Nathan Singer Livres

“One of the finest coming-of-age novels published so far this century” (John Connolly, New York Times bestselling author), In the Light of You is a timely and powerful story about the consequences of intolerance and the agonies of being young and disillusioned in a racially divided America. Angry, disaffected sixteen-year-old Mikal Fanon has just moved out of his poor Kentucky suburb to an even poorer Black neighborhood in Ohio. Feeling like an outsider in a world he perceives to be pitted against him, Mikal joins a gang of Neo-Nazi skinheads for reasons that are not entirely clear to him at first. The gang’s charismatic leader, Richard, takes him under his wing, and Mikal finds himself pulled into the wild, fast-paced, and dangerous lifestyle of the white power underground. Emboldened by his newfound sense of belonging, Mikal finds himself committing horrible acts of violence without a second thought. But two women threaten to tear his world apart—a passionate Black activist named Niani Shange to whom Mikal is secretly (and desperately) attracted and Sherry Nicolas, Richard’s new girlfriend, whose presence serves to further destabilize an already volatile situation. These two fundamentally opposite yet eerily similar forces threaten to throw fuel on an already raging fire, promising a bloody and explosive end. But who will survive, and who will be burned?

Set against the backdrop of post-war America, the story follows Dr. Walter Freeman, a controversial lobotomist, as he travels the country in his Lobotomobile. Armed with an ice pick and accompanied by his unpredictable sidekick, Freeman is on a mission to "save" the nation from its psychological struggles, reflecting the era's complex attitudes towards mental health and treatment. The narrative explores themes of medical ethics and the lengths to which one might go to address societal issues.

In the seemingly quiet town of Blackchurch, unusual visitors arrive at D'antre Philips's home, each bearing ominous messages and prophetic visions of an impending apocalypse. Among them are two disheveled men, a pregnant teenager, and a mysterious Japanese woman. Despite their alarming presence and dire warnings, the townsfolk remain indifferent, highlighting a theme of apathy and the mundane nature of life even in the face of potential catastrophe. The story explores how ordinary life persists amidst extraordinary circumstances.

The gripping tale centers on Emily Conlin, who reemerges after two decades of disappearance in the West Virginia wilderness. As she prepares to share her harrowing experience with a struggling novelist, questions arise about the authenticity and ownership of her narrative. The story explores themes of survival, identity, and the complexities of storytelling, as both Emily and the novelist confront their pasts and the truths they hold.