Review by monisha_jegadeesan -- Spirit of the Season
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monisha_jegadeesan
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Review by monisha_jegadeesan -- Spirit of the Season
[Following is a volunteer review of "Spirit of the Season" by Brian Lamont.]
Brian Lamont delights us with a beautiful heart-warming read in the Spirit of the Season. Set in what I gauged to possibly be the 18th century, it is a third-person narrative that follows the life of a candle maker from childhood to old age, gleefully detailing the trials and tribulations that he experiences in his lifetime. The author takes us through comradery, marriage, labour, passion and acclamation in the candle maker’s life, journeying us through his progression from being an innocent boy to the persevering self that he becomes at the end of the book.
The main character is introverted yet selfless. The difficulties he faces in conforming to societal interactions and the everchanging world around him have been portrayed admirably - the average reader will definitely grow to love him. At various places, the spirit of the tale pleasantly reminds one of classic literature. The most noteworthy aspect of the book is that it is no ordinary story - the narrative surprises the reader at regular intervals with recognizable realizations, leading to a final such realization which puts everything in perspective.
Although it is overall a joyful read, the author does not shy away from the realistic expression of grief, addressing the occasional darkness of life, and the raw tenderness of human existence. While the tale itself is fairly straightforward, the takeaways are numerous if one is patient enough to engage in deeper scrutiny. For instance, the novel does a wonderful job of depicting the social nature of humans, the interdependence of human sustenance, and most of all - the impact that the smallest of actions can have in one’s life.
It starts off at a colourful stimulating pace, but slows down significantly in the middle to the point of seeming stretchy, and somewhat picks up again towards the end. At some places, the story delves into repetitive and seemingly irrelevant diversions that appear slightly tedious to the reader. While the tale in itself has the potential to be a powerful masterpiece, the literary presentation could have been better.
The vocabulary as such is not too elementary, but the language is artless at many places - sometimes with minor grammatical inconsistencies, especially in the first half of the book. Nevertheless, readers looking for a breezy feel-good read will find the book appealing. Overall, I would give it 3 out of 4 stars, taking away one star for the literary quality and inconsistent pace.
******
Spirit of the Season
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Brian Lamont delights us with a beautiful heart-warming read in the Spirit of the Season. Set in what I gauged to possibly be the 18th century, it is a third-person narrative that follows the life of a candle maker from childhood to old age, gleefully detailing the trials and tribulations that he experiences in his lifetime. The author takes us through comradery, marriage, labour, passion and acclamation in the candle maker’s life, journeying us through his progression from being an innocent boy to the persevering self that he becomes at the end of the book.
The main character is introverted yet selfless. The difficulties he faces in conforming to societal interactions and the everchanging world around him have been portrayed admirably - the average reader will definitely grow to love him. At various places, the spirit of the tale pleasantly reminds one of classic literature. The most noteworthy aspect of the book is that it is no ordinary story - the narrative surprises the reader at regular intervals with recognizable realizations, leading to a final such realization which puts everything in perspective.
Although it is overall a joyful read, the author does not shy away from the realistic expression of grief, addressing the occasional darkness of life, and the raw tenderness of human existence. While the tale itself is fairly straightforward, the takeaways are numerous if one is patient enough to engage in deeper scrutiny. For instance, the novel does a wonderful job of depicting the social nature of humans, the interdependence of human sustenance, and most of all - the impact that the smallest of actions can have in one’s life.
It starts off at a colourful stimulating pace, but slows down significantly in the middle to the point of seeming stretchy, and somewhat picks up again towards the end. At some places, the story delves into repetitive and seemingly irrelevant diversions that appear slightly tedious to the reader. While the tale in itself has the potential to be a powerful masterpiece, the literary presentation could have been better.
The vocabulary as such is not too elementary, but the language is artless at many places - sometimes with minor grammatical inconsistencies, especially in the first half of the book. Nevertheless, readers looking for a breezy feel-good read will find the book appealing. Overall, I would give it 3 out of 4 stars, taking away one star for the literary quality and inconsistent pace.
******
Spirit of the Season
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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