All the Colors of the Dark
All the Colors of the Dark - Chris Whitaker
my review : ✮✮✮✮
This story is a massive undertaking, 600 poetic pages that take some commitment to get into and get through (at least for me!). This is an epic, moving story that will stick with me for a long time. I loved this book, but I had to spend a lot of time with it to appreciate its pacing and its mighty cast of characters. This is a book that I needed to sit with for a few hours (often until the wee hours of the night) because I needed momentum to get lost in this story.
I hesitate to even provide a synopsis because I think it’s best to go into this blind, but I do want you to be aware of the general starting point so you are not surprised by the subject matter. The year is 1975, and a teenage girl is in the middle of getting abducted when a boy named Patch intervenes and is taken in her place. From there, the book spans decades and follows Patch and his best friend, Saint.
This book was heavy, and I had a hard time shaking off the darkness even when I wasn’t reading it. It has moments that feel like reading a thriller, but ultimately, this is a story of loss, hope, heartbreak, friendship, and, ultimately, the enduring power of love. This story left me hopeful and teary, but the journey to the end was long and difficult at times (both the subject matter and the poetic prose).
I did a lot of re-reading and flipping through pages to remember certain characters - there is a lot going on in this book! This story alternates between two POVs that are told throughout the (very satisfyingly short!) 250+ chapters! Although the gruesome crimes are alluded to in this book, the author spares us with the details, which I appreciate in a thriller. Still, this book is a doozy.
All in all, it is a phenomenal book that I will not soon forget.
I wanted to splash out on a very expensive bottle of bourbon to make Sammy proud, but instead I’ve picked up a delicious Pinot Noir (label says @seasunwines) 🍷
ready to rent or buy this book?
