Guy Gavriel Kay’s novels hold a really special place in my heart. A Brightness Long Ago was the first of his that I listened to rather than read. The narrator was fantastic and added terrific depth to the characters. I got a bit lost for the first 5-6 chapters until I picked up the rhythm and cadence of this story. By the end, I was very much in love with the characters. I was heartbroken but grateful to have heard their stories.
Book Information
Publisher: Recorded Books
First Published: May 14 2019
Format: audiobook
Narrator: Simon Vance
Source: Library
Genre: Historical Fiction
It took me much longer than it should have to determine which character was the main protagonist. I’m going to blame that on it being an audiobook and listening in 15 to 20-minute snippets for the first third of the book. Reading a physical book or e-book makes it easier to pick up on cues relating to time periods and perspective shifts. Some audiobooks read the chapter titles “Chapter 42, current period, Ashe”. Even though I find connecting the dots on my own confusing sometimes, I find the inclusion of chapter information to be jarring once I’ve settled into a book. Once I figured out who it was and the web of characters made sense, it all started slotting into place, and I could easily keep up.
A Brightness Long Ago is a first-person retrospective, primarily covering one period. I found it easy to forget that it was a retrospective and often made the assumption that the period being described was current. There is a third-person narrator as well that runs down timelines for individual characters at appropriate times. The inclusion of these snippets was fantastic and sometimes absolutely soul-crushing. I very much enjoyed the way the characters’ stories were written. The exposition was graceful, and I never felt like there was a heavy hand jerking the plot in a different direction.
Very late in the book, we get a brief dive into the story of one character who plays a minor role in the overall novel. I probably cried harder at this brief glimpse than I did for the other characters who were the primary focus of the book. There is so much context given throughout the story that it strikes me hard. I loved it.
A Brightness Long Ago is a testament to Guy Gavriel Kay’s masterful storytelling. His ability to create awe-inspiring narratives is one of the reasons why he is one of my favourite authors. I found myself deeply invested in the characters, inspired by their actions, and troubled by the decisions they were forced to make. The inclusion of mundane events in the lives of seemingly untouchable characters added a layer of realism that I truly appreciated.
I could keep going. But it’s 5:05pm and time to head home.
