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Night Came with Many Stars
“It is a heartbreaking book, a gorgeous book...In Night Came with Many Stars , Van Booy finds the weakness, grace and beauty of common lives fully lived.”
— NPR, “Books We Love”
“Not to miss!”
— USA Today
In Kentucky, back in 1933, Carol’s daddy lost his 13-year-old daughter in a game of cards. Award-winning author Simon Van Booy’s spellbinding novel spans decades as he tells the story of Carol and the people in her life. Incidents intersect and lives unexpectedly change course in this masterfully interwoven story of chance and choice that leads home again to a night blessed with light.
“What you give in this world,” an old man tells his grandson, “will be given back to you.” Those words illuminate the actions within this unforgettable novel and its connected characters. A young man survives two nearly fatal accidents. A Black family saves an orphaned white boy. A pregnant teenager is rescued by the side of the road. A teenager with developmental disabilities is given his first job. Each incident grows in meaning and power over many decades as we see connections sometimes felt but not always apparent to the people themselves. “Everything was moving,” observes Samuel (Carol’s grandson) in the Kentucky woods. “An invisible force that was everywhere, and made everything touch.”
Told by a master storyteller, Night Came with Many Stars is a rare novel that reveals how wondrous, mysterious, and magically connected life can be—the light Simon Van Booy creates illuminates our own lives.
— NPR, “Books We Love”
“Not to miss!”
— USA Today
In Kentucky, back in 1933, Carol’s daddy lost his 13-year-old daughter in a game of cards. Award-winning author Simon Van Booy’s spellbinding novel spans decades as he tells the story of Carol and the people in her life. Incidents intersect and lives unexpectedly change course in this masterfully interwoven story of chance and choice that leads home again to a night blessed with light.
“What you give in this world,” an old man tells his grandson, “will be given back to you.” Those words illuminate the actions within this unforgettable novel and its connected characters. A young man survives two nearly fatal accidents. A Black family saves an orphaned white boy. A pregnant teenager is rescued by the side of the road. A teenager with developmental disabilities is given his first job. Each incident grows in meaning and power over many decades as we see connections sometimes felt but not always apparent to the people themselves. “Everything was moving,” observes Samuel (Carol’s grandson) in the Kentucky woods. “An invisible force that was everywhere, and made everything touch.”
Told by a master storyteller, Night Came with Many Stars is a rare novel that reveals how wondrous, mysterious, and magically connected life can be—the light Simon Van Booy creates illuminates our own lives.
280 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2021
155 people are currently reading
2715 people want to read
About the author
Simon Van Booy
63 books1,108 followersSimon Van Booy is the award-winning, bestselling author of more than a dozen books for adults and children, including The Illusion of Separateness and The Presence of Absence. Simon is the editor of three volumes of philosophy and has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Washington Post, and the BBC. His books have been translated into many languages and optioned for film. Raised in rural North Wales, he currently lives in New York where he is also a book editor and a volunteer E.M.T. crew chief.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
May 30, 2021
When I first read Simon Van Booy about five years ago I knew then that I wanted to read all of the books that’s he’s written. Since then I’ve read five. Well, almost five. I couldn’t finish one of his story collections that I picked up recently, because the stories were just so sad. BUT, the bottom line is that Simon Van Booy writes beautifully and astutely about the human condition. I’m glad that I didn’t let the collection I couldn’t finish deter me from reading this novel, his latest and I’m determined to get to the others I haven’t read yet.
It’s difficult to write about this novel without giving too much of the story away, so this will be fairly general . This book is full of heart and hope and love. There are characters whose generosity and goodness seem to temper the abuse, the sadness, the heartache reaped on a young girl whose father gambles her away in a card game . The narrative alternates between Carol at 13 years old beginning in 1933 and a boy named Samuel beginning in 1986 and moving forward to 2010. The narratives do converge and through Samuel’s story we discover where Carol is, but I was always interested in knowing how she got there, so I was always glad to get back to her chapters. There are a few chapters interspersed dedicated to some of the other characters connected to Carol and Samuel through the years. Joe is my favorite character and if you read this, you’ll know why.
The connections between the characters is one of the things that stands out the most for me in Van Booy’s writing. This is about family relationships, those bestowed by birth and those who become family by circumstances and love. It’s about friends who become friends because of circumstances that bring them together. It’s about the essence of our humanity - ties that bind. If you are already a fan of Van Booy, I don’t have to tell you to read this novel. You no doubt, will want to read it. If you haven’t read Van Booy, I can only say don’t miss out on an extraordinarily gifted writer. In his acknowledgments, Van Booy says, “This work would not have been possible without the love, friendship, and family stories entrusted to me over three decades by the members of one family from rural Kentucky.” Perhaps this is one of the reasons why this book rang so true emotionally.
I received an advanced copy of this book from David R. Godine, Publisher through Edelweiss.
It’s difficult to write about this novel without giving too much of the story away, so this will be fairly general . This book is full of heart and hope and love. There are characters whose generosity and goodness seem to temper the abuse, the sadness, the heartache reaped on a young girl whose father gambles her away in a card game . The narrative alternates between Carol at 13 years old beginning in 1933 and a boy named Samuel beginning in 1986 and moving forward to 2010. The narratives do converge and through Samuel’s story we discover where Carol is, but I was always interested in knowing how she got there, so I was always glad to get back to her chapters. There are a few chapters interspersed dedicated to some of the other characters connected to Carol and Samuel through the years. Joe is my favorite character and if you read this, you’ll know why.
The connections between the characters is one of the things that stands out the most for me in Van Booy’s writing. This is about family relationships, those bestowed by birth and those who become family by circumstances and love. It’s about friends who become friends because of circumstances that bring them together. It’s about the essence of our humanity - ties that bind. If you are already a fan of Van Booy, I don’t have to tell you to read this novel. You no doubt, will want to read it. If you haven’t read Van Booy, I can only say don’t miss out on an extraordinarily gifted writer. In his acknowledgments, Van Booy says, “This work would not have been possible without the love, friendship, and family stories entrusted to me over three decades by the members of one family from rural Kentucky.” Perhaps this is one of the reasons why this book rang so true emotionally.
I received an advanced copy of this book from David R. Godine, Publisher through Edelweiss.
June 3, 2021
I had the pleasure of listening to the Audiobook version of this story, which is beautifully narrated by Courtney Patterson. If you enjoy listening to audiobooks I highly recommend this one. Hearing her narrate this one with the lovely Kentucky cadence added to this story for me. It added to the story, listening to this story in the way that I imagine Van Booy could hear it as he wrote it.
The story of one family over generations, from 1933 to 2010, this is a beautifully written story beyond just the words which flow flawlessly, weaving a story through the years with a sense of tender affection for these people. Their stories are filled with hardships, each generation’s hardships affecting the next generation in varying ways and degrees.
Family is at the heart of this story, the good, the bad, the ugly - which is often heartbreaking, but there is so much love, and hope, as well. It begins with Carol’s story, a young girl, still young enough to carry her beloved doll with her, and little schooling, she ’lay her cheek upon the surface of the yellow tablecloth, between the ghost of her mother’s elbows.’ Her memories of her mother dim and fading, she still clung to the moments she could recall, revisiting them to reassure herself of the love that once was there. A brief moment in time before she becomes the object of a card game, and her father gambles her away to another man.
This quickly jumps from the beginning of Carol’s story to Samuel’s which begins in 1986, but goes back and forth through the years and the stories of that include other characters, as well through the years. Some of which are memorable in a heartwarming way, while some do not outwardly seem worthy of redemption. The hardships and ugliness they’ve each endured leaves a mark on themselves, as well, and history is repeated until fate delivers a different path.
This is the fourth of his books that I’ve read, the first of which was around ten years ago, and his stories and his writing lured me in from the first page each and every time. Each word seems specific, chosen to convey the exact message, emotion, through compassion, allowing the reader to internalize the pain, love, adaptability and brevity of life, as well as the continued hope that kindness, love and hope will prevail.
Pub Date: 08 Jun 2021
Many thanks for the ARC provided by HighBridge Audio, Narrated by Courtney Patterson
August 24, 2022
It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes you bump into a book that will speak to you not in words but in whispers, like music does.
You open the pages of such a novel after a long day full of chores and fruitless conversations and time recovers all meaning, and your day has a renewed sense of purpose. You enter a world populated by flesh and blood characters that bring the smell of summer, the buzzing of bugs at night, the dog-tired faces of men, young and old, at the end of any given day working at a Ford plant.
Night came with many stars is that kind of novel. A novel whose oceans engulf you in its multiple patterned tides.
I was aware of Van Booy’s short stories, which I adored.
But this novel is like nothing else I have read in a long, long time. It’s a collection of snapshots that run forward and backwards in time alternating the lives of two main characters; Carol and Samuel, lose pieces of a puzzle that the reader puts together completing a three generations picture of ordinary people in 1930’s Kentucky.
A thirteen years old girl, abused by his drunk father is given away to another man after having been the prize of a poker game.
Fifty years later, a boy gets his eye injured while fooling around with his best friend during shop class.
Two dark moments, two tragedies, one accidental, the other made in bad faith that will set the course of three generations.
But healing can come out of evil. Call it karma. Call it justice. Or simply call it Van Booy’s magic. No one can escape their past, no one can evade their nature, but sometimes beautiful things can happen. Amidst all the suffering, despite the senseless violence, even when the past threatens to repeat itself, something changes the course of a life; a sudden encounter, a soul-to-soul conversation with one’s father, a friendship that defies logic, a yellow tablecloth bonding three women across decades.
And a beautiful mosaic is delicately drawn. It portrays mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons, and lovers that build a home from scratch. It portrays three generations of struggles and occasional joy. It’s a story about choices, about the many ways in which life is fragile but such a precious gift.
"What you give in this world will be given back to you.” says an old man to Carol at a time of great distress. And it does. Van Booy’s narrative closes in complete, full circle that speaks of lives greater than his characters’. He paints ordinary landscapes with careful words and turns them into timeless pieces of art. And what a sight to behold.
You open the pages of such a novel after a long day full of chores and fruitless conversations and time recovers all meaning, and your day has a renewed sense of purpose. You enter a world populated by flesh and blood characters that bring the smell of summer, the buzzing of bugs at night, the dog-tired faces of men, young and old, at the end of any given day working at a Ford plant.
Night came with many stars is that kind of novel. A novel whose oceans engulf you in its multiple patterned tides.
I was aware of Van Booy’s short stories, which I adored.
But this novel is like nothing else I have read in a long, long time. It’s a collection of snapshots that run forward and backwards in time alternating the lives of two main characters; Carol and Samuel, lose pieces of a puzzle that the reader puts together completing a three generations picture of ordinary people in 1930’s Kentucky.
A thirteen years old girl, abused by his drunk father is given away to another man after having been the prize of a poker game.
Fifty years later, a boy gets his eye injured while fooling around with his best friend during shop class.
Two dark moments, two tragedies, one accidental, the other made in bad faith that will set the course of three generations.
But healing can come out of evil. Call it karma. Call it justice. Or simply call it Van Booy’s magic. No one can escape their past, no one can evade their nature, but sometimes beautiful things can happen. Amidst all the suffering, despite the senseless violence, even when the past threatens to repeat itself, something changes the course of a life; a sudden encounter, a soul-to-soul conversation with one’s father, a friendship that defies logic, a yellow tablecloth bonding three women across decades.
And a beautiful mosaic is delicately drawn. It portrays mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons, and lovers that build a home from scratch. It portrays three generations of struggles and occasional joy. It’s a story about choices, about the many ways in which life is fragile but such a precious gift.
"What you give in this world will be given back to you.” says an old man to Carol at a time of great distress. And it does. Van Booy’s narrative closes in complete, full circle that speaks of lives greater than his characters’. He paints ordinary landscapes with careful words and turns them into timeless pieces of art. And what a sight to behold.
June 8, 2021
The story of one family over generations, from 1933 to 2010, this is a beautifully written story beyond just the words which flow flawlessly, weaving a story through the years with a sense of tender affection for these people. Their stories are filled with hardships, each generation’s hardships affecting the next generation in varying ways and degrees.
Family is at the heart of this story, the good, the bad, the ugly - which is often heartbreaking, but there is so much love, and hope, as well. It begins with Carol’s story, a young girl, still young enough to carry her beloved doll with her, and little schooling, she ’lay her cheek upon the surface of the yellow tablecloth, between the ghost of her mother’s elbows.’ Her memories of her mother dim and fading, she still clung to the moments she could recall, revisiting them to reassure herself of the love that once was there. A brief moment in time before she becomes the object of a card game, and her father gambles her away to another man.
This quickly jumps from the beginning of Carol’s story to Samuel’s which begins in 1986, but goes back and forth through the years and the stories of that include other characters, as well through the years. Some of which are memorable in a heartwarming way, while some do not outwardly seem worthy of redemption. The hardships and ugliness they’ve each endured leaves a mark on themselves, as well, and history is repeated until fate delivers a different path.
This is the fourth of his books that I’ve read, the first of which was around ten years ago, and his stories and his writing lured me in from the first page each and every time. Each word seems specific, chosen to convey the exact message, emotion, through compassion, allowing the reader to internalize the pain, love, adaptability and brevity of life, as well as the continued hope that kindness, love and hope will prevail.
Many thanks for the ARC provided by David R. Godine, Publisher / Ingram Publisher Services
Family is at the heart of this story, the good, the bad, the ugly - which is often heartbreaking, but there is so much love, and hope, as well. It begins with Carol’s story, a young girl, still young enough to carry her beloved doll with her, and little schooling, she ’lay her cheek upon the surface of the yellow tablecloth, between the ghost of her mother’s elbows.’ Her memories of her mother dim and fading, she still clung to the moments she could recall, revisiting them to reassure herself of the love that once was there. A brief moment in time before she becomes the object of a card game, and her father gambles her away to another man.
This quickly jumps from the beginning of Carol’s story to Samuel’s which begins in 1986, but goes back and forth through the years and the stories of that include other characters, as well through the years. Some of which are memorable in a heartwarming way, while some do not outwardly seem worthy of redemption. The hardships and ugliness they’ve each endured leaves a mark on themselves, as well, and history is repeated until fate delivers a different path.
This is the fourth of his books that I’ve read, the first of which was around ten years ago, and his stories and his writing lured me in from the first page each and every time. Each word seems specific, chosen to convey the exact message, emotion, through compassion, allowing the reader to internalize the pain, love, adaptability and brevity of life, as well as the continued hope that kindness, love and hope will prevail.
Many thanks for the ARC provided by David R. Godine, Publisher / Ingram Publisher Services
July 1, 2021
Rural Kentucky
A family is followed through nearly a century in dual timelines.
1933… Carol, 13 yrs old was wagered and lost by her father in a poker game to a man who raped and impregnated her.
She manages to run away and ends up at a house ran by a couple older women and she lives there for several after her disabled son is born.. the novel follows her entire life from then on.
The other timeline starts in 1986 with Samuel, her grandson who at 13, has his eye permanently damaged by his best friend in shop class by accident.. and the story follows his life and family.
I enjoyed the story.. a book about family, choices, luck, some sadness too… just, life.
This had some really great characters too!
A family is followed through nearly a century in dual timelines.
1933… Carol, 13 yrs old was wagered and lost by her father in a poker game to a man who raped and impregnated her.
She manages to run away and ends up at a house ran by a couple older women and she lives there for several after her disabled son is born.. the novel follows her entire life from then on.
The other timeline starts in 1986 with Samuel, her grandson who at 13, has his eye permanently damaged by his best friend in shop class by accident.. and the story follows his life and family.
I enjoyed the story.. a book about family, choices, luck, some sadness too… just, life.
This had some really great characters too!
August 30, 2022
I relished my time with this book. I expect it will linger in my mind for a long time.
Carol and Samuel especially will not easily be forgotten.
I was moved beyond the content — and even the characters— (I loved the content and characters)….but I thought about life-changing powers of suffering and how one faces them with courage, grace, clarity —
I experienced anger and sadness — and thought about how specific circumstances— evil behaviors and unforeseen mistakes teach us important lessons about ourselves and the nature of reality.
This was not only a spellbinding novel that skillfully untangles the web of family, tragedy, identity, loss, love, healing —and that kindness comes at unexpected times—
it’s searing with spiritual aspects just below the surface.
This is a book of heartbreaking genius!
Read Dolors review!
If her review doesn’t move others to move it closer to one’s ‘read now’ no review will.
Thank you Dolors …. your review gave me a deeper context before diving into taking my own turn.
Sample excerpt:
“Carol had only heard Cherokee a couple of times in her life, but tried to imagine what it could be. She pictured Hanzel and Gretel lost in dense woodland with only the theories to help”.
“Outside Old Man Walker noticed something moving in Carol‘s hand. He turned sharply then jumped back in his seat”.
“What the hell’s that! What you holding’ there!”
“It’s jus’ Mary Bright, my doll”.
“The old man squinted as he leaned down toward the small figure in Carol‘s hand”.
“It’s a doll you say?”
“Yes, sir, Mary Bright”.
“Jesus Christ in heaven, I thought you’d had the baby while I was talkin’ to you”.
“Carol dropped the top of Mary Bright’s head. I hope it’s gonna be that easy, she said. I got her name from Momma. She said that since I bin’ born, ever’ day would be merry and bright”.
Carol and Samuel especially will not easily be forgotten.
I was moved beyond the content — and even the characters— (I loved the content and characters)….but I thought about life-changing powers of suffering and how one faces them with courage, grace, clarity —
I experienced anger and sadness — and thought about how specific circumstances— evil behaviors and unforeseen mistakes teach us important lessons about ourselves and the nature of reality.
This was not only a spellbinding novel that skillfully untangles the web of family, tragedy, identity, loss, love, healing —and that kindness comes at unexpected times—
it’s searing with spiritual aspects just below the surface.
This is a book of heartbreaking genius!
Read Dolors review!
If her review doesn’t move others to move it closer to one’s ‘read now’ no review will.
Thank you Dolors …. your review gave me a deeper context before diving into taking my own turn.
Sample excerpt:
“Carol had only heard Cherokee a couple of times in her life, but tried to imagine what it could be. She pictured Hanzel and Gretel lost in dense woodland with only the theories to help”.
“Outside Old Man Walker noticed something moving in Carol‘s hand. He turned sharply then jumped back in his seat”.
“What the hell’s that! What you holding’ there!”
“It’s jus’ Mary Bright, my doll”.
“The old man squinted as he leaned down toward the small figure in Carol‘s hand”.
“It’s a doll you say?”
“Yes, sir, Mary Bright”.
“Jesus Christ in heaven, I thought you’d had the baby while I was talkin’ to you”.
“Carol dropped the top of Mary Bright’s head. I hope it’s gonna be that easy, she said. I got her name from Momma. She said that since I bin’ born, ever’ day would be merry and bright”.
February 3, 2023
This is the history of one Kentucky family that unravels over the decades. Moving in time, backwards and forwards, Van Booy beautifully connects the characters’ stories and shows readers how choices, good and bad, can forge one’s life forward or hold it back.
The prose is beautiful and Van Booy’s strength was in weaving the tales that span several generations. Beginning in 1933 we meet 13 year old Carol who is wagered and lost in a poker game to her father’s friend. Pregnant, alone and scared, Carol makes a decision that changes the trajectory of her life forever and the ripples of her decision are felt in the future generations of her family. Then in 1986, Carol’s grandson, Samuel’s story begins. He suffers a terrible accident at the hand of his bad news best friend when his eye is badly injured.
From these two moments in history, the rest of the family’s story is filled in with often heartbreaking instances but always surrounded by compassion and love. People come into their lives and relationships and circumstances make impacts upon Carol and Samuel’s family. There are instances of crossroads throughout and the results of the choices made. Van Booy shows how the the past can often surface in the cycle of generations and that sometimes the hard things are meant to heal and bring you through in order to move on and become a stronger and better equipped person in life. It’s a wonderful message of not hiding from the misfortunes of the past but using them to move ahead with resilience, finding the good in the bad.
What you give in this world will be given back to you. And what you take will be taken from you. Them's the oldest words I know. I was just a lil'un when that got told to me, but I always remember to pass it on.
I mean the thing that makes family, not blood, but the certainty that you're never gonna be lonesome - that all the joy and all the sufferin' we get in life is somethin' that will always be shared.
Note: there are some difficult themes presented through the lens of rural and suburban southern America - developmental disabilities, rape, attempted suicide, abortion, racial attitudes, misogyny and religious bigotry (which was only presented minorly in one of the final chapters and in my opinion could have been omitted)
*And if you happen to be a hater of no punctuation marks for dialogue, this is not the book for you. NO quotation marks, but it didn’t bother me.
The prose is beautiful and Van Booy’s strength was in weaving the tales that span several generations. Beginning in 1933 we meet 13 year old Carol who is wagered and lost in a poker game to her father’s friend. Pregnant, alone and scared, Carol makes a decision that changes the trajectory of her life forever and the ripples of her decision are felt in the future generations of her family. Then in 1986, Carol’s grandson, Samuel’s story begins. He suffers a terrible accident at the hand of his bad news best friend when his eye is badly injured.
From these two moments in history, the rest of the family’s story is filled in with often heartbreaking instances but always surrounded by compassion and love. People come into their lives and relationships and circumstances make impacts upon Carol and Samuel’s family. There are instances of crossroads throughout and the results of the choices made. Van Booy shows how the the past can often surface in the cycle of generations and that sometimes the hard things are meant to heal and bring you through in order to move on and become a stronger and better equipped person in life. It’s a wonderful message of not hiding from the misfortunes of the past but using them to move ahead with resilience, finding the good in the bad.
What you give in this world will be given back to you. And what you take will be taken from you. Them's the oldest words I know. I was just a lil'un when that got told to me, but I always remember to pass it on.
I mean the thing that makes family, not blood, but the certainty that you're never gonna be lonesome - that all the joy and all the sufferin' we get in life is somethin' that will always be shared.
Note: there are some difficult themes presented through the lens of rural and suburban southern America - developmental disabilities, rape, attempted suicide, abortion, racial attitudes, misogyny and religious bigotry (which was only presented minorly in one of the final chapters and in my opinion could have been omitted)
*And if you happen to be a hater of no punctuation marks for dialogue, this is not the book for you. NO quotation marks, but it didn’t bother me.
February 15, 2024
Simon Van Booy's novel Night Came with Many Stars is built around 2 incidents--Clay losing Carol in a poker game in 1933 and Eddie damaging Samuel's eye in a freak accident in 1986.
Told in vignettes from different characters' points of view, these pieces layer upon each other and come together into a unified whole. Van Booy's writing is beautiful and his characterizations feel raw in places and real. I feel that all of these characters are searching for a sense of home and for safety/security. I love the vivid descriptions and dialogue which really helps me believe in these characters and see their fears and desires and understand their motivations.
Just a few of the passages that had me pause and think:
"all love leads to pain of one kind or another."
I think when we open ourselves up to love we are so vulnerable. Pain is inevitable when you are so invested in something/someone. And when love is returned--whether from a friend, child, lover, family member--the gift received is so well worth it.
"I know why you're so shy with me. . . . It's because of your eye. . . . [brushing the strands of hair from his face] Don't you ever hide, Samuel, you've go too much to give to be hiding.
But it's all people can see.
No, it's all you can see."
Don't we all have something that we see as an imperfection on which we over focus? I know I have had this conversation with both of our daughters over everything from pimples in their teens (the physical) to doubts about their competence/smarts in areas that they know but where they haven't had formal training. And I have my own stuff as well.
"Samuel drove slowly and thought how happiness is the world distilled into something tiny--a child's sock on the stairs, the indention of a head on a pillow, the smell of morning and the sound of boots being laced, the sight of paws tucked under the nose of a dog as it twitches from one dream to the next. . . . . Samuel wondered if sadness had the same power in smallness, and pictured Eddie in his trailer home holding a baby blanket or one of Jean's hairbrushes."
It's these small things that light us up or wreck us. And it shows Van Booy's attention to detail that really helps develop his characters.
In this wonderful novel Van Booy portrays cycles of racism, violence, and misogyny. He shows that they can be disrupted by the actions of others, known and unknown to us. He also shows how alcoholism can affect these cycles. He illustrates grit and resilience, that we can overcome our past by the choices we make in the here and now and for our future, and that love and joy and tragedy and sorrow live side by side and are all part of life.
Publication 2021
Told in vignettes from different characters' points of view, these pieces layer upon each other and come together into a unified whole. Van Booy's writing is beautiful and his characterizations feel raw in places and real. I feel that all of these characters are searching for a sense of home and for safety/security. I love the vivid descriptions and dialogue which really helps me believe in these characters and see their fears and desires and understand their motivations.
Just a few of the passages that had me pause and think:
"all love leads to pain of one kind or another."
I think when we open ourselves up to love we are so vulnerable. Pain is inevitable when you are so invested in something/someone. And when love is returned--whether from a friend, child, lover, family member--the gift received is so well worth it.
"I know why you're so shy with me. . . . It's because of your eye. . . . [brushing the strands of hair from his face] Don't you ever hide, Samuel, you've go too much to give to be hiding.
But it's all people can see.
No, it's all you can see."
Don't we all have something that we see as an imperfection on which we over focus? I know I have had this conversation with both of our daughters over everything from pimples in their teens (the physical) to doubts about their competence/smarts in areas that they know but where they haven't had formal training. And I have my own stuff as well.
"Samuel drove slowly and thought how happiness is the world distilled into something tiny--a child's sock on the stairs, the indention of a head on a pillow, the smell of morning and the sound of boots being laced, the sight of paws tucked under the nose of a dog as it twitches from one dream to the next. . . . . Samuel wondered if sadness had the same power in smallness, and pictured Eddie in his trailer home holding a baby blanket or one of Jean's hairbrushes."
It's these small things that light us up or wreck us. And it shows Van Booy's attention to detail that really helps develop his characters.
In this wonderful novel Van Booy portrays cycles of racism, violence, and misogyny. He shows that they can be disrupted by the actions of others, known and unknown to us. He also shows how alcoholism can affect these cycles. He illustrates grit and resilience, that we can overcome our past by the choices we make in the here and now and for our future, and that love and joy and tragedy and sorrow live side by side and are all part of life.
Publication 2021
June 6, 2021
This is a well-written family saga that begins in 1933 when 13 year old Carol’s abusive father turns her over to an even more abusive man. The rest of the story tells what happens to Carol after she escapes these men. The book skips around in time and among Carol, her children and her grandchildren. All of the events and characters were believable and the ending was sad, but realistic. I would read more by this author. Courtney Patterson did a good job narrating the audiobook.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
August 23, 2021
"Writing the novel was not so much an intellectual exercise as it was an empathetic one.” Simon Van Booy talks with Jennifer Solheim about his new novel, Night Came with Many Stars
Van Booy’s empathy for his characters is one of the most palpable aspects of this novel. He creates a world in which most of the people are physically and/or emotionally damaged and shows how love and compassion can help these people move on from their pain. He writes this with beautifully poetic prose, one of the greatest strengths of the novel. There is quite a bit of trauma in this story but it is told with such delicacy that the impact lands more softly than seems possible.
In 1930s rural Kentucky, Carol, an illiterate thirteen-year-old girl is given to her father’s drinking buddy when he loses a poker game. In 1990s suburban Louisville, Samuel, a middle-school boy, is accidentally blinded in one eye by his best friend, and struggles with where he belongs, and how he should be in the world. Their stories and those of three generations of their families weave together over the course of this novel.
The narrative alternates every other chapter between Carol and Samuel, moving forward to 2010. Several family members and friends also take part in telling the story. I struggled with this aspect of the novel. I found it difficult to stay connected to the characters with so many abrupt changes. So, unfortunately, I often felt removed from the characters and their stories.
Otherwise, a gorgeously written novel with a beautiful message.
Courtney Patterson narrated this audiobook. She did an amazing job bringing all the different characters to life.
Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.
Van Booy’s empathy for his characters is one of the most palpable aspects of this novel. He creates a world in which most of the people are physically and/or emotionally damaged and shows how love and compassion can help these people move on from their pain. He writes this with beautifully poetic prose, one of the greatest strengths of the novel. There is quite a bit of trauma in this story but it is told with such delicacy that the impact lands more softly than seems possible.
In 1930s rural Kentucky, Carol, an illiterate thirteen-year-old girl is given to her father’s drinking buddy when he loses a poker game. In 1990s suburban Louisville, Samuel, a middle-school boy, is accidentally blinded in one eye by his best friend, and struggles with where he belongs, and how he should be in the world. Their stories and those of three generations of their families weave together over the course of this novel.
The narrative alternates every other chapter between Carol and Samuel, moving forward to 2010. Several family members and friends also take part in telling the story. I struggled with this aspect of the novel. I found it difficult to stay connected to the characters with so many abrupt changes. So, unfortunately, I often felt removed from the characters and their stories.
Otherwise, a gorgeously written novel with a beautiful message.
Courtney Patterson narrated this audiobook. She did an amazing job bringing all the different characters to life.
Thank you to RB Media and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook.
July 2, 2021
For some reason, Night Came with Many Stars reminded me a lot of Where the Crawdads Sing, but it was much better written in my opinion and the characters far less clichéd and irritating (can you tell I was not a fan of the latter book?!) I liked the multiple POVs, and though it took me a moment to get used to the structure of frequent time jumps, after a while I felt it really added a roundness to the story. This is my first book by Van Booy, but I don't think it will be my last. He has a talent for telling a dramatic story in a quiet way, and an insightful manner of looking at the inner and outer lives of his characters that appealed to me. Recommended!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this copy of Night Came with Many Stars in exchange for an honest review.
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this copy of Night Came with Many Stars in exchange for an honest review.
Find my book reviews and more at http://www.princessandpen.com
August 6, 2022
In most families, if you take the time to go through enough generations you will discover the good, the bad, and the ugly- such is the case of this beauty. In this instance it begins with the ugly. A gambling father loses his daughter in a card game.
This is a story that is woven through multiple generations and woven back and forth in the telling of the tale. It is deep, rich , and at times raw.
This was my first experience with Simon ‘s writing.. so beautifully written I found myself taking a deep breath at its beauty. But this is not a book of all beauty. As the generation’s stories unfold you will be introduced to a few that creep into your heart and some that just jump right in. And then there are those that will call on your best protection instincts!
This is my first experience written by Simon and he has sold me ! It was even further enhanced in the audible edition which I highly recommend.
My thanks to Angela, Cheri and Karen’s compelling reviews. A gift to be sure!
This is a story that is woven through multiple generations and woven back and forth in the telling of the tale. It is deep, rich , and at times raw.
This was my first experience with Simon ‘s writing.. so beautifully written I found myself taking a deep breath at its beauty. But this is not a book of all beauty. As the generation’s stories unfold you will be introduced to a few that creep into your heart and some that just jump right in. And then there are those that will call on your best protection instincts!
This is my first experience written by Simon and he has sold me ! It was even further enhanced in the audible edition which I highly recommend.
My thanks to Angela, Cheri and Karen’s compelling reviews. A gift to be sure!
June 13, 2021
I'm not having the best run lately, this was yet another novel that wasn't bad but failed to excite me.
Night Came with Many Stars has a beautiful title and cover.
The novel is made up of two alternate narratives. Carol is one of the protagonists. Her father lost her in a game of cards, in Kentucky in 1933. The motherless teen, age unknown, ends up helping a rough around the edges neighbour. Let's just say things don't go too well for her.
The second narrative belongs to Samuel, we meet him when he's a teenager, in 1986.
The alternating timelines and POVs are the main drawback when it comes to this novel, as I was abruptly pulled out of the story completely, just as I was getting comfortable getting to know Carol or Samuel. It just didn't work for me at all. It took me a long time to realise how Carol and Samuel connected. Their individual stories were fine, although not awfully interesting. They were, afterall, ordinary people, most of us are.
I thought Night Came with Many Start was directionless and its delivery was not that inspired. Upon finishing, I couldn't quite get why Van Booy chose to have Samuel as such a big part of the novel.
In conclusion, I expected to like this much more than I did.
The narrator of this audiobook, Courtney Patterson, did an excellent job.
I've received this audiobook via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
Night Came with Many Stars has a beautiful title and cover.
The novel is made up of two alternate narratives. Carol is one of the protagonists. Her father lost her in a game of cards, in Kentucky in 1933. The motherless teen, age unknown, ends up helping a rough around the edges neighbour. Let's just say things don't go too well for her.
The second narrative belongs to Samuel, we meet him when he's a teenager, in 1986.
The alternating timelines and POVs are the main drawback when it comes to this novel, as I was abruptly pulled out of the story completely, just as I was getting comfortable getting to know Carol or Samuel. It just didn't work for me at all. It took me a long time to realise how Carol and Samuel connected. Their individual stories were fine, although not awfully interesting. They were, afterall, ordinary people, most of us are.
I thought Night Came with Many Start was directionless and its delivery was not that inspired. Upon finishing, I couldn't quite get why Van Booy chose to have Samuel as such a big part of the novel.
In conclusion, I expected to like this much more than I did.
The narrator of this audiobook, Courtney Patterson, did an excellent job.
I've received this audiobook via Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review.
November 23, 2024
This is a book filled with atmosphere, told in vignettes that alternate between Carol in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and Samuel (her grandson) in the 1980s, 90s, and 2000s. It tells the story of three generations of one American family, and begins the day 13-year-old Carol’s abusive father “loses her” in a poker game.🫣 The following day, she is taken to live with the “winner”, and what happens next will change the trajectory of her life forever.
The early story is one of hardship and poverty. But Carol is very strong. She escapes to a new life at 15 but, sadly, lives the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, afraid her father will come looking for her.
And though a lot of life is lived over the course of the book, it ends exactly as it began—and exactly where it began—seventy-five years prior.
One of the most compelling books I’ve ever read. Absolutely outstanding. This was my second novel by Simon Van Booy, who is a new favourite of mine. Now I’m determined to read the rest of his novels.
5 Family-gives-you-the-roots-to-stand-tall-and-strong stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The early story is one of hardship and poverty. But Carol is very strong. She escapes to a new life at 15 but, sadly, lives the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, afraid her father will come looking for her.
And though a lot of life is lived over the course of the book, it ends exactly as it began—and exactly where it began—seventy-five years prior.
One of the most compelling books I’ve ever read. Absolutely outstanding. This was my second novel by Simon Van Booy, who is a new favourite of mine. Now I’m determined to read the rest of his novels.
5 Family-gives-you-the-roots-to-stand-tall-and-strong stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 24, 2023
Carol had a difficult start, but her life found its way. This is my first book from Simon Van Booy and I was very pleased with his writing. The characters are wonderful, real, and relatable. This is a great book about family bonds, love, and friendship.
June 4, 2021
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I listened to this and it’s honestly one of the best novels I’ve ever heard. I. Loved. It. It was narrated by Courtney Patterson and she did a wonderful job. Her storytelling was magical.
This was about life, loss and and family. I had no idea this was going to pull me in and not let go. The writing had great pace and depth. It was a pleasure to listen to and I look forward to more from this author.
I highly recommend it and think it would be a great summer read.
Thanks HighBridge Audio via Netgalley.
I listened to this and it’s honestly one of the best novels I’ve ever heard. I. Loved. It. It was narrated by Courtney Patterson and she did a wonderful job. Her storytelling was magical.
This was about life, loss and and family. I had no idea this was going to pull me in and not let go. The writing had great pace and depth. It was a pleasure to listen to and I look forward to more from this author.
I highly recommend it and think it would be a great summer read.
Thanks HighBridge Audio via Netgalley.
June 3, 2021
Night Came with Many Stars opens up with a story In Kentucky, set back in 1933. Carol's daddy is abusive and lost his thirteen-year-old daughter in a game of cards. The novel spans decades from 1933 to 2010, as the story of Carol and the people in her life are told. The events and the lives of the characters are interwoven, and unexpectedly change course in this story of chance and choice that will eventually lead home again to a night blessed with light and peace.
Leapfrogging, using a span of time with one character, then changing to a different character and different span of time in the next chapter, became a bit of a challenge to keep the story flowing smooth and harmonious, even though I see the author’s intent for connection. Maybe it was just me, but I found that rhythm harder to follow.
However, exceptional praise for narrator Courtney Patterson, who did an amazing job with narration. Character voices were well defined, good accents.
Night Came with Many Stars is a novel that reveals how remarkable and powerful connected life can be—how what seems dark, can eventually be light and upon reflection, illuminous.
3.5 Stars
My thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an AAC in exchange for my honest review.
Leapfrogging, using a span of time with one character, then changing to a different character and different span of time in the next chapter, became a bit of a challenge to keep the story flowing smooth and harmonious, even though I see the author’s intent for connection. Maybe it was just me, but I found that rhythm harder to follow.
However, exceptional praise for narrator Courtney Patterson, who did an amazing job with narration. Character voices were well defined, good accents.
Night Came with Many Stars is a novel that reveals how remarkable and powerful connected life can be—how what seems dark, can eventually be light and upon reflection, illuminous.
3.5 Stars
My thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an AAC in exchange for my honest review.
April 27, 2021
A tale of a daughter gambled away by a bad hand of cards told in such beautiful, humble prose that the reader doesn’t feel worthy to read the words.
To read Van Booy is akin to a secret whispered and never to be forgotten.
Simply amazed that I , a mere mortal ...get to live in the world with writers that write like him. Every page is a gift.
To read Van Booy is akin to a secret whispered and never to be forgotten.
Simply amazed that I , a mere mortal ...get to live in the world with writers that write like him. Every page is a gift.
August 17, 2025
Rating 4.5
What a wonderful read. I've always wanted to read Van Booy but there he sat. Thanks to Audible for removing the audio narrations from their catalog to push me into gear. I adored this book. The lifetime story of these characters, told back and forth in history. The cover was captivating, the title the same and the story inside did not disappoint. The audio narration was wonderful. One that will stick with me for some time.
What a wonderful read. I've always wanted to read Van Booy but there he sat. Thanks to Audible for removing the audio narrations from their catalog to push me into gear. I adored this book. The lifetime story of these characters, told back and forth in history. The cover was captivating, the title the same and the story inside did not disappoint. The audio narration was wonderful. One that will stick with me for some time.
July 10, 2025
I might have given it five stars but it ended two abruptly for me.
September 18, 2021
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, HighBridge Audio, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had few expectations of Night Came with Many Stars when I received the ARC on NetGalley. It’s not a book that had been on my radar at all; I hadn’t heard it mentioned on any of the sites and podcasts I follow for book news. I was immediately and completely captivated by the prose. But that’s not to say that said prose outshone the story itself, which was equally engaging. I knew very little about this book going in, and was pleased to discover that it was actually a multi-generational family saga. However, it’s a family saga presented in a way that felt fresh and unique. I ended up loving everything about it, and am so thankful for whatever serendipity brought it to my attention.
The writing style, especially in the first few chapters, is breathtakingly pretty, and very unique. I was reminded of Where the Crawdads Sing, but only slightly. The further the story progressed, the more clearly original it revealed itself to be. The author employs some truly unique metaphors and similes that had me going back and rereading (and re-listening) to lines, just to get my head completely wrapped around the comparisons. Every single one of them worked, even though I would never have come up with them myself.
I love the juxtaposition in perspectives and time periods. Life was so radically different for a thirteen year-old girl in the 1930s than it was for a boy of the same age in the 80s. This is a fact that anyone would know if they took a moment to think about that scenario, but the back-to-back jumping between the two drove that truth home on a far deeper level.
I also loved how the author kept pace as he swapped between these two perspectives. We see Carol and Samuel alternatively at similar ages and stages of life, which just further drives home how different their lives were based on gender and time period. And yet there were some beautiful parallels, as well. I very much enjoyed watching both of them grow.
What makes a family? Does shared blood mean more or less than love developed over the course of years? Watching Carol slowly build herself a family without noticing, and watching Samuel grow to appreciate his own family more and more, was absolutely lovely. The side characters in this story were just a beautifully full of life as the main characters, with a couple of notable exceptions. I found anyone with a villainous role in the novel to be a bit two-dimensional, but even that decision served the story well. While I loved all of the supporting cast, I developed a serious soft spot for Eddie and Joe, in particular.
Night Came with Many Stars is a hopeful, beautifully written story with a lot of depth and even more heart. I didn’t expect to be adding it to my list of favorite books of the year, but that’s exactly where it landed. Also, I can’t recommend the audio version highly enough. I’ll definitely be buying myself a physical copy in the near future. This is a book that deserves a place on my favorites shelf.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
I had few expectations of Night Came with Many Stars when I received the ARC on NetGalley. It’s not a book that had been on my radar at all; I hadn’t heard it mentioned on any of the sites and podcasts I follow for book news. I was immediately and completely captivated by the prose. But that’s not to say that said prose outshone the story itself, which was equally engaging. I knew very little about this book going in, and was pleased to discover that it was actually a multi-generational family saga. However, it’s a family saga presented in a way that felt fresh and unique. I ended up loving everything about it, and am so thankful for whatever serendipity brought it to my attention.
The writing style, especially in the first few chapters, is breathtakingly pretty, and very unique. I was reminded of Where the Crawdads Sing, but only slightly. The further the story progressed, the more clearly original it revealed itself to be. The author employs some truly unique metaphors and similes that had me going back and rereading (and re-listening) to lines, just to get my head completely wrapped around the comparisons. Every single one of them worked, even though I would never have come up with them myself.
I love the juxtaposition in perspectives and time periods. Life was so radically different for a thirteen year-old girl in the 1930s than it was for a boy of the same age in the 80s. This is a fact that anyone would know if they took a moment to think about that scenario, but the back-to-back jumping between the two drove that truth home on a far deeper level.
I also loved how the author kept pace as he swapped between these two perspectives. We see Carol and Samuel alternatively at similar ages and stages of life, which just further drives home how different their lives were based on gender and time period. And yet there were some beautiful parallels, as well. I very much enjoyed watching both of them grow.
What makes a family? Does shared blood mean more or less than love developed over the course of years? Watching Carol slowly build herself a family without noticing, and watching Samuel grow to appreciate his own family more and more, was absolutely lovely. The side characters in this story were just a beautifully full of life as the main characters, with a couple of notable exceptions. I found anyone with a villainous role in the novel to be a bit two-dimensional, but even that decision served the story well. While I loved all of the supporting cast, I developed a serious soft spot for Eddie and Joe, in particular.
Night Came with Many Stars is a hopeful, beautifully written story with a lot of depth and even more heart. I didn’t expect to be adding it to my list of favorite books of the year, but that’s exactly where it landed. Also, I can’t recommend the audio version highly enough. I’ll definitely be buying myself a physical copy in the near future. This is a book that deserves a place on my favorites shelf.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
June 16, 2021
Even though my rating is so horrible, I did like this book. Buuuut, I think it is mainly thanks to the narrator. Courtney Patterson, you're a star.
So, this book follows 2 people and we have 2 main narratives, although there are some chapters "dedicated" to other characters for no obvious reason. But okay, I guess.
1. We follow Carol in the 1930s. Her father lost her in the game of cards to a guy who would rape and impregnate her. She had a rough life, and something about the vibe of her story reminded me of Before We Were Yours.
2. In the second story, we follow Samuel, a teenager in the 1980s. There is nothing special about Samuel. He is a kind guy and that's all. He is also Carol's grandson, but they have no connection apart from that.
