Review: In the Available Light by Grayson Scott

My Review: 

This book is an absolute gem. I was fully invested in every moment, and found myself in tears when it ended--but good tears. The characters were real and vibrant, and every sentence touched my heart in a way that made me feel everything they were going through.

The author does such an amazing job at letting these characters breathe and is astute in putting us in the depths of their minds. My heart ached when theirs broke, and my spirits soared when they smiled. By no means is this a sad story. It's about a father who would do anything for his son, no matter what.

Abuse is something overlooked in relationships when it's happening to men. We live in a world where men are told to suck it up. They're "men". If they let a woman hurt them, then they're less of a man and probably deserved it. But how dare we say that to them and turn right around and embrace women who lie about it. Abuse is abuse, no matter which side it's from.

I absolutely love this book. The hardships Alan and his father went through were terrible, but the happiness, the joy between the moments of darkness... that's what made me love this story. It's the light that fills their darkness that gives this book meaning.

I highly recommend this read for anyone. Everyone. This is the kind of book that deserves every eye to read it. This book is a treasure amidst rubble, and I hope you decide to love it not for its shimmer, but for its worth.

---

Summary: 

Mark Soderlind has lived a life unremarkable. Existing one day at a time, only hoping to stay out of the way of those society considers important, worthy, and necessary. Mark silently goes to work and does his best to take care of the only joy in his life: his young son Alan. The two of them have managed to build a small world together where they look out for each other as only a father and son can.

However, genius is often found in the quietest and most unexpected places. When Alan’s new teacher discovers a secret that Alan has been hiding from everyone, Mark and Alan’s sheltered world is shattered. Suddenly faced with the burden of knowing his son is anything but unremarkable, Mark must learn to move beyond the mistakes and failures of his past before they his son's future.
​

Amazon