Reviews

A Bright Ray of Darkness by Ethan Hawke

isaac_tee's review against another edition

4.25

This book completely shocked me. I listened to the audio version and was very happy when Ethan Hawke was the narrator. I knew next to nothing about him before reading this book and did not know what to expect. His writing, the themes of the novel, vivid scenes and conversations with characters sucked me in. Not to mention the fact that he, a very privileged actor, was able to write in a way that made me feel a tinge of sympathy. 

sherry_shaji's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

stamouliswill's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I read this over the course of about 4 hours, and initially I was struck by how vulgar it all was, and how much I felt like it relied on shock value and debauchery to illustrate the spiral that William endures. By the end of it, however, it becomes a treatise on the power of the theatre, and the value that comes from losing yourself in a production, while also adequately capturing the depression that comes with it ending. This book left me feeling drained but appreciative in an oddly compelling way. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual content

lesleyann's review

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I was really surprised with how much I liked the way Ethan Hawke writes. Some parts just blew me away !  

I loveeeee unlikeable characters because they are fun to read about and interesting, and William, oh boyyyyy. He is soo unlikeable and self centered I actually laughed out loud at how absurd some of the things he said and thought are. I also loved how he had no idea he was the bad guy until a bunch of high schoolers booed him 😭😭 truly incredible and perfect for a man in his position. I would have rated it higher but I hated they way women were written and how one dimensional they are. I get that that's how William saw/used women in those moments but.... it was hard to read.

vlatka5's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

arye97's review

challenging hopeful reflective relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm not convinced a single conversation between characters written in this book is at all how human beings actually speak to one another. It's very strange, everyone in his life has something philosophical to say and somehow they're all written like they're the same person, with similar intentions and desires.

It was interesting seeing the main character, William, realize he was infact the villain of his own story, and following his journey around accepting his situation was well done. 

If anything, it's made me want to read Shakespeare. 

3/5 Stars

tawattt's review

3.5

i did not expect his writing style to be this good. 

this is a story about a movie star who has cheated on his rockstar wife and is on his way to his first shakespearean play on broadway. 

okay so i actually like it but one problem is the way he writes women (ofc). all the men get to be everything and the women are just one dimensional and all they are is sexy. another problem is the creepy sex scenes lmao. also every single character just wouldn’t stop talkingggg. they just talk and talk and talk. they’re all just philosophical and you just want to sleeeeppp.  

angus_mckeogh's review

5.0

Great novel about a narcissistic actor with a self-esteem problem. Had a whole section with a play within the narrative (and I’ve previously stated how much I dislike that trope) but it was superbly done. I’d say in my opinion Hawke is a better author than actor. Good stuff.

zimmy_stewart's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

nataliebonetti's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0