The Year the Lights Came on

by Terry Kay

Book Overview

First published in 1976, "The Year the Lights Came On" was Terry Kay's debut novel. Revolving around the electrification of rural northeast Georgia shortly after the end of World War II, the novel has... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0820311286
• ISBN13: 9780820311289
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Charming and sweet

I loved this book. Sometimes I just want to read a book that makes me feel nostalgia - even though this book was 'before my time' I was covered up in a nice cool summer sheet of nostalgia. I read 3 of Terry Kay's books in a row ... that's how much I love his charm.

The Year The Lights Came On Review

This was an awesome book--very nostalgic and melancholy. It made me remember my childhood. I even was fortunate to meet the author at my university so that made me enjoy the book even more!

Book club book

Slow starting, but a great story, especially good for those that grew up in the south in the 40's. Good for men and women to read.

A Kay '47 Loaded with True Memories

A must-read for anyone who grew up in Georgia during the 1940s or '50s, especially those of us who remember the day the REA (Rural Electrification Administration) hooked us up and turned us on. Life changed dramatically. If you're not old enough to remember those days, let Terry Kay show you what they were like. This book -- as usual in a Kay opus -- is hilarious at turns, tender and sad at others. Kay is a master chef at blending a bittersweet brew of young love, class consciousness and changing times. Don't deprive yourself of a look at this fine early work, which was first published in 1976 -- before Kay established himself as one of our great Southern writers with the novel, "To Dance with the White Dog."

Most pleasant read

There is a nice story here, of nice people. The writing moves without hitches, glitches nor bumps. It is very real, a terrific book for teenagers. Could and should be studied in college. Teaches without being overly preachy...actually teaches while being a very fun and funny book, too.