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On an evening like any other, nine-year-old Katie Mackey, daughter of the most affluent family in a small town on the plains of Indiana, sets out on her bicycle to return some library books.This simple act is at the heart of The Bright Forever, a suspenseful, deeply affecting novel about the choices people make that change their lives forever. Keeping fact, speculation, and contradiction playing off one another as the details unfold, author Lee Martin creates a fast-paced story that is as gripping as it is richly human. His beautiful, clear-eyed prose builds to an extremely nuanced portrayal of the complicated give and take among people struggling to maintain their humanity in the shadow of a loss.Reminiscent of books such as The Little Friend and The Lovely Bones, but most memorable for its own perceptions and power, The Bright Forever is a compelling and emotional tale about the human need to know even the hardest truth.
Mr. Dees
On the night it happened--July 5--the sun didn't set until 8:33. I went back later and checked the weather cartoon on the Evening Register's front page: a smiling face on a fiercely bright sun. I checked because it was the heart of summer, and I couldn't stop thinking about that long light and all the people who were out in it; I'd seen them sitting on porches, drinking Pepsis and listening to WTHO's Top Fifty Countdown on transistor radios. I knew they were getting a laugh out of Peanuts or Hi and Lois in the newspaper, thrilling to the adventures of Steve Canyon. Cars were driving along High Street--Trans-Ams and GTOs, Mustangs and Road Runners, Chargers and Barracudas. Some of them were on their way to the drive-in theater east of town--a twin bill, Summer of '42 and Bless the Beasts and Children. Others went downtown. Teenage boys were ducking into the Rexall or the new Super Foodliner to pick up a pack of Marlboros or Kools. Couples were strolling around the courthouse square, lollygagging after supper at the Coach House or a steak and a cold beer at the Top Hat Inn. They were window-shopping, the ladies admiring the new knee-high boots at Bogan's Shoe Store, high school girls looking at the first wire-rim glasses at Blank's Optical, the flared-leg pantsuits at Helene's Dress Shop, the friendship bracelets and engagement sets at Lett's Jewelry.
Enough time and opportunity, and yet no one could stop what was going to happen.
We were just an itty-bitty town in Indiana, on the flat plain beyond the rolling hills of the Hoosier National Forest--a glassworks town near the White River, which twisted and turned to the southwest before emptying into the Wabash and running down to the Ohio. That day, a Wednesday, the temperature had gotten up to ninety-three and the humidity had settled in and left everyone limp with trying. The air held in the smell of heat from the furnaces at the glassworks, the dead fish stink from the river, the sounds of people's living: ice cubes clinking in glasses, car mufflers rattling, screen doors creaking, mothers calling children to come in.
In the evening, when the breeze picked up enough to stir the leaves on the courthouse lawn's giant oaks and dusk started to fall, the air cooled just enough to make us forget how hot and unforgiving the day had been. After the hours spent working at the glassworks or the stone quarry or the gravel pit, people were glad to be moving about at their own pace, taking their time, letting the coming dark and the rustle of air convince them that soon there might be rain and then the heat would break. I was content to sit at the kitchen table, noodling around with the story problems I planned to use the next day with my summer students, one of whom was Katie Mackey.
Later, there would be a few folks who would step up and say they had something maybe the police ought to know. Their names would be in the newspapers--papers as far away as St. Louis and Chicago--and on the Terre Haute and Indianapolis television stations, people who would be in the notebooks of all the magazine writers who'd come--slick-talking out-of-towners with questions. Newshounds from Inside Detective, Police Gazette. They'd want to know how to find so-and-so.
I've never been able to tell this story and my part in it until now, but listen, I'll say it true: a man can live with something like this only so long before he has to...
Martin's THE BRIGHT FOREVER was an illuminating find. The author certainly has a gift for storytelling and knows how to keep a reader going and going. He provides the reader with small clues which always left me wanting more. It was definitely one of my fastest reads because I couldn't put it down!
The story itself is a sad one: a little girl full of life and innocence turns up missing in a small, sleepy town where the biggest news the town newspaper might ever report is the results of the church bake sale. I liken the story to Alice Sebold's THE LOVELY BONES and Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES; however, it was a much richer story than either of those two novels (and I don't recommend the latter at all!).
Having just read (and not enjoying) CASE HISTORIES, I was a bit put off at first by THE BRIGHT FOREVER when I started reading and discovered that it was similar in structure and told from many points of view. It's not a structure I'm particularly fond of, as it can be somewhat confusing and overwhelming. Thankfully, author Lee Martin pulls it off beautifully. He offers one story with several interwoven viewpoints and truths, and that keeps the reader guessing.
Each chapter is named after a character or a specific date, which tells you whose point of view you'll be reading next. It was confusing at first, but once you get used to switching viewpoints and putting yourself in that character's shoes, you begin to appreciate the novel's style and ease into the story much more easily.
I don't want to give away any plot details; I'll let you discover those for yourself. However, think of this quote from the novel:
"The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out."
That's the heart of the story. Martin gives us a captivating -- yet heavy-hearted-- tale that examines real human nature and behavior.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 7, 2010
this "story" was very familiar, because it happens to sound like the crime that took place in my small town in 1972, of course the names and places were changed but it is the same story i have heard all my life. the only reason for this review is to let everyone know "Katie" was real and it shattered our little town to this day.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 21, 2008
After I read the synopsis, I was anxious to read the book. Despite the grim content, it appeared to be a real cliffhanger. I don't read a lot of mysteries and novels that are similiar in nature to this, but I was so disappointed and bored. In the middle of the book I started skipping paragraphs and I started skimming through the book. This book had too much character development and not enough plot. I understand the importance of developing the characters, but after awhile I got bored and wanted the story to progress. To each his own, but this book was boring at times and moved too slow for my taste.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 18, 2013
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Posted September 11, 2012
If you have any children, this might be difficult to get through. Creepy. Not an easy read.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 14, 2011
i couldnt put it down. great writing, kept me on the edge of my seat. well worth the $10 i paid!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Oh my, it was a great read but hard to make it through the book with what the content was. I love the way the author gets inside the characters heads as they tell their stories and you can really imagine what that summer must have been like as if you were a part of it! It is a great book to read but very sad. The author does an awesome job developing and visualizing the characters and you really can picture little Katie and how adorable and lovable she was! I was definitely recommend this book, I flew through it!
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Posted December 9, 2009
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I really enjoyed this book. At first i thought it was going to be boring and take me awhile to read, but then towards the middle it became very interesting. It's suspenseful and kept me wanting to read more until i was done. I dont read a lot of books or find too many that i really like and this one is by far one of my favorites.
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Posted August 8, 2008
In the beginning it can be kind of confusing what with the different narrators- but before you even realize it, you're addicted. You have to keep reading until you just fall asleep with the book over your face. Great details and plot- this is truly one of a kind and I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed 'The Lovely Bones,' by Alice Sebold.
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Posted April 23, 2008
I thought this book was really good. I never thought that it would end how it ended. It was one of my favorate books to read because it was a huge mystery. I would consider anybody to read this book. i think whom ever would read this book would capture alot of people.all in all it was a really good book to read
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 22, 2008
Martin's THE BRIGHT FOREVER was an illuminating find. The author certainly has a gift for storytelling and knows how to keep a reader going and going. He provides the reader with small clues which always left me wanting more. It was definitely one of my fastest reads because I couldn't put it down! The story itself is a sad one: a little girl full of life and innocence turns up missing in a small, sleepy town where the biggest news the town newspaper might ever report is the results of the church bake sale. I liken the story to Alice Sebold's THE LOVELY BONES and Kate Atkinson's CAST HISTORIES, however, it was a much richer story than either of those two novels (and I don't recommend the latter at all!). Having just read (and not enjoying) CASE HISTORIES, I was a bit put off at first by THE BRIGHT FOREVER when I started reading and discovered that it was similar in structure and told from many points of view. It's not a structure I'm particularly fond of, as it can be somewhat confusing and overwhelming. Thankfully, author Lee Martin pulls it off beautifully. He offers one story with several interwoven viewpoints and truths, and that keeps the reader guessing. Each chapter is named after a character or a specific date, which tells you whose point of view you'll be reading next. It was confusing at first, but once you get used to switching viewpoints and putting yourself in that character's shoes, you begin to appreciate the novel's style and ease into the story much more easily. I don't want to give away any plot details I'll let you discover those for yourself. However, think of this quote from the novel: 'The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.' That's the heart of the story. Martin gives us a captivating -- yet heavy-hearted-- tale that examines real human nature and behavior.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 17, 2008
I had to read this book for my book club, but I will never read it again. The book was a very fast read (I read it in 1 afternoon)but I went to bed that night feeling very disturbed. I did not like the fact that the reader is made to identify with the creepy stalker (Mr. Dees). I was very upset that the author clearly approves of falling in love with young children and making a collection of their personal things to keep by and adult's bedside. I really have better things to do than examine the psyche of a child molester, and that is really the majority of the book.
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Posted February 21, 2008
I read the flap inside this book, I was hooked, I wanted to actually find out what happens, what lead up to her disaperence. I read this book in 4 days. I have never read a book in that short of time span! I was excited and amazed by how intrseting it was and how attached to the words flying off the pages and into my mind. I loved this book.
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Posted September 11, 2006
I tend to like books / films of this type. This book bothered me by the 'blame' factor it was looking to promote. I finsihed this book beacuse I was sure it would change it's tune. I finished it being disgusted.
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Posted October 31, 2006
I really enjoyed this book. The pages flew by and I was hooked wondering what really happened until the last few pages. As for the previous reviewer who felt this book displayed poor values...this is a work of fiction. I think trying to tie a moral bow around the story would have taken away from the realism of the characters and turned the story into a preachy parable. Not everything in life is palatable. A lot of the thoughts and actions of the characters were disturbing, but I found myself intrigued. The author did a very good job delving into the unique mindset of each character.
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Posted August 9, 2006
This book was a great read. Although the story can be quite disturbing at times it is very well written. I loved the fact that each character got to tell from their point of view. I would recommend this to everyone.
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Posted August 23, 2006
This novel did not live up to the 'hype'. Although the character development was interesting, it did not capture my attention and I ended up reading the last chapter so I would be 'finished'.
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Posted June 13, 2006
One of my favorite books.. easy read.. the pages just flew by.. lee martin captivates the reader! its definitely a must read!
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Posted August 14, 2005
good book overall, kind of depressing, kind of creepy, kind of familiar, but still a page-turner
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Posted July 27, 2005
So I finished the book and I had termendous high hopes for this book, HUGE! However it was not. Overall the story was good and the story had huge potential.. here were my problems Here is the gist of the story - small town, little girl gets kidnapped,rattles the whole town. 1. The book is 268 pages and it only talks about the span of 4 days! 2. The little girl gets kidnapped, body is found, bad guy gets caught,bad guy gets just punishment, all within 4 days. This is just not reality. 3. The relationship between Mr. Dees and Katie is something I still have not resolved in figuring out if he really did just love her or if he was just a simple perv 4. The book introduces you to about 10 main characters and after the four days are up and everything is tied out, that is it the whole story drops. You are left wondering what happened to her, to him, to this one to that one. I am not giving any spoilers away because the book cover tells you pretty much the story - not rocket science. It was an okay read I am happy it was borrowed from the library. The story itself was a sad story but I do not think that his writing was so spell binding that any of these characters will stay with me.
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Overview
On an evening like any other, nine-year-old Katie Mackey, daughter of the most affluent family in a small town on the plains of Indiana, sets out on her bicycle to return some library books.This simple act is at the heart of The Bright Forever, a suspenseful, deeply affecting novel about the choices people make that change their lives forever. Keeping fact, speculation, and contradiction playing off one another as the details unfold, author Lee Martin creates a fast-paced story that is as gripping as it is richly...