What do you think?
Rate this book
Life Between Seconds
For fans of Karen Russell’s Swamplandia! comes a new tale of found family and magic. Unfolding over three decades, Life Between Seconds sets Peter and Sophia on a collision course with their respective pasts propelling them toward either redemption or damnation. Engrossing, heartbreaking, and surreal Douglas Weissman’s first adult novel is a meditation on trauma, family, and how to heal after a great loss.
264 pages, Hardcover
Published November 15, 2022
4 people are currently reading
4994 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 15, 2022
There are a lot of books that are done well, but this one is brilliant. Weissman has a way of writing poetic prose. This novel is fantastic and has loads of small quotable lines that show the creativity in Weissman’s craft. The writing keeps attention without going too purple or flowery with the language. There’s a lot of pain in the book, and the characters were real. I wouldn’t be surprised if Weissman modeled them after people he’s met. The honesty he captured in the story cannot be typed up in a couple of hundred words.
One of my favorite lines that captures how poetic Weissman is without overdoing it is this:
“Another person escaping from a previous life, from people, from memories, from ghosts.”
It’s such a small line, but the way it’s phrased sticks with you.
Peter and Sofia have been through so much and endure in this story. Their past is ghosts that haunt them, making it challenging for them to confront. You should absolutely check this book out!
One of my favorite lines that captures how poetic Weissman is without overdoing it is this:
“Another person escaping from a previous life, from people, from memories, from ghosts.”
It’s such a small line, but the way it’s phrased sticks with you.
Peter and Sofia have been through so much and endure in this story. Their past is ghosts that haunt them, making it challenging for them to confront. You should absolutely check this book out!
December 2, 2022
A deeply moving, poetic experience - I love this novel!
California author Douglas Weissman earned his degree In Creative writing from the University of San Francisco and makes an impressive literary debut with LIFE BETWEEN SECONDS, sharing ‘The novel was partly inspired by my travels around the world, especially when seeing the impact of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina.’
The opening lines of this luminous story hint at the magic within: ‘Peter loved to hear the story of how his father tried to steal the sun. “It’s the reason the poppies exist,” his mother said. “Your dad had climbed into the sky and touched the light, actually had his hands gripped around the sun.” “What did it feel like?” Peter asked. “Have you ever touched a really hot light bulb?” his mom said. “But the sun burned his hands. He pulled away and scattered sunlight over the field, causing all these bright poppies to grow. The sun, angry for having been caught, fell that night.” “It falls every night.” “But that was the first time. It fell and sulked and didn’t come back. Your dad gave us these beautiful fields of flowers. But he also brought the darkness.” With that degree of imaginative and poetic prose, Weissman escorts us on a memorable journey through the lives of his primary characters - Pater and Sofia - and in doing so creates one of the most sensitive portraits of the impact of family and enduring and overcoming trauma that shapes our lives. LIFE BETWEEN SECONDS is one of the most original and remarkable novels this reader has read this year. Welcome to the literary stage, Douglas Weissman!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
California author Douglas Weissman earned his degree In Creative writing from the University of San Francisco and makes an impressive literary debut with LIFE BETWEEN SECONDS, sharing ‘The novel was partly inspired by my travels around the world, especially when seeing the impact of the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina.’
The opening lines of this luminous story hint at the magic within: ‘Peter loved to hear the story of how his father tried to steal the sun. “It’s the reason the poppies exist,” his mother said. “Your dad had climbed into the sky and touched the light, actually had his hands gripped around the sun.” “What did it feel like?” Peter asked. “Have you ever touched a really hot light bulb?” his mom said. “But the sun burned his hands. He pulled away and scattered sunlight over the field, causing all these bright poppies to grow. The sun, angry for having been caught, fell that night.” “It falls every night.” “But that was the first time. It fell and sulked and didn’t come back. Your dad gave us these beautiful fields of flowers. But he also brought the darkness.” With that degree of imaginative and poetic prose, Weissman escorts us on a memorable journey through the lives of his primary characters - Pater and Sofia - and in doing so creates one of the most sensitive portraits of the impact of family and enduring and overcoming trauma that shapes our lives. LIFE BETWEEN SECONDS is one of the most original and remarkable novels this reader has read this year. Welcome to the literary stage, Douglas Weissman!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
October 13, 2022
Life Between Seconds is a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking story of love, grief and loss. It is about two individuals with seemingly nothing in common coming together and forming a special bond through their unspeakable past. This book explores how childhood traumas and tragedies can shape your adult life and have a lasting impact. This story is very beautifully written and I can see little parts of myself in both Sophia and Peter. I can sympathize with Sophia, feel her fear of never knowing what happened or getting any closure. In Peter, I can feel his heartbreak, his pain, his everlasting loneliness. I love the way the chapters are structured, the use of imagery in the story, and how it keeps you guessing until the very end. That being said, it's not the ending I had hoped for or expected but I love the ending anyway!
September 6, 2022
This book was like reading a painting, it took me on an adventure of all my senses. I could see, hear, smell, taste, and touch it all, from the liveliness and the danger of Argentina, to the dampness of San Francisco. And throughout I was living the deepest emotions of grief and love. The stories of a child and a mother from very different places, beautifully woven together by loss. I felt deeply for these characters, and I’ll miss them. Thanks for writing this book Douglas Weissman.
December 6, 2022
An incredible story told by an incredible story teller. Loved it!
January 3, 2023
Life Between Seconds by Douglas Weissman follows the life of Peter and Sofia, neighbours who have both suffered tremendous loss within their lives. The story tells of the darkest moments they have endured and the happiest. Together, as friends, they help each other overcome their traumas and turmoils that have shaped their lives so far.
