- Paperback: 346 pages
- Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (11 Nov. 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1542041171
- ISBN-13: 978-1542041171
Synopsis
When Nick’s wife Kerry falls ill and dies, he realises for the first time how fragile his happiness has always been, and how much he’s been taking his good life and wonderful family for granted. Now, he suddenly finds himself navigating parenthood alone, unsure how to deal with his own grief, let alone that of his teenage son, Olly.
In the depths of his heartbreak, Nick must find a way to navigate life that pleases his son, his in-laws, his family and his friends—while honouring what Kerry meant to them all. But when it comes to his own emotions, Nick doesn’t know where to begin. Kerry was his childhood sweetheart—but was she really the only one who could ever make him happy?
And in the aftermath of tragedy, can Nick and his son find themselves again?
Review
The Light in the Hallway is the fabulous new book from Amana Prowse. Nick looses his wife of eighteen years to cancer, and is left trying to understand his own grief and helping his eighteen year old son deal with his. At only thirty six, Nick has his whole life ahead of him but finds the grief process difficult to navigate especially when family have expectations of how he should feel and act. Nick wonders if he and his son Olly can ever find happiness again. This emotional read looks at how grief effects people in different ways and ultimately that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
What I enjoy about reading Amanda Prowse’s books is that she has to the skill to get into the human psyche and really understand human emotions. Grief is something we all have to deal with at some point in our life, and through Nick, Olly and their families we see the many ways people deal with it and how it can actually be divisive rather than bringing people together. Through her beautiful and empathetic prose Amanda catches the raw emotions of grief, the different emotions experienced as you work through it, and ultimately the hope that is at the end of the journey.
As a character I had huge sympathy for Nick. His wife was only in her early thirties when she died, and he now finds himself on his own with his son. Not only is he dealing the loss of his wife but his son is leaving home to start university. Nick and Kate married and had Olly at eighteen so Nick has never been on his own before. The title The Light in the Hallway refers to the light that was always on in his home when he came home from work to his family, now he just has Treacle the dog. This light is no longer there and the dark cold house represents his feelings of loss. As well as this present day plot line there is the story of Nick, and his best friends Eric and Alex when they were children and spent the summer building a bike for them to ride. This shows the juxtaposition of a carefree childhood, the freedom to enjoy life with no worries, against the present where Nick and Eric are making difficult life choices.
The Light in the Hallway is a beautiful and emotional read. Amanda Prowse is a master at this genre in her ability to understand people and emotions and bring them off the page and into the readers heart. A heartfelt read, about life, loss, love, family and hope that will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. Another brilliant book from Amanda!!
