Along a stretch of Hwy. 101 in California, a straggling collection of people linger in a diner, while the rains pound ruthlessly and the few customers are reluctant to breach the torrents of the outside world. A rain-drenched and soaked man enters, looking battered and beaten by much more than the rains….
Thus begins our story, and as the prologue reveals, life has changed dramatically for this man; we soon learn that his name is Daniel Whitman, and that horrific things have happened to him.
Flash back five months, and we see his life before. And what tragedy led Daniel to this place. We know before the story begins that his family is taken away from him: a wife and a son. What we learn now, slowly, is what his journey will look like now. And how he, inexplicably, or so it seemed to those he left behind, walked out of his life.
The Day After Yesterday is the tale of that journey, but it reveals much more: after the events of Daniel’s life following his tragedy, people and events reshape his life view and even his choices. And eventually he does go home, but everything is different.
The story alternates between Daniel’s journey and what happens to those he seemingly abandoned.
Then later, the story moves ahead and shows us what this newly reshaped life looks like. We meet new characters, we see miraculous events unfold…and in the end, we are left filled with a wide range of emotions.
At least that’s what I felt for the first 300 or so pages. But then the pace quickened and moved ahead years and suddenly it wasn’t just about Daniel anymore, but a metaphorical discovery of life and how we are pummeled by it at times…and how we can choose to let it batter us. Or we can accept it and move on.
A very philosophical story that had moments of sheer joy mixed with the darkest angst. The story took a lot out of me; and in the end, I knew I would think of it for a long while. My only issue with it was the pace and the pages and pages that felt unnecessary. However, they did skewer the point about life and how it gives us a beating sometimes. For me, however, this one earned four stars.
This one sounds as though it would leave some after effects…for sure.
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It did…and I enjoyed it, except I felt battered and beaten, too…lol. Thanks for stopping by, Patty.
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Sounds intriguing, although I’m not prepared for such an emotional read at the moment.
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Yes, it was almost too much for me, Laura, but by the time I discovered how heart-wrenching it would be, I was already too far into it!
Thanks for stopping by.
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Your review makes this book sound very different from its summary. I think I would need to read a light-filled lighter book at the same time as this one. I understand your description of feeling battered and bruised after reading this since it sounds dark, painful, grief-filled and very sad. The pacing issue would bother me and I think the change from story to a general comment on life I would find a little disconcerting.
Thank you for a very interesting review of what sounds like a fascinating, unique book. I hope your next book ha some light in it :o)
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Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Amy; I did think the book was going to be quite different, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s good to be prepared. Plus…the book was a hefty one, with 465 pages.
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