So, I really have no idea why there were 2 stories. It was distracting and made no sense. If the stories were intertwined or if Carol and Samuel had some suuuper deep connection, I would get it. But not like this. Because just when you get into the story and start empathizing with a character, he/she is pushed aside and you are taken to another time and another protagonist.
Also, there was no plot. There is no reason why the story of these two people is being told. They are ordinary people who had a rough life (well, Carol did) and that's all.
As I said, Samuel is a nice guy, but there is nothing special about him and I really see no point at all for the existence of him as a character.
The writing style was nice, really, even enjoyable. The reading of Courtney Patterson was even better, and it might be the sole reason I enjoyed this book.
It's not bad, but there is NOTHING special about it and I wonder if I'll even remember it tomorrow.
A big thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing me with a free version of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
So, this book follows 2 people and we have 2 main narratives, although there are some chapters "dedicated" to other characters for no obvious reason. But okay, I guess.
1. We follow Carol in the 1930s. Her father lost her in the game of cards to a guy who would rape and impregnate her. She had a rough life, and something about the vibe of her story reminded me of Before We Were Yours.
2. In the second story, we follow Samuel, a teenager in the 1980s. There is nothing special about Samuel. He is a kind guy and that's all. He is also Carol's grandson, but they have no connection apart from that.
So, I really have no idea why there were 2 stories. It was distracting and made no sense. If the stories were intertwined or if Carol and Samuel had some suuuper deep connection, I would get it. But not like this. Because just when you get into the story and start empathizing with a character, he/she is pushed aside and you are taken to another time and another protagonist.
Also, there was no plot. There is no reason why the story of these two people is being told. They are ordinary people who had a rough life (well, Carol did) and that's all.
As I said, Samuel is a nice guy, but there is nothing special about him and I really see no point at all for the existence of him as a character.
The writing style was nice, really, even enjoyable. The reading of Courtney Patterson was even better, and it might be the sole reason I enjoyed this book.
It's not bad, but there is NOTHING special about it and I wonder if I'll even remember it tomorrow.
A big thank you to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for providing me with a free version of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2021
My dad was a whistler. When we were in stores that’s how we would find him, we’d listen for his whistling and use our whistle -radar to hone in on his location. When people asked him why he whistled he invariably replied “You can always trust someone who whistles.” I kept waiting for this line to show up in Simon VanBooy’s latest “Night Came With Many Stars.” Although it wasn’t ever stated, it’s implied. A bit of my dad, 20 years gone, brought back in a book.
Simon VanBooy is a weaver. His stories have word threads pulled at one end and the resulting tug is seen pages or chapters later. Interwoven always with the threads are emotions, built on moments of beauty and grace. This tapestry continues with this latest.
While not containing the emotional reveal and impact at the end as in my favorite VanBooy “Father’s Day,” “Night Came With Many Stars” travels back between years telling the story of a family with secrets that never seem secretive and relationships that evolve and last.
VanBooy is always weaving us through lives, showcasing the moments that matter with a splash of color and a tug on our human string of emotions. He also helps us hear the whistlers.
I received this book as an ARC from the kindly publisher.
Simon VanBooy is a weaver. His stories have word threads pulled at one end and the resulting tug is seen pages or chapters later. Interwoven always with the threads are emotions, built on moments of beauty and grace. This tapestry continues with this latest.
While not containing the emotional reveal and impact at the end as in my favorite VanBooy “Father’s Day,” “Night Came With Many Stars” travels back between years telling the story of a family with secrets that never seem secretive and relationships that evolve and last.
VanBooy is always weaving us through lives, showcasing the moments that matter with a splash of color and a tug on our human string of emotions. He also helps us hear the whistlers.
I received this book as an ARC from the kindly publisher.
October 2, 2021
Very good book brought to life by the narrator. I think that I would have enjoyed it more if only I could connect with at least one of the characters. The flow of the storyline was well done.
August 17, 2021
First of all, how lovely is the cover of this book? Absolutely gorgeous and so very fitting to the story of "Night Came With Many Stars." Simon Van Booy's novel is beautifully voiced by Courtney Patterson, which I understand (and I agree) is an amazing narrator. To those interested, I would describe this as a family saga that illustrates the power of connection and compassion.
It was difficult at times for me to grasp what was going on because the chapters kept alternating POV between Carol and Samuel (mostly, although some characters did intervene as well) and timeframes, which simply means it might have been best for me to read it instead of listening to it. I'm not really used to the narrator's type of accent (Southern I'd guess) but she is so generous with her emotions that it was easy to follow the intents of the story after I got used to it
It was difficult at times for me to grasp what was going on because the chapters kept alternating POV between Carol and Samuel (mostly, although some characters did intervene as well) and timeframes, which simply means it might have been best for me to read it instead of listening to it. I'm not really used to the narrator's type of accent (Southern I'd guess) but she is so generous with her emotions that it was easy to follow the intents of the story after I got used to it
September 13, 2021
Some books you read, other books you experience. This is one you experience. I enjoyed the writing style and couldn't get enough of the characters.
June 21, 2021
via my blog:https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬.
Simon Van Booy is the writer whose work led me back to reading short stories years ago. His character’s struggles and emotional lives are so beautiful, even in the worst situations. My favorite authors are always the ones whose sentences swallow me whole, and his earlier work set the bar high. Night Came With Many Stars is a tale of hope and survival but it is not without pain. Carol is the source from which the story and every character flows. It begins in Kentucky, 1933 with Carol aching for her mother, who is now nothing more than “a collection of moments”. As much as she wishes her mamma were still alive she dreams her cruel daddy will fall through the rotting porch of their crumbling home, leading to hell where surely the devil will take him. Fate has no such blessings as that for her, just the opposite. With his breath stinking of the sin of alcohol, he tells her he has lost her in a game of cards. A man named Travis Curt is coming to collect thirteen-year-old Carol, his prize. Carol wishes she and Mary Bright could run away together, a doll her mother made for her and like the yellow table cloth she was made upon, a reminder of her mother’s love. The question is, what does Travis intend to do with his winnings? The beautiful use of the doll, Mary Bright, was clever writing for a symbol of innocence.
1986: Eighth grader Samuel is in his last class of the day, shop. Sitting with his friend Eddie , he is thinking about all the ways Eddie has been a solid, loyal pal. In a moment of stupidity, an accident occurs that alters things for Samuel but does nothing to ruin their bond. A year later, high school is on the horizon but Eddie’s life in between has been filled with hardship, as Samuel’s has been full of surgeries. Bad choices have followed in the wake of a moment, giving Eddie a rotten reputation. Things go from bad to worse, but how will life turn out for Samuel through the years? Will he grow up to be a good man or a selfish one? How long will their friendship last? I only wish that Samuel was as interesting as his troubled friend because if I am honest, he is the one I longed to follow. The other character I adored was Samuel’s Uncle Rusty. He represents love in it’s purest form, despite his childlike mind, his heart beats the loudest in their little family. Memories of being paid for his work when he was young with bottles of cola may seem foolish, but Rusty is much wiser than the rest and the reader will understand everything about him by the end.
Other characters enter the tale, and they all have ties to the past and each other. Some actions are ugly but much of the novel is just. Lines of who is good and who is bad, here as in life, aren’t clearly defined as we read about how bad a rep Eddie has, locally. By any measure, when it comes to his protectiveness of Samuel, he isn’t the devil at all. Carol’s father, though, is another story. Bessie and Martha are strong characters, I would have loved more time with them too. It is their strength that gives Carol the chance for a solid future. Carol begins as a pitifully sad tangle of bony limbs, used and abused but her salvation comes in the unexpected form of an old man and a home with tough women. She spends much of her life confronting obstacles, and is stronger, braver for it. But before she knows kindness, she must know escape. Her life is revealed in a shifting time line, and with each person we meet in our reading a link. I only wish that several of the characters stayed longer, like Old Man Walker. It’s a beautiful novel, but I wanted more time to burrow into the emotions and past of the people within, it all rushed by too fast. Still, a moving, lovely read.
Publication Date: June 8, 2021 Available Now
Godine
𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐥. 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩, 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬.
Simon Van Booy is the writer whose work led me back to reading short stories years ago. His character’s struggles and emotional lives are so beautiful, even in the worst situations. My favorite authors are always the ones whose sentences swallow me whole, and his earlier work set the bar high. Night Came With Many Stars is a tale of hope and survival but it is not without pain. Carol is the source from which the story and every character flows. It begins in Kentucky, 1933 with Carol aching for her mother, who is now nothing more than “a collection of moments”. As much as she wishes her mamma were still alive she dreams her cruel daddy will fall through the rotting porch of their crumbling home, leading to hell where surely the devil will take him. Fate has no such blessings as that for her, just the opposite. With his breath stinking of the sin of alcohol, he tells her he has lost her in a game of cards. A man named Travis Curt is coming to collect thirteen-year-old Carol, his prize. Carol wishes she and Mary Bright could run away together, a doll her mother made for her and like the yellow table cloth she was made upon, a reminder of her mother’s love. The question is, what does Travis intend to do with his winnings? The beautiful use of the doll, Mary Bright, was clever writing for a symbol of innocence.
1986: Eighth grader Samuel is in his last class of the day, shop. Sitting with his friend Eddie , he is thinking about all the ways Eddie has been a solid, loyal pal. In a moment of stupidity, an accident occurs that alters things for Samuel but does nothing to ruin their bond. A year later, high school is on the horizon but Eddie’s life in between has been filled with hardship, as Samuel’s has been full of surgeries. Bad choices have followed in the wake of a moment, giving Eddie a rotten reputation. Things go from bad to worse, but how will life turn out for Samuel through the years? Will he grow up to be a good man or a selfish one? How long will their friendship last? I only wish that Samuel was as interesting as his troubled friend because if I am honest, he is the one I longed to follow. The other character I adored was Samuel’s Uncle Rusty. He represents love in it’s purest form, despite his childlike mind, his heart beats the loudest in their little family. Memories of being paid for his work when he was young with bottles of cola may seem foolish, but Rusty is much wiser than the rest and the reader will understand everything about him by the end.
Other characters enter the tale, and they all have ties to the past and each other. Some actions are ugly but much of the novel is just. Lines of who is good and who is bad, here as in life, aren’t clearly defined as we read about how bad a rep Eddie has, locally. By any measure, when it comes to his protectiveness of Samuel, he isn’t the devil at all. Carol’s father, though, is another story. Bessie and Martha are strong characters, I would have loved more time with them too. It is their strength that gives Carol the chance for a solid future. Carol begins as a pitifully sad tangle of bony limbs, used and abused but her salvation comes in the unexpected form of an old man and a home with tough women. She spends much of her life confronting obstacles, and is stronger, braver for it. But before she knows kindness, she must know escape. Her life is revealed in a shifting time line, and with each person we meet in our reading a link. I only wish that several of the characters stayed longer, like Old Man Walker. It’s a beautiful novel, but I wanted more time to burrow into the emotions and past of the people within, it all rushed by too fast. Still, a moving, lovely read.
Publication Date: June 8, 2021 Available Now
Godine
June 12, 2021
without giving too much away, this was a very good story, it is one of those stories that will move you and bring so many tears to your eyes.
Night came with many stars it is the story of a man who gave away his daughter after he lost in a gambling card game, this is exactly when the story begins and starts to take shape, at first I was very alarmed and broken to find what the father did, but eventually, we find that things happen for a reason and Carol was in fact much better being far away from her father.
Two different stories that happened simultaneously and at the same time at a different time, connecting in some way or another the story of Carol and Samuel both didn't have an easy life, sam had a terrible accident when he was just a teenager leaving him with scars that will mark him forever even his soul felt like something was missing... this is when this started to connect between them.
Two lost souls trying to find a common ground, a familiar place in their lives but at the same time something that will give them peace.
The secondary characters were a huge key to helping this story go even deeper but what I really loved was the way it was written in such a way that even if at times was heartbreaking it was also beautiful to hear.
The Narrations by Courtney Patterson were great, I think this is the first time I hear her work and I really like the way she brought the story to life.
this was a very great journey..
Night came with many stars it is the story of a man who gave away his daughter after he lost in a gambling card game, this is exactly when the story begins and starts to take shape, at first I was very alarmed and broken to find what the father did, but eventually, we find that things happen for a reason and Carol was in fact much better being far away from her father.
Two different stories that happened simultaneously and at the same time at a different time, connecting in some way or another the story of Carol and Samuel both didn't have an easy life, sam had a terrible accident when he was just a teenager leaving him with scars that will mark him forever even his soul felt like something was missing... this is when this started to connect between them.
Two lost souls trying to find a common ground, a familiar place in their lives but at the same time something that will give them peace.
The secondary characters were a huge key to helping this story go even deeper but what I really loved was the way it was written in such a way that even if at times was heartbreaking it was also beautiful to hear.
The Narrations by Courtney Patterson were great, I think this is the first time I hear her work and I really like the way she brought the story to life.
this was a very great journey..
May 19, 2021
I absolutely loved Night Came with Many Stars! In fact, I deliberately dragged out the reading a bit, although at the same time I didn't want to put it down, if that makes sense.
Set in Kentucky, a historical/mostly contemporary (starting in the 1980s and moving forward) combo novel, Night Came with Many Stars tells a multigenerational story of pain, abuse, and how even those in the worst of circumstances can remake their lives.
Full disclosure: Simon and I are friends, although I would not hesitate to share anything I disliked about the book (he knows that; I've done so). But I thought it was flawless.
Worth mentioning: Simon is British but lived in Kentucky for a few years. Clearly, he has a great ear for dialect because I never would have known he grew up in Wales from the dialogue or narrative. I'm so impressed. It's my humble opinion that this is by far his best novel.
Set in Kentucky, a historical/mostly contemporary (starting in the 1980s and moving forward) combo novel, Night Came with Many Stars tells a multigenerational story of pain, abuse, and how even those in the worst of circumstances can remake their lives.
Full disclosure: Simon and I are friends, although I would not hesitate to share anything I disliked about the book (he knows that; I've done so). But I thought it was flawless.
Worth mentioning: Simon is British but lived in Kentucky for a few years. Clearly, he has a great ear for dialect because I never would have known he grew up in Wales from the dialogue or narrative. I'm so impressed. It's my humble opinion that this is by far his best novel.
May 17, 2023
Beautiful, tender family saga of several decades, covering several generations of a family from before the second world war until the 2000's. The novel also tells of their friends and others who play a big part in their lives and shaping who they are. Exquisitely written, focusing mostly on Carol, sold as a teenager to a man her father lost to in a card game, and her grandson, Samuel, who struggles to find himself. Carol runs away and that begins her story. They inhabit alternating chapters, interspersed with the lives of those who influence them in some way. Heartwarming but sometimes heart wrenching.
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