A Sudden Light : A Novel

From Garth Stein, author of the beloved bestseller The Art of Racing in the Rain—now a major motion picture! The New York Times bestselling “witty, atmospheric” (People) story of a once powerful American family, and the price that must be paid by the heirs as they struggle for redemption: “A captivating page-turner” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis).Twenty-three years after the fateful summer of 1990, Trevor Riddell recalls the events surrounding his fourteenth birthday, when he gets his first glimpse of the infamous Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant whole trees and is set on a huge estate overlooking Seattle's Puget Sound. Trevor's bankrupt parents have separated, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with Aunt Serena, dispatch the ailing and elderly Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell off the house and property for development, and divide up the profits. But as young Trevor explores the house's hidden stairways and forgotten rooms, he discovers secrets that convince him that the family plan may be at odds with the land's true destiny. Only Trevor's willingness to face the dark past of his forefathers will reveal the key to his family's future. Spellbinding and atmospheric, A Sudden Light is rich with vivid characters, poetic scenes of natural beauty, and powerful moments of spiritual transcendence. “Garth Stein is resourceful, cleverly piecing together the family history with dreams, overheard conversations, and reminiscences...a tale well told,” (The Seattle Times)—a triumphant work of a master storyteller at the height of his power. When A Boy Tries To Save His Parents' Marriage, He Uncovers A Legacy Of Family Secrets In A Coming-of-age Ghost Story By The Author Of The Internationally Bestselling Phenomenon, The Art Of Racing In The Rain. In The Summer Of 1990, Fourteen-year-old Trevor Riddell Gets His First Glimpse Of Riddell House. Built From The Spoils Of A Massive Timber Fortune, The Legendary Family Mansion Is Constructed Of Giant, Whole Trees, And Is Set On A Huge Estate Overlooking Puget Sound. Trevor's Bankrupt Parents Have Begun A Trial Separation, And His Father, Jones Riddell, Has Brought Trevor To Riddell House With A Goal: To Join Forces With His Sister, Serena, Dispatch Grandpa Samuel--who Is Flickering In And Out Of Dementia--to A Graduated Living Facility, Sell Off The House And Property For Development Into Tract Housing For Millionaires, Divide Up The Profits, And Live Happily Ever After. But Trevor Soon Discovers There's Someone Else Living In Riddell House: A Ghost With An Agenda Of His Own. For While The Land Holds Tremendous Value, It Is Also Burdened By The Final Wishes Of The Family Patriarch, Elijah, Who Mandated It Be Allowed To Return To Untamed Forestland As A Penance For The Millions Of Trees Harvested Over The Decades By The Riddell Timber Company. The Ghost Will Not Rest Until Elijah's Wish Is Fulfilled, And Trevor's Willingness To Face The Past Holds The Key To His Family's Future. A Sudden Light Is A Rich, Atmospheric Work That Is At Once A Multigenerational Family Saga, A Historical Novel, A Ghost Story, And The Story Of A Contemporary Family's Struggle To Connect With Each Other. A Tribute To The Natural Beauty Of The Pacific Northwest, It Reflects Garth Stein's Outsized Capacity For Empathy And Keen Understanding Of Human Motivation, And His Rare Ability To See The Unseen: The Universal Threads That Connect Us All-- In The Summer Of 1990, 14-year-old Trevor Riddell Gets His First Glimpse Of Riddell House. Built From The Spoils Of A Massive Timber Fortune, The Legendary Family Mansion Is Constructed Of Giant, Whole Trees, And Is Set On A Huge Estate Overlooking Puget Sound. Trevor's Bankrupt Parents Have Begun A Trial Separation, And His Father, Jones Riddell, Has Brought Trevor To Riddell House For The Summer With A Goal: He Will Join Forces With His Sister, Serena, To Dispatch Grandpa Samuel--who Is Flickering In And Out Of Dementia--to A Graduated Living Facility, Sell Off The House And Property For Development Into Tract Housing For Millionaires, Divide Up The Profits, And Live Happily Ever After. But Trevor Soon Discovers There's Someone Else Living In Riddell House: A Ghost With An Agenda Of His Own. For While The Land Holds Tremendous Value, It Is Also Burdened By The Final Wishes Of The Family Patriarch, Elijah, That It Be Allowed To Return To Untamed Forestland As A Penance For The Millions Of Trees Harvested Over The Decades By Riddell Timber. As He Uncovers Secrets Of His Family's Past That Are Hidden Deep Within The House, Guided By The Whisperings Of The Ghost, Trevor Discovers A Legacy Of Family Trauma And Terrible Guilt. The Ghost Will Not Rest Until Elijah's Wish Is Fulfilled, And Trevor's Willingness To Face The Past Holds The Key To His Family's Future-- Prologue: The Curse -- The North Estate -- Leaving New Haven -- Dinner Is Served -- The Mighty Elijah -- In The Night Kitchen -- The Talk -- The Book Of Jones -- Innocence Lost -- The Mountains Of California -- Ben's World -- Birthday Dinner -- Roosevelt And His Man Pinchot -- The Discovery -- Tree Climbing -- Awake The Sleeping Giant -- Chamber Of Secrets -- The Return Of The Hand -- Serena's Visit -- The Searchers -- The Cottage -- Night Dancing -- Tell Me About Your Mother -- The Basement -- Automatic Writing -- The Dilemma -- Dickie Dances -- The Fallen -- That Man's Father Is My Father's Son -- A Fight Overheard -- Behold, This Dreamer! -- Bad Aunt -- Bonfire Of The Memories -- Quid Pro Quo -- House Of Stones -- A Seduction -- Truth Over Loyalty -- A Sudden Light -- The Haunting -- Double Jeopardy -- Ben's Tree -- The Dumbwaiter -- Redemption -- The Truth Will Out -- The Last Dance -- Sailing Away -- After The Fall -- Epilogue: Final Resolution. Garth Stein. From Garth Stein, author of the beloved bestseller The Art of Racing in the Rain—now a major motion picture! The New York Times bestselling “witty, atmospheric” (People) story of a once powerful American family, and the price that must be paid by the heirs as they struggle for redemption: “A captivating page-turner” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis). Twenty-three years after the fateful summer of 1990, Trevor Riddell recalls the events surrounding his fourteenth birthday, when he gets his first glimpse of the infamous Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant whole trees and is set on a huge estate overlooking Seattle’s Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have separated, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with Aunt Serena, dispatch the ailing and elderly Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell off the house and property for development, and divide up the profits. But as young Trevor explores the house’s hidden stairways and forgotten rooms, he discovers secrets that convince him that the family plan may be at odds with the land’s true destiny. Only Trevor’s willingness to face the dark past of his forefathers will reveal the key to his family’s future. Spellbinding and atmospheric, A Sudden Light is rich with vivid characters, poetic scenes of natural beauty, and powerful moments of spiritual transcendence. “Garth Stein is resourceful, cleverly piecing together the family history with dreams, overheard conversations, and reminiscences...a tale well told,” (The Seattle Times)—a triumphant work of a master storyteller at the height of his power. The New York Times bestselling #8220;witty, atmospheric#8221; ( People ) story of a once powerful American family, and the price that must be paid by the heirs as they struggle for redemption: #8220;A captivating page-turner#8221; ( Star Tribune , Minneapolis). Twenty-three years after the fateful summer of 1990, Trevor Riddell recalls the events surrounding his fourteenth birthday, when he gets his first glimpse of the infamous Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant whole trees and is set on a huge estate overlooking Seattle#8217;s Puget Sound. Trevor#8217;s bankrupt parents have separated, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with Aunt Serena, dispatch the ailing and elderly Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell off the house and property for development, and divide up the profits. But as young Trevor explores the house#8217;s hidden stairways and forgotten rooms, he discovers secrets that convince him that the family plan may be at odds with the land#8217;s true destiny. Only Trevor#8217;s willingness to face the dark past of his forefathers will reveal the key to his family#8217;s future. Spellbinding and atmospheric, A Sudden Light is rich with vivid characters, poetic scenes of natural beauty, and powerful moments of spiritual transcendence. #8220;Garth Stein is resourceful, cleverly piecing together the family history with dreams, overheard conversations, and reminiscences#8230;a tale well told,#8221; ( The Seattle Times )#8212;a triumphant work of a master storyteller at the height of his power Summer, 1990. Fourteen-year-old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House, the legendary family mansion built with a timber fortune. Trevor's bankrupt father has brought him here with a goal: for Trevor and his sister to dispatch Grandpa Samuel to a nursing home, sell the property, divide the profits, and live happily ever after. But as Trevor explores the house, he discovers a lingering spirit whose agenda is at odds with that plan. The bestselling author of -- A Sudden Light is rich with unconventional characters, scenes of transcendent natural beauty, and unforgettable moments of emotional truth that reflect Garth Stein's outsized capacity for empathy and keen understanding of human motivation--a triumphant work of a master storyteller at the height of his power