Review: And Now the Light is Everywhere by L.A. MacRae

And Now the Light is Everywhere L.A. MacRae

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Many thanks to NetGalley for giving me access to this advance copy of And Now the Light is Everywhere by L.A. MacRae. This is my first review of a proof copy so unfortunately you won’t be able to read this one until it’s published in March next year, but I would really recommend keeping an eye out for it!

L.A MacRae’s debut novel is absolutely stunning. Her writing style is so readable and yet it is laced with such unique and complex imagery which makes it a pleasure to read. I feel that stories set in Scotland often either stay firmly in the countryside, folksy, mythical space or in the gritty underbelly side of things. Writers tend to explore one of these spaces in a way that almost denies the existence of the other. In my opinion neither space is more real or relevant than the other and both are valuable and deserve to be explored. Scotland like any other country has both a rich history and wealth of folk culture that continues to be relevant today but coexists with issues such as poverty, crime and dysfunctional families. I really enjoyed the way MacRae displayed elements of both these things and shows how the existence of one does not stamp out the importance of the other. And Now the Light is Everywhere explores the twisting family history of the MacArthurs and anchors itself with Anna MacArthur in the ‘present’ time line which is set in 1990s Argyll. Anna is feeling lost and very much in the dark about what her next steps might be, so with the passing of her great uncle she decides to go and stay with her great aunts to hide from the world. It is there at Crois na Coille that she starts to dig through the past. The stories of the MacArthur family tangle like the roots of a tree, with each new discovery threating to untether the Anna in the present day.

Folk stories are at the heart of And Now the Light is Everywhere and the novel itself unfolds in a similar way. Many threads of stories are weaving together and unfurling with questions and answers rising to the surface in equal measure. As this is a story that has POVs from three main time periods, many members of the MacArthur family and some other key players it might seem a bit overwhelming at first but once you get into the flow you end up desperate to hear from all of them. Every time a chapter ends, you’re so keen to get back to that character’s tale. I don’t think the story would be the same without each thread spinning from start to finish. I loved MacRae’s exploration of folk collecting with Bella as a tradition bearer. I studied that at university, so it was so lovely to be reading about it again. I admire the way folk stories were shown to be a thing of the people, with lasting relevance through the generations. It really added another layer of intrigue to the story.

And Now the Light is Everywhere is ultimately a story of bonds stretching across the years, sometimes weathered and worn, but enduring nonetheless. It is about finding your way forward by opening up, reaching back, and untangling the mysteries and unasked and unanswered questions of the past.

Love, Grace xx