What do you think?
Rate this book
Where the Sun Shines Out
A raw, unflinching literary debut for fans of Dennis Lehane and Tom Franklin examining the aftershocks of survival, and the price of salvation.
In the blue-collar town of Chittenango, New York, two young boys are abducted from a local festival and taken to a cabin in the woods. One is kept; one is killed. When they are next seen, ten-year-old Dean has escaped by swimming across Oneida Lake holding his brother's dead body.
As the years pass, the people of Chittenango struggle to cope with the collateral damage of this unspeakable act of violence, reverberations that disrupt the community and echo far beyond. With nothing holding it together, Dean's family disintegrates under the twin weights of guilt and grief, and the unspoken acknowledgment that the wrong child survived. At the center of it all, Dean himself must find a place in a future that never should have been his.
In a sweeping narrative spanning decades and told from alternating points of view, Where the Sun Shines Out tells the story of a town and the inevitable trauma we inflict upon each other when we're trying our best. Exploring the bonds, and breakdowns, of families, Kevin Catalano's fearless debut reminds us that although the path to redemption is pockmarked, twisted, and often hidden from view, somehow the sun makes it through.
In the blue-collar town of Chittenango, New York, two young boys are abducted from a local festival and taken to a cabin in the woods. One is kept; one is killed. When they are next seen, ten-year-old Dean has escaped by swimming across Oneida Lake holding his brother's dead body.
As the years pass, the people of Chittenango struggle to cope with the collateral damage of this unspeakable act of violence, reverberations that disrupt the community and echo far beyond. With nothing holding it together, Dean's family disintegrates under the twin weights of guilt and grief, and the unspoken acknowledgment that the wrong child survived. At the center of it all, Dean himself must find a place in a future that never should have been his.
In a sweeping narrative spanning decades and told from alternating points of view, Where the Sun Shines Out tells the story of a town and the inevitable trauma we inflict upon each other when we're trying our best. Exploring the bonds, and breakdowns, of families, Kevin Catalano's fearless debut reminds us that although the path to redemption is pockmarked, twisted, and often hidden from view, somehow the sun makes it through.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
163 people are currently reading
1072 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Catalano
12 books87 followersKevin Catalano is the author of the dark thriller, Where the Sun Shines Out (Skyhorse), and of the short-story collection, Deleted Scenes and Other Bonus Features (Stephen F. Austin University Press). His other work has appeared in places like PANK, storySouth, Booth, Gargoyle Magazine, Fanzine, and Aethlon: a Journal of Sport Literature. He earned his MFA from Rutgers University-Newark, where he currently teaches writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 15, 2018
In person book club #14, 4/21/18.
I had never heard of this book when it was picked for my latest book club read, and it was explained to us by the one who chose it that it was said to be extremely dark. We all looked at each other and decided we didn't mind dark as long as there were some redeeming elements as well. Book chosen.
At the very start, two little boys are kidnapped from a fair while their dad runs to the bathroom. One of the boys is killed and the other escapes. Father and son live with tremendous guilt, which eats at them and changes them forever.
As I read the first three chapters I became more and more incensed and wanted to throw the book across the room. It doesn't happen often that I am so disgusted by a book yet choose to continue reading. Yes, I felt somewhat obligated to finish it for the book club; but also the book went in other directions, focused on other characters, and while still dark as darkness gets, I started to care for some (not all) of the people.
Each chapter moved up the time line a few years and introduced new characters, which was a bit confusing, as in a short story collection with a common theme. The commonalities were the setting -- a small dying town in New York -- drug addiction, and hopelessness. There seems like just no where to go when your town offers no jobs, your family offers no aid, and your own self respect is gone. It's interesting how some get through anyway, while others just keep making matters worse. This was an extremely unsettling read, and I can't say I'm either glad or sorry to have read it. It felt like something I just had to plod through, to know how it comes out. The book jacket promised that "somehow the sun shines through" even when the road to redemption is obscured. I had difficulty seeing the sunshine, but I suppose I know where I was meant to see it. Will be interesting to see what the author does next.
I had never heard of this book when it was picked for my latest book club read, and it was explained to us by the one who chose it that it was said to be extremely dark. We all looked at each other and decided we didn't mind dark as long as there were some redeeming elements as well. Book chosen.
At the very start, two little boys are kidnapped from a fair while their dad runs to the bathroom. One of the boys is killed and the other escapes. Father and son live with tremendous guilt, which eats at them and changes them forever.
As I read the first three chapters I became more and more incensed and wanted to throw the book across the room. It doesn't happen often that I am so disgusted by a book yet choose to continue reading. Yes, I felt somewhat obligated to finish it for the book club; but also the book went in other directions, focused on other characters, and while still dark as darkness gets, I started to care for some (not all) of the people.
Each chapter moved up the time line a few years and introduced new characters, which was a bit confusing, as in a short story collection with a common theme. The commonalities were the setting -- a small dying town in New York -- drug addiction, and hopelessness. There seems like just no where to go when your town offers no jobs, your family offers no aid, and your own self respect is gone. It's interesting how some get through anyway, while others just keep making matters worse. This was an extremely unsettling read, and I can't say I'm either glad or sorry to have read it. It felt like something I just had to plod through, to know how it comes out. The book jacket promised that "somehow the sun shines through" even when the road to redemption is obscured. I had difficulty seeing the sunshine, but I suppose I know where I was meant to see it. Will be interesting to see what the author does next.
February 17, 2017
I've been reading this sucker since 2008 and it's pretty good, I guess. There are Munchkins and drugs and abduction and death and basketball and snow and bare-knuckle fighting and weaponized eggs and scars and the Erie Canal and history and some sex (there could have been more) and a dog.
December 16, 2017
Be warned this is a dark/trigger possible/can't put it down book. You jump right into the action and it doesn't stop until the last page. I will suggest this to anyone that is a fan of dark storylines, you will not be disappointed.
July 17, 2017
This novel, jesus- all hope left behind :( Dark dark dark
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'But there was nothing. No amount of summoning or pleading or weeping or shouting brought him back. His brother was absolutely stricken from existence.'
Two brothers are abducted from an Oz festival, among munchkins and hordes of people. Their father simply stepped away, can he be faulted for that? They are taken to a cabin by the woods, but only one returns alive, the eldest (Dean) spotted swimming with his dead little brother Jason’s body. Something dark and twisted intoxicates him, never healing from the trauma. He is the wrong brother, the one without promise or hope. The weaker of the two, the failure. The brother who never spoke up, the one cursed to survive, unwanted. He hasn’t really come back, and won’t for decades.
Brutality pulses inside of him, violence, deviance, warped sexuality that disgusts his mother and the searing memory of a ‘different’ mother’s milk. A mother who is still out there, probably hunting other children. Strange, twisted friendships cemented in blood and power struggles. What is it about damaged people that draw goodness towards it, as Brett is drawn into Dean’s dark history? Brett sees in Dean that little boy who came home, broken. Dean is shattered, how do you truly go back to who you were, to the untouched innocence stolen? Who would understand it, something most will never know? Fractured families, drug addictions, a lust for violence- this book is brutal. Dean is filled with self-loathing, unable to defend his kid brother against bigger bullies just before his death, a father who hated him before and more so after the tragedy. No one saves Dean. No visits from the dead to ease his loss, only haunting memories. A mother that cannot save her son and is terrified of him, spiraling through the years until she meets a ‘confetti of feathers’.
I realize my review is disjointed, but the novel is everywhere and Dean’s terrible life in the aftermath of abduction just goes deeper into darkness, even when he tries. Will he find his tormentor? Will there ever be punishment? Certainly Dean’s entire life seems like a sentence, and maybe his father damaged his sweet boy before those sick people got to him! Why does his father get a new start? Erasure of sorts, an obliteration of his kid brother, his memory, his dad’s ‘original’ family- where is Dean’s fresh start? Somewhere over the rainbow sure as hell doesn’t exist in this dark tale. If you are ready to be disturbed, read away. I’m still trying to recover from the image of Dean’s escape in the water. Sad!
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Skyhorse Publishing
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'But there was nothing. No amount of summoning or pleading or weeping or shouting brought him back. His brother was absolutely stricken from existence.'
Two brothers are abducted from an Oz festival, among munchkins and hordes of people. Their father simply stepped away, can he be faulted for that? They are taken to a cabin by the woods, but only one returns alive, the eldest (Dean) spotted swimming with his dead little brother Jason’s body. Something dark and twisted intoxicates him, never healing from the trauma. He is the wrong brother, the one without promise or hope. The weaker of the two, the failure. The brother who never spoke up, the one cursed to survive, unwanted. He hasn’t really come back, and won’t for decades.
Brutality pulses inside of him, violence, deviance, warped sexuality that disgusts his mother and the searing memory of a ‘different’ mother’s milk. A mother who is still out there, probably hunting other children. Strange, twisted friendships cemented in blood and power struggles. What is it about damaged people that draw goodness towards it, as Brett is drawn into Dean’s dark history? Brett sees in Dean that little boy who came home, broken. Dean is shattered, how do you truly go back to who you were, to the untouched innocence stolen? Who would understand it, something most will never know? Fractured families, drug addictions, a lust for violence- this book is brutal. Dean is filled with self-loathing, unable to defend his kid brother against bigger bullies just before his death, a father who hated him before and more so after the tragedy. No one saves Dean. No visits from the dead to ease his loss, only haunting memories. A mother that cannot save her son and is terrified of him, spiraling through the years until she meets a ‘confetti of feathers’.
I realize my review is disjointed, but the novel is everywhere and Dean’s terrible life in the aftermath of abduction just goes deeper into darkness, even when he tries. Will he find his tormentor? Will there ever be punishment? Certainly Dean’s entire life seems like a sentence, and maybe his father damaged his sweet boy before those sick people got to him! Why does his father get a new start? Erasure of sorts, an obliteration of his kid brother, his memory, his dad’s ‘original’ family- where is Dean’s fresh start? Somewhere over the rainbow sure as hell doesn’t exist in this dark tale. If you are ready to be disturbed, read away. I’m still trying to recover from the image of Dean’s escape in the water. Sad!
Publication Date: October 3, 2017
Skyhorse Publishing
May 21, 2018
I'd not heard about this book until it showed up in an email as "featured." I don't mind "dark," so decided to try it. Though it was hard to read, I'm so glad I did. I won't replay the story, as others have done a great job of that; I'll simply say this is the most realistic and honest book I think I've ever read regarding the fallout from serious, life-altering childhood trauma. I had a little difficulty with the changing perspectives, and had to go back a few times to remind myself who the various characters were, but overall, it is well written, and in the end, pulls the threads together. At first I was disappointed by the end (no closure re Dean), but began to think the author was letting the reader draw his/her own conclusion (or that's how I see it). I think one of the things I value the most is that there is no miracle cure, no quick fix, no nicely tied-up-in-a-ribbon solution. In this novel, "love" is not the be all, end all answer.
"Where the Sun Shines Out" is not for the faint-hearted, in my opinion. It is graphic in parts, and very, very dark. However, if one is interested in a serious look at the possible outcomes of terrible childhood trauma, I recommend it highly. I'll be interested to see where Kevin Catalano takes us next.
"Where the Sun Shines Out" is not for the faint-hearted, in my opinion. It is graphic in parts, and very, very dark. However, if one is interested in a serious look at the possible outcomes of terrible childhood trauma, I recommend it highly. I'll be interested to see where Kevin Catalano takes us next.
October 17, 2025
The consensus among the reviews I read seems to be this is a dark, gritty book. That's true. It deals with the seedy underbelly of life, with people who abduct and kill children and the effect those acts have on the people involved as well as the ripple effect on relatives, friends, and even communities. There are parts of it that are hard to read. It's difficult to imagine an innocent boy and his younger brother being abducted, the older boy, Dean, being...what would you say, tortured, molested by a crazy woman, then after Dean escapes he finds his younger brother Jason has been killed. Dean swims all the way across a lake, pulling his younger brother with him. What kind of effect would that have on a young boy's mind and psyche?
In this book, it turns Dean into a bully, someone who abuses even the one boy he considers a friend. Dean starts using harder and harder drugs but even in his lowest moments he has the desire to find the woman who did this to him and turn her over to the authorities. He finally gets his chance. I won't say whether he succeeds or not. No spoilers.
Dean's mother is the focus of some of his most egregious bullying and sadistic behavior, to the point where she finally leaves the family. One section is devoted to the effect Dean's behavior has on her. Every time she hears about a mass shooting, she holds her breath until the perpetrator is identified, always thinking that Dean has finally completely lost all control. When Dean comes to her for help as an adult, strung out on heroin, a walking skeleton, she helps him obtain more heroin, hoping that he will eventually overdose. The toll that wish takes on her is mentioned very casually in a subsequent chapter.
Some reviewers have complained about the episodic nature of the book. It isn't a straight narrative, and it features a number of characters who are peripheral to the central story of Dean and Jason. I don't know about the Kindle edition, but in the hardcover edition I read, at the beginning there is a listing of several of the sections of the book which were published in various venues, obviously as short stories. So basically, this book is a series of short stories set at a particular time in a particular place where a tragedy occurred that affected not just the immediate family but the entire community.
I found the secret (for me at least) to not getting dragged down by the grittiness and darkness of it all is not to identify with any of the characters. Generally when I read a novel I try to find at least one character to identify with. In this case, I didn't. The males did things like bullying, almost killing a dog (contrary to another review, the dog did not die), attending basketball games, working on a production line - all things that are foreign to my experience. The mother reminded me of someone I used to know whose son was (and perhaps still is) strung out on heroin. He had been in and out of rehab but couldn't stay off the stuff. She, too, occasionally found herself wishing he would just overdose and get it over with, because she had done everything she could do to help and he returned the favor by stealing from her and from her elderly mother - all the usual things that addicts do.
Honestly, I didn't find this book nearly as depressing as I feared after reading some of the reviews. It was well-written and interesting for the most part (I could have done with a few less pages about the basketball game). Although I generally turn to novels for escapism, once in a while gritty reality is not so bad.
In this book, it turns Dean into a bully, someone who abuses even the one boy he considers a friend. Dean starts using harder and harder drugs but even in his lowest moments he has the desire to find the woman who did this to him and turn her over to the authorities. He finally gets his chance. I won't say whether he succeeds or not. No spoilers.
Dean's mother is the focus of some of his most egregious bullying and sadistic behavior, to the point where she finally leaves the family. One section is devoted to the effect Dean's behavior has on her. Every time she hears about a mass shooting, she holds her breath until the perpetrator is identified, always thinking that Dean has finally completely lost all control. When Dean comes to her for help as an adult, strung out on heroin, a walking skeleton, she helps him obtain more heroin, hoping that he will eventually overdose. The toll that wish takes on her is mentioned very casually in a subsequent chapter.
Some reviewers have complained about the episodic nature of the book. It isn't a straight narrative, and it features a number of characters who are peripheral to the central story of Dean and Jason. I don't know about the Kindle edition, but in the hardcover edition I read, at the beginning there is a listing of several of the sections of the book which were published in various venues, obviously as short stories. So basically, this book is a series of short stories set at a particular time in a particular place where a tragedy occurred that affected not just the immediate family but the entire community.
I found the secret (for me at least) to not getting dragged down by the grittiness and darkness of it all is not to identify with any of the characters. Generally when I read a novel I try to find at least one character to identify with. In this case, I didn't. The males did things like bullying, almost killing a dog (contrary to another review, the dog did not die), attending basketball games, working on a production line - all things that are foreign to my experience. The mother reminded me of someone I used to know whose son was (and perhaps still is) strung out on heroin. He had been in and out of rehab but couldn't stay off the stuff. She, too, occasionally found herself wishing he would just overdose and get it over with, because she had done everything she could do to help and he returned the favor by stealing from her and from her elderly mother - all the usual things that addicts do.
Honestly, I didn't find this book nearly as depressing as I feared after reading some of the reviews. It was well-written and interesting for the most part (I could have done with a few less pages about the basketball game). Although I generally turn to novels for escapism, once in a while gritty reality is not so bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
"Dean woke to a soft hot ear branding his cheek."
So, begins this bleak, but haunting book. This book starts off with two brothers who get kidnapped, but only one survives. The story continues on the aftermath of the kidnapping, and the brother who survived. Each chapter in the book is from a different perspective, and novel goes through a span of 22 years. As the time goes on, the author is not kind to his characters. They have flaws, make poor decisions, and some of them are outright cruel. However, each character is fascinating, and most are sympathetic. As a reader, multiple perspective drive me nuts, but the multiple pov, in this story, was done perfectly, and I wanted to know the story of each character and how they connected to the main story.
Fair warning this book is dark, dark. Did I mention dark? But if the reader can handle it, it is so worth the read. This book is not gimmicky, and it doesn't portray the light side of life. Interestingly, this book is set in Chittenango, and there's a bunch of Wizard of Oz references in the story. (Which if you've read anything on Judy Garland, you'll never see the movie the same way). There's something very human, and tragic in this book that will grasp the reader and show them the things they are afraid to see. Ultimately, this book is definitely worth the read, and it'll make you wonder why more books aren't this powerful. If you love dark books, books that make you think, great characters, this book is for you! This book is fantastic, and I look forward to more of what the author writes!
So, begins this bleak, but haunting book. This book starts off with two brothers who get kidnapped, but only one survives. The story continues on the aftermath of the kidnapping, and the brother who survived. Each chapter in the book is from a different perspective, and novel goes through a span of 22 years. As the time goes on, the author is not kind to his characters. They have flaws, make poor decisions, and some of them are outright cruel. However, each character is fascinating, and most are sympathetic. As a reader, multiple perspective drive me nuts, but the multiple pov, in this story, was done perfectly, and I wanted to know the story of each character and how they connected to the main story.
Fair warning this book is dark, dark. Did I mention dark? But if the reader can handle it, it is so worth the read. This book is not gimmicky, and it doesn't portray the light side of life. Interestingly, this book is set in Chittenango, and there's a bunch of Wizard of Oz references in the story. (Which if you've read anything on Judy Garland, you'll never see the movie the same way). There's something very human, and tragic in this book that will grasp the reader and show them the things they are afraid to see. Ultimately, this book is definitely worth the read, and it'll make you wonder why more books aren't this powerful. If you love dark books, books that make you think, great characters, this book is for you! This book is fantastic, and I look forward to more of what the author writes!
November 19, 2017
A strongly written story of suffering and its consequences on both people and place.
May 8, 2024
This book was very good. The ups and downs keep you guessing....dark and sad as well. I would read more by this author.
February 19, 2019
This book was weird and disturbing, but not all books and stories need to be fuzzy and heart warming. This story is based in a town that experienced a tragedy and a family that just wasn’t able to handle it and deal with it. It happens and this book was realistic about it. We like to think that when children go missing they come home and all is well.. not the case.. a lot of people in the town are already hopeless and drug addicted which probably didn’t help with how the tragedy was seen or handled. This book just touches on things nobody would want you to know about in this world where we show off on social media. Some parts of it were uncomfortable, but that’s okay. This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read and that is what I liked about it! It also makes you think of your actions and how they could hurt those around you. It’s a very easy read. I finished in like 2 days because I wanted to know more.
August 21, 2018
I’ve been waiting for some time to write a review on this because I wasn’t quite sure about my thoughts when I finished and I wanted it to resonate. Honestly, about 100 pages in, I almost gave up, not because it was so dark and depressing, but because each chapter seemed to read like a short story rather than a novel and I did not care for this. Back to the dark and depressing: I have never read anything darker than this and I read a LOT of dark novels with sadistic characters. There is not very much light or hope in this and I found that some of the very strong, unpleasant imagery remained in my thoughts well after I finished reading. Still, it was extremely well-written and, I feel, worthy of 4 stars. I am glad that I stuck it out and I will be interested to see what more this author offers.
August 21, 2018
Where the Sun Shines Out is very dark and quite depressing despite the title. Even so, Catalano writes beautifully and powerfully. The plot follows a young boy, Dean, who is kidnapped along with his brother, who they kill.
The rest of the book follows Dean through different time periods. While the book is amazing, it's really gritty. And dark. Did I mention that? I really wanted to give this 5 stars. But it was a tad too dark - there's that word again - for me, so I gave it 4/5 stars.
The rest of the book follows Dean through different time periods. While the book is amazing, it's really gritty. And dark. Did I mention that? I really wanted to give this 5 stars. But it was a tad too dark - there's that word again - for me, so I gave it 4/5 stars.
January 31, 2018
Lots of violence and trauma in this book. Had to put it down because it was bringing me into such a deep and dark spot. May re trying reading through again when I can separate myself from the characters a little more.
April 11, 2018
Heartbreaking
A story filled with angst, addiction, betrayal and so much more. Not for the faint of heart. Makes you grateful for the loving people in your life.
A story filled with angst, addiction, betrayal and so much more. Not for the faint of heart. Makes you grateful for the loving people in your life.
October 20, 2017
A brilliant, terrifying, gorgeous debut.
April 24, 2025
Bleak but beautiful. With amazing narrative control and concrete sensory detail, Catalano weaves a sympathetic and fearless depiction of Dean Fleming and his father's fateful mistake, which subsequently ripples across his son Dean's life--effecting every choice that follows. Parallel to this is the story of a rust-belt town, Chittenango (some aspects fictionalized for atmosphere) and its degradation. Once home to Frank L. Baum, writer of the Oz series, we follow the characters and town to the other side of the rainbow. The book takes off like a rocket and unflinchingly depicts some of the darkest corners of modern American existence. I was disturbed and moved more than any other book in recent memory. However dark it is, it is a provocative story of love and difficult choices. I held my kids close after reading this book, was more patient with them. The book does what the best literature does--reminds you how to live. This is sociological storytelling at its best.
April 22, 2024
Disclaimer: I haven’t read something for myself in a very long time, but this was the first book I picked up to start my reading adventures again. Also I’ve never written a book review...
I adored the writing style, and the characters are so very human, flawed. You can really see the domino effect play out after the boys are found. How such tragedy effected just about everyone, either directly or not, and years after the incident. The themes explored also meant a lot to me, though dark, I appreciated it. I would just give a warning that some scenes are pretty heavy or disturbing, to those who are sensitive to such. I would certainly recommend reading, I enjoyed it!
I adored the writing style, and the characters are so very human, flawed. You can really see the domino effect play out after the boys are found. How such tragedy effected just about everyone, either directly or not, and years after the incident. The themes explored also meant a lot to me, though dark, I appreciated it. I would just give a warning that some scenes are pretty heavy or disturbing, to those who are sensitive to such. I would certainly recommend reading, I enjoyed it!
June 11, 2022
I’m surprised this book got so many high ratings/reviews. Yes, it was incredibly dark/disturbing, as many readers have pointed out. But there was hardly a single likeable character, and the time jumps and POV changes were just disorienting. The story felt very disconnecting, as if the author couldn’t be bothered to finish anything properly. It was frustrating to not know what had really become of many of the characters. Yet somehow I kept reading - I think mostly to get it over with!
November 15, 2018
So well written. As others have said, it’s incredibly dark and disturbing, but the writing is so good you feel like you are there experiencing the regret, suffering, guilt and desperation of the characters. Such a moving novel. I can’t wait to read what Kevin Catalano writes next.
January 18, 2018
Dark, redemptive and brilliantly written - a hell of a debut.
April 11, 2018
DNF- just could not get past the first few chapters.
May 28, 2018
Brutally honest, tragic and beautiful
September 8, 2019
WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT begins with Dean and Jason. They're two brothers in their adolescence abducted from a Wizard of Oz festival. Jason is killed almost immediately by his captors while Dean's life is spared. All of this happens in a very short period of time. The remaining 280+ pages of the book focuses on Dean and how his abduction and the killing of Jason affects his life and that of his family.
"There was one thing they hadn't thought of - Dean Fleming! His zero years of investigating experience, coupled with his lack of familiarity with the area, made him essential to the hunt!"
Looking back on it, I've no idea how WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT made it to my TBR list because aside from the cover, there wasn't much I liked about it. I read the synopsis again and it doesn't sound that bad! It just barely kept my attention. Barely. The book started out with such focus and determination. The scene of the abduction and Dean getting away from his captors with the body of his lifeless brother was so awesome! Swimming across a lake while floating Jason's dead body sent chills down my spine! Unfortunately, the book just went downhill very fast from there.
Each chapter of the book began a new timeline of sorts and it would begin several years from when the timeline of the last chapter ended. i.e., Fall 2003 would then jump to Summer 2010, etc, etc. When the next chapter began, it introduced brand new characters, new surroundings and a different point of view. It was very, very difficult to follow. It was not until several pages into the new chapter that I realized who these new characters were that were being introduced. I've seen a lot of book reviewers make reference to a book being "choppy" and that perfectly describes WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT. It was extremely choppy and the whole thing felt very unfinished to me.
In each chapter, the book continues to follow Dean but then also references his immediate family. I could not relate to any of these characters. Not a single one of them. There's work at a factory, drug use of every type and kind, abuse of an animal, bizarre homosexual experimentation and strange family dynamics. It was just very dark, very strange and I couldn't personally relate to any of the scenes, much less the characters themselves. I'm trying to think of a way that would have made the book better. It would have been awesome if the first chapter continued with the scene of Dean swimming across the lake and then continuing with Dean's point of view in his adolescence. The strange timeline jumps and bizarre scenes just made the whole thing unsettling and unrefined. Part of what made it feel so unrefined is the fact that there was virtually no character development. We never get to see any solid development because by the time we start getting down to the nitty gritty of these characters, the chapter is ending and here comes another jump in time. It was incredibly frustrating and just made the story extremely shallow.
I'm a little perplexed that there was still a relatively small percentage of readers who gave it 4 and 5-star reviews. Those that seemed to rave so positively about this book wrote several paragraphs about its darkness. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT. I'm giving the book 2-stars because it wasn't poor enough for me to stop reading it altogether. I did finish it and something kept me turning the pages. I'm guessing that something was the hope that the story would get better and improve (drastically). It never did. This is my honest review. None of this is meant to be disrespectful towards anyone. It simply wasn't for me.
"There was one thing they hadn't thought of - Dean Fleming! His zero years of investigating experience, coupled with his lack of familiarity with the area, made him essential to the hunt!"
Looking back on it, I've no idea how WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT made it to my TBR list because aside from the cover, there wasn't much I liked about it. I read the synopsis again and it doesn't sound that bad! It just barely kept my attention. Barely. The book started out with such focus and determination. The scene of the abduction and Dean getting away from his captors with the body of his lifeless brother was so awesome! Swimming across a lake while floating Jason's dead body sent chills down my spine! Unfortunately, the book just went downhill very fast from there.
Each chapter of the book began a new timeline of sorts and it would begin several years from when the timeline of the last chapter ended. i.e., Fall 2003 would then jump to Summer 2010, etc, etc. When the next chapter began, it introduced brand new characters, new surroundings and a different point of view. It was very, very difficult to follow. It was not until several pages into the new chapter that I realized who these new characters were that were being introduced. I've seen a lot of book reviewers make reference to a book being "choppy" and that perfectly describes WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT. It was extremely choppy and the whole thing felt very unfinished to me.
In each chapter, the book continues to follow Dean but then also references his immediate family. I could not relate to any of these characters. Not a single one of them. There's work at a factory, drug use of every type and kind, abuse of an animal, bizarre homosexual experimentation and strange family dynamics. It was just very dark, very strange and I couldn't personally relate to any of the scenes, much less the characters themselves. I'm trying to think of a way that would have made the book better. It would have been awesome if the first chapter continued with the scene of Dean swimming across the lake and then continuing with Dean's point of view in his adolescence. The strange timeline jumps and bizarre scenes just made the whole thing unsettling and unrefined. Part of what made it feel so unrefined is the fact that there was virtually no character development. We never get to see any solid development because by the time we start getting down to the nitty gritty of these characters, the chapter is ending and here comes another jump in time. It was incredibly frustrating and just made the story extremely shallow.
I'm a little perplexed that there was still a relatively small percentage of readers who gave it 4 and 5-star reviews. Those that seemed to rave so positively about this book wrote several paragraphs about its darkness. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend WHERE THE SUN SHINES OUT. I'm giving the book 2-stars because it wasn't poor enough for me to stop reading it altogether. I did finish it and something kept me turning the pages. I'm guessing that something was the hope that the story would get better and improve (drastically). It never did. This is my honest review. None of this is meant to be disrespectful towards anyone. It simply wasn't for me.
March 1, 2019
First, this is not my typical go-to read. In fact, if it weren't for a recommendation, I probably would have never read this book. Thankfully, I did.
What a dark and twisted tale...
When I started the first part of the book, I thought that the entire length of the book was surrounding the actual abduction and not the aftermath. In the next chapter (or part) the tone of the book changed and I had a hard time recovering from the emotional mayhem of what occurred in the story prior.
Dean: what a complex, yet, simple character. To say that only one boy died during the abduction, is false. So many lives were lost. You have a father whose only coping mechanism is to run away from his problems and pretend like they never existed. A mother who instead of helping her son recover, abandons him and starts over a new life of her own. Dean, however, lingers in the shadows of her life, haunting her as though at any time he was going to morph into this monster she somehow convinced herself that one day he'd become.
Instead, this poor teenage boy turns to drugs. All he wants is to escape the pain of his life. There is a lot of heart in this character, and I started to feel it when he saved that dog from Brett. I felt it even more when I saw the bond he had with Ethan and especially, Sara.
He saved a lot of lives, but couldn't save his own. He wanted peace. He wanted love. He wanted everything that was taken away from him.
I definitely got emotional at the end, because I truly felt for Dean. I wanted so much more for him. As in the Wizard of Ozx "There's no place like home." For Dean, there was.
What a dark and twisted tale...
When I started the first part of the book, I thought that the entire length of the book was surrounding the actual abduction and not the aftermath. In the next chapter (or part) the tone of the book changed and I had a hard time recovering from the emotional mayhem of what occurred in the story prior.
Dean: what a complex, yet, simple character. To say that only one boy died during the abduction, is false. So many lives were lost. You have a father whose only coping mechanism is to run away from his problems and pretend like they never existed. A mother who instead of helping her son recover, abandons him and starts over a new life of her own. Dean, however, lingers in the shadows of her life, haunting her as though at any time he was going to morph into this monster she somehow convinced herself that one day he'd become.
Instead, this poor teenage boy turns to drugs. All he wants is to escape the pain of his life. There is a lot of heart in this character, and I started to feel it when he saved that dog from Brett. I felt it even more when I saw the bond he had with Ethan and especially, Sara.
He saved a lot of lives, but couldn't save his own. He wanted peace. He wanted love. He wanted everything that was taken away from him.
I definitely got emotional at the end, because I truly felt for Dean. I wanted so much more for him. As in the Wizard of Ozx "There's no place like home." For Dean, there was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2017
Where the Sun Shines Out by Kevin Catalano is a dark and gritty debut that is quite enthralling despite the utter heartbreak that follows the kidnapping of two young boys.
In 1992, ten year old Dean Fleming and his younger brother Jason are kidnapped while they are attending the town's annual Oz Festival. Dean manages to survive the ordeal and in the years that follow, he remains wracked with guilt and caught in an increasingly downward spiral. Over the next 22 years, his life touches other residents of their small town and no one escapes unscathed.
Each of the chapters feature different characters and how their lives are affected in the aftermath of the tragedy. The first chapter is dedicated to the kidnapping and the traumatic outcome that virtually destroys the Fleming family. Dean is unable to tell authorities what they need to know to capture one of the kidnappers and in the years that follow, he bullies his only friend Brett Patrick.
The next chapters continually move forward in time and jump from character to character.and eventually circle back to Dean. Attempting to quash his pain, anger and confusion, he goes down a very dark path that leaves destruction and despair in his wake. Just as it appears that he has finally conquered his haunting past, Dean finally must face his demons but will this final showdown destroy him?
Where the Sun Shines Out is an emotionally compelling read that is impossible to put down. The characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic. The storyline is full of angst with Dean and the residents whose lives intertwine with his with making choices that end with devastating consequences. Kevin Catalano brings this bleak novel of despair and dysfunction to a bit of a cliffhanger conclusion that will leave readers wondering what the future holds for Dean Fleming.
In 1992, ten year old Dean Fleming and his younger brother Jason are kidnapped while they are attending the town's annual Oz Festival. Dean manages to survive the ordeal and in the years that follow, he remains wracked with guilt and caught in an increasingly downward spiral. Over the next 22 years, his life touches other residents of their small town and no one escapes unscathed.
Each of the chapters feature different characters and how their lives are affected in the aftermath of the tragedy. The first chapter is dedicated to the kidnapping and the traumatic outcome that virtually destroys the Fleming family. Dean is unable to tell authorities what they need to know to capture one of the kidnappers and in the years that follow, he bullies his only friend Brett Patrick.
The next chapters continually move forward in time and jump from character to character.and eventually circle back to Dean. Attempting to quash his pain, anger and confusion, he goes down a very dark path that leaves destruction and despair in his wake. Just as it appears that he has finally conquered his haunting past, Dean finally must face his demons but will this final showdown destroy him?
Where the Sun Shines Out is an emotionally compelling read that is impossible to put down. The characters are deeply flawed yet sympathetic. The storyline is full of angst with Dean and the residents whose lives intertwine with his with making choices that end with devastating consequences. Kevin Catalano brings this bleak novel of despair and dysfunction to a bit of a cliffhanger conclusion that will leave readers wondering what the future holds for Dean Fleming.
June 30, 2020
Excellent novel - intense, disturbing, thought provoking. Very well written - I liked the way the author moved from one characters storyline to another (in some books this can be annoying). Dean, the central character, is both an unpleasant and sympathetic person. You like him, despite your inclinations not to. The kidnapper is really repulsive and the description of her behaviour sent shivers down my spine. The downward spiral into drugs is depressing but I guess, realistic and Dean's redemption (sort of) prevents the book from becoming too dark. Strangely uplifting at the end though I am not sure why?
July 15, 2021
One of the most disturbing books I've read in a long time. The storyline definitely did not go where I thought it was going to go. Every character that was introduced had so many psychological issues. The weird thing is, I could not stop reading it. I was so sure there would be some happiness in the story, but unfortunately there was not. Absolutely hated the ending. The least the author could have done was give us a little hope and give poor Dean a break. Ironically, I can't stop thinking about it.
December 18, 2021
Kevin Catalano’s Where the Sun Shines Out seems to be well-written, and its topic - the after effects on an entire community of an appalling tragedy - is worth writing (and reading) about. But I read only about 20% of the book. I opted out at the point where Dean and Brett started formulating a serious plan to kill a neighbor’s affectionate pet dog. Everyone’s different: most readers don’t mind that sort of thing; a few do, and I am in the latter group.
November 6, 2017
This is a fantastic debut novel, and not simply for the scenes with the bitter, drunken ex-munchkin actor who returns angrily to the hometown of Wizard of Oz author Frank Baum. It's a compelling story from beginning to end. Kevin Catalano's writing is the real deal -- for those of us who have been reading his brilliant short stories for years, this novel is a real treat.
February 12, 2023
Darkness
This was a difficult book to read. Not that the writing was bad or the characterization wasn't good, but that it was so realistically depressing. I guess at some point I have to realize that not every story has a happy ending and this one isn't happy but it is truly authentic feeling. It portrays the stark reality of drug abuse, mental illness and dysfunctional families with no sugar coating. Just a big dose of what their reality is and its sad and difficult to read.
Positive points are that there is never a doubt about the talent of the author. Descriptions, phrasing, flow, developed characters, all of it is very well done.
I don't know at this point if I will read another book by Kevin Catalan or not. If so, I will be prepared for an honest read through the dark side of humanity.
This was a difficult book to read. Not that the writing was bad or the characterization wasn't good, but that it was so realistically depressing. I guess at some point I have to realize that not every story has a happy ending and this one isn't happy but it is truly authentic feeling. It portrays the stark reality of drug abuse, mental illness and dysfunctional families with no sugar coating. Just a big dose of what their reality is and its sad and difficult to read.
Positive points are that there is never a doubt about the talent of the author. Descriptions, phrasing, flow, developed characters, all of it is very well done.
I don't know at this point if I will read another book by Kevin Catalan or not. If so, I will be prepared for an honest read through the dark side of humanity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews