Customer Reviews

Reading by Lightning

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I never write reviews, but I had to comment after reading the last review. I thought this book was amazing! I was engaged from the get-go: I found the author's writing style so engrossing I couldn't shake the character's voices even when I wasn't reading the book. I couldn't put it down! I was instantly pulled into the story, and the relationships within a small harsh community. Lily Piper's voice is so compelling, and the amazing details the author inserts create such an evocative backdrop for the story. Every moment in this book lends itself to the story as a whole, not an instant or observation is wasted, and yet the narrative isn't forced. It's impossible not to sympathize with the spirited Lily Piper, who is constantly yearning to find her place within her family and larger community. To call this a coming of age tale does not do justice to the narrative of this novel, which explores the concept of self-definition: how do any of us, individually or collectively, define our place in the world?

The audience does not need to have had difficult parental relationships, have experienced harsh religion or the realities of war to be pulled into the emotional landscape that the author creates with such nuance for these events. The characters are so layered and believable; the author does a remarkable job of encouraging affection for often flawed individuals - just as you would feel for your own family!

Ultimately this book (and that last scene!) left me with an intense optimism - we make ourselves and our homes. Lily Piper is a protagonist full of strength and curiosity, and her observations of the world around her are constantly clever and heartbreaking, all at once. This is most definitely an adult book, but one I would recommend for anyone who once knew the yearning of the teenage experience. Reading by Lightning is simply a fantastic novel.

Shortly after I read Joan Thomas' new book, I saw the DVD of "Atonement", a movie based on the novel by the Booker Prize winner and English writer,Ian McEwan. I could not help but compare the two. Both are set mainly in the time leading up to and including the chaos of World War II, although "Reading by Lightning" has the added benefit, for me, of starting out on a farm on the Canadian Prairies. I especially loved the early scenes where Lily Piper struggles within the confines of her fundamentalist family and community.

I had read the book "Atonement" much earlier and liked it, and also liked the movie very much, but I remember saying to myself, "Joan's book is better! It could be made into an Oscar winner!"

That got me thinking about why I enjoyed it so much. I could easily list the similarities between McEwan's and Thomas' writing:

a) captivating protagonist

b) meticulous historical research that supports but does not overwhelm the story

c) sympathetic and just-flawed-enough characters

d) brilliant and humorous insights into what it means to be in love and human

e) compulsive readability

f) precise, clear-minded, understated,elegant prose.

I have recommended "Reading by Lightning" many times, to friends and book clubs and they have all enjoyed it. And my immediate admiration has since been validated. The book has been nominated for several 2009 Manitoba book awards, won Thomas a trip to New Zealand to accept the award for best first novel in the Commonwealth, won a place on the year-long "On the Same Page" promotion (which seeks to get as many Manitobans reading a worthwhile local author - sort of like CBC's "Canada Reads") and recently won a prize by Amazon for best first Canadian novel.

""Reading by Lightning" - Now a Major Motion Picture!!!" I like the sound of that. Thank you, Joan Thomas, for a great book.

Oh yes, by the way, although Joan Thomas used to be an English teacher, her text does not follow standard rules of punctuation for dialogue. But it does not detract from the power of the writing.

Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas, published by Goose Lane Editions, made its way into my mailbox from Mini Book Expo. It's a coming of age novel at a time that the world is on the brink of World War II, particularly in England.

It took me a long while to get into this book, more than 100 pages, which was disheartening. In Book One readers will wander through Lily Piper's musings and her interactions or lack thereof with her parents. The wavering narrative and tangents of Lily drag on for long stretches, and readers may have a hard time following along. Her relationship with her mother is cantankerous at times and Lily is often portrayed as a wayward child led by the sin in her heart. There are a number of instances where Lily wanders off with boys alone, which in many ways should ruin her reputation.

"Wonderful for your maidenly inhibitions (going to hand me the flask and then reaching around me to unscrew it himself and in the process circling me with both arms). The way we tussled around and he pressed the mouth of the flask to my mouth and I resisted or pretended to resist, whiskey meanwhile sliding hotly in through my lips and dribbling down my chin and onto my bathing suit." (Page 88)

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