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The Lighthouse
The lighthouse stands on the edge of Lake Michigan, sentry against the Great Lakes gales. Intertwined inextricably with personal mythology, it casts a mysterious spell over one young man, prompting his older brother to travel across the country to intervene and embark on an investigation of the past and present, of the divergent paths their lives have taken - and of the mysteries of the Lighthouse itself. This is a story in which the melancholy quiet of small-town America is tinged with the faintest touches of understated mystery.
38 pages, Hardcover
First published October 18, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 15, 2021
“We ordered drinks, mine decaf, and took a seat in the corner. We were nearly the only customers.”
“Is a person who does nothing somehow less than?”
An engagingly complex story that it is impossible to cover properly. The narrator is the elder half-brother (sharing the same mother) of sketch-dabbling Charles, the narrator who returns to Lake Michigan and its characterful pier and lighthouse, but who is the buoy of whom in this relationship of brotherly buoys, where sand gradually encroaches upon the text as it does upon all steps in life? From Virginia Woolf to Jeff VanderMeer, this contains possibly the most significant items of inner-lighthouse description in all literature. And as a symbol of the half-measures in life and to be WHO YOU ARE not who others expect you to be. The intimately curving walls inward, and the over-painted iron, compared to the far too open spaces of the house where you actually live by dint of inheritance or perceived ambition to live in large places. A genuine journey, this Schliewe work, therefore, towards finding oneself. Only the young among us no longer need to distinguish between low and high culture. The only coming together is that of separation, “often in slow increments than by a sudden yank.” Later: “I would yank the door off its hinges, if necessary.” The insandation vision in this work is unforgettable, I say. Reading good books in moments of idleness is far better than sitting down with an intent purpose. And I am still dabbling, dabbling, dabbling in this one, in mutual synergy with it. A good book never ends. And lights itself from within. Sweeping elucidation across it and picking out what shall never be inundated.
“Is a person who does nothing somehow less than?”
An engagingly complex story that it is impossible to cover properly. The narrator is the elder half-brother (sharing the same mother) of sketch-dabbling Charles, the narrator who returns to Lake Michigan and its characterful pier and lighthouse, but who is the buoy of whom in this relationship of brotherly buoys, where sand gradually encroaches upon the text as it does upon all steps in life? From Virginia Woolf to Jeff VanderMeer, this contains possibly the most significant items of inner-lighthouse description in all literature. And as a symbol of the half-measures in life and to be WHO YOU ARE not who others expect you to be. The intimately curving walls inward, and the over-painted iron, compared to the far too open spaces of the house where you actually live by dint of inheritance or perceived ambition to live in large places. A genuine journey, this Schliewe work, therefore, towards finding oneself. Only the young among us no longer need to distinguish between low and high culture. The only coming together is that of separation, “often in slow increments than by a sudden yank.” Later: “I would yank the door off its hinges, if necessary.” The insandation vision in this work is unforgettable, I say. Reading good books in moments of idleness is far better than sitting down with an intent purpose. And I am still dabbling, dabbling, dabbling in this one, in mutual synergy with it. A good book never ends. And lights itself from within. Sweeping elucidation across it and picking out what shall never be inundated.
June 1, 2020
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Jeremy Schliewe's The Lighthouse is the 11th chapbook in the Eibonvale Chapbook Line.
This chapbook is a small gem that should not be missed by readers who love quality stories. It's a captivating and immersive reading experience that has a fascinating ending.
The Lighthouse is a bit difficult to classify, but it can be classified as literary slipstream fiction. What makes this story special is the author's ability to hold back the slipstream elements until the atmospheric and mysterious ending. The story seems normal at first, but has an ending that borders on the line of being fantastical.
Here are a few words about the story:
This chapbook tells of a man whose brother, Charles, has tried to break into the lighthouse that stands on the edge of Lake Michigan in their hometown. When he goes to help Charles, he doesn't quite understand why his brother has become fascinated by the lighthouse, its existence and its purpose...
The Lighthouse is a prime example of a literary story that has much more to it than meets the eye. I enjoyed this story, because it has many details and intriguing nuances that make it worth reading. In this story, past and present intertwine in a magical way and the events unfold at their own pace. This story also has something haunting about it that I find compelling.
One of the best things about this chapbook is that the author writes realistically about the brothers and their relationship. He tells of their family background and how - despite being different and having different fathers - they're close to each other. It was interesting to read about how the protagonist had become a kind of a parent to Charles and tried to look after him as well as he could.
