The Illumination [book, audiobook]

 The Illumination [book, audiobook]

THIS BOOK IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. THE BASE PREMISE IS JUST ONE DAY PAIN STARTS INHERENTLY GIVING OFF LIGHT. BUT WHY IT'S GOOD IS HOW MUCH THE BOOK THEN IS ONLY EVER TANGENTIALLY ABOUT THAT AND IS REALLY THE STORY OF A SERIES OF PEOPLE WHO OWN A DIARY OF LOVE NOTES THAT KEEPS PASSING AROUND. THERE IS VERY FEW PLOT POINTS THAT REQUIRE PAIN TO BE GIVING OFF LIGHT BUT IT JUST IS SO WELL WRITTEN AS A BACKDROP. I LOVE HOW SMALL SCALE THE STORIES ARE, THE AUTHOR HAVING A HORRIBLE BUT VERY TRIVIAL ILLNESS FITS THE BOOK SO WELL. ALSO I REALLY DO LIKE HOW MUCH EVERYONE'S ENTIRE LIFE IS DRIVEN BY HEARING OR MISHEARING A PHRASE THEN HAVING THAT SET OF WORDS DRIVE THEIR ENTIRE LIFE FOREVER. 

PS. OOF THOUGH, PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ENDING AND READING THE LAST CHAPTER I WASN'T GETTING WHAT THE BIG DEAL IS. THE LAST CHARACTER WAS ONE OF THE BEST ONES. BUT MAN, WHAT A GARBAGE LAST PAGE.  IT'S NOT EVEN THAT IT'S AN UNHAPPY ABRUPT ENDING. A BIG THEME IN THE BOOK WAS THERE BEING NO MEANING IN PAIN OR WHATEVER, BUT IT JUST FEELS LIKE THE AUTHOR JUST STOPPED WRITING SUDDENLY. IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE A CLIFFHANGER WHERE YOU WONDER HOW IT TURNS OUT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEFORE A BIG EVENT. IT FEELS LIKE IT JUST KINDA SUCKS AND STOPS SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON AND THE SCIENTIST WALKING BY CLEARLY IS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME SORT OF THEMATIC CLOSING BUT IT'S SO WEAK AND MAKES SO LITTLE SENSE IT'S JUST NOTHING.  I WONDER IF THE CHAPTERS GOT REARRANGED? THE THIRD CHARACTER'S STORY CONTINUES ON FOR LIKE 60 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE AND HAS THE MOST DISCUSSION INTO MEANING OF EVERYTHING.  (MAYBE GOD GIVES US BODIES TO WATCH HOW WE DESTROY THEM) I THINK THAT THE STORIES HAVE TO BE OUT OF ORDER. THE LAST STORY ALSO HAS THEM BRIEFLY MEET THE CHARACTER FROM THE PREVIOUS STORY AND SPENDS A LOT OF TIME INTRODUCING THEM BUT GIVES NO NEW INFORMATION, SO THAT HAS TO HAVE BEEN INTENDED TO COME FIRST BEFORE THE CHAPTER ABOUT THEM.