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frank_l's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readcaffeinated's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shuakam's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gigivu's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
My Face in the Light by Martha Schabas is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that makes readers question their own beliefs and biases. Schabas has created a captivating story of love, loss, and self-discovery that kept me turning the pages late into the night. The characters are vivid and relatable, and the plot is compelling. The characters are well-developed and their journeys are thought-provoking. As the story progresses, the themes of family, identity, and self-acceptance are explored in a way that is both honest and heartfelt. Schabas has a beautiful writing style that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged until the very last page. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an emotionally engaging read.
kunleidoscope's review
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
a quietly moving narrative about Justine Weiss, a thirtysomething esteemed actress who is weary of the pretence around her career and her marriage. she flees her home in Toronto, Canada to embark on a meaning-searching journey in London, England. in the periphery is her estranged relationship with her mother - an artist of impulsive nature, and the irrevocable scar on her forehead as remnant from a childhood accident.
the novel felt somewhere between a fictional narrative and a compilation of reflective entries. and, as what some critics may say: nothing really happens throughout the book. a lot of what i thought would hold a profound significance in the novel never really ended up having the clear resolution that i had anticipated. initially it did strike me as somewhat disappointing, but upon pondering i realized that this is precisely makes this novel electrifying. it captures so much similarity with how reality actually unfolds: a myriad of small mysteries that we attempt to search the meaning for despite not quite arriving at clarity, always brimming with the the most ordinary epiphanies and the most breathtaking moments among mundanity.
we have been advised against judging a book by its cover but the aura of this book is almost perfectly captured by the pastel watercolour wash of the cover design. the narrative echoed the subtle hopefulness of daylight, underlined with the tranquility that emerges after a chaotic night.
the entire book was filled with breathtaking prose. each scene is embellished with rich details and thus pulses with vividness. you come home to the most intimate thoughts of the protagonist and you experience her internal turmoil and revelations as though they were your own - in all her loves and fears, confusions and clarity, hesitation and impulses, pretence and confessions - and under a certain light her experiences refract into your own. an example: "and in that moment, i could have choked on the fear of my inadequacy -- the premonition that my life would consist of half loves and false passions, and that i was doomed to watch people the way i was watching Rachel now: a curious observer of other people's desires but never quite sure how to plant the seeds of my own."
finally, a character from the novel said: "and i started wondering if that's actually why art is beautiful to me. it makes me recognize some feeling or idea i always suspected existed but can't prove. the art had to prove it for me." and this describes precisely what i felt about Schabas's writing, and why i found this book to be beautiful. (less) [edit]
the novel felt somewhere between a fictional narrative and a compilation of reflective entries. and, as what some critics may say: nothing really happens throughout the book. a lot of what i thought would hold a profound significance in the novel never really ended up having the clear resolution that i had anticipated. initially it did strike me as somewhat disappointing, but upon pondering i realized that this is precisely makes this novel electrifying. it captures so much similarity with how reality actually unfolds: a myriad of small mysteries that we attempt to search the meaning for despite not quite arriving at clarity, always brimming with the the most ordinary epiphanies and the most breathtaking moments among mundanity.
we have been advised against judging a book by its cover but the aura of this book is almost perfectly captured by the pastel watercolour wash of the cover design. the narrative echoed the subtle hopefulness of daylight, underlined with the tranquility that emerges after a chaotic night.
the entire book was filled with breathtaking prose. each scene is embellished with rich details and thus pulses with vividness. you come home to the most intimate thoughts of the protagonist and you experience her internal turmoil and revelations as though they were your own - in all her loves and fears, confusions and clarity, hesitation and impulses, pretence and confessions - and under a certain light her experiences refract into your own. an example: "and in that moment, i could have choked on the fear of my inadequacy -- the premonition that my life would consist of half loves and false passions, and that i was doomed to watch people the way i was watching Rachel now: a curious observer of other people's desires but never quite sure how to plant the seeds of my own."
finally, a character from the novel said: "and i started wondering if that's actually why art is beautiful to me. it makes me recognize some feeling or idea i always suspected existed but can't prove. the art had to prove it for me." and this describes precisely what i felt about Schabas's writing, and why i found this book to be beautiful. (less) [edit]
coldsoup's review
3.0
This book tells the story of Justine, an actress nearing her thirtieth birthday, She was living in Toronto with her husband, Elias, until she goes to London for an audition which changes the course of her life.
She spends the course of the story reflecting on her past with her estranged mother and her unhappy marriage with her husband.
Though I enjoy self-reflective stories, I had a hard time getting into this one. It was a bit too 'stuck in the past' for my liking. Overall, it was a good book though, the narration is rich and nice to read.
She spends the course of the story reflecting on her past with her estranged mother and her unhappy marriage with her husband.
Though I enjoy self-reflective stories, I had a hard time getting into this one. It was a bit too 'stuck in the past' for my liking. Overall, it was a good book though, the narration is rich and nice to read.
tinamayreads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed reading MY FACE IN THE LIGHT by Martha Schabas. This novel is about a woman, Justine, who uproots her life in Toronto to move to London alone without her husband. It was interesting to read about Justine’s past, her strained relationship with her single mother and her love for her husband. Of course I loved the Toronto setting and how this is ultimately a story of Justine reconciling with her past and finding herself. I’d definitely be interested to read more from this author!
Thank you to Knopf Canada for my gifted review copy!
Thank you to Knopf Canada for my gifted review copy!
melisdelicate32's review
5.0
Fascinatingly plotless. Schabas put something in this book because I couldn’t put it down even for a second, it left me simply breathless despite the lack of finalisation and that’s what I absolutely adored about it; nothing was happening at all and it was so comforting and insightful.
“My face in the light” is about a young woman approaching her thirties, the typical phase where you start doubting your life decisions, the “maybe I could’ve done more or something different” state of mind, Justine wanders around in the search of full reconnaissance of her true self. We follow her through a pointless journey that depicts traumatic past and proper revaluation.
This is not a book about a woman looking for someone or something, this a wonderfully easygoing story about a woman who’s searching for her own identity in the most banal of ways…
“My face in the light” is about a young woman approaching her thirties, the typical phase where you start doubting your life decisions, the “maybe I could’ve done more or something different” state of mind, Justine wanders around in the search of full reconnaissance of her true self. We follow her through a pointless journey that depicts traumatic past and proper revaluation.
This is not a book about a woman looking for someone or something, this a wonderfully easygoing story about a woman who’s searching for her own identity in the most banal of ways…
faloodamooda's review
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
altho the story asked a lot of interesting questions, the characters and writing didn’t make them interesting enough for me to care? i could not empathize with the mc and the writing was plain, and at times weak. was hoping to like this more but i gave up a few times and had to really push myself to finish reading