Before Dan opened his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped from the tormentors in the mountain, his life had become rather quiet. He and the eight other people in the mostly abandoned town had become friends. They spent peaceful evenings around the campfire and even made vague plans to journey east one day and leave the ominous mountain behind.But the woman’s arrival changes everything. … everything.
Who is she? How does she know so much about Dan’s brother, who is still held captive in the mountain? Why are long-forgotten memories rising to the surface? And why does Dan feel so compelled to keep her presence in his house a secret?
Visionary writer Shawn Smucker is back with an unsettling story that invites us to consider two challenging questions: To what lengths will we go to assuage our own guilt? and Is there a limit to the things we will do for the people we love?
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These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker is a thought provoking read in a class by itself! I will be pondering this book for a long time to come.
This novel was completely engaging from start to finish, even though I didn’t always understand what was happening. In a way, it felt to me like an episode (or several episodes) of the TV show LOST in the sense that all these people were thrown together in ways they don’t understand at first, but as memories surface, we see how everything connects. And then I hit the plot twist close to the end, which I had NO idea was coming, and completely disolved whatever LOST vibe I was feeling. What I found, in the end, was a story of guilt, grace, forgiveness and freedom that’s as timeless as it is timely.u2060 Reading the Author’s Note at the end tied everything together.
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Shawn Smucker just keeps surprising me! I feel like he can write any genre he sets his mind to. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.u2060
“These Nameless Things” by Shawn Smucker is one part allegory, one part re-imagining of Dante’s Inferno, several parts great storytelling, and all remaining parts pure inspiration.
On the surface, this is the story of a man who escaped a terrible place and now waits for his brother to do the same. However, there is a lot more going on here than what is evident on the surface.
The focus is on a few major characters, and all of them are drawn in vivid detail. Early on, I felt like I really knew Dan, Abe, and Miho. (That’s truly a gift, by the way….when an author is able to make you feel connected to characters almost as soon as you meet them.) As I read on, and learned more about each one, that connection deepened. Each one is realistic, unique, and well worth learning more about.
There are also mysterious elements in this book. As the reader learns more about the characters and their pasts, you’ll try to solve the mystery of what (if any) connections they have along with them. You’ll also try to figure out what the mysterious mountain actually is, and what happened there, as well as ponder the significance of leaving the village and heading east. I enjoyed trying to figure everything out along with Dan. Don’t worry….everything you don’t learn on your own will be explained in the end.
There’s a fair bit of action during one part of the book, but I won’t discuss it to avoid spoilers. Suffice it to say that, in the end, you’ll come away with a complete understanding of what actually happened to the characters. Hopefully you’ll also come away with some new knowledge about yourself and your life.
My recommendation: Read this book! Read it for the story of a man and his brother fighting to overcome the odds. Read it for what you’ll learn from it, and walk away with. Most of all, read it because it’s just a really good, well-written story!
When I read the synopsis for These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker, I knew it was a book I had to read. It ticked all the right boxes for me. Luckily, this book did not disappoint!
The plot was very interesting. Dan lives in an idyllic small village. Everyone is happy and friendly until a beautiful woman arrives at Dan’s door on the verge of death. Dan doesn’t tell anyone about her as he nurses her back to health. However, strange things start happening. The crops don’t grow right, and people are regaining painful memories they had long forgotten. When the mysterious woman convinces Dan to go back through the mountain, a place he had been tormented at and had escaped, to fetch his brother who is stuck there, Dan is torn. He misses his brother like crazy. All the while Dan is left wondering who this strange woman is who has a strong pull over him, and why does she want him to go back to the horrible place he came from to save his brother so badly.
How amazing does that plot sound!?! The plot for These Nameless Things was solid, and it helps very much that Shawn Smucker is a very talented writer. Smucker has a way with words. The way he wrote and described everything really helped make it easy to envision everything that was unfolding second by second. He was able to put so much description into everything, but Smucker doesn’t overdo it to the point where it becomes boring to read. He creates a very nice balance. I will say that the first third of the book is fairly slow pacing, but I kept reading because I did want to know more about Dan’s brother and how the mysterious woman was connected to everything. For my perseverance, I was richly rewarded. The last two thirds of the book really took off! I found myself hooked on every single word, hungry for as much as I could get. I did not want to put this book down at all. I had to know what was going to happen to everyone. Yes, some of it was predictable, but it was a fantastic read nonetheless. While I would have liked to read some sort of epilogue or had more knowledge in what happened to everyone some time later, I think These Nameless Things ends well enough, and everything is explained leading up to the ending.
I felt that every character in These Nameless Things was fleshed out very well. By the middle of the book (perhaps even sooner than that), I felt like I had become friends with everyone mentioned in the book. It was easy to picture each and every character as a real life person (mostly thanks to Shawn Smucker’s excellent writing again). I did feel that although the character of Dan was written superbly, he came across as a bit selfish for the most part. I felt like he put people in so much danger by keeping secrets. I did love Miho and Lucia very much. Miho seemed to be the biggest voice of reason throughout the book. I just loved Lucia because she made me feel hopeful and happy. Abe was my favorite character though. I loved how optimistic he could become and how much he cared for everyone. He was the leader of the village, and I admired how seriously he took this title. It was obvious how much love he had for all of his village. I would love an Abe in my life. He had such a soothing presence.
Trigger warnings for These Nameless Things include minor violence, death, a mention of rape, and alcoholism.
Overall, These Nameless Things is a highly interesting read that makes you reflect on your own feelings and how you react to them. With Shawn Smucker’s fantastic prose, this book makes it easy to get hooked. I would definitely recommend These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker to those aged 17+ who are after well written novels with a touch of philosophy.
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(A special thank you to the publisher for sending me a paperback of These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.)
Clear your schedule before you start…because once you get into this book you will not be able to put it down.
This story unfolds in such a way that you cannot put this book down, you have to keep reading to find the answers to the mounting questions. Hauntingly well told, we can all relate to these characters and their journey. This story is also quite literally a journey of survival, but also beautifully symbolic. It’s a story of guilt, regrets, grief, grace, and learning to come to terms with it all and find forgiveness and love. Thoroughly thought-provoking and inspiring, right to the last page.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
***3.5 stars!***
I was unprepared for the journey this book took me on and the feelings it’s left me with. I’m discombobulated to say the least!
I assumed (I know *rolls eyes*! Rule number one: never assume anything.) after reading the blurb that the story was thriller-esque. Oh my, how wrong (and a tad *pinches fingers* right!) was I?
For me, this was one of those stories that sucks you in from the opening scene. I was accumulating question after question that I needed the answers to.
What is this place the villagers have escaped from? Why can’t they remember? Why stay? How are Dan and the others connected?
Yet more questions were raised as truths were revealed and clues given. Ahhh, the suspense was killing me! *yanks hair*
Two words kept going round and round my head: actions and consequences. Actions have consequences and there may come a day when we each have to answer for the decisions we make in life. Deep, huh?
The author vividly brought this world alive with his writing and the complex characters contained within, but can I tell you a secret? I didn’t feel a sense of connection with any of them even as I ‘listened’ intently to Dan’s story. It makes me question if we were meant to or take this story as a warning. Or, as is my wont, I’m overthinking this *shrugs*. Yeah, that’s probably more it.
Hope, atonement, guilt, and forgiveness are all strong themes in this story. We always have to have hope because without it what’s left?
*sighs*
Well, thank you once again for tuning into another episode of Laura’s Cryptic Reviews *snorts*.
Sorry! I know I jest, but this is one book that will leave you thinking long after the last page has been turned. What you decide is up to you.
“These Nameless Things” by Shawn Smucker, is a book that makes us think hard about how the human mind is capable of containing so many memories. Where does it all fit inside the human brain? Into what hidden corners, crevices, nooks and crannies do we cram these so-very-poignant recollections of love, sadness, anger, horror or joy? And where do memories escape to when we choose to forget them. How do they come rushing back with all their bitter pain, so very often unbidden? Are we embarrassed by the things we did in the burdensome past, the unforgettable choices we made, for better or for worse, things we would much rather forget than remember. This book serves as a mirror to Dante’s “Inferno”, providing hope for our own personal dilemmas, and confronting us with the questions our own hearts often ask with such passionate fervor about guilt, forgiveness, hope, and love.
“Abandon Every Hope, Who Enter Here”
“Do you have any idea what our freedom cost?”
“It’s the kind of place you have to leave on your own. Everyone who has ever left has battled their own way out. In this place, our guilt consumes us.”
“Love changed me.”
These are just a few of the quotes that resonated with me as I read this book. This book is very thought-provoking as it deals with guilt, grief, personal demons, forgiveness and redemption.
Dan escaped the mountain long ago, but can’t leave the village he calls home because he is waiting for his brother, Adam, to join him. As he waits, he learns that the few people left in the village are waiting for Adam’s return also. Dan slowly learns how their stories join them together while at the same time remembering his part in the tragic events.
Dan decides that he must return to the horrors of the mountain in order to bring Adam out. His journey leads him into the depths of his own personal hell.
I will admit that the book had a slow start and I found some of the more descriptive passages to be a little bit tedious. But, the writing was beautifully descriptive and the emotions that evolved while reading were well worth sticking with it until the end.
I did not realize until the end of the book that it was based on Dante’s “Inferno”. (Maybe because I have never read “Inferno”). It has a post-apocalyptic feel to it but is much, much more than that. I know that the message of this book will stay with me for a long time.
This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing/Revell, through Interviews and Reviews.
Each of us must choose…
I’m just going to be honest right up front. Even now, a few days after finishing, I still have no clue what to make of this book. The storytelling was good and kept me engaged, but…I just didn’t get it.
When I started reading These Nameless Things I assumed it would be a suspense in the vein of Ted Dekker, and it sort of was. But, even more than that it’s an allegory and is loosely based on Dante’s The Divine Comedy. And that’s where I got a bit lost. First, I’ve always been terrible with understanding allegory as my concrete mind tends to take fiction at face value. Second, I know pretty much nothing about The Divine Comedy, other than it was quite political in its day.
So, where does that leave me? I can honestly say that I did like the book in general. At the end I had many more questions, about almost everything, than I did answers. But, the message that really stood out to me is that every single one of us are bound by chains of loss, guilt, pain, regret, denial, etc. and that each of us must choose whether we will break free of those chains or let them drag us deeper into the pit.
Shawn Smucker’s latest novel is not one to read lightly. It’s not a fluff piece by any means. If you are good with allegory, like stories with a deeper meaning, and are up for a darker novel that still manages to be filled with hope, this book just might be right up your alley.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Author Smucker writes stories that are out of my usual genre, which usually has to have something to do with romance. But his stories are so different and intriguing that I cannot help but be captured in their pages.
These Nameless Things, even the title is mesmerizing, we are taken on a journey that is almost magical and mythical and certainly imaginative. No there is no magic or anything like that but it was a story that had a deep and resounding message that did speak to my heart. I had a hard time putting the story down as I just wanted to keep reading and see where this journey led the characters and me the reader.
The author states that this story is somewhat based on Dante’s Inferno, which I have not had the privilege to read yet. It also seemed to have hints of Greek mythos and the storytelling was very reminiscent of one of my favorite shows, a long time ago, Lost. If you are looking for a lyrical read with an almost fairy tale like quality with hard truths to look at, then you will not be disappointed.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
This is the most unique and unusual book that I have read in 2020, and perhaps in the past several years. It almost defies classification, and although I have a rather terrible memory, I know that this story is one that will remain with me, and one that I will be pondering for a long time to come. Since this is my first Shawn Smucker read, I don’t know if his other books are similar, but I intend to find out! “These Nameless Things” is a stunning amalgamation of allegory, dystopian, magical realism, and psychological horror. While reading, I found myself jotting down one quotation after another because the writing is so poetically profound. This is one of the few books that I plan to read again, likely more than once, and I anticipate discovering more details each time. As such, this novel would make an excellent choice for a book club or discussion group.
Smucker has taken an age-old question and written a compelling narrative around it, addressing it from the future-set prologue: “Have you ever, for a flash of time, understood the significance of being? The miracle of existing?” Perhaps the best part of the story is looking back from the last page and realizing how the many subtleties click into place. “These Nameless Things” brings to mind the essence of several famous stories, including Plato’s Cave and Dante’s “Inferno.” It has a Twilight-Zone ambiance and an intentional timelessness to it. While it has vague references to Scripture and is a clean read, I find that the story is more thematically spiritual, with overarching Christian symbolism that is for the most part subtle. By this I mean that believers will easily recognize it, and those not of the faith will most likely enjoy the story for its own sake because there is no overt proselytizing.
Along with the themes, some of the other aspects of this striking novel that appealed to me include the chapter titles and the anthropomorphism. I cannot remember the last adult fiction book I read that had chapter titles, and it was both refreshing and appreciated. It took me a while to understand what was happening in the novel, and for a while in the beginning I felt baffled, which is intentional on the author’s part and will make sense later on, and the titles helped to bring some comprehension amidst the surreal atmosphere. As an aside, the cover is beautifully done, depicting the haunting essence of the story, with the mountain looming in the background, an ominous juggernaut. “These Nameless Things” is ultimately a story about secrets, guilt, and forgiveness. Dan, the first-person narrator, relates that “The secrets piled up inside of me. They hibernated into cocoons, transforming into things that had lives of their own.” Later on, another character tells him that “In this place, our guilt consumes us…The only thing that can rescue anyone from this deep darkness is grace.” This is the redemptive message of “These Nameless Things”: hope in the power of confronting and confessing our guilt, and hope in the unmerited gift of grace.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.
These Nameless Things
By Shawn Smucker
Dan is waiting for the brother he left behind. Adam went back while he and the others escaped the torture and captivity that they had existed in on the mountain. Now those that have not continued on, live in the shadow of the mountain. Life is simple and uncluttered but their memories of before are just not there.
But everything is about to change when a stranger stumbles out of the edges of the mountain. Memories start to awaken among the survivors and Dan is troubled with what he knows and what he is remembering. But Dan isn’t the only one who has started to remember and the memories all seem to have a person in common.
These Nameless Things is a book that makes you stop and take notice. There is an underlying spiritual thread throughout that the reader follows to the end. I had suspicions as to where this was headed but that in no way detracted from the reading experience.
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Shawn Smucker and I have yet to be disappointed in what he has put forth. All his books have been in the Speculative Fiction genre and well worth reading. This one focuses on guilt and forgiveness. What will one do to protect the ones one loves? And what of the consequences? These are matters most people will face, These Nameless Things presented all of these in a way that captured and held this reader’s attention from the first page until the end.
If you like Ted Dekker or James L. Rubart you will most likely enjoy These Nameless Things.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This is a book that definitely made me think! In his author’s note, Shawn Smucker talks about how Dante’s Inferno influenced this story and even though I haven’t read that classic, I am certainly intrigued with this book with its themes of grief, guilt, hope, and forgiveness. Dan is a person consumed by doubts and guilt and he blames himself for a tragedy that occurred because he allowed his brother Adam to fly a plane while he was under the influence of alcohol. After Dan and several others flee a mountain village that sounds a lot like purgatory, Dan feels even more guilt because he left his brother behind to endure the torture of that place. Even as he dreads the thought of returning, he can’t forget that his brother is still there and he feels that he is the one who must save him.
Smucker has created several memorable characters for These Nameless Things but two are especially intriguing to me. Kathy is a deceitful person who isn’t as she seems and Abe is patient, wise, and forgiving. Much of the first part of this book relates to Dan’s efforts to save Adam and the second half shows the travelers regaining memories of their past lives as they journey to a land that promises love and forgiveness. I must say that the ending scenes are especially poignant and thought-provoking!
I had many questions left unanswered and I’m sure there will be many interpretations of this story. I recommend These Nameless Things to all who enjoy fantasy and allegorical fiction.
I received a copy of this book through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed are my own opinion.
These Nameless Things is my first novel by Shawn Smucker. I was not sure what to expect when I opened its pages so I was not prepared for the mysterious journey the words of the author carried me. His prose is lush and descriptive with a brooding atmosphere. Most of the time I felt like I was wandering in the dark, not certain what was actually happening. For every question that was answered, I had several more for which I wanted answers.
This tale is about a small group of people who have escaped a tormented captivity from “the moutain”. Yet these same people have elected to live almost in sight of their former prison in a sort of limbo in which they are waiting. Dan, the main character, knows he is waiting for his brother who was left behind but is uncertain why the others have not headed east. As the story progresses, the reader does learn how the seemingly unrelated characters are actually connected.
I am still not sure what I really think about this book. It definitely asks questions that we need to ask ourselves. Ultimately it is an allegory that illustrates the choices we make and their consequences, heaven and hell, and ultimately a story about forgiveness, sacrifice, and hope.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
“In this place, our guilt consumes us.”
This has the feel of Dante’s Inferno weaving throughout the plot and I loved the nostalgic backdrop to that. The setting is shrouded in mystery. A small cluster of homes on the outskirts of a mountain… a mountain that everyone in this village has escaped a torturous existence from.
The majority of the book is based around these individuals who seem to have been held hostage in a mountain and though no one can remember what happened to them in the mountain they all agree that it was horrible and torturous. They made it as far as this tiny village and are all waiting for something, especially Dan. Dan is waiting for his brother to escape. As the pages turn, odd things start occurring in the village that have never occurred before and a feeling of the end looms over the characters.
This may have been one of the most thought provoking and frustrating books I have read this year. I have a personal frustration with not knowing what is going on and a good bit of the book is based in this amnesic mystery. I am by all calculations impatient. So this aspect is purely reader preference. When things finally start coming to light and my little lightbulb came on I still had a few unanswered questions by the end but honestly that is where the thought provoking comes in.
The themes of this novel are steeped in human fears, grief, forgiveness and the consequences of actions. Coming to terms and acceptance of things in and out of our control was masterfully penned in these pages. I have to admit that Smucker is a talented writer and his prose kept me glued to the pages as I read. I plan to add more of his work to my shelf in the future and am glad I picked this one up.
Thank you to Shawn Smucker and Revell Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion. True rating is 3.5/5, rounded for Bookbub.
This is a hard book for me to categorize. I really enjoyed the story but was confused at times as to what was really going on in the lives of the people in this town. I loved the main characters but as the story progressed it was hard to know who they really were. Could what was happening be real or was this someone’s imagination. This really kept me wondering who and what these people were. This definitely kept my interest. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell, for providing a complimentary review copy through the Revell Reads Blogger Program. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.
I had heard good things about Shawn Smucker’s “The Light From Distant Stars”, but, I have not yet read it. This is the first book I’ve read from the author.
The premise was interesting – Dan being held captive, his escape, leaving his brother, hoping his brother escapes, and the arrival of a mystery woman. I honestly wanted to see where this was coming from and where it was going. Yet, that’s what I spent most of the time reading the novel wondering about – what were the nameless things and where was this novel going to end up? Where were we going on how were we going to get there?
Let me just state this – this is a very well written, descriptive novel given the topic being dealt with.
Since it is a Revell title, immediately I knew it’d be a clean read and also thought there would be some Christian/Faith themes in it. It is more of a “magical realism” read though. For someone who has read a lot of Christian Fiction, this doesn’t seem to cover anything in that genre. There are no scriptures, church references, or even mentions of God.
The cover is absolutely stunning, yet haunting and surreal. It makes the reader wonder what the correlation is to the title and premise.
I didn’t seem to connect with any of the characters. They seemed like, outside of the situation they were in, they could be great people. But, they also seemed flat and empty. They were just “there” so to speak – people for Dan to converse with or to move the story along. Dan was obsessed with waiting for his brother to leave or be released. The story is told entirely from Dan’s POV in first person.
The other people’s voices were the stories they told him or his interactions with them. They didn’t seem to have much of a background and noticeably there were no concerned and/or connected family members. No jobs, no real source of income. So, this should’ve been a hint to me as to what I was reading about.
It was hard to connect with these people as I had virtually no clue what was going on. The author states this book has a “connection” to Dante’s Inferno, a book I’ve never read.
By chapter six (6), I was beginning to have a lot of questions – what were these people doing on the mountain, what place did they escape from, what were they running from, what were they doing there, how did they even get to where they were coming from? Jobs? Family? Where are they?
What was with the “leaving” ceremony?
This was a grand ceremony as the people there weren’t made to stay forever. It was an “in between” space – from the mountain to the place “East”. It involves a bonfire with people burning their possessions, even books. And, I honestly couldn’t get into this.
One woman, Mary, was able to leave.
Admittedly, I wanted to just stop at this point. I honestly felt lost reading it. Still, I kept going. I didn’t know what to make of it. I really wanted to like this book and tried to see where the author was going. What was he trying to tell us?
Most of the memories at the close of part one (1) seemed to revolve around Dan’s brother and a plane crash (Adam was the pilot) that occurred –
Circe – lost a daughter
Mrs. B – lost her husband
Misha – first responder
Miho – lost her mother
Po – lost his wife
We find these people have also been waiting for Dan’s brother (Adam) to leave the mountain. It was a freak storm that brought the memories. It was also a storm that seemed to have caused the events prior to the novel.
In part two (2), Dan goes back to the mountain to rescue his brother. This is spurned on by a woman (Kathy) who arrives in the village – actually, there are two (Kathy and Lucia). There is also a fire in the village that causes everyone to want to leave immediately despite an unspoken agreement to stay there and wait. And, another question emerges – more actually.
We then learn in part two (2) that there is no rescuing someone from “the mountain” – they can only leave of their own free will and by grace. They are held there by guilt. Yet another question pops up.
It is in this part that Dan fully recalls the events surrounding the plane crash – the reason for the existence of the people in this story, the reason his brother is “missing”. Dan is also responsible for the crash as well.
It is after this that the journey to bring Dan’s brother out really begins and the reader begins to have suspicions as to what is represented by the mountain, village, and the “moving East” part.
However, what isn’t explained is the people prior to Circe, Mrs. B, Mar (the one who left), Misha, Miho, and Po. There were others there that escaped the mountain, stayed in the village, and left. Again, more questions.
The ending is not something I can explain without giving it away. And, even right at the end, I didn’t know what I was supposed to be seeing or feeling. I didn’t know what was being accomplished.
I couldn’t figure out was Abe’s part in this story. That is never really explained. There were no real references for me as to who he was, how he got there, why he was there, and why he was seemingly the leader. More questions.
It had; for me; a dark, eerie, foreboding type of tone. It wasn’t a feel good read at all. I was still left with many questions. It is at times a slow-burn read and a rapid pace read.
Very seldom does a Revell title leave me this confused or “down”. If I had known what the tone of this was and the message – I probably wouldn’t have requested it, or read it. I am glad I got to read it, but not sure I would re-read it.
Fans of the genre and/or author might be interested in this book.
Shawn Smucker has a unique writing voice, bringing forth the suspense in this speculative fictional story. I liked how I was drawn into the story and got lost in the narrative, as I wanted to find answers and conclusions. The ending is satisfying after the intensity of the novel. I would not classify this as a light-hearted read, as the action and suspense can get almost eerie at times. It does make for a thrilling book, however! The themes of forgiveness and redemption are compelling, and the author does a great job crafting the allegorical aspect of the story. I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy the action of speculative fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
If you have not read a Shawn Smucker book before, there are a couple things you should now (and one specific to The Nameless Things). First, it you’re looking for a light read, this one isn’t it. Wait until your in a contemplative state of mind because Smucker gives your brain a workout with his lyrical prose and intricate plots.
Second, this author’s books are hard to set firmly into a genre. This particular book is part allegory, part speculative, and part literary. And specific to this one is the inspiration, which comes from Dante’s Inferno so if you’re not familiar with that piece of literature, you may want to visit Google first or pick up a copy of the classic if you really want to dig into it.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, These Nameless Things is an exploration of choices and how far they reach, of how guilt nudges us to hide instead of step into the light, of forgiveness and eternity. And I am positive that if I read this book again in another two weeks or months, I will get even more out of it.
Smucker drew me in and kept me there even while I tried to put together the pieces of this world of the mountain and those who leave. All of that while trying to figure out Dan’s story.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
My very first impression of Shawn Smucker’s These Nameless Things was that the imagery crafted within is positively astounding. It was not at all difficult to become immersed in this carefully crafted world, so thorough were Smucker’s descriptions. My second impression was that I did not enjoy this book, but I encourage you to roll with me as I explain a bit more. You see, These Nameless Things is not meant to be lightly read. It is utterly exhausting. Not because it is an untimely story or poorly written, but for the exact opposite reason. This book is an eloquent image of Dante’s Inferno, a timely parallel and a wake-up call to the beauty of the human creature that is so thoughtfully made in the image of God. Exhausting in the sense that every nuance is critical to the understanding of the value of a person and overwhelming beauty of grace and forgiveness, These Nameless Things is worth every moment of toil alongside the characters in order to appreciate the complex themes.
I particularly love how the characters grapple with the issue of forgiveness and grace, both the giving and receiving of these precious gifts that have the power to restore humanity. Not only to restore the recipient, but also to heal the heart and soul of the giver. These elements do not come naturally or easily to the flawed creature of humanity, and the toil involved in their exploration helps to highlight how very precious they are. Yes, These Nameless Things is exhausting, but is well worth digesting every hard earned sentence.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.