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Wait Until Twilight
A hauntingly strange and powerfully affecting debut novel that heralds the arrival of a unique and captivating literary voice, Sang Pak's Wait Until Twilight is a coming-of-age story that explores the complex darkness infecting a damaged psyche in a small Southern town.
Not long after his own mother's death, sixteen-year-old Samuel discovers a set of deformed triplets hidden behind closed doors in his sleepy Georgia community. The babies—whose shut-in mother believes they were immaculately conceived and whose menacing brother is a constant threat—take control of Samuel's every waking and sleeping thought. His only escape, he realizes, will be to save the monster children. But to do so, he must rein in his darkest impulses as he undergoes a profound transformation from motherless boy to self-defined man—because sometimes the most terrible monsters are those that live inside us all.
Not long after his own mother's death, sixteen-year-old Samuel discovers a set of deformed triplets hidden behind closed doors in his sleepy Georgia community. The babies—whose shut-in mother believes they were immaculately conceived and whose menacing brother is a constant threat—take control of Samuel's every waking and sleeping thought. His only escape, he realizes, will be to save the monster children. But to do so, he must rein in his darkest impulses as he undergoes a profound transformation from motherless boy to self-defined man—because sometimes the most terrible monsters are those that live inside us all.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2009
4 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Sang Pak
1 book8 followersSang Pak is a Georgia-raised writer with English and Psychology degrees from the University of Georgia. He is currently on hiatus from New York University’s graduate program in Psychology. He divides his time between Georgia, Southern California and Seoul.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 13, 2022
Samuel is a 16 year old who lost his mother a year ago. He is still death, she died of a brain tumor.
David, Samuel's friend wants to make a video for a school project, the only problem is he wants to make it about these 3 gruesome looking triplets. When they go out to the house, Samuel sees these babies and they make him sick. So now all Samuel can think of are these babies. He becomes obsessed about them. He discovers that someone is trying to kill those babies and he is determined to stop them.
David, Samuel's friend wants to make a video for a school project, the only problem is he wants to make it about these 3 gruesome looking triplets. When they go out to the house, Samuel sees these babies and they make him sick. So now all Samuel can think of are these babies. He becomes obsessed about them. He discovers that someone is trying to kill those babies and he is determined to stop them.
August 28, 2009
Mini Synopsis:
Samuel is in his first year of high school. He’s a good kid. He’s smart, popular, from a healthy family, and facing the normal challenges which occur for most young teens. Coupled with his adolescent angst, he just lost his mother to cancer. In addition he is also harboring feelings of guilt around her death.
In an attempt to create a video for a class assignment, he decides to record a local set of triplets whom have some unusual physical disabilities. Because of these oddities they are surround by local myth, mystery, ignorance, and sadly horror. When Samuel sees “the babies” for the first time, he has strong conflicting emotions, and an obsession develops for him to see them again, and again. This desire leads him to discover a terrifying situation involving them. As he becomes inextricably involved, he must ultimately decide what constitutes right action, and what defines men as evil. The choices he makes move him toward the beginnings of manhood.
My thoughts:
I gave this book 4 stars – I loved it.
Sang Pak has given the young adult reader “a modern rites of passage” story, with many of the current day conflicts which boys and teens face. Samuel, the main character, is an excellent and important role model for growing men as they struggle with the inevitable tobacco, drug and alcohol exposure, and sexual introduction. What is important is that Samuel’s character immerses himself in these situations without loosing his sensibilities and balance. The character provides an example of neither abstinence nor abuse when confronted with these issues, which although not the only option is a sensible one.
Speaking from the perspective of an adult with a background in childhood education I have been led to look at books for their “learning/teaching opportunities”. Waiting for Twilight has them. Because of the content in the story I do recommend this book for a mature teen, as well as their parents, or adults interested in issues around young adults. The book contains smoking, drugs and alcohol usage, safe sex, and violence. These examples can be used as a starting place to begin “conversations”, since as adults, we cannot prevent an exposure to them.
Samuel is in his first year of high school. He’s a good kid. He’s smart, popular, from a healthy family, and facing the normal challenges which occur for most young teens. Coupled with his adolescent angst, he just lost his mother to cancer. In addition he is also harboring feelings of guilt around her death.