The writing in Life Between Seconds is very accomplished, as one thing I did fear when reading the synopsis was that this could become a bit Hallmarky if you know what I mean. Over-the-top sentimentality and cheesy, but Life Between Seconds was anything but. There is much sadness in this novel but ultimately it is a tale of hope, understanding, love, grief and survival.
A realistically beautiful story that at times brought a tear to my eyes, the characters were identifiable, relatable and the story unforgettable. Highly recommended.
The writing in Life Between Seconds is very accomplished, as one thing I did fear when reading the synopsis was that this could become a bit Hallmarky if you know what I mean. Over-the-top sentimentality and cheesy, but Life Between Seconds was anything but. There is much sadness in this novel but ultimately it is a tale of hope, understanding, love, grief and survival.
A realistically beautiful story that at times brought a tear to my eyes, the characters were identifiable, relatable and the story unforgettable. Highly recommended.
July 27, 2023
"Life Between Seconds" is imaginative and intriguing. The author uses sensory details to delve into descriptions. Douglas Weissman moves back and forth between the past and present, foreshadowing and revealing information. He takes readers on trips through the San Francisco area, travels abroad, memories, and magic. The two main characters (neighbors) are haunted by their dramatic pasts but at the same time healing their present reality...together and separately. A theme in this story is family (lost and found). In summary, "Sofia and Peter shared their lives--the lives they were living and the lives they had lived" (234).
January 18, 2023
This is a tale of love, loss, grief, and finding a way forward. It has a bit of magical fantasy in it - between Peter and his bear, as well as a story of family. Family can be the one you have or the one you make. After Sofia and Gaston had Valentina, they felt their life was complete, but when Valentina disappeared, their love shattered. When Peter lost his mom, he couldn't cope. So, fortunately, Sofia and Peter found each other and became great friends. Yet, it wasn't enough. Peter still longed for his mother, and Sofia longed for her daughter.
This story was interesting, but I wished the chapters had dates or locations as chapter headers as I was confused as to the timelines and the locations at times. I felt a bit disjointed as I read it. However, the ultimate storyline, as revealed at the end, allowed me to piece the story together.
This story was interesting, but I wished the chapters had dates or locations as chapter headers as I was confused as to the timelines and the locations at times. I felt a bit disjointed as I read it. However, the ultimate storyline, as revealed at the end, allowed me to piece the story together.
January 11, 2023
Life Between Seconds Kindle Edition by Douglas Weissman is such an expansive and beautiful book. It tells of lives that intersect, those of Peter and Sofia, unlikely friends, but bound by grief. The tenor of the book is ultimately sublime, the language lilting and poignant as the author moves the story forward. Shared grief is the theme and one that is delved into well, highlighting how it is different for everyone but still universally the same. The story expands and builds over three decades leading to a dramatic culmination. Ultimately this novel reflects on the human spirit and our ability to thrive even after great loss and grief.
May 14, 2023
This is a slow read with big emotions. Human experiences are some of the hardest to put onto paper in a fictional setting, but Douglas Weissman hits all the emotional buttons. The present day is interspersed with memories of the past. Pleasant memories, along with the devastating memories that brought the characters to their present.
I particularly enjoyed the past memories. These helped to clarify why the characters were the way they were. The heartache must have been unbearable, yet they managed to continue going even with their lives in utter ruin.
The saying “It is better to have loved and to have lost than to have never loved at all” rings through this book.
If you enjoy a heartfelt story of love, loss, and acceptance, this book is for you.
I particularly enjoyed the past memories. These helped to clarify why the characters were the way they were. The heartache must have been unbearable, yet they managed to continue going even with their lives in utter ruin.
The saying “It is better to have loved and to have lost than to have never loved at all” rings through this book.
If you enjoy a heartfelt story of love, loss, and acceptance, this book is for you.
December 31, 2022
Fog permeates San Francisco in this novel. Aptly so. Weissman's prose reveals glimpses of the heartbreaks that drive across-the-hall neighbors Peter and Sofia, the dual protagonists, while the mysteries of their pasts drip throughout the story like condensed fog dripping from tree branches. He loves a metaphor, an image that reveals truth without overt disclosure, keeping the reader engaged in the parallel journeys of Peter and Sofia as they both struggle to come to terms with their pasts and their memories and, through their friendship, find healing. Beautiful.
August 20, 2023
Douglas Weissman has an incredible ability to put words together that paint pictures in your mind, tapping into all of your senses and the emotions of his characters. One can't help but have tremendous compassion for his characters as he takes us on a journey through childhood trauma, grief and life after loss. A great reminder that the human spirit is resilient and has an enormous capacity to heal and forgive. A perfect book to escape with for the weekend!
October 30, 2025
Life Between Seconds is a beautifully moving exploration of memory, grief, and the delicate spaces where love and loss coexist. Weissman weaves magic and reality together seamlessly, creating characters that feel both fragile and profoundly real. Peter and Sofia’s journeys linger in the heart, reminding us that healing isn’t about erasing the past, but learning to live fully in the moments between. A deeply emotional and unforgettable read.
January 20, 2024
With luminous sentences and imagery that truly gripped me, I found myself lost in the world created by the author. The exploration of loss and grief, and they way both are woven throughout our lives, were artistically explored through characters I came to love. The disjointed feelings I had as a reader mirrored those felt by the characters, and I was madly in the love with the bear. Outside of my usual genre, this one took me on a journey and I was sorry to finish the last page.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews