Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Bright Unknown by Elizabeth Byler Younts, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Bright Unknown
Author: Elizabeth Byler Younts
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Literary Fiction
Release Date: October 22, 2019
This poignant and heartbreaking novel explores the power of resilience, the gift of friendship, and the divine beauty to be found in the big, bright world—if only we’re willing to look.
Pennsylvania, 1940s. The only life Brighton Friedrich has ever known is the one she has endured within the dreary walls of Riverside Home—the rural asylum where she was born. A nurse, Joann, has educated and raised Brighton, whose mother is a patient at the hospital. But Joann has also kept vital information from Brighton—secrets that if ever revealed would illuminate Brighton’s troubling past and the circumstances that confine her to Riverside. Brighton’s best friend is a boy she calls Angel, and as they grow up together and face the bleak future that awaits them, they determine to make a daring escape.
Nothing can prepare Brighton and Angel for life beyond Riverside’s walls. They have no legal identities, very little money, and only a few leads toward a safe place to land. As they struggle to survive in a world they’ve never seen before, they must rely on each other and the kindness of strangers—some of whom may prove more dangerous than the asylum they’ve fled.
Narrated in Elizabeth Byler Younts's gorgeous style, The Bright Unknown is a sparkling search for answers, family, and a place to call home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Byler Younts gained a worldwide audience through her first book, Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel The Solace of Water and the Promise of Sunrise series. Elizabeth lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband, her two daughters, and a small menagerie of well-loved pets.
CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
My Thoughts:
When I read the back cover copy I knew I was in for a moving novel, I was just not prepared for how it would affect me emotionally.
I was hooked from the first line. “I’m not sure whom I should thank – or blame – for the chance to become an old woman. Though as a young girl, sixty-seven seemed much older than it actually is.” And I couldn't stop reading until I finished the last one.
This isn't a fluffy read, it is a beautifully written novel about mental health and how it was dealt with in the late 30's and 40's. It will break your heart, and I don't say that to discourage you from reading it, I say that because Ms. Younts has written a beautiful novel that will transport you back to a time, with subject matter and character's that you will hurt for and have hope for.
The time-slip element made reading this book easier because the present portion gives glimpses of hope from the dark element of Brighton's past. The story is told in first person through Brighton's eyes.
This is my first read of Ms. Younts and it will not be my last. In fact I was just getting ready to read The Solace of Water that was published last year when I received this book.
I highly recommend this novel!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel via the publisher in association with Just Reads Publicity. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing!
Post a Comment