And Then Put Out the Light [Paperback]

Deborah Grabien (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 1993

And Then Put Out the Light explores identity,individuality, freedom; the ties of home, family, and expectation; and what it means to be a woman. Emily Moon-Bourne defines herself by the alienated people who ought to be a part of her life. She is the daughter of a Swedish alcoholic mother and a Native American father who disappeared frequently and for long periods throughout her childhood. She’s the ex-wife of a successful attorney who cheated on her with a woman almost half his age. She’s a woman who not only listens to but also names the vituperative voice in her head. She’s a sculptor who only creates representations of things that fly, and wonders about the anonymous buyer of one of her most disturbing pieces, a malevolent wasp. After her divorce, Emily decides to travel. From her starting point in the U.S, and on through England, France, and Italy, she meets women who are also on a journey of discovery, each pointing to new directions, new insights, and each helping her to uncover the secrets she has hidden from herself. At the same time, everywhere she goes she catches glimpses of a man who seems to be waiting for her. His name is Martin, and he is a secret, one she is determined to know as well as she is coming to know herself.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan; paperback / softback edition (July 2, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330328689
• ISBN-13: 978-0330328685
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,087,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A woman's quest with a wicked wasp and a mysterious man, July 9, 2011

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Michelle Boytim (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: And Then Put Out the Light (Paperback)

This is an interesting, but somewhat curious story. Emily is an sculptor, recently divorced who has decided that she needs to get away from her life and start anew. She begins traveling and meets several interesting women along the way of her travels in England and France who help her recognize and deal with her negative inner voice and her past. She is the child of a Swedish mother and an Indian father and has struggled with her disparate relationships. Her sculptures focus on creatures that fly and she becomes interested in finding out who bought a malevolent wood sculpture of a wasp that she got out a great deal of her anger towards her ex-husband. In her travels, a mysterious man keeps appearing, to whom she is very drawn to and curious about. As the story progresses, more and more touches of magical realism appear and I began to wonder what was a dream or madness and what was reality. I won't spoil the ending, but it was a wonderful, unusual book that drew me in and held me captive.