Hmmm...where to begin? It's been awhile since I've finished a book, not to mention write a review. I grabbed this book on a whim from the public library. It was being highlighted in an Irish authors display. To start at the beginning, Willaims title: "The Fall of Light" has cliche written all over it. To be prefectly honest, I don't see how the title fits in with the story line. "Fall" - maybe, "Light", not really. In keeping up with the Irish tradition, it was a depressing family saga which suggests some metaphor with light and darkness. None the less, it isn't a title that stands out and captures attention.
Back to the Irish influence, almost nothing good happens to the Foley family throughout the books entirety. When those few shreds of happiness appear, they are almost immediately followed by tragedy. The only vice that isn't a part of the Foley family travails, suprisingly enough, is alcohol. An Irish story without an alcoholic is very refreshing (Check out "Angela's Ashes" for a truly depressing memoir that could have been condensed to a short novella).
Williams writing style is comprised of a fluid, lyrical prose that is almost perfect. It truly makes the story, giving it both interest and originality. The sentence structure is at times confusing, causing you to reread random sentences in order to stress and accent the right words. Yet, this seems to be due to the inclusion of untranslated Irish phrases, which brings an authenticity to the story, adding beauty instead of taking away from it.
Aside from the unsuccessful lives of the Foley family, Williams provides a dreamlike quality in his writing that makes the reader almost float into the text and fly away to another age when life was simpler, yet harder to survive in. This brings up the "Swan" imagery that Williams includes periodically. Again, like the title, it is a total disappointment. The swan just doesn't seem to have a purpose. At first, the sons thought the swan was their father, watching over them after death. Francis didn't die, so what does the swan do? I'm still trying to figure that out. There just isn't any correlation between the swans appearance and any rising or falling action of the plot that makes it significant.
Finally, "The Fall of Light," is a good light read that provides a bit of history that spans both Europe and North America in the mid-1800's. Williams writing is the hightlight of the book. His characters, though diverse and plenty, provide no real lasting memory. Williams includes many key elements that had potential to leave the book with more of a lasting impression on the world. Unfortunately, he didn't take those elements (the stars, swan and mythology etc.) to the extent needed to create any universal themes that fosters a lifelong readership.
Heidi
