It has been a few years now since I’ve read my first Malinda Lo book, Last Night at the Telegraph Club. I was really surprised and enjoyed this read. However, I didn’t really like Huntress, but I already had A Scatter of Light on my Kindle app. And what is a better time than Pride Month to read this book?
About the book
- Title: A Scatter of Light
- Author: Malinda Lo
- Publish date: October 4, 2022
- Publisher: Dutton Books
- ISBN: 9780525555285
- Number of pages: 325
- Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Award-winning author Malinda Lo returns to the Bay Area with another masterful coming-of-queer-age story, this time set against the backdrop of the first major Supreme Court decisions legalizing gay marriage. And almost sixty years after the end of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, Lo’s new novel also offers a glimpse into Lily and Kath’s lives since 1955.
Aria Tang West was looking forward to a summer on Martha’s Vineyard with her best friends—one last round of sand and sun before college. But after a graduation party goes wrong, Aria’s parents exile her to California to stay with her grandmother, artist Joan West. Aria expects boredom, but what she finds is Steph Nichols, her grandmother’s gardener. Soon, Aria is second-guessing who she is and what she wants to be, and a summer that once seemed lost becomes unforgettable—for Aria, her family, and the working-class queer community Steph introduces her to. It’s the kind of summer that changes a life forever.
My review
Expectations
When reading the blurb for this book, my expectations were quite high and I was excited to pick it up. I really enjoyed Last Night at the Telegraph Club and this novel is set in the same area, but centuries later. However, my reading experience with Huntress really stuck with me so I turnt a little hesitant. However I still went into this story with an open mind and I’m glad I did. Not all books are the same, nor are reading experiences. This is contemporary and Huntress was fantasy. Also, that book is much older. Anyway, the negativity surrounding that reading experience is gone now.
Characters
This book is about Aria who has to spend her summer with her grandmother – whom she loves and calls by her first name Joan – after a scandal at a school party. She was supposed to spend the summer with friends, but she got uninvited because of what went down. Although she has a special bond with Joan, Aria is a little disappointed she has to stay at her house for the entire summer. However, this changes quite soon whenever she finds her granddad’s old astronomy lectures and notes. She also rediscovers her love for art. Last but not least, she meets the intriguing Steph. Steph is gender fluid and spending time with them and their friends makes Aria question her own identity. Besides, she has to rebuild her relationship with Joan, and also her mother wants something from her. All in all, Aria manages to navigate between all this and also manage to maintain her friendship with her best friend from home. A tragic event threatens to change everything again though.
To be very honest, I find the characters not that outstanding. I really hated Lisa, she already gave me a weird feeling. Aria was the most likeable character, but you see her develop and grow throughout the book. Steph raised some questions too, because her current relationship seemed very toxic to me. Unfortunately, the woman from the prologue Didn’t return in the rest of the book. Like… Why is she getting introduced then? However, Aria’s journey of self-discovery and -acceptance was interesting to see. Lo worked 10 years on this book and that shows.
Writing
That this book took 10 years to right is unfortunately quite noticeable in the writing. To me, it feels like Lo’s writing didn’t evolve over the years. Maybe I’m wrong, but this is my feeling and opinion. It’s definitely not bad since the story sucked me in right away. But, let’s face it, it’s not outstanding either. It’s just okay.
Plot
This book is more character based than plot based. Of course there is a plot, but the characters have to carry it and they fortunately did. Close to the end of the story, something happens that sets everything into perspective. The author has chosen to tell this story through a flashback as you can see in the epilogue. This is told in present tense, the rest of the book in past tense. I loved the many queer events in this book and all the pride that is shown. Also, we get a little glimpse of Lily and Kath from Last Night at the Telegraph Club, because they are related to Aria somehow. I won’t tell you more about this because of spoilers. To me, all events in this book seem logic as everyone’s journey is differentt and knows its ups and downs.
Final thoughts
I’m glad I picked up A Scatter of Light with an open mind. It’s a compelling novel, wit unfortunately not extremely outstanding writing. However, it still reads easily and managed to suck me in right away. Aria’s journey to self-discovery and -acceptance was an interesting one to see. The characters really carried the plot which made this read enjoying.
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