Customer Reviews

The Valley of Light

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am as excited about a new Terry Kay book, as when my kids listen to me. I wish he has a new book as often as that happens, I could be assured of at least 2 excellent reads a year. I bought Mr. Kay's book the day it arrived, finished it that day and was not disappointed. Every story he writes makes me want his characters for my new best friends.

I saw this among the selections for my bookclub and decided to read it ahead of time ~~ and this is definitely one of the best books I've read in 2004. It is way more than a fishing story (though I thought it was at first ... ) and it's a story about people, broken dreams and beauty.

Noah came to the Valley of Light, a little area in the Carolinas, in his travels. He had heard from his old friend about the lake there ~~ where there is this big mean bass there and no other fish around. Noah meets the townfolks and several of them are helped by his presence ~~ and for a short week, he becomes one of them.

It's a beautifully written novel ~~ full of light and grace as Noah remembers the war and as the other characters move forth into new lives. This is definitely one of the better reads and one I highly recommend for any time ~~ a trip to the beach, to the cottage, or for sitting by the fireplace. It's a book that is guaranteed to take you down memory lane and perhaps discover new things to think about.

10-20-04

Terry Kay is an excellent writer. His description of the area of NC-GA, is very true. His characters are very true. Whe I read VALLEY OF LIGHT, I read 100 pages very quickly. Then, I decided to slow down and savor the writing which is so beautiful. I will suggest this book to many friends and library patrons.
This is not the first book by Kay I have read, but it may be my favorite...well, THE RUNAWAY is a wonderful book; I would have to toss a coin for my favorite.

This was one of the top five books I have had the pleasure of reading over the past several years. It was an absolute delight.
I was raised in an area such as the setting of this book, during the time the story takes place (a small boy at the time). Mr. Kay has hit it absolutely perfectly. The story is haunting. The prose wonderful. He absolutely knows his characters, and I suspect does or did know them personally. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The only thing that could make it better would be a cup of coffee with the author on a Saturday morning. I cannot wait to read his previous work now, and hope he comes up with more like this one in the future.
Thank you Mr. Kay!!!

Fantastic imagery. Interesting, yet melancholy story set in a pituresque time and place. I highly recommend it!

This book is delightful. Terry Kay slowly and deliberately draws a tale that seems to be primarily about fishing, but is actually a story of the effect people have on each other and about life itself. A gifted fisherman comes into a small southern community and forever changes it and everyone in it. This book was a very satisfying read.

I have read every novel Mr. Kay has published to date. "The Valley of Light" is hands down my favorite. I reside in the Clay County of the book and Mr. Kay has captured our beautiful mountains and lakes with stunning clarity. The characters ring true to the adults of my childhood. People of this region do truly care about each other and lend a hand or a home cooked meal when its needed. They feel each others tragedies and triumphs. I regret that time and progress has changed the intimacy protrayed in this wonderful novel. His prose is magnificent and a pleasure to read. I couldn't put it down but also dreaded its coming to an end. I have praised it to all friends and family and recommended it heartily. However, they will have to find their own copy, nobody is borrowing mine. I shan't take a chance of losing it.

I just read in the marvelous "Rodan of Alexandria" paper in The Urantia Book this quote which reflects so well on Terry Kay's excellent new book "The Valley of Light," "Life is not real to one who cannot do some one thing well, expertly." Noah, the main character, is a veteran who has returned from the horrors of World War II. His parents are dead. His brother is in jail. He was never good at book learning, but God did give him one great talent. He can fish. When he puts his hands on the water, he pictures them and attunes himself to their world. Although it seems magical to those who cannot do the same thing, the fish respond to Noah. He catches fish where others thought none existed.

This is an excellent book. The characters are as deep as the waters in which Noah fishes. The journey begins with a guy named Hoke telling Noah about the Valley of Light, the fish and the people there. Noah sets off on this journey. We learn that Noah has a 6th sense, sometimes feels an invisible hand that touches him, as it does when he first sees Eleanor Cunningham.

We learn about Eleanor's history, her husband who died by the Lake of Grief, her talents at reading and words, her feelings of being in a marriage that was not quite right. We get deeply into the world of Taylor who runs the general store, his divorce, his love of people and ease at conversation. He befriends Noah and gives him a job. Thus, all of the people are in place who have brought this group to this moment. We see the people who have died and feel the power of their influence as it remains among the living.

Events unfold at a leisurely, contemplative pace, but with great care. Kay's language is superlative as when Noah relates about the "gunsmoke angels" from the war. By the time the tale concludes, we have shared a spiritual journey with Noah and the many characters. We have tasted their tribulation, but also have a sense of peace that things are right in the universe. This is a wonderful book. Bravo!

I went to a Tery Kay writing workshop recently and enjoyed it so much that I immediately began to read The Valley of Light. Towards the end I read very slowly because I literally ached at the thought of the novel ending. The characters are so finely crafted that I was afraid to drop the book for fear of shattering them like China. I am not usually a fiction reader, but I absolutely fell into this book, living and breathing the town and characters. One of the very best books I have ever read. Highly recommended.

I bought this book after seeing the Hallmark movie on T.V. which I throughly enjoyed. The movie was much like the book, with minor differences. Of course, the book had more details that explained the characters better. I'm not a fishing enthusiast, however, it was an interesting theme. I'm always looking for an appropriate book for my teenagers. There is one "PG-13" paragraph in the book where the main character, Noah, thinks back about a girl he use to know. Aside from this, it's a very "clean" book.