When Cohen Marah steps over his father’s body in the basement embalming room of the family’s funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect.Over the next week, Cohen’s childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The … position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends–and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he’s been avoiding: Did he kill his father?
In Light from Distant Stars, master story weaver Shawn Smucker relays a tale both eerie and enchanting, one that will have you questioning reality and reaching out for what is true, good, and genuine.
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Light from Distant Stars is my first introduction to Shawn Smucker’s writing. I have not read anything by him before and that will now change. I thought this one was a beautiful story. I was not sure at first what to expect but I was quickly captivated. I did not want to put the book down until I was done.
I give Light from Distant Stars five stars. I can not wait to read more by this author in the future.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Cohen Marah is about to experience one of the most intense, eye-opening weeks of his life. His father, Calvin, is in the hospital after being found in the basement of his funeral home, and isn’t expected to make it very long. While Cohen sits at his father’s bedside, questioning whether or not he is responsible for his father’s condition, he embarks on a difficult path of self reflection and self discovery. Told through both flashbacks and current events, Cohen’s journey is one that will reveal to him a lot about his family, himself, and his inner strength. u2063
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Light From Distant Stars is quite the page-turner. It was very different from what I thought it would be, but I still enjoyed it. The characters are well developed; they left me with strong feelings towards them, specifically Cohen’s parents. The ending was intense and chilling, and is, in many ways, relevant to today. u2063
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Light From Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker is available now.u2063
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I received an copy of Light From Distant Stars from BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. u2063
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This is the first book I have read by Shawn Smucker. Light from Distant Stars is a page turner. Trying to figure out what is really happening. Smucker’s writing is descriptive and thought provoking emotional story. When Cohen finds his father dead, he wonders if he is responsible? As the police investigate he is lost in memories of his past and the tragedies that took place. This is a story about finding peace and forgiveness. Discovering oneself and working out other relationships. A great read.
I received this book/ebook from Shawn Smucker through NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
I haven’t read any other books by Shawn Smucker, but after reading this one, I want to read them all.
I found this book to be very engaging, hard to put down, and had well-developed characters that I wanted to see the success of.
I received an ARC from the Publisher.
This is such a deep story, and filled with emotions, and aching for a child/man, and all the while wondering if he did kill his father?
It did take me a bit to get into this book, but I’m sure glad that I did, a read that soon had me page-turning.
The main character Cohen deals with the ultimate child abuse, his to some extent, but others that his heart cannot take, and we relive this with him.
A book that you need to take your time with, there is death and rebirth here, and salvation. A story that will give you chills, and keep you warm at the same time, and at the end, you know that life continues.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
I knew early in this book that it would be unlike anything I’ve read before. The writing is unhurried, deliberate, beautiful. It hints at Marilynnne Robinson and John Steinbeck, while still being Shawn Smucker’s very own narrative voice and style. The story spans about a week of actual time, but tucked into the action are pieces of the main character’s history which shed led on the present-day situation. It’s not written as a time-slip or split-time though, it’s just blended together into one seamless tapestry that shows us who Cohen really is. This novel has a genre-defying element to it that kept me guessing until my suspicions were confirmed. I’ll not say more about that so I don’t spoil anything.
Light from Distant Stars is a brave book that delves deeply into the human spirit. As a reading experience, it cannot be rushed. One cannot force expectations upon it and expect this book to conform. Just step into it and savor the journey. This novel has earned a permanent space on my bookshelf.
I received a copy from the publisher. My opinions are my own.
Wow! Where to start? These characters and this story is one that I will come back to over and over. It’s the kind of story that will pop back into my head when I’m washing dishes or commuting to work or other random times. I can see pieces of myself in Cohen and Kaye. I want to be a friend like Ava.
The prose is beautiful. The characters are realistic. The story is compelling. And the relationships are the heart of the book.
If you don’t read much, take the time to read this one. If you like a plot that takes you along, you will like this one. If you like memorable characters, read this one. If you like relationship stories, you want to read this one. This has something for everyone.
I received an ARC from the publisher and this is my honest review.
Cohen Marah is a middle-aged man trying to reconcile himself to his father’s eminent death and the fact that he may have contributed to the cause. As he waits by his father’s bedside and deals with police questions about his father’s accident Cohen recalls his life until this moment and his reflections alternate between the present setting of 2015 and flashbacks to his youth. Memories of being a young boy infatuated with his Sunday School teacher and fidgeting during his father’s Sunday sermons; his strict and unyielding mother who was the actual author of his father’s sermons; and Cohen’s secret discovery that eventually tore his family apart. The divorce that prompted Cohen’s mother to move with his sister to the city left Cohen to spend the rest of his youth living with his father in the funeral home that was now the family business. It is this constant reminder of death and the people that he met during this time that helps us understand the complicated man that Cohen Marah has become!
Light from Distant Stars has mystery, circumstances that suggest the paranormal, and the implication that most families are not as they seem. As he stands by his comatose father’s bedside with his sister and mother “Cohen wonders how other chldren and parents go on through their lives, choosing what to forgive, what to ignore, what to become embittered by.”
This story reminds us that we all fall short but we all deserve forgiveness. Light from Distant Stars wasn’t an easy book for me to read but oh, I am so glad that I did!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and publisher but I am voluntarily sharing my opinions in this review.
A masterfully told story!
Light from Distant Stars is an amazing and masterfully told story! There are so many layers and so much mystery. It tells of the journey for the understanding and for the peace which has eluded Cohen for decades. Assaulted by feelings of guilt, he explores memories long buried.
The writing is beautiful in a melancholy way; prose turned to poetry. The imagery created by the words is haunting and poignant and was not overdone or tiresome. I found myself caught between wanting to luxuriate in reading, to slowly savor each word and wanting to hurry through to find out what happened next.
As a side note, the story is written in the third person present tense, except the portions where Cohen is examining his memories. This was surprisingly effective. If you’ve read many of my reviews, you may recall that I do not like present tense much. This was done so well, I didn’t even realize this until I was at least halfway through. It was a great way to separate the memory portions from the events of the “current” time (which was actually 2015).
I am looking forward to reading more books by Shawn Smucker.
Read my review of Light from Distant Stars by Shawn Smucker at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This book has all the workings of a powerful novel – characters you care about because their emotions and experiences feel real, a storyline that is relatable while also speaking of things beyond what we discuss in our every day, and a depth of emotion that is powerful and rich. I cannot recommend this book enough.
I received an ARC of this book, but this is my honest opinion of the book.