A Must Read – Shine by Lauren Myracle

Shine is one of those books. One of those books I loved so much, so utterly to pieces, that I don’t quite know where to begin in telling you all about it. I feel like I know this book so intimately, so personally, so completely and totally… yet I am tongue-tied.

I will soldier on, because Lauren Myracle told me to. And because you have to read this book.

Our main character is Cat and I have known a few Cats and I expect you have too. Pretty and, at one time, popular, something bad has happened to her and Cat slowly disappeared. She doesn’t talk to anyone, her old friends, her family, even her best friend Patrick. She has almost completely cut herself off from everyone she knows to protect herself. Cat is in pain. She has no one to go to.

And then Patrick gets hurt. Nearly killed.

In a hate crime.

Because he is gay.

While Patrick lies in a coma, Cat seethes. She quickly recognizes that the area police are not going to do much of anything to find Patrick’s attacker. They want the problem to just disappear. Cat will not allow that. She decides to investigate the attack herself. Her search will lead her to question friends, family and all she holds dear, in more ways that one. She will “look straight into the ugliness and find out who hurt him.” Will she find the attacker? Will she bring Patrick justice?

And more importantly, will she begin to heal herself?

I invite you to find out.

Shine is set in North Carolina, in my own “backyard” it felt like. I’m a Tarheel, born and bred (and I little ticked off that Firefox wants to spell check Tarheel!) and wow, did Myracle get it right. She knows North Carolina like I know North Carolina. It’s not often I get to read a book set in my home state, in my part of the state, and took my own personal reading experience to another level. I felt so at home in this book. I’ve read books set in the more metropolitan areas of NC and, well, those are rare compared to the parts of NC Myracle is writing about here. Like all states, NC has been hit hard by poverty. Mill towns, tobacco towns, they are all closing down. People are moving away to the cities or just staying there, hoping something will come along. Drugs are rampant. So is violence. Intolerance is just a matter of course. Homophobia is (I’m shaking my head, it’s so bad. And sad. And I don’t know how to describe it except to say that).

This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Myracle but I know it won’t be my last. Her writing is tight, honest; she doesn’t pull punches with her characters. She’s not afraid to push them. And she has a great way with dialogue. Just hearing these characters “talk” I would have known they were from the South. She’s great with the little details (something I always appreciate), she paints a picture of a dying mountain town on the bring of combustion when something happens to one of their own, a something that many want to ignore. And she’s dealing with issues that are so important. Issues that people are ignoring just as hard as the people in this book and we need to stop ignoring them. People should NOT be hurt or persecuted or made to feel inferior for who. they. love. The characters are so wonderfully written. I dare you not to adore Cat by the end of the book. Months later, I still find myself thinking about this book and to me, that is some of the highest praise I can bestow.

What they thought:

Overall, this is a must-read book- it’s raw, realistic, and just deserves to be read by everyone. I am extremely proud of Lauren for writing this book because it needs to be told, especially in these times. -  Book Chic Club

Cat’s investigation takes her on a healing journey as she faces her fears and the skeletons in her closet. Cat is a likeable character that has some personal obstacles to overcome. Her story is empowering, and she is someone I think many readers may be able to relate to. – The Reading Date

All in all,  Shine packs a hard punch.  It was an intense, emotional, tear inducing journey – but one that I am so glad I took.  It realistically captures and explores issues like sexuality, rape, prejudice, violence and addiction.  It was dark, it was raw, it was captivating.  Read it! – All about {n}

Incidentally, isn’t that a GREAT cover? Beautiful, just beautiful.

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