The Language of Light: A Novel [Paperback]

Meg Waite Clayton (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 28, 2011

FINALIST FOR THE BELLWETHER PRIZE

Nelly Grace is starting over. With her two young sons, Nelly has fled to the simple stone house built by her great-grandfather in the moneyed horse country of Maryland in order to escape the grief of her husband’s death—and perhaps find a way back to her first love: photography. Easing her transition into this strange, mannered world is Emma Crofton, the grand matriarch of the foxhunting community, and Emma’s son, Dac, a handsome yet distant horse trainer. As Nelly slowly makes her way back to the camera, she must come to terms with her troubled relationship with her father, a photojournalist who chose fame over family. But when she finally sees him again, Nelly’s fragile new beginning is threatened by revelations of a secret past, and the fears that kept it hidden.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Will delight readers searching for a story with meaning, character, and drama.”—Bookreporter

"Richly atmospheric, gorgeously written, and filled with characters so real they breathe on the page...as luminous as a perfect photograph shimmering with true light."—Caroline Leavitt, author of Girls In Trouble and Pictures of You

“An engaging and compassionate portrait of an artist learning to embrace the full potential of her power. Meg Waite Clayton writes with a photographer’s precision, clarity, and care.”—A. Manette Ansay, author of Good Things I Wish You
 
“The Language of Light shines on, a wonderfully knowing action photograph that has emerged from the darkroom as words.”—Baltimore Sun

"The combination of interesting characters, an intriguing, ever-changing plot, and the elements of photography so beautifully captured in this novel, allow me to share that this novel is well recommended." --Joseph's Reviews

About the Author

Meg Waite Clayton lived for several years on a horse farm in northern Maryland. She now lives in Palo Alto and Santa Barbara with her husband and two young sons. She is a University of Michigan Law School graduate, and her stories have appeared in The Virginia Quarterly Review, The Literary Review, and elsewhere. The Language of Light, a finalist for the 2002 Bellwether Prize, is her first novel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (June 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345526643
• ISBN-13: 978-0345526649
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Meg Waite Clayton is the nationally bestselling author of four novels: THE FOUR MS. BRADWELLS, THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, the Bellwether Prize finalist THE LANGUAGE OF LIGHT, and the forthcoming THE WEDNESDAY DAUGHTERS (all Random House Reader's Circle selections and major book club picks). Her books have been translated into languages from German to Lithuanian to Chinese. She's written for The Los Angeles Times, The San Jose Mercury News, The Miami Herald, Writer's Digest, Runner's World, The Literary Review, and public radio, and for Ms. and Forbes online. A graduate of the University Michigan and its law school, she lives in Palo Alto, California. www.megwaiteclayton.com; facebook.com/novelistmeg; @megwclayton

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#44 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Literary Fiction

#74 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

#44 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Literary Fiction

#74 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars As subtle as its title November 7, 2003

By Deborah Grabien

Format:Hardcover

I went into this one thinking I would like it, and came out the other end in a state that closely resembled purring. It has a light, lovely feel to it, with a sense of things that matter, delicately drawn.

Written with a sure hand, both language and milieu.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, comfortable, mastery of writing April 21, 2008

By Bay area

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read this book when it first came out, and recently found myself picking it up again. I can not say enough wonderful comments about this reading experience. The writing style has you believeing you are sitting there, experiencing life as in the writing, experiencing the rain drops on the windshield, compelling and really did not want the story to end. This is a MUST read.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Woman's Journey to Artistic Expression November 30, 2003

By Leslie Lytle

Format:Hardcover

The Language of Light takes us into the world of a widowed mother and aspiring photojournalist in her struggle to answer the disparate callings of parenthood, love, and devotion to her art. Nelly Grace's relationship with her deceased husband haunts her. She loved him deeply, but he seemed to dismiss her photography as merely a hobby. Nelly wrestles with guilt over her passion to pursue her creative impetus. Her children need her. If she follows the calling of the photographer's voice within her, will she follow in the footsteps of her too often absent father? What would allowing herself to become involved with the charming and enigmatic Dac Crofton mean to her art and her life? The Language of Light frames the universal question of self-expression in a tender and compelling narrative about one woman's journey. Finally, it is to herself-a self she is only beginning to know-that Nelly is true.