Review of How the Light Gets In by Joyce Maynard
When I first picked up Joyce Maynard’s How the Light Gets In, I was optimistic. I’d recently immersed myself in her profound memoir At Home in the World, which resonated deeply with me. This time, however, my journey with Maynard led me down a different path, one that felt less luminous and more rooted in confusion than connection.
Set against the backdrop of familial estrangement, How the Light Gets In centers around Eleanor, a mother navigating the complexities of her relationships with her adult children. The central theme of parental love—tinged with regret and longing—struck a chord, especially because it highlights that no one’s perfect in their parenting journey. I found myself reflecting on moments from my own upbringing, pondering how the lessons learned often come from the mistakes made.
However, despite the depth of the themes, particularly the intricate web of estrangement and forgiveness, the narrative felt uneven. There’s a wealth of wisdom in Maynard’s prose, but it often felt as if she was delivering a series of lessons rather than allowing the characters to embody their experiences. “Becoming a grandparent means getting a second chance to do it right,” is a beautiful sentiment, yet it resonated more as an idea than a fully realized moment in the characters’ lives.
The writing style, while recognizable as Maynard’s, leaned heavily into exposition rather than the immersive storytelling I craved. Take, for instance, Eleanor’s reflections on her past choices with her children—these moments felt like an info dump, lacking the organic unfolding I associate with literary fiction. I wanted to feel alongside these characters—not only hear their thoughts. The pacing stumbled at times, with the narrative dragging through exhaustive reconstructions of Eleanor’s past without sufficient character development for her other children, leaving me feeling detached from their stories.
Yet, there were grains of beauty scattered throughout. I loved the intimacy between Eleanor and her grandson, Toby. Their relationship felt authentic and tender, akin to a balm amidst the surrounding familial tumult. Maynard captures small moments brilliantly, such as when Eleanor muses about her grandchild’s name, “Flora. Our little flower,” evoking a nostalgia that few authors can conjure with such precision.
However, I found myself wrestling with the overt political tones threaded throughout. While a strong viewpoint can enrich a narrative, in this case, it felt somewhat heavy-handed and detracted from the subtlety of personal stories. The blend of personal and political seemed to overshadow the emotional intimacy I had hoped to explore.
In closing, How the Light Gets In is a heartfelt exploration of family complexities that offers worthwhile reflections on parenting and second chances. While it didn’t wholly resonate with me like Maynard’s previous works, it will likely appeal to readers who appreciate narratives steeped in introspection and relatable family struggles. For those who enjoy rich themes with honest life lessons, this book still offers a journey worth embarking on.
Overall, with its poignant messages and rich character moments, I walked away from this book feeling as though I had learned something important, even if not every step of the way was as illuminating as I had hoped. If you’re a fan of Maynard or literary explorations of family dynamics, perhaps this book will shine brighter for you.
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