In an attempt to create a video for a class assignment, he decides to record a local set of triplets whom have some unusual physical disabilities. Because of these oddities they are surround by local myth, mystery, ignorance, and sadly horror. When Samuel sees “the babies” for the first time, he has strong conflicting emotions, and an obsession develops for him to see them again, and again. This desire leads him to discover a terrifying situation involving them. As he becomes inextricably involved, he must ultimately decide what constitutes right action, and what defines men as evil. The choices he makes move him toward the beginnings of manhood.
My thoughts:
I gave this book 4 stars – I loved it.
Sang Pak has given the young adult reader “a modern rites of passage” story, with many of the current day conflicts which boys and teens face. Samuel, the main character, is an excellent and important role model for growing men as they struggle with the inevitable tobacco, drug and alcohol exposure, and sexual introduction. What is important is that Samuel’s character immerses himself in these situations without loosing his sensibilities and balance. The character provides an example of neither abstinence nor abuse when confronted with these issues, which although not the only option is a sensible one.
Speaking from the perspective of an adult with a background in childhood education I have been led to look at books for their “learning/teaching opportunities”. Waiting for Twilight has them. Because of the content in the story I do recommend this book for a mature teen, as well as their parents, or adults interested in issues around young adults. The book contains smoking, drugs and alcohol usage, safe sex, and violence. These examples can be used as a starting place to begin “conversations”, since as adults, we cannot prevent an exposure to them.
August 28, 2014
Got halfway through and couldn't go any further.
8/28/2014
Note to self:
Don't want this to count as part of my challenge since I didn't finish it but I need it on my list so I don't make the mistake of trying to read this again.
8/28/2014
Note to self:
Don't want this to count as part of my challenge since I didn't finish it but I need it on my list so I don't make the mistake of trying to read this again.
May 11, 2024
CHILDISH
The title suggests this is a book about vampires.
NOPE!
This is about a high school sophomore and the darkness he faces: some in other people and some in himself.
This was a waste of time.
The title suggests this is a book about vampires.
NOPE!
This is about a high school sophomore and the darkness he faces: some in other people and some in himself.
This was a waste of time.
October 23, 2009
"Their heads are way too big, and their arms and legs are all different lengths. Some long, some just stumps with little fingernails stuck in a semicircle. Even their eyes are different sizes, one larger than the other, and their twisted little noses are hardly there."
Samuel is a 16 year old boy who has lost his mother. He lives with his dad in Georgia. His older brother Jim, is in college and has drifted apart from the family after the loss of their mother. He has do a Video shoot for one of his school project. When his friend David takes him to a family for such a shoot, he simply freaks out. There he sees three babies who are triplets and are totally deformed. Their mother thinks they have been divinely conceived and sees nothing wrong with them.
Although Samuel comes out of the house totally revolted but he can't get those monster children out of his mind. They take up all his waking thoughts. Then he meets the older brother of the triplets, who is a danger for the children. Samuel knows he has to save those children. However, he understands that he has his own demons to kill. Because giving in to the dark impulses is easy and overcoming those is the most difficult task.
We slowly see Samuel emerge from a boy to maturity. He constantly misses his mother. And yet knows that he has to make something of his life. His friendship with mixed races, and with people from different cultures is one step towards that goal. Despite his initial revulsion for the deformed children, he somehow comes to accept them as they are and knows he has to save them from their vile older brother Daryl, who wishes them dead at any cost. Samuel also tries to build bridges with his older brother Jim, whom he had missed so much.
The story is told from the point of view of Samuel and is not really a very easy read. But well worth it. Sang Pak's debut novel really works. His handle of the language is good and he can uncannily know the ways the mind of an adolescent works. That too of one, who has lost his mother. It is all about the darkness within us, which we have to face and ultimately overcome. A coming-of-age novel, with a satisfying end. I just couldn't put it down after I started it.
Thanks to the author/publicist for the review copy.Wait Until Twilight
Samuel is a 16 year old boy who has lost his mother. He lives with his dad in Georgia. His older brother Jim, is in college and has drifted apart from the family after the loss of their mother. He has do a Video shoot for one of his school project. When his friend David takes him to a family for such a shoot, he simply freaks out. There he sees three babies who are triplets and are totally deformed. Their mother thinks they have been divinely conceived and sees nothing wrong with them.
Although Samuel comes out of the house totally revolted but he can't get those monster children out of his mind. They take up all his waking thoughts. Then he meets the older brother of the triplets, who is a danger for the children. Samuel knows he has to save those children. However, he understands that he has his own demons to kill. Because giving in to the dark impulses is easy and overcoming those is the most difficult task.
We slowly see Samuel emerge from a boy to maturity. He constantly misses his mother. And yet knows that he has to make something of his life. His friendship with mixed races, and with people from different cultures is one step towards that goal. Despite his initial revulsion for the deformed children, he somehow comes to accept them as they are and knows he has to save them from their vile older brother Daryl, who wishes them dead at any cost. Samuel also tries to build bridges with his older brother Jim, whom he had missed so much.
The story is told from the point of view of Samuel and is not really a very easy read. But well worth it. Sang Pak's debut novel really works. His handle of the language is good and he can uncannily know the ways the mind of an adolescent works. That too of one, who has lost his mother. It is all about the darkness within us, which we have to face and ultimately overcome. A coming-of-age novel, with a satisfying end. I just couldn't put it down after I started it.
Thanks to the author/publicist for the review copy.Wait Until Twilight
November 12, 2015
Samuel is a teenager who has lost his mother a year back. He lives in a small Georgia town with his father who owns a hardware store. One day he and his friend David decide to film 3 babies that are said to be very odd. Some say they look like the devil. Samuel wants something cool and different for their school project, so on a hot sunny afternoon they head off to the “Underwood”. That’s the place where the triplets live with their mother.
Samuel has a very strong reaction after he sees the babies, to the extent that he pukes. Look at the description:
Their heads are way too big, and their arms and legs are all different lengths. Some long, some just stumps with little fingernails stuck in a semicircle. Even their eyes are different sizes, one larger than the other, and their twisted little noses are hardly there.
The mother is angry and drives them out of the house. After this incident Samuel spends his days as before. But the babies’ faces keep haunting him. They are all he thinks of day and night. Their faces keep on haunting him in his dreams and even when he is awake. He knows he shouldn’t return to the house but he does. The mother of the babies has an older psycho son called Daryl whom Samuel should have probably stayed away from. But as days turn into months he becomes so obsessed by the babies that he keeps going back. He wants to do something to save the babies to find peace within.
Wait Until Twilight is mostly a coming of age story but it’s also a story about overcoming the demons inside you and taking charge. The prose was very simple and hence the book was a quick read. But that was exactly what made the horror and the danger that Samuel was in seem so real. The story grows on you slowly and takes hold of and doesn’t let you go till the very end.
The descriptions of the small town were bang on and I could also feel Samuel’s thoughts, his guilt and his fear seeping through the pages. As the book progressed I grew to really like Samuel and the choices he made. And although I sometimes wanted to tell him that what he was doing was very wrong and dangerous, I also knew that he had to do it.
Conclusion: Wait Until Twilight is a great debut novel and although it’s a YA, this is one of the books that is without doubt a cross-over.
First posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
Samuel has a very strong reaction after he sees the babies, to the extent that he pukes. Look at the description:
Their heads are way too big, and their arms and legs are all different lengths. Some long, some just stumps with little fingernails stuck in a semicircle. Even their eyes are different sizes, one larger than the other, and their twisted little noses are hardly there.
The mother is angry and drives them out of the house. After this incident Samuel spends his days as before. But the babies’ faces keep haunting him. They are all he thinks of day and night. Their faces keep on haunting him in his dreams and even when he is awake. He knows he shouldn’t return to the house but he does. The mother of the babies has an older psycho son called Daryl whom Samuel should have probably stayed away from. But as days turn into months he becomes so obsessed by the babies that he keeps going back. He wants to do something to save the babies to find peace within.
Wait Until Twilight is mostly a coming of age story but it’s also a story about overcoming the demons inside you and taking charge. The prose was very simple and hence the book was a quick read. But that was exactly what made the horror and the danger that Samuel was in seem so real. The story grows on you slowly and takes hold of and doesn’t let you go till the very end.
The descriptions of the small town were bang on and I could also feel Samuel’s thoughts, his guilt and his fear seeping through the pages. As the book progressed I grew to really like Samuel and the choices he made. And although I sometimes wanted to tell him that what he was doing was very wrong and dangerous, I also knew that he had to do it.
Conclusion: Wait Until Twilight is a great debut novel and although it’s a YA, this is one of the books that is without doubt a cross-over.
First posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
May 30, 2010
An interesting take on a coming-of-age story. Samuel is an incredibly smart sophmore in high school who recently lost his mother to a brain tumor and lives alone with his father. His estranged brother, since the death of his mom, is living away at college. Samuel feels a bit closed off about the death of his mother and doesn't seems a bit isolated within all his relationships.
On day his friend and him have an assignment for school which involves a story and video tape. His friend brings him to Mrs. Greenan's to do a story on her horribly deformed triplets. These babies have a powerfully negative effect on Samuel to the point of him having to vomit outside the home once he has seen them. Mrs. Greenan, who believes the babies are special and born from an "immaculate conception" tells him to leave and not come back. Samuel cannot seem to shake those babies from his mind and finds himself returning over and over again. What Samuel later learns is that there is a malevolent presence in that home in the form of the triplets 20-something older brother, Daryl. Daryl depises the babies and wants to do them harm.
This is a story about Samuel's struggle with his own personal demons and dark nature that we all harbor to some degree and how to resolve those emotional appropriately choose the "light" over the "dark". We got through some of these struggles along with Samuel during this strange summer. I believe much of the story of the babies and Samuel's choices are a metaphor for his emotions and making right choices which is what teens are all about learning to do, which is making the right choices. Samuel handles school and friends and his choices with great balance. There is smoking, alchohol, drugs and sex which he is faced with as are all teens, yet he handles each one fairly well. He's experiental, yet not indulgent as he has goals set for himself to do extra well in school. This is a strength, which I believe he carries with him and soon becomes aware of along the way.
Not to give away the stories plotlines too much, but this is an atmostpheric, haunting, dark, violent tale that may not be suitable for all tastes or ages. I would let both of my sons read it who are teens but they are quite mature and could handle to content. I would not say that for all teens. I would caution parents to read first, then decide.
On day his friend and him have an assignment for school which involves a story and video tape. His friend brings him to Mrs. Greenan's to do a story on her horribly deformed triplets. These babies have a powerfully negative effect on Samuel to the point of him having to vomit outside the home once he has seen them. Mrs. Greenan, who believes the babies are special and born from an "immaculate conception" tells him to leave and not come back. Samuel cannot seem to shake those babies from his mind and finds himself returning over and over again. What Samuel later learns is that there is a malevolent presence in that home in the form of the triplets 20-something older brother, Daryl. Daryl depises the babies and wants to do them harm.
This is a story about Samuel's struggle with his own personal demons and dark nature that we all harbor to some degree and how to resolve those emotional appropriately choose the "light" over the "dark". We got through some of these struggles along with Samuel during this strange summer. I believe much of the story of the babies and Samuel's choices are a metaphor for his emotions and making right choices which is what teens are all about learning to do, which is making the right choices. Samuel handles school and friends and his choices with great balance. There is smoking, alchohol, drugs and sex which he is faced with as are all teens, yet he handles each one fairly well. He's experiental, yet not indulgent as he has goals set for himself to do extra well in school. This is a strength, which I believe he carries with him and soon becomes aware of along the way.
Not to give away the stories plotlines too much, but this is an atmostpheric, haunting, dark, violent tale that may not be suitable for all tastes or ages. I would let both of my sons read it who are teens but they are quite mature and could handle to content. I would not say that for all teens. I would caution parents to read first, then decide.
September 24, 2009
Reading Wait Until Twilight is totally a new experience for me. In the beginning, I was very intrigued by the premise. It is about a sixteen-year-old, Samuel, who is coping with the death of her mother after she died of a brain tumor. However, this story does not focus on his dealing of her death, it is more of a coming-of-age story after he encountered something horrific and unimaginable that made him see things differently and more clearly as compared to other boys his age.
Samuel's father owns a shop and his brother, Jill is attending college in a nearby town. Samuel is not close with his family, but that does not really bother him. His so-called peaceful life is interrupted when he has to think of ideas for his school project and he found three deformed babies in his neighbour's house. Before this, he had heard of rumours on the babies but this is the first time that he actually believed in them. Thereafter, the image of the deformed babies began to haunt him in his waking moments as well as in his dreams and he knows he has to see them again.
The triplets' mother, Mrs Greenan, however does not welcome him and thinks he is nothing but a troublemaker. Besides the triplets, Mrs Greenan also has an older son, Daryl, but it seems there is something not right about him. Samuel is troubled by his violent and abusive behaviour and this is where the core of the story really is. You see, Samuel is battling with himself for as much as he find the triplets horrifying, however there is an emotion in him that makes him want to save them. This dilemma he faces will question about his humanity and how the decision he made in the end will affect his outlook on life thereafter.
In the beginning, I did not know what to expect when I started reading this story. Reading the part about the deformed triplets left me in chills because like Samuel, I was totally unprepared for it. Honestly I was a little scared of them, but yet I also felt sorry for them. This book was not an easy read and there were times I had to set it aside before picking it up again. Though the story may sound a little dark, but I like the idea of having a young protagonist who is battling with his inner self, especially on a sensitive topic like this.
Samuel's father owns a shop and his brother, Jill is attending college in a nearby town. Samuel is not close with his family, but that does not really bother him. His so-called peaceful life is interrupted when he has to think of ideas for his school project and he found three deformed babies in his neighbour's house. Before this, he had heard of rumours on the babies but this is the first time that he actually believed in them. Thereafter, the image of the deformed babies began to haunt him in his waking moments as well as in his dreams and he knows he has to see them again.
The triplets' mother, Mrs Greenan, however does not welcome him and thinks he is nothing but a troublemaker. Besides the triplets, Mrs Greenan also has an older son, Daryl, but it seems there is something not right about him. Samuel is troubled by his violent and abusive behaviour and this is where the core of the story really is. You see, Samuel is battling with himself for as much as he find the triplets horrifying, however there is an emotion in him that makes him want to save them. This dilemma he faces will question about his humanity and how the decision he made in the end will affect his outlook on life thereafter.
In the beginning, I did not know what to expect when I started reading this story. Reading the part about the deformed triplets left me in chills because like Samuel, I was totally unprepared for it. Honestly I was a little scared of them, but yet I also felt sorry for them. This book was not an easy read and there were times I had to set it aside before picking it up again. Though the story may sound a little dark, but I like the idea of having a young protagonist who is battling with his inner self, especially on a sensitive topic like this.
March 10, 2011
Finally--a well-written, engaging, thought-provoking and imaginative Southern gothic! It's been awhile since I sat down to read a book and got through the entire novel without skipping a single line. Wait Until Twilight by Sang Park is easily one of the best coming-of-age novels I've read all year.
Set in the small Southern town of Sugweepo, Georgia, this poignant story about a sixteen-year-old boy's internal struggle to do the right thing is sure to charm readers. Samuel's narrative is a well-crafted, introspective look at his life a year after his mother's tragic death to cancer when he is struggling with adulthood and the choices that will define his life.
The story opens with Samuel and his friend David on their way to film a mother and her three deformed triplets for a school project. Mrs. Greenan claims her babies are the product of immaculate conception, and their birth defects simultaneously frighten and fascinate Samuel so deeply that he becomes physically ill. Following this strange visit, Samuel quickly becomes obsessed with thoughts about the babies and their abnormalities.
On his next visit, Samuel is nearly strangled to death on the porch by an unseen assailant. A third, illegal visit brings him into contact with the triplets' violent older brother Daryl, and this terrifying encounter convinces Samuel that the triples are in grave danger for their lives. Samuel finds himself unwittingly thrust into the position of savior, both to himself and the three babies, but will he make the right choice, or will circumstances--and fear--force the choice for him?
This story is a fresh, fast-paced read at only 229 pages. The first-person narratiion makes it easy to delve into Samuel's world, and the characters are well-constructed with engaging dialogue. I probably would have read the book straight through if not for the fact that it was started on the bus ride to work. I highly recommend it to everyone, and look forward to future novels by Sang Park.
Set in the small Southern town of Sugweepo, Georgia, this poignant story about a sixteen-year-old boy's internal struggle to do the right thing is sure to charm readers. Samuel's narrative is a well-crafted, introspective look at his life a year after his mother's tragic death to cancer when he is struggling with adulthood and the choices that will define his life.
The story opens with Samuel and his friend David on their way to film a mother and her three deformed triplets for a school project. Mrs. Greenan claims her babies are the product of immaculate conception, and their birth defects simultaneously frighten and fascinate Samuel so deeply that he becomes physically ill. Following this strange visit, Samuel quickly becomes obsessed with thoughts about the babies and their abnormalities.
On his next visit, Samuel is nearly strangled to death on the porch by an unseen assailant. A third, illegal visit brings him into contact with the triplets' violent older brother Daryl, and this terrifying encounter convinces Samuel that the triples are in grave danger for their lives. Samuel finds himself unwittingly thrust into the position of savior, both to himself and the three babies, but will he make the right choice, or will circumstances--and fear--force the choice for him?
This story is a fresh, fast-paced read at only 229 pages. The first-person narratiion makes it easy to delve into Samuel's world, and the characters are well-constructed with engaging dialogue. I probably would have read the book straight through if not for the fact that it was started on the bus ride to work. I highly recommend it to everyone, and look forward to future novels by Sang Park.
September 20, 2009
Samuel is a sixteen-year-old teenager who's dealing with the death of his mother. He's working on getting good grades and just being a normal kid. However, Samuel seems to struggle at being "normal". School is important to him as our his relationships with his friends and father. But it's when he becomes fascinated, if not totally obsessed, with a set of deformed triplets he comes across with his friend in search of the perfect video project.
Samuel's horror is clear, not just from the first scene when he meets them, but in his later thoughts of them as well. It seems the triplets have awakened a part of Samuel he never knew existed, a strong violent streak, that becomes even more apparent when Daryl is around him. Now to be quite honest, Daryl scared the crap out of me. Daryl is certainly sick and twisted and around the triplets too much. Samuel's feelings towards the triplets shift in an interesting way and I enjoyed the ending once I got there.
I must admit it took me a while to become accustomed to the pace of the novel and Sang Pak's writing style. But after more and more reflection, I've come to realize that this is a book I will most likely never forget. Even now, after knowing and saying that this is a coming-of-age story, I found Samuel more adult than I could imagine. It goes to show you (or me I suppose) that situations and events have such a heavy impact on shaping people.
At the end of the day it comes down to this: Sang Pak made me think. I wasn't just reading his words, I was experiencing them. And for a debut author that speaks volumes in my opinion. He took me out of my reading comfort zone and I couldn't put WAIT UNTIL TWLIGHT down. I recommend this to anyone looking for a different kind of coming-of-age tale; a gothic psychological mixture that will certainly grab your attention.
Samuel's horror is clear, not just from the first scene when he meets them, but in his later thoughts of them as well. It seems the triplets have awakened a part of Samuel he never knew existed, a strong violent streak, that becomes even more apparent when Daryl is around him. Now to be quite honest, Daryl scared the crap out of me. Daryl is certainly sick and twisted and around the triplets too much. Samuel's feelings towards the triplets shift in an interesting way and I enjoyed the ending once I got there.
I must admit it took me a while to become accustomed to the pace of the novel and Sang Pak's writing style. But after more and more reflection, I've come to realize that this is a book I will most likely never forget. Even now, after knowing and saying that this is a coming-of-age story, I found Samuel more adult than I could imagine. It goes to show you (or me I suppose) that situations and events have such a heavy impact on shaping people.
At the end of the day it comes down to this: Sang Pak made me think. I wasn't just reading his words, I was experiencing them. And for a debut author that speaks volumes in my opinion. He took me out of my reading comfort zone and I couldn't put WAIT UNTIL TWLIGHT down. I recommend this to anyone looking for a different kind of coming-of-age tale; a gothic psychological mixture that will certainly grab your attention.
September 15, 2009
Wait Until Twilight is a wonderfully well-written piece of fiction set against a realistic small-town backdrop. The characters are compelling and authentic, with interesting motives that make you want to continue reading even though you may be disturbed by the story.
"Powerfully affecting" is exactly how I would describe Wait Until Twilight. It was extremely hard for me to read parts of the book - not because of the language or anything, but because of the subject matter. Truthfully, I didn't know at times if I'd even finish reading it. I persevered and I'm glad I did, but I must warn you - Wait Until Twilight may be too disturbing for some readers. Without giving too much away, I will just say that there are some particularly unsettling scenes of child abuse and also of brutality towards animals that you should be aware of before picking up this book.
Wait Until Twilight is Sang Pak's debut novel, and he certainly did an amazing job of creating a creepy, skin crawling, freaky, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-standing-up kind of feeling. I can't say that I really enjoyed reading it, but Wait Until Twilight is a dynamic and impressive first book. I will be interested to see what Sang Pak comes up with in his future novels.
"Powerfully affecting" is exactly how I would describe Wait Until Twilight. It was extremely hard for me to read parts of the book - not because of the language or anything, but because of the subject matter. Truthfully, I didn't know at times if I'd even finish reading it. I persevered and I'm glad I did, but I must warn you - Wait Until Twilight may be too disturbing for some readers. Without giving too much away, I will just say that there are some particularly unsettling scenes of child abuse and also of brutality towards animals that you should be aware of before picking up this book.
Wait Until Twilight is Sang Pak's debut novel, and he certainly did an amazing job of creating a creepy, skin crawling, freaky, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck-standing-up kind of feeling. I can't say that I really enjoyed reading it, but Wait Until Twilight is a dynamic and impressive first book. I will be interested to see what Sang Pak comes up with in his future novels.
August 22, 2009
This is a very interesting book - it starts out like a horror book, but really it is a coming of age tale, with some serious suspense and horror to go along with it. This is my first coming-of-age story of a boy that I have read and I really enjoyed it. Boys and girls are very different and this really gave me some insight for the future with my boys.
A very enjoyable novel - it feels real from the perspective of Samuel who is dealing with the loss of his mother while finishing up high school and just trying to be as normal as possible. His friends are introduced throughout and all of them seem like pretty normal teenagers too. The characterization in this novel is wonderful - I really felt like I got to know Samuel. And the plot is amazing - paced just right to hold my attention throughout and make it hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book to everyone - I think it has something for every reader, not just young adults to take away from it and it's a good story too.
A very enjoyable novel - it feels real from the perspective of Samuel who is dealing with the loss of his mother while finishing up high school and just trying to be as normal as possible. His friends are introduced throughout and all of them seem like pretty normal teenagers too. The characterization in this novel is wonderful - I really felt like I got to know Samuel. And the plot is amazing - paced just right to hold my attention throughout and make it hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book to everyone - I think it has something for every reader, not just young adults to take away from it and it's a good story too.
December 24, 2009
The haunting cover of this book made me pick it up at the bookstore, and the promised coming-of-age story caused me to buy it.
There were many passages in the book that I liked, and there were a lot of thought-provoking, poignant bits. The horrific, violent parts, though, felt jarring and right on the edge of unbelievable. Upon finishing the book, I decided that the deformed babies and the story line that went along with them very likely was a metaphor for the pain and guilt Samuel felt about his mother's death, but I wasn't in the mood to interpret it much further. That of course is my problem, not the authors.
"Wait Until Twilight" is an interesting book, although dark and maudlin while having some uplifting and at times funny parts. It's not a book for everyone, but might be worth a try if you want something different.
Lori Anderson
My Blog
My Web Site
There were many passages in the book that I liked, and there were a lot of thought-provoking, poignant bits. The horrific, violent parts, though, felt jarring and right on the edge of unbelievable. Upon finishing the book, I decided that the deformed babies and the story line that went along with them very likely was a metaphor for the pain and guilt Samuel felt about his mother's death, but I wasn't in the mood to interpret it much further. That of course is my problem, not the authors.
"Wait Until Twilight" is an interesting book, although dark and maudlin while having some uplifting and at times funny parts. It's not a book for everyone, but might be worth a try if you want something different.
Lori Anderson
My Blog
My Web Site
June 5, 2013
This is the best Southern Gothic novel I have read in a long time. What Sang Pak does in this relatively slim book is galaxies ahead of what it took Donna Tartt about ten times as many pages to do in her unreadable second novel. Pak's command of language and pacing, his observational eye, and his ability to rise to sudden violence are all very impressive. My only criticism of the book isn't about the book itself but about the way it was presented to the world. Is it YA? Is it a suspense novel? Why does the kid on the cover look younger than the main character? I have a feeling this book would have been a tremendous success if its publisher had known how to market it properly. All that aside, what ultimately counts is what's between the covers. Let's hope he's got another book in the works.
August 11, 2016
It’s easy to ignore evil when your life hasn’t been touched by it, but what do you do when it has? Do you just walk away or will it haunt you until you face it? And what if the darkness is in you?
American writer Sang Pak’s debut novel Wait until twilight explores the influence of dark impulses on sixteen-year-old Samuel, an intelligent and intuitive teenager whose world is shaken when he encounters a set of deformed triplets hidden behind closed doors in his sleepy southern town.
My full review is on Great Stories
http://paula-greatstories.blogspot.co...
Sang Pak also kindly participated in a Q&A on Great Stories:
http://paula-greatstories.blogspot.co...
American writer Sang Pak’s debut novel Wait until twilight explores the influence of dark impulses on sixteen-year-old Samuel, an intelligent and intuitive teenager whose world is shaken when he encounters a set of deformed triplets hidden behind closed doors in his sleepy southern town.
My full review is on Great Stories
http://paula-greatstories.blogspot.co...
Sang Pak also kindly participated in a Q&A on Great Stories:
http://paula-greatstories.blogspot.co...
August 28, 2009
I had seen this book at Schuler's bookstore and decided to pick it up at Border's with a coupon - wrote the author's name down, something I never do, and did actually follow through. Very interesting first novel - the back cover really had me curious. I enjoyed it, but found the vernacular a little awkward. Almost as if a foreigner were writing this, though I believe the author is native to Georgia. The 1st person narrative was well done. Thought processes felt a bit broken, but did capture the 16 year old's perspective quite well, imo.
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August 17, 2009I think I would have liked this more if the cover/copy had made it seem more coming of age instead of thriller-y. it is not thriller-y. yes, maybe some of the plot elements are (there's some violence), but it is solidly coming of age territory. And even though I love love love the cover photo, in the end I don't love it for this book. It's less in your face than the cover would have you believe--which is not a bad thing.
July 30, 2014
I'm so glad I decided to judge a book by it's cover. The plot summary didn't really intrigue me, but something about the cover told me to pick it up anyways (it was on sale for $2 so no big loss). This book kept me captivated the entire time. The word choice is beautiful and it really portrays a young man's struggle with distinguishing and acting upon what is right and what is wrong. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.
October 4, 2016
I don't know where I got this book. I don't know why it was on my list "to be read." Just downright icky. I skipped a large middle section after (SPOILER ALERT) a scene involving the protagonist being forced to slap and strangle a disabled baby, and a scene involving the murder of a trapped raccoon. I read the last few pages to see if perhaps there seemed to be some redeeming value (a la The Cook, The Thief, Her Wife and His Lover), but I didn't find it. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
July 15, 2015
A bit too unbelievable for me. Character of the bad guy was absurdly cartoonish, and I could have used way less day-to-day descriptions of Samuel's ordinary high-school life. Also, I could smell the "twist" coming a mile away. Writing and language was really good though, and I encourage the author to keep writing.
January 31, 2010
I read the book because I know the author. It's a good first novel, I enjoyed reading it. It was somewhat of a page-turner. I'm looking forward to his next novel. I think he has great potential and this is only a glimpse of that.
July 24, 2013
A much more serious coming of age novel. Samuel and his father are coping with the death of Samuel's mother. While working on a school project, Samuel meets 3 deformed babies. He ultimately ends up saving them while coping with his own teenage issues.
November 4, 2012
One of the best books I have read in a long time. Expect to read it cover to cover. Pak has an incredible ability to set the tone. I felt like it consumed my life until I was finished with the book. It's just captivating.
August 24, 2016
I love this coming of age novel written with such astute understanding and depth. Perhaps because the writer is psychologically knowledgeable it helps. It is also a work of literary strength and incredible emotional power. Truly a to read book for everyone.
October 10, 2009
You had me at "deformed triplets."
October 20, 2011
Strange. Disturbing.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews