twain.
I thank you, Mr. Downing, for teaching the beauty of life with a shiver of fear and a spark of wonder.
I am hampered by the fact that I am writing this review on my phone, while finishing up the final dregs of my break at work. I'm a night shifter, so it's 1:13 a.m. and my brain is fuzzy at best, further detracting from my ability to give this review the sustenance it deserves. But, I will give it my best and hope it's enough.
Elliott Downing is a god among men when it comes to his abilities behind a keyboard. When I first read his work, I was stunned by it's beauty, overwhelmed by it's strength, and in awe of the uninhibited mastery of the senses it provoked.
This was no different. The story here is painful, raw, and unequivocally real. At the same time, it is unlike any other I have read before. As is his habit, Mr. Downing has created a world that feels as though it could be real, yet stretches the boundaries of the mind well beyond anything one might have previously imagined.
If you enjoy beautiful prose and powerful stories, Elliot Downing will enthrall you. For the second time now, I find myself walking away from his story wondering if I just experienced history in the making. Years from now, I can see entire university courses devoted to Mr. Downing's powerful, thought provoking work. He will go down in the annals of history with the likes of Hemingway, Orwell, Fitzgerald, and Twain.
I thank you, Mr. Downing, for teaching the beauty of life with a shiver of fear and a spark of wonder.
August 30, 2017
*Thanks to the author for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review!*
Actual Rating: 5
Elliott Downing is gradually becoming one of my favorite short story writers! I first read The Keys to the Kingdom, and I thought it sort of had a raw, realistic, eerie tone - Some Distant Sunrise totally has that too.
This novella is about a former DJ, who now has close to nothing - all because of his heroin addiction. When his ex-girlfriend seeks him out again, looking for a chance to rebuild their relationship, he knows it is an opportunity that won't come knocking again. But there's a catch: Lynn died of an overdose four months ago, and she's hoping he'll join her.
This book was gritty and dark - just like the blurb said. And just like Downing's other short story, the writing style has a surreal and mystical feel to it; it was extremely hard to put down, and though the story was short, the ideas felt fully explored as I immersed myself in the storyline.
The main character in this book is terribly flawed, and yet it is these flaws that allow him to embody the turmoil that all humanity contains. Drug addiction is of course a very realistic problem, and even for people who have not have had contact with it, I am sure Some Distant Sunrise will be able to strike some sort of chord.
Overall, Some Distant Sunrise was a haunting story about persistence and pain, and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who is brave enough to delve into a world that seems both unimaginable and close to home.
Actual Rating: 5
Elliott Downing is gradually becoming one of my favorite short story writers! I first read The Keys to the Kingdom, and I thought it sort of had a raw, realistic, eerie tone - Some Distant Sunrise totally has that too.
This novella is about a former DJ, who now has close to nothing - all because of his heroin addiction. When his ex-girlfriend seeks him out again, looking for a chance to rebuild their relationship, he knows it is an opportunity that won't come knocking again. But there's a catch: Lynn died of an overdose four months ago, and she's hoping he'll join her.
This book was gritty and dark - just like the blurb said. And just like Downing's other short story, the writing style has a surreal and mystical feel to it; it was extremely hard to put down, and though the story was short, the ideas felt fully explored as I immersed myself in the storyline.
The main character in this book is terribly flawed, and yet it is these flaws that allow him to embody the turmoil that all humanity contains. Drug addiction is of course a very realistic problem, and even for people who have not have had contact with it, I am sure Some Distant Sunrise will be able to strike some sort of chord.
Overall, Some Distant Sunrise was a haunting story about persistence and pain, and I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who is brave enough to delve into a world that seems both unimaginable and close to home.
December 3, 2018
Elliott Downing again delivers an amazing, emotion-packed and vivid tale with Some Distant Sunrise. This short story follows a protagonist who is haunted by the spectre of his four-months-dead junkie girlfriend. I enjoyed the look into what their life together was like before she died, and how death has changed her in some ways, but in others, not at all.
It takes a special talent to paint characters the way Elliott does; objectively, the girlfriend Lynn is not likeable at all, but yet through the lens of the protagonist, whose feelings about her are complicated, she somehow doesn't come off quite so despicable as she might otherwise. The dysfunction and abusive dynamics in this were excellently and realistically portrayed. My favorite part probably was the development of the protgagonist from the beginning of the story (hell, from before the story began, really) to the end. Another great, quick read!
