John Kinsella's Beam of Light is a collection of 29 short stories emphasising his unique voice and writing style. Little vignettes of life, a snapshot in time.
Beam of Light has a subtle theme of fitting in and belonging. Most of the stories are set in country areas where poverty, isolation and drugs are at the forefront. Kinsella highlights pivotal moments in his characters' lives, a turning point or awakening.
I feel it can be very hard to achieve any character development in such few pages, however Kinsella has managed to accomplish a reader to character connection in many of his stories. I felt a real empathy for them as most were unsettled, nuanced characters facing dysfunctional relationships, environmental issues and feeling of disconnect.
Some stories went over my head, others made me laugh and some were heart-wrenching. I found there to be a great mix for any reader and if I didn't connect with one story it was only a few pages until the next one. That's the joy of short stories!
John Kinsella has written stories that will move, fascinate and delight you. Beam of Light is a great introduction to newcomers to his work.
My rating 4.2 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (averaged over 29 stories)
Publisher: Transit Lounge
Publication date: 1st September 2024
Genre: Short Stories / Literary Fiction
Pages: 272
RRP: AU$32.99 (paperback)
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
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