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From the Lighthouse
Knot doesn't remember how they came to live with Bigman, nor whether their name is actually Knot. Bigman calls, and Knot answers. Not a boy. Not a girl. Not getting any bigger over the past twenty years.
John Bigman makes enough money selling good weather to those who believe his claims of magic to keep the bank from taking the unfinished lighthouse where he lives in an uneasy truce with Knot. Bigman still bleeds from where Knot bit him years ago, and they still sometimes try to stab him during arguments.
Most of the time, the two get along. Knot watches tv in their room. Bigman plays video games in his library. They go fishing, with Knot catching most of the fish and Bigman dozing among the mangroves that have infested their beach.
But Bigman is getting old. His control over Knot has been slipping. His strength was barely enough to foil Knot's last attempt at running away. That was before Knot found allies, who have their own reasons for wanting Knot to escape from the lighthouse.
John Bigman makes enough money selling good weather to those who believe his claims of magic to keep the bank from taking the unfinished lighthouse where he lives in an uneasy truce with Knot. Bigman still bleeds from where Knot bit him years ago, and they still sometimes try to stab him during arguments.
Most of the time, the two get along. Knot watches tv in their room. Bigman plays video games in his library. They go fishing, with Knot catching most of the fish and Bigman dozing among the mangroves that have infested their beach.
But Bigman is getting old. His control over Knot has been slipping. His strength was barely enough to foil Knot's last attempt at running away. That was before Knot found allies, who have their own reasons for wanting Knot to escape from the lighthouse.
- GenresFantasy
274 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
830 people want to read
About the author
Chad Musick
9 books154 followersChad Musick grew up in Utah, California, Washington, Texas, and (most of all) Alaska. Fell in love in California, moved with family to Japan, finally found happiness. A PhD in Mathematical Science but a love of both art and science.
Despite a tendency for electronic devices to burst into flame after Chad handles them, persists in working in various technical and technology-related roles.
Chad makes no secret of being epileptic, autistic, and arthritic, facts that inform their approaches to both science and the arts.
Despite a tendency for electronic devices to burst into flame after Chad handles them, persists in working in various technical and technology-related roles.
Chad makes no secret of being epileptic, autistic, and arthritic, facts that inform their approaches to both science and the arts.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 23, 2022
Knot has always lived at the lighthouse with Bigman. They’re not sure for how long. 20 years? 100 years? All Knot knows is that during that time, they’ve stayed little while their only friend grew up and left them, and everything around the lighthouse has died.
Sometimes they get along with Bigman, sometimes knives or fangs or claws are involved. Knot eavesdrops on Bigman while he peddles good weather to the locals, and slips out of the lighthouse when he wants, despite Bigman’s warnings not to leave. But Bigman is growing older and his hold on Knot is slipping – allowing Knot to form new allies with other creatures who want him to take his rightful place in the Universe.
I was blown away by the voice in this novel. Really, really deep first person point of view. And possibly the most original voice I’ve read in awhile. The reader is tossed straight into the story and left to figure out what’s going on for themselves. Is Knot a boy? A girl? A dragon? Really a dragon? And who is Bigman? Can he really control the weather? Apparently not as well as Knot.
Sound confusing? It is, a bit. The plot is all twists and hairpin turns and since this is magical realism at its finest, I suggest you buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Despite being set in Florida, this world is unlike any I’ve encountered, “peopled” with talking cats and lizards, Bird deities, a mother dragon who is anything but maternal, and mermaids/manatees. The subplot of Knot’s longing for a friend among ordinary humans and the tragedy that unfolds because of this is slowly revealed as he meanders along, coming to terms his own identity and recognizing all that’s has been taken from him.
I wanted to rate this book higher than I did because overall, it was a fabulous read. I assumed that I’d understand everything by the end and expected a big “a-ha” moment that never materialized. There’s a point of view switch to finish the Annea subplot that did more to throw me out of Knot’s story than anything else. But above all, I felt like the story of their identity and future was left hanging. Ultimately, I ended the book wanting more.
It’s possible that if you’re not a very linear, structured thinker who needs everything to come to a tidy conclusion (like I am), you’ll love this book. The writing is brilliant but it didn’t offset my confusion in the end.
I rated this book 3.5 stars.⭐⭐⭐+
I’d like to thank BookSirens for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this book and I’ve left my review voluntarily.
Sometimes they get along with Bigman, sometimes knives or fangs or claws are involved. Knot eavesdrops on Bigman while he peddles good weather to the locals, and slips out of the lighthouse when he wants, despite Bigman’s warnings not to leave. But Bigman is growing older and his hold on Knot is slipping – allowing Knot to form new allies with other creatures who want him to take his rightful place in the Universe.
I was blown away by the voice in this novel. Really, really deep first person point of view. And possibly the most original voice I’ve read in awhile. The reader is tossed straight into the story and left to figure out what’s going on for themselves. Is Knot a boy? A girl? A dragon? Really a dragon? And who is Bigman? Can he really control the weather? Apparently not as well as Knot.
Sound confusing? It is, a bit. The plot is all twists and hairpin turns and since this is magical realism at its finest, I suggest you buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Despite being set in Florida, this world is unlike any I’ve encountered, “peopled” with talking cats and lizards, Bird deities, a mother dragon who is anything but maternal, and mermaids/manatees. The subplot of Knot’s longing for a friend among ordinary humans and the tragedy that unfolds because of this is slowly revealed as he meanders along, coming to terms his own identity and recognizing all that’s has been taken from him.
I wanted to rate this book higher than I did because overall, it was a fabulous read. I assumed that I’d understand everything by the end and expected a big “a-ha” moment that never materialized. There’s a point of view switch to finish the Annea subplot that did more to throw me out of Knot’s story than anything else. But above all, I felt like the story of their identity and future was left hanging. Ultimately, I ended the book wanting more.
It’s possible that if you’re not a very linear, structured thinker who needs everything to come to a tidy conclusion (like I am), you’ll love this book. The writing is brilliant but it didn’t offset my confusion in the end.
I rated this book 3.5 stars.⭐⭐⭐+
I’d like to thank BookSirens for providing an Advance Reader Copy of this book and I’ve left my review voluntarily.
January 22, 2022
Read Chads previous work and loved it. A little confused about this one
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. It's a little strange. At the beginning you are kind of thrown into a story, and I assumed it was an allegory of some kind, but it wasn't. Or of it was I missed it at the end. I get the links to gender but it was too abstract for me.
Plot wise there appears to be a young person living in A lighthouse with a man called bigman. The young person claims to be a dragon and can turn invisible, climb, swim and has scales? At 95% they mentioned the goggles and I thought yes, here it is, the moment when we realise all the things had hidden meanings, but it ended with the young person still being a dragon?
I'm all for allegory but this didn't work for me. Too much going on, not enough explanation and lots of random characters like Alice gone to the seaside.
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. It's a little strange. At the beginning you are kind of thrown into a story, and I assumed it was an allegory of some kind, but it wasn't. Or of it was I missed it at the end. I get the links to gender but it was too abstract for me.
Plot wise there appears to be a young person living in A lighthouse with a man called bigman. The young person claims to be a dragon and can turn invisible, climb, swim and has scales? At 95% they mentioned the goggles and I thought yes, here it is, the moment when we realise all the things had hidden meanings, but it ended with the young person still being a dragon?
I'm all for allegory but this didn't work for me. Too much going on, not enough explanation and lots of random characters like Alice gone to the seaside.
Read
February 2, 2022Dnf at 45%
December 30, 2022
I recently read From the Lighthouse, the latest novel from Chad Musick. This novel stars a nonbinary person, Knot, searching for their place in the universe whilst being held by the untrustworthy Bigman. We are not told who or what Knot is but we do know they are kept isolated until tragedy occurs and Knot explores the multidimensional limits that Bigman has held Knot from.
Musick captures vulnerability and sympathy in both an uncertain but true way. We see the violence Knot endures to be almost musical but the themes of fluidity and personality really shine through with how important they are to the novel. The emotions that are conveyed are framed in a frightening but magic way that Musick has raised here.
From the Lighthouse is a short but exceptional novel about social standing, authenticity and identity that is truly haunting.
Musick captures vulnerability and sympathy in both an uncertain but true way. We see the violence Knot endures to be almost musical but the themes of fluidity and personality really shine through with how important they are to the novel. The emotions that are conveyed are framed in a frightening but magic way that Musick has raised here.
From the Lighthouse is a short but exceptional novel about social standing, authenticity and identity that is truly haunting.
February 8, 2022
Knot has lived in the lighthouse with Bigman for…well we truly don’t know how long. All Knot longs for is friends but Bigman has issues with that.
The Voice of this novel was amazing. I really struggle with magic realism and this one was a tough read for me. Not knowing what Knot was drive me kinda crazy. Male, female, dragon? I was really hoping that there would be an AHA moment where everything clicked but that never happened for me. If you are a linear thinker/reader this novel might be hard…but don’t get me wrong…this author writes beautifully. This story may have not been for me but I will definitely be checking out other novels by this author!
I received this ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens.
The Voice of this novel was amazing. I really struggle with magic realism and this one was a tough read for me. Not knowing what Knot was drive me kinda crazy. Male, female, dragon? I was really hoping that there would be an AHA moment where everything clicked but that never happened for me. If you are a linear thinker/reader this novel might be hard…but don’t get me wrong…this author writes beautifully. This story may have not been for me but I will definitely be checking out other novels by this author!
I received this ARC for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens.
February 2, 2022
From the Lighthouse is the first book I have read through Book Sirens. I really enjoyed the author's writing style. I read Susanna Clarke's Piranesi in December, and I felt like fans of that book would probably enjoy this one. I loved how both felt like they created their own world. This book also made me want to have someone to talk about it with once I was finished which is a sign of a great book to me. I liked the way we were given little pieces of information as the story went on so that it was enough to keep me interested. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 4, 2022
Let me clarify the 3 star rating. The book is beautifully written - the author has definite talent in painting the story. The characters have depth but I couldn’t get past the confusion I felt in reading it. I kept waiting for that A-ha moment to tie everything together for me but it never came. I’m a linear, logical thinker and I felt unsettled at the end which annoys me. I like things wrapped up in a tidy little bow..lol.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 21, 2023
A non-linear and confusing story that I struggled to get into. Whilst beautifully written, I didn't get any satisfaction from the conclusion. Perhaps I was missing something?
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews