Book Review: Silhouette in Free Light

IndieBookView

Jan 5

Silhouette in Free Light

by Ethan R. Ray

Genre: Literary Fiction

ISBN: 9798218293260

Print Length: 166 pages

Reviewed by Erin Britton

Capturing a series of day-to-day events in which the initial mundanity belies the deeper profundity, Ethan R. Ray's Silhouette in Free Light offers an often poignant exploration of the nature of love, the mystery of the everyday, and the delicate balance between shadow and light when it comes to human relationships. The story centers on the intertwining lives of Clyde and Cassandra, two troubled and sometimes troubling individuals navigating the complexities of love, identity, and the haunting specters of the past.

The story begins with an intimate portrayal of Cassandra, a woman with an enigmatic past and an allure that captivates the narrator, Clyde, although he notes "I loved her only as much as a man could love." They've been together for an unknown period, likely a while, but there are still many mysteries and secrets between them. "We always loved each other but sometimes the love was off because of a certain way someone had looked at her, but at least we had each other." As such, it's clear from the outset that trouble lurks within their relationship.

The couple live in New Hampshire and their unconventional lifestyle—"We get along well enough but we don't have jobs. Somehow we have money but I don't know where she gets it."—is marked by moments of vulnerability and raw emotion. Clyde in particular seems to exist in an almost dreamlike state, with little understanding of the past and present and even less consideration of the future: "I don't remember how we got the house and I don't care." Ray's prose is both evocative and contemplative here, delving into the intricacies of human connections.