Light on Snow
336
Novel • Fiction
New Hampshire • 2000s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
750L
In Light on Snow by Anita Shreve, twelve-year-old Nicky Dillon and her father, Robert, lead an emotionally frozen life in a small New Hampshire town after the deaths of Nicky's mother and sister. Their world is abruptly altered when they rescue a newborn abandoned in the snow. Themes of grief, family, moral guilt, and the quest for connection are explored as they navigate the aftermath of the event. The novel features death, grief, and a near-infanticide.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Emotional
Bittersweet
Mysterious
34,717 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
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Anita Shreve's Light on Snow impresses with its evocative prose and deeply resonant themes of loss and healing. Readers commend the richly developed characters and atmospheric setting. However, some criticize the narrative's pacing, finding it slow at times. Yet, overall, the novel's emotional depth and introspective nature leave a lasting impact.
Fans of introspective, emotional narratives like Jodi Picoult's My Sister's Keeper and Sue Miller's The Senator's Wife will appreciate the reflective and poignant storytelling in Anita Shreve's Light on Snow. The reader enjoys exploring themes of loss, healing, family dynamics, and the complexities of human connections.
34,717 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Light on Snow was the second novel by Anita Shreve to feature a first-person narrative from a young protagonist, exploring themes through the perspective of a 12-year-old girl.
Anita Shreve's inspiration for writing Light on Snow came from her personal experiences of living in an isolated rural New Hampshire setting, which is vividly depicted in the novel.
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The book was praised for its evocative depiction of wintry landscapes and intricate exploration of family dynamics, a hallmark of Shreve's literary style.
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336
Novel • Fiction
New Hampshire • 2000s
2004
Adult
16-18 years
750L
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