Name: A Bright Ray of Darkness
ISBN: 9780385352383

Ethan Hawke

The blistering story of a young man making his Broadway debut in Henry IV just as his marriage implodes--an utterly transfixing book about art and love, fame and heartbreak from the acclaimed actor/writer/director. Hawke's first novel in nearly twenty years is a bracing meditation on fame and celebrity, and the redemptive, healing power of art; a portrait of the ravages of disappointment and divorce; a poignant consideration of the rites of fatherhood and manhood; a novel soaked in rage and sex, longing and despair; and a passionate love letter to the world of theater. A Bright Ray of Darkness showcases Ethan Hawke's gifts as a novelist as never before. Hawke's narrator is a young man in torment, disgusted with himself after the collapse of his marriage, still half-hoping for a reconciliation that would allow him to forgive himself and move on as he clumsily, and sometimes hilariously, tries to manage the wreckage of his personal life with whiskey and sex. What saves him is theater: in particular, the challenge of performing the role of Hotspur in a production of Henry IV under the leadership of a brilliant director, helmed by one of the most electrifying--and narcissistic--Falstaff's of all time. Searing and raw, A Bright Ray of Darkness is a novel about shame and beauty and faith, and the moral power of art.

A Bright Ray of Darkness

Tabea Lüth

Celine

I'd forgotten what a kiss was like; I'd forgotten what it was like to hold someone who wanted to be held; someone who dissolved upon your touch; who wanted you to launch your hand up under her skirt; who was hoping you would reach a little bit further; push a little harder; someone who made little noises.

I lay there in bed, anxiety seizing its moment What am I doing? what am l doing? what am I doing? But I knew exactly what I was doing.  

"The play is designed for the ear, not the eye. The eye can look ahead; it can look behind. It can be distracted. It can close. But the ear is always only in the present. It hears what is. The actor needs to make our author's intentions 'visible' to the listener. The way to do that is clarity of utterance, and to breathe—at the end—never in middle of each line. Are you listening?" We were.

People think unrequited love is heartbreak, but it isn’t. Unrequited love is a blissful state of melancholy. Watching love die: that’s an ornery armour-piercing bullet. When taking the kids to school, the laundry, and the dishes rain down on the last remaining coals of your romance like piss on a morning campfire. When all you're left with is enough smoke to choke on. Then your heart is dead. And if that happens to you at thirty-two I am sad for you,"

"Every time you lose something, you should scream —Thank God. You are now a little bit lighter, you are a little bit more you. Cause if you can lose it — a car, an idea, a belief, a woman-it wasn't yours."

"You do not need to be depressed about getting a divorce, cowboy. You may feel like you are dying, but let me tell you, you were dead! But the thing is, dead people don't know they're dead.

I don't want to be 'pretty.' I want to be relevant! 

You are so scared of losing your voice that every night you go out there and try to blow it. Your phobia is creating the reality.

 "What I'm saying is, being in healthy marriage takes two. Being a good father … all that takes is you“

It was also obvious, however, that being married had for some reason tangled me up, and I needed to straighten out. There was no real choice involved. I had taken such pride in my marriage, in our love, like a peacock strutting around, thinking he was responsible for his feathers.

'Ethan Hawke is a true writer and his duality as an artist is skilfully reflected in A Bright Ray of Darkness. Hawke circles, descends, and crawls into his characters skin. Grimy shadows pass over the footlights, into the bowels of the theatre, where a struggling actor, perhaps mirroring the writer, seeks the vine of redemption, and claws his way into becoming. Bright Ray is a riveting work.' PATTI SMITH 'Ethan Hawke, whose acting career has combined celebrity wattage with indie integrity, brings hard-won experience to his latest literary endeavour ... [A] wild ride of a book ... Written with real fire & originality. Not many novels combine scenes of lying semi-conscious by a motel toilet with thoughts on the perfection of the iambic pentameter.' Metro Chosen for Best New Fiction Books in the Mail on Sunday Chosen for NS Recommends in New Statesman _____________________________________________ The first novel in nearly twenty years from the acclaimed actor/writer/director, A BRIGHT RAY OF DARKNESS is a book about art and love, fame and heartbreak -- a blistering story of a young man making his Broadway debut just as his marriage implodes. A bracing meditation on fame and celebrity, and the redemptive, healing power of art; a portrait of the ravages of disappointment and divorce; a poignant consideration of the rites of fatherhood and manhood; a novel soaked in rage and sex, longing and despair; and a passionate love letter to the world of theatre, A Bright Ray of Darkness showcases Ethan Hawke's gifts as a novelist as never before. Hawke's narrator is a young man in torment, disgusted with himself after the collapse of his marriage, still half-hoping for a reconciliation that would allow him to forgive himself and move on as he clumsily, and sometimes hilariously, tries to manage the wreckage of his personal life with whisky and sex. What saves him is the theatre: in particular, the challenge of performing Shakespeare in his Broadway debut under the leadership of a brilliant director. Searing, raw, and utterly transfixing, A Bright Ray of Darkness is a novel about shame and beauty and faith, and the moral power of art. ________________________ 'William is the star of this vivid drama from Ethan Hawke ... this is ultimately a book about the transcendent value of great art ... it communicates a real power.' Sunday Times 'Hawke has obeyed the adage 'write what you know', bringing the theatrical world, from first rehearsal to final performance, thrillingly to life.' Mail on Sunday

Honest, funny, ridiculous, touching, meaningful.

camille peiffer

god if you want to read about a man literally just whining and talking about wanting to screw every woman he lays eyes on for 237 pages, then this is the book for you! my first hawke book and this was so disappointing

rhea 

I really don’t have the time and the patience to listen to a white man’s troubles especially if they brought it upon themselves.

I picked this up because I am intrigued if Ethan Hawke can write as well as he can act. However, I find this quite unsatisfactory. The author attempts to write philosophical and life-changing dialogues but still none resonated with me. Writing seemed a little bit rushed. While likable main characters aren't necessary for every book, William still ended up being uninteresting as he lacks personality depth. I may have skimmed some parts (esp in the dialogues) because they keep dragging on forever. I also wished that the sex parts weren’t included too. It seemed unnecessary because they are so badly written! (I may have also skipped these parts)

This is the first time I’ve ever read a work of his and also my last.

Ashley Janssen

DNF at 20%. An awful lot of pathetic white dudes waxing poetic.

Kuba Milcarz

This is one of my favorite fiction books so far this year! It’s so good and refreshing!