To an artist, the light is everything. So what is Amber supposed to do when facing blindness?Amber spent her life adapting—first to being abandoned by her birth mother as a toddler, and then to the death of her adoptive father in her teen years. Now she’s moved past all that, loving life as an independent woman: she has a job as an art instructor and the perfect apartment. But when a routine eye … apartment.
But when a routine eye appointment reveals she’s losing her sight, life comes to a halt. Pressures come at her from all sides. Her mother, her boss, her boyfriend and her closest friend, Shannon, all have ideas about what’s best for her.
Even after her blindness counselor, Ethan, befriends her and opens her eyes to new opportunities and the possibility of a deeper relationship, one haunting question remains: How could the God she loved all her life turn everything upside down—again?
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Wow! I’m not sure how to say it any other way!
How would you feel if your life was suddenly going to change and go dark? I remember as a child I would pretend I was blind and try to go around with my eyes closed. I’d bump into things and laugh, then open my eyes and see what it was. But that was just child’s play.
In reality, I know I’d never just laugh. It would be frightening and there would be a sense of deep loss.
Author, April McGowan, has woven the words of this story in such a way, we experience this loss with Amber. It is so wonderfully portraited, you can’t help feeling all the emotions Amber feels. The author has also introduced other characters who have struggles of their own, and she paints their stories with vivid images.
This book has deeply touched me because I work with a blind student. I have worked with her for five years and sometimes I get numb to her loss. This story makes her loss fresh in my mind. Thank You, April McGowan, for sharing the struggles of others which many of us forget or overlook.
There are so many wonderful quotes and nuggets from this book. If I were to list them, it would make this review be really long! I’d like to just quote from April’s author’s notes:
“Any new condition or illness can cause us to rethink our purpose in the world, shift our values, and redirect our focus. It brings grief and hardship and a reordering of our lives before we can find acceptance and joy in the midst of sorrow.” This is so true! Thank you, April McGowan, for sharing this story with us!
If you want a book which will touch you deeply and stay with you for a while, pick this one up!
I wish I could say that this story didn’t affect me but it took an emotional toll on me. The author hits hard with very sensitive subject matter and I appreciate the honest and open approach she took. Being homeless, dealing with mental illness, abuse, living in foster care, or becoming a drug addict all are things people try not to talk about. In this book we read Shannon’s story with realism and pain. I instantly took to Shannon and could feel the hurt of a little girl who wanted to be loved by someone.
I like how the author goes back and forth telling her story by memories or flash backs she starts having. PTSD is hard to live with and you never know what may trigger an episode. I know this first hand because I have PTSD. Shannon is one not to trust many people and the circle of friends she does have are starting to become concerned for her. It was hard to read how Shannon had to find ways to feed herself as a child when her parents had checked out on her. I am impressed with the strength she has and the ability to care for others.
I don’t want to give anything away from the story because it is one that will stay with you forever. The turmoil Shannon faces as she comes face to face with her past will test her faith. Will she be able to forgive the person who abandoned her? The author does an incredible job of highlighting mental illness in a way that takes away the stigma of it. People who deal with mental illness are sometimes treated poorly and this book opens readers eyes to how devastating it can be for families and the person who suffers from it
Shannon’s friends’ Justin and Amber are very vital to the story. They care deeply for Shannon and I loved their loyalty to her. It’s not everyday you can find people who are always there for you. With all that Shannon has had to deal with, she still reaches out to the homeless. I think with her knowing what it is like to be homeless, her empathy for them is genuine .
Justin reminds me of my husband in so many ways. They both are strong, have integrity and love unconditionally. God knows just what we need and always places the right people in our lives to help us. When Shannon said she was damaged goods, I knew exactly how she felt. This book has been hard to read but I am thankful for an author who will tackle the hard subjects and bring the truth to the surface.
“I think if we give over the hard things to God, He can use it to shape us, and then we can help other people.”
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.