It takes a special talent to paint characters the way Elliott does; objectively, the girlfriend Lynn is not likeable at all, but yet through the lens of the protagonist, whose feelings about her are complicated, she somehow doesn't come off quite so despicable as she might otherwise. The dysfunction and abusive dynamics in this were excellently and realistically portrayed. My favorite part probably was the development of the protgagonist from the beginning of the story (hell, from before the story began, really) to the end. Another great, quick read!
June 14, 2018
You know the saying about not to judge a book by its cover? Now, this is one of those books. While the cover is not exactly appealing (I like the photo used for it though) the story within is a really powerful one. It is centered around the relationship of our protagonist whose name we never learn and his ex-girlfriend, Lynn. After being put in jail and spending some time in rehab, the former DJ is clean for 4 months and tries to get his life back together. A life which sucks and doesn’t makes him happy exactly – working in a kitchen, losing every contact with his friends after conning them out of their money and leaving them to pursue the next dose of heroine. And even if he gets in contact with them they can’t help but wonder what does he wants this time.
“I didn’t miss the troughs of despair, that ache that bit deeper than any merely physical hunger, the daily scramble of panicked desperation, but I did miss the way the world used to look sometimes, so bright and so magnified. The way a discarded candy wrapper or a crack in a ceiling could seem filled with significance and wonder.”
Then Lynn shows up in that club where they first met, miserable, unhappy, unable to move on to the afterlife after committing suicide. Our MC is forced to remember everything that had happened between them, the life their shared along with the unending need for drugs, and the money to buy them. We follow his downfall through his eyes, the struggle to live from one day to the next, the depths a man goes to stay high. And you can’t help but wonder what kept them together in the first place: the love for each other, the comfort of company, or their shared obsession? Why didn’t he do anything to stop her in the first place? He had a choice, he made his decisions may them be good or wrong.
His story shows that addiction – whatever kind – once you submit to it, will make your life an endless battle. Whether you are chasing the next dose of your choice, or try to stay clean. There always will be temptation and the fear that you might fall back. That no matter how hard you tried, you fail. Are you strong enough to put your back on it and carry on with your life? To even build it up again and find that one thing that makes it worth? What if someone offers you an easy out? Would you take it or keep fighting on gritting your teeth?
“Your illusions fall away, day by day, until finally there’s no pretense, nothing else left, only the need and the things you have to do to fill it. On the days when you fail, when you can’t find the money or you can’t find anyone to buy from, that locust buzz of pain grows and swells until it fills your head, wracks your limbs, and when it gets bad enough, you fool yourself into thinking you’d feel better if you could just close your eyes and sleep through it.”
The writing is very good, I could hardly put it down. When I rather read than talk to someone who is otherwise important to me, so I cut our conversation short, then I think it’s safe to say I enjoyed the hell out of this one. Which might sound strange given the topic, but this short book is gripping, full of emotions and beautifully crafted passages. Some Distant Sunrise is a powerfully emotional, dark tale of addiction, second chances, choices and life. One, the writing makes even more real, where you can almost feel the needle’s cool, metallic touch on your arm, the biting chill of the night and feel the pressure of the world as it closes on you, taste the desperation in the air. I can’t recommend it enough to people who are looking for a short, thoughtful, well written book giving a glimpse into the life of those who struggle daily with addiction and personal demons. You’ll walk away with your emotions in a turmoil and a heavy heart, but damn, you won’t regret it one bit.
“I didn’t miss the troughs of despair, that ache that bit deeper than any merely physical hunger, the daily scramble of panicked desperation, but I did miss the way the world used to look sometimes, so bright and so magnified. The way a discarded candy wrapper or a crack in a ceiling could seem filled with significance and wonder.”
Then Lynn shows up in that club where they first met, miserable, unhappy, unable to move on to the afterlife after committing suicide. Our MC is forced to remember everything that had happened between them, the life their shared along with the unending need for drugs, and the money to buy them. We follow his downfall through his eyes, the struggle to live from one day to the next, the depths a man goes to stay high. And you can’t help but wonder what kept them together in the first place: the love for each other, the comfort of company, or their shared obsession? Why didn’t he do anything to stop her in the first place? He had a choice, he made his decisions may them be good or wrong.
His story shows that addiction – whatever kind – once you submit to it, will make your life an endless battle. Whether you are chasing the next dose of your choice, or try to stay clean. There always will be temptation and the fear that you might fall back. That no matter how hard you tried, you fail. Are you strong enough to put your back on it and carry on with your life? To even build it up again and find that one thing that makes it worth? What if someone offers you an easy out? Would you take it or keep fighting on gritting your teeth?
“Your illusions fall away, day by day, until finally there’s no pretense, nothing else left, only the need and the things you have to do to fill it. On the days when you fail, when you can’t find the money or you can’t find anyone to buy from, that locust buzz of pain grows and swells until it fills your head, wracks your limbs, and when it gets bad enough, you fool yourself into thinking you’d feel better if you could just close your eyes and sleep through it.”
The writing is very good, I could hardly put it down. When I rather read than talk to someone who is otherwise important to me, so I cut our conversation short, then I think it’s safe to say I enjoyed the hell out of this one. Which might sound strange given the topic, but this short book is gripping, full of emotions and beautifully crafted passages. Some Distant Sunrise is a powerfully emotional, dark tale of addiction, second chances, choices and life. One, the writing makes even more real, where you can almost feel the needle’s cool, metallic touch on your arm, the biting chill of the night and feel the pressure of the world as it closes on you, taste the desperation in the air. I can’t recommend it enough to people who are looking for a short, thoughtful, well written book giving a glimpse into the life of those who struggle daily with addiction and personal demons. You’ll walk away with your emotions in a turmoil and a heavy heart, but damn, you won’t regret it one bit.
April 13, 2019
I'm almost reluctant to post a review, because I'm frankly ashamed of how long it took me to finally purchase this book. I stumbled across the author's work online some time ago, and found myself enchanted by the stark derision of his tone. Largely because of that, I expected this book to be comic in its approach to tragedy, but instead, it was lyrical. Downing doesn't waste a single word, not a syllable - each note is perfectly placed, singular and still, leaving the reader with nowhere to look but at the scene before her. A brief plunge into the darkest, grimmest aspects of the soul, and then, quite unexpectedly - the sun sends out one more brilliant ray from beyond the horizon, and this night will not be the end.
October 28, 2018
“…This whole big room full of people, chanting that chorus from Knocking On Heaven’s Door. And they meant it. They felt it. Not Heaven, like death. Heaven, like happiness. That’s what I gave them to go home with. It might not sound like much to you, but that’s what I do.”
* * *
A bleak but beautiful story about grief and addiction with some truly gorgeous prose. Some Distant Sunrise is a super quick read, but memorable. It explores how the “ghosts” (metaphorical, and in this case, literal) follow us and influence our lives long after they should have disappeared. The backstory is brutal but realistic, and the characterization of flawed but ultimately sympathetic people is really effective—but the descriptions of music and crafting it, the emotions and transcendent experiences it creates are where this story shines.
You don’t often see written words that so eloquently and powerfully capture what it is to create—and especially to combine, to take two works that shouldn’t go together but do, to create something more magnificent than its parts-sum, that cuts through to an audience’s heart, grabs it, and pulls it up to someplace greater. I honestly loved seeing DJing showcased as the art it is, the thought and transformative alchemy that goes into it, and how powerful that polymerization can be. (Are mashups one of my favorite art forms? Yes, they are, and this story is a glorious example of why.)
It’s hard to feel nowadays. The social climate and promise of worse horizons kind of stomp it out of you and leave you numb or too tired. Feeling is important. Music is important. Anything that makes you remember who you are and puts air in your lungs is. Hold onto it.
* * *
A bleak but beautiful story about grief and addiction with some truly gorgeous prose. Some Distant Sunrise is a super quick read, but memorable. It explores how the “ghosts” (metaphorical, and in this case, literal) follow us and influence our lives long after they should have disappeared. The backstory is brutal but realistic, and the characterization of flawed but ultimately sympathetic people is really effective—but the descriptions of music and crafting it, the emotions and transcendent experiences it creates are where this story shines.
You don’t often see written words that so eloquently and powerfully capture what it is to create—and especially to combine, to take two works that shouldn’t go together but do, to create something more magnificent than its parts-sum, that cuts through to an audience’s heart, grabs it, and pulls it up to someplace greater. I honestly loved seeing DJing showcased as the art it is, the thought and transformative alchemy that goes into it, and how powerful that polymerization can be. (Are mashups one of my favorite art forms? Yes, they are, and this story is a glorious example of why.)
It’s hard to feel nowadays. The social climate and promise of worse horizons kind of stomp it out of you and leave you numb or too tired. Feeling is important. Music is important. Anything that makes you remember who you are and puts air in your lungs is. Hold onto it.
May 12, 2019
One of the most challenging things to do in story writing is to convey a perspective that you don’t embody yourself. The unnamed protagonist of Some Distant Sunrise has a history of bad decisions that led to serious drug abuse. It’s a tale we’ve heard all too much in popular culture but here, in comprised form, it seems even more damaging, somehow. In the acknowledgements, Elliott Downing gave thanks to several DJs for their invaluable input. Having never been a DJ himself, Downing excelled at describing the intrinsic beat one might evolve into while immersed in that lifestyle. It is no doubt a diametric rhythm to that of the strung out junkie, a character who is entirely devoid of any melodies save for the one he chases but never catches, by way of the needle.
Admittedly, it did take a handful of pages to fully appreciate who the protagonist was and where he was coming from, but once I got to know him, it was easy to root for the guy. It is apparent that music is his greatest love and it systematically gets rooted out of him by a drug called heroin and a girl named Lynn.
Ah Lynn, what can I say about this destructor? This minx? Our protagonist is instantly taken with her and eager to please. Their meet cute has some obstacles to get over, but quickly they share sexy intimacies in a rather expensive photo booth. Beyond that, they crash full on in to each other and the degradation begins.
This won’t spoil anything because it’s in the author’s own Amazon description: Lynn dies of an overdose and then comes back to haunt our hero. When she makes herself known to him, he doesn’t seem all that surprised. In fact, it sparks memories of the time they spent together. It is by this construct, we learn of their shared past. It is a flawless telling of times gone by, interwoven masterfully into the present ghost story. There are several plot lines at work here and each expresses its own raw emotions. From lust to necessity to disgust to fear and back again, there’s not a whole heck of a lot of goodness spewing from either of these characters. That is, until the protagonist gets clean.
In one of the most predictable yet still satisfying and even humorous scenes, our main junkie hits a figurative and literal wall. Thus sending him to prison to rehabilitate and recover, to come out a better man than he went in, and just ripe for the spooking.
This story is staying with me. I can't shake it. I kinda sorta want to shake it because it disturbed me on levels I didn’t think it would. It surprises you with bits and moments of grace amidst terror. I found it frighteningly beautiful to the point where I don’t wanna let go. It is a quick, enjoyable read that showcases the poetry of music on display astride one man's haunts. It’s different than most of what you’ve read as of late and it reminds you of the best parts of smart lit.
Admittedly, it did take a handful of pages to fully appreciate who the protagonist was and where he was coming from, but once I got to know him, it was easy to root for the guy. It is apparent that music is his greatest love and it systematically gets rooted out of him by a drug called heroin and a girl named Lynn.
Ah Lynn, what can I say about this destructor? This minx? Our protagonist is instantly taken with her and eager to please. Their meet cute has some obstacles to get over, but quickly they share sexy intimacies in a rather expensive photo booth. Beyond that, they crash full on in to each other and the degradation begins.
This won’t spoil anything because it’s in the author’s own Amazon description: Lynn dies of an overdose and then comes back to haunt our hero. When she makes herself known to him, he doesn’t seem all that surprised. In fact, it sparks memories of the time they spent together. It is by this construct, we learn of their shared past. It is a flawless telling of times gone by, interwoven masterfully into the present ghost story. There are several plot lines at work here and each expresses its own raw emotions. From lust to necessity to disgust to fear and back again, there’s not a whole heck of a lot of goodness spewing from either of these characters. That is, until the protagonist gets clean.
In one of the most predictable yet still satisfying and even humorous scenes, our main junkie hits a figurative and literal wall. Thus sending him to prison to rehabilitate and recover, to come out a better man than he went in, and just ripe for the spooking.
This story is staying with me. I can't shake it. I kinda sorta want to shake it because it disturbed me on levels I didn’t think it would. It surprises you with bits and moments of grace amidst terror. I found it frighteningly beautiful to the point where I don’t wanna let go. It is a quick, enjoyable read that showcases the poetry of music on display astride one man's haunts. It’s different than most of what you’ve read as of late and it reminds you of the best parts of smart lit.
January 31, 2018
I'm an indie writer and I must admit that many indie books should come with grammar and typo disclaimer stickers. It sucks, but at the same time it's good news that a huge number of books have made it 'out there' that we would have never had the chance to read because no BIG FIVE publisher would have ever printed them.
Forget all of that with Some Distant Sunrise. Why a major publisher has not picked this guy up I will never understand. This just doesn't happen every day: an indie author who not only captures you in the first pages but keeps you there until the end. More importantly, this novella is clean. Sure, there's the odd sentence or two that a publishing house editor would have attempted to stomp on but here it works because of its feel. He has you, injected into his arm.
Yes, it's a novella about heroin addiction but it also isn't. I primarily read fantasy and science fiction. I wouldn't have given this book a blink had someone not convinced me to read the free preview.
The writing is eloquent, convincing, and powerful. The plot is mesmerizing as it is dark, and real. This is a short read but I will go so far as to call it a small masterpiece. Whatever you spent to own this little gem it was too good of a bargain. If you don't yet own it, what in the heck are you waiting for?
Forget all of that with Some Distant Sunrise. Why a major publisher has not picked this guy up I will never understand. This just doesn't happen every day: an indie author who not only captures you in the first pages but keeps you there until the end. More importantly, this novella is clean. Sure, there's the odd sentence or two that a publishing house editor would have attempted to stomp on but here it works because of its feel. He has you, injected into his arm.
Yes, it's a novella about heroin addiction but it also isn't. I primarily read fantasy and science fiction. I wouldn't have given this book a blink had someone not convinced me to read the free preview.
The writing is eloquent, convincing, and powerful. The plot is mesmerizing as it is dark, and real. This is a short read but I will go so far as to call it a small masterpiece. Whatever you spent to own this little gem it was too good of a bargain. If you don't yet own it, what in the heck are you waiting for?
July 3, 2019
I appreciated the author's very lean use of words - this slim volume does not contain a single wasted word. It doesn't need them: every paragraph contains volumes, and all of it hits home - hard. I should say the subject matter is dark, but it's treated in such a way that I walked away filled with light.
The ghost in this story is a real ghost, but even as such it's a stark personification of the internal ghosts with which we all struggle, the ones that try to destroy us by convincing us they are the only ones who love and understand us. As someone who has lost a brother to addiction, I found the main character's journey to be a painfully accurate portrayal of the horrors of addiction and the frequently hopeless struggle to overcome it. The main character's pain is palpable, but at its heart this is a story of hope. Not a miracle - not that kind of hope. The kind of hope that actually works - the hope that lies in every step forward, which is all we ever really get, and all we ever really need, if only we just choose it.
The ghost in this story is a real ghost, but even as such it's a stark personification of the internal ghosts with which we all struggle, the ones that try to destroy us by convincing us they are the only ones who love and understand us. As someone who has lost a brother to addiction, I found the main character's journey to be a painfully accurate portrayal of the horrors of addiction and the frequently hopeless struggle to overcome it. The main character's pain is palpable, but at its heart this is a story of hope. Not a miracle - not that kind of hope. The kind of hope that actually works - the hope that lies in every step forward, which is all we ever really get, and all we ever really need, if only we just choose it.
January 28, 2018
This is a down-and-dirty novella about the realities of addiction and recovery wrapped in the trappings of a Gothic ghost story (stay with me). The main character is four months clean and struggling to live straight—a job washing dishes, a rented room, avoiding the dark corners both literal and figurative where temptation lurks. Then his dead ex shows up to haunt him.
Downing writes well, weaving discourses about the digital age and the search for something real into the larger framework of the novella. The main character is powerfully executed, and it’s easy to see how he got lost. The character of Lynn, his ex-turned-ghost, isn’t quite as fully developed. It would’ve been interesting to see the shape of this story with a little more depth to her.
Regardless, I’ll definitely be picking up more by Downing in the future.
Downing writes well, weaving discourses about the digital age and the search for something real into the larger framework of the novella. The main character is powerfully executed, and it’s easy to see how he got lost. The character of Lynn, his ex-turned-ghost, isn’t quite as fully developed. It would’ve been interesting to see the shape of this story with a little more depth to her.
Regardless, I’ll definitely be picking up more by Downing in the future.
June 27, 2018
Another amazing story
A barely-clean recovering addict is propositioned by his overdosed girlfriend's ghost.
Lynn leaves her current boyfriend for the DJ, jumping from one man to another like Frogger crossing the road. She pulls him into addiction, where he loses everything in the process. I've never had a drug addiction but my brother OD'd after a dozen years of drug abuse, and Downing nailed what I remembered of a mundane, almost subtly gradual transition from recreational users to homeless addicts.
Downing reminds me of Jordan Harper, the only other author I can think of who nails a short story so perfectly. I really can't say enough good about the power in this short story. It's cheaper than a Starbucks and way more effective at kicking up the heart rate. Treat yo self.
A barely-clean recovering addict is propositioned by his overdosed girlfriend's ghost.
Lynn leaves her current boyfriend for the DJ, jumping from one man to another like Frogger crossing the road. She pulls him into addiction, where he loses everything in the process. I've never had a drug addiction but my brother OD'd after a dozen years of drug abuse, and Downing nailed what I remembered of a mundane, almost subtly gradual transition from recreational users to homeless addicts.
Downing reminds me of Jordan Harper, the only other author I can think of who nails a short story so perfectly. I really can't say enough good about the power in this short story. It's cheaper than a Starbucks and way more effective at kicking up the heart rate. Treat yo self.
February 7, 2018
I follow Elliot Downing on twitter and when he posted up a preview of the start of his book I of course read it and was immediately hooked and ordered it straight away. It arrived yesterday so I thought I'd read some of it last night before going to sleep ....... that didn't happen. I couldn't put it down! Really well written - my mark of a good book is similar to watching a tv show and forgetting you're watching actors and just become immersed. This book was like that. I wasn't thinking about the author, or how I would have phrased something differently ... I was just lost in it for however long it took to read (I didn't time myself!)
I can't say much else without inadvertently giving away spoilers but it was a great story and I'm really glad I bought it. Would definitely recommend
I can't say much else without inadvertently giving away spoilers but it was a great story and I'm really glad I bought it. Would definitely recommend
October 29, 2018
A vividly captivating story.
This isn’t the type of book I would usually pick up but I did because I follow Elliott on Twitter and find his brand of humor to my liking. I read this in one sitting because I could not put it down! The drive in me to find out how it ended was fierce! This is a story about hope and possibilities, about survival and coming out on the other side of some of the choices we make in our everyday lives. And about the hunger in all of us to let go and fall back on what was. Every sentence paints the story vividly and leaves each scene etched into your soul. It’s one of those rare books that will stay with me long after I’ve forgotten most others.
This isn’t the type of book I would usually pick up but I did because I follow Elliott on Twitter and find his brand of humor to my liking. I read this in one sitting because I could not put it down! The drive in me to find out how it ended was fierce! This is a story about hope and possibilities, about survival and coming out on the other side of some of the choices we make in our everyday lives. And about the hunger in all of us to let go and fall back on what was. Every sentence paints the story vividly and leaves each scene etched into your soul. It’s one of those rare books that will stay with me long after I’ve forgotten most others.
April 21, 2018
Ok, the synopsis for this novella had me very interested. And I was not disappointed at all. The characters are well developed and you can really feel what they're going through. It may be because Downing is very descriptive in his writing. And not an annoying descriptive either. It's the perfect amount to make the reader feel fully engaged.
A druggie trying to turn his life around, meets up with his DEAD girlfriend. It's a quick read, a page turner...It truly made me anxious to find out the end.
A druggie trying to turn his life around, meets up with his DEAD girlfriend. It's a quick read, a page turner...It truly made me anxious to find out the end.
December 6, 2018
I have complicated feelings toward reading about abusive relationships in fiction. That said, I absolutely loved the portrayal of such in this story.
In Some Distant Sunrise, we follow a protagonist haunted by his recently dead girlfriend. Many of the scenes were visceral and wonderfully described. More than anything, this is a fascinating glimpse into the dark world of addiction. Really good read.
I massively enjoy Downing's voice and style. It would be amazing to read a full novel by this author. His characters are quite compelling and well thought out!
In Some Distant Sunrise, we follow a protagonist haunted by his recently dead girlfriend. Many of the scenes were visceral and wonderfully described. More than anything, this is a fascinating glimpse into the dark world of addiction. Really good read.
I massively enjoy Downing's voice and style. It would be amazing to read a full novel by this author. His characters are quite compelling and well thought out!
May 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Some Distant Sunrise by Elliott Downing was an excellent read. The book is very well-written. It's beautiful, tragic and haunting. The book is raw, showing the reader what it's like once the drugs take hold, take everything, and all that remains in the characters is an unquenchable need. At some point, they devolve to their basest needs, the drugs stripping away their humanity. Some Distant Sunrise was a gripping read and I would highly recommend it. I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 25, 2020
One of the truest descriptions of despair regardless of the cause, but also a reminder of how seeds of hope can sprout even if unbidden or unwatered.
Downing writes like every word is an excerpt from his diary; tiny, unexpected details bring each character to life. I felt like a witness to the story. I was there. Now I am changed. Downing glosses over nothing nor does he rush it. The choices are agony and he makes you feel each one but all infused with a sense of humor.
It's a quick read but it is complete. I do hope for more like it.
Downing writes like every word is an excerpt from his diary; tiny, unexpected details bring each character to life. I felt like a witness to the story. I was there. Now I am changed. Downing glosses over nothing nor does he rush it. The choices are agony and he makes you feel each one but all infused with a sense of humor.
It's a quick read but it is complete. I do hope for more like it.
January 20, 2018
A compelling story with a completely fresh approach to some big issues. A tale of addiction and loneliness, of hitting rock bottom and what it takes to get up again. Characters that ring true in situations drenched in authenticy. Definitely worth a read if you like being hit right in the feels!
November 22, 2022
A sad novella about a recovering junkie haunted not just by the ghost of his drug habit, but also the ghost of his dead ex-girlfriend who wants him to join her. Nothing fun about this one, but it was a good read.
December 14, 2017
Exceptional
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. The characters are believable and intriguing. Good use of descriptive language. All around, a well-crafted story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. The characters are believable and intriguing. Good use of descriptive language. All around, a well-crafted story.
June 9, 2018
Interesting
I came across this author on Twitter and I'm glad I did. This is an interesting story that won't take long to read.
I came across this author on Twitter and I'm glad I did. This is an interesting story that won't take long to read.
July 14, 2018
A short but excellent ghost story about love, addiction, and loss.
September 11, 2021
I read this book way back in 2019 and totally forgot that Goodreads existed. I loved this book!!! I'm going to re-read it and leave a more detailed review soon. ♥
July 1, 2019
Some Distant Sunrise was not one of those mediocre novellas.
The pain of addiction, loneliness, desperation and isolation, it was all present and accounted for. You watch helplessly as a former DJ falls to a heroin addiction. His character is extremely flawed, but without those flaws there probably wouldn’t be much of a story in the first place. This story is dark, it’s gritty, surreal, and has a cold feel to it. You think the addiction bit is bad enough, but then his dead ex-girlfriend comes back from the dead to haunt him, offering him a second chance at their relationship.
Some Distant Sunrise was a gem. I loved it, and in despite of the themes – and I mean this in the least morbid way possible – it was a joy to read. By the end of it, you’re left satisfied with the outcome, your own emotions, and the overall story.
This story held my attention from beginning to end. I have absolutely nothing negative or constructive to say about it. If you like novellas, give this a chance.
The pain of addiction, loneliness, desperation and isolation, it was all present and accounted for. You watch helplessly as a former DJ falls to a heroin addiction. His character is extremely flawed, but without those flaws there probably wouldn’t be much of a story in the first place. This story is dark, it’s gritty, surreal, and has a cold feel to it. You think the addiction bit is bad enough, but then his dead ex-girlfriend comes back from the dead to haunt him, offering him a second chance at their relationship.
Some Distant Sunrise was a gem. I loved it, and in despite of the themes – and I mean this in the least morbid way possible – it was a joy to read. By the end of it, you’re left satisfied with the outcome, your own emotions, and the overall story.
This story held my attention from beginning to end. I have absolutely nothing negative or constructive to say about it. If you like novellas, give this a chance.
May 8, 2018
All I can say is, if you haven’t read Elliott Downing’s books, you’re doing yourself a disservice. His writing style is straight up refreshing. Minimal words, power-packed story. Can’t wait for his next book! It’s hard to write a review of this book without giving up spoilers because there is not one word that he puts on a page that isn’t essential, and he uses nothing superfluously. Just read it.
April 11, 2018
This was a ghost story that was much more sorrowful than horrorifying. I loved this story. It spoke of loss, self-doubt and regret. I loved the narrator who was just trying to piece together his life while battling the temptation of his dead girlfriend.
I read it in about one hour. The prose is beautiful and I did not want to miss one word.This was an easy 5 star pick for me.
I read it in about one hour. The prose is beautiful and I did not want to miss one word.This was an easy 5 star pick for me.
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