The author writes perfectly about how the protagonist feels about his brother's fascination towards the lighthouse, because Charles seems to be very interested in the lighthouse and can't get it out of his mind. A big part of the charm of this story stems from this mystery, because it's intriguing to find out why Charles acts the way he does.
This story is highly enjoyable and immersive, because it is filled with nostalgia and mystery. The depictions of the brothers' hometown are nostalgic and tinged with subtle longing and melancholia. The author writes well about how the protagonist feels about being back in his hometown where he grew up, because it's been a while since he visited the town.
I consider Jeremy Schliewe's The Lighthouse to be one of the best stories I've read within the recent months, because it's an excellent story about two brothers and their relationship. I recommend this story to everybody who loves good and well written stories, because it's a captivating slice of literary excellence.
Highly recommended!
Jeremy Schliewe's The Lighthouse is the 11th chapbook in the Eibonvale Chapbook Line.
This chapbook is a small gem that should not be missed by readers who love quality stories. It's a captivating and immersive reading experience that has a fascinating ending.
The Lighthouse is a bit difficult to classify, but it can be classified as literary slipstream fiction. What makes this story special is the author's ability to hold back the slipstream elements until the atmospheric and mysterious ending. The story seems normal at first, but has an ending that borders on the line of being fantastical.
Here are a few words about the story:
This chapbook tells of a man whose brother, Charles, has tried to break into the lighthouse that stands on the edge of Lake Michigan in their hometown. When he goes to help Charles, he doesn't quite understand why his brother has become fascinated by the lighthouse, its existence and its purpose...
The Lighthouse is a prime example of a literary story that has much more to it than meets the eye. I enjoyed this story, because it has many details and intriguing nuances that make it worth reading. In this story, past and present intertwine in a magical way and the events unfold at their own pace. This story also has something haunting about it that I find compelling.
One of the best things about this chapbook is that the author writes realistically about the brothers and their relationship. He tells of their family background and how - despite being different and having different fathers - they're close to each other. It was interesting to read about how the protagonist had become a kind of a parent to Charles and tried to look after him as well as he could.
The author writes perfectly about how the protagonist feels about his brother's fascination towards the lighthouse, because Charles seems to be very interested in the lighthouse and can't get it out of his mind. A big part of the charm of this story stems from this mystery, because it's intriguing to find out why Charles acts the way he does.
This story is highly enjoyable and immersive, because it is filled with nostalgia and mystery. The depictions of the brothers' hometown are nostalgic and tinged with subtle longing and melancholia. The author writes well about how the protagonist feels about being back in his hometown where he grew up, because it's been a while since he visited the town.
I consider Jeremy Schliewe's The Lighthouse to be one of the best stories I've read within the recent months, because it's an excellent story about two brothers and their relationship. I recommend this story to everybody who loves good and well written stories, because it's a captivating slice of literary excellence.
Highly recommended!
April 23, 2021
Schliewe writes stories that get under your skin in the best way, and his novella, The Lighthouse, is no exception. Deceptively spare, it will pop up in your thoughts and dreams long after you've finished reading it.
July 29, 2023
This slim chapbook tells a powerful story that on its face is about a brother helping out a sibling in crisis, but on a deeper level is about how creative people fit into our society (or don't).
Centered around a mysterious lighthouse (with a dark past) on Lake Michigan, the story delves into the despair of not being able to square creative temperament and talent with a society that only values productivity, output, ambition, status, and amassing wealth. If you are a "creative", and have had trouble with your lot in life, this book offers some sympathetic musings.
And then, there is the dark surprise which started to feel a little bit like something from the genre of eldritch horror. There is a strangeness to this book which would make this a very interesting indie film.
This story is well written, and pregnant with symbolism. Recommended for unfulfilled artists, writers, and musicians who go to their jobs every day and attempt to maintain their sanity. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Centered around a mysterious lighthouse (with a dark past) on Lake Michigan, the story delves into the despair of not being able to square creative temperament and talent with a society that only values productivity, output, ambition, status, and amassing wealth. If you are a "creative", and have had trouble with your lot in life, this book offers some sympathetic musings.
And then, there is the dark surprise which started to feel a little bit like something from the genre of eldritch horror. There is a strangeness to this book which would make this a very interesting indie film.
This story is well written, and pregnant with symbolism. Recommended for unfulfilled artists, writers, and musicians who go to their jobs every day and attempt to maintain their sanity. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews