Summer of Light: A Novel

By W. Dale Cramer

Book Overview

From the Christy Award-winning Author of Levi's Will "You never know what the day will bring..." Mick Brannigan, a construction worker, loses a good-paying job because of some freak accident, sort of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764229966
• ISBN13: 9780764229961
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Bethany House
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

A story that's heart-warming and Real

In SUMMER OF LIGHT, Dale Cramer shows us yet another side of writing talent. In his previous novel, LEVI'S WILL, we met with a stern Amish family, but SUMMER OF LIGHT is filled with the humor and pathos that is the average contemporary family, struggling to get through life. Our hero, Mick Brannigan, is a blue collar working stiff who through a series of events becomes a stay-at-home dad. He faces the challenges and learns a lot about himself and daring to dream. There is much in this book that will make you smile, and it may even inspire you to meet some new challenges of your own. SUMMER OF LIGHT lives up to its name, and will leave you with a happy heart and feeling good by the time it's done.

Didn't want the book to end!

The thoughts I had: - A story that made me look at how important guys are to families. Dads are different and something else. - A story about a door closing - and how many other doors can then open. - One of those stories when some of the sentences just blow off the page with an ah ha moment. I just couldn't put this book down. How can an author keep entertaining us with something different. I thought his other books were good, didn't think this one could top it...He did it again. P.S.-Great laughs too!

Continues to Impress

With his books "Bad Ground" and "Levi's Will," Dale Cramer established himself in my mind as one of our premier writers. His characters, settings, and metaphors are beautifully rendered. His prose is poetic in places, yet with a working class ethic to it that makes it believable and accessible. "Summer of Light" is Cramer's most accessible book to date. The main character, Mick Brannigan, is a typical man's man. He works on construction crews. He uses his fists to protect his loved ones. He wants to be the breadwinner. When that responsibility is taken from him, by a number of conspiratorial circumstances, Mick begins to adjust to the life of a stay-at-home dad. He has three children, pets, and pesky neighbors. What seems simple turns into a year-long season of change that's full of laugh-out-loud moments as well as heart-nudging scenes. Mick discovers who he truly is along the way, while also discovering his kids and appreciating his wife in a new light. On the surface, this book is more readable, less literary, maybe even not as deep, as "Bad Ground." On closer examination, this book refuses to play into literary trends which call for gut-wrenching pathos. Instead, it brackets the picture of a modern family going through common struggles, finding hope and joy and "street faith" along the way. Without resorting to sappiness, "Summer of Light" is a feel-good story. Cramer continues to impress.