Reviews
"Light Fracture" is an intimate portrait of the people of a community struggling to find itself in the midst of Reconstruction.
There is courage and heartache and hope in equal measure as the characters live their lives in this desperate era. When the author throws in an earthquake, everyone is tested and their true selves are revealed.
Bouknight doesn't spare her readers either -- you feel, truly feel, the trials that each character faces. Ultimately her novel is one of hope, but there are no shortcuts to redemption. I felt the same thing when I finished "The Brothers Karamazov" -- I know these characters and I ached with them as the sweep of history upended everything they understood.
Yes, I'm comparing Bouknight to Dostoyevsky! And perhaps Dickens, too!
— Amazon Reviewer
“Deena Bouknight truly knows how to capture the life and charm of low-country South Carolina and bring its characters to life. The telling of Playing Guy is so complete you feel like the people and the landscape are enmeshed and each one completes the other. From the opening scene of a dramatic car crash, the rekindling and retelling of an unlikely childhood friendship, to the tragic unfolding of the climax, you won't be able to wait to find out how the events of the story finally come together. You won't be disappointed when redemption finally comes, but it won't be what you expected!
— Sandy McMurtry
“I am a fan of this author. Like her previous book, Broken Shells, the setting and characters in this new book are realistically and quirkily southern. As a native of the south, I almost feel as if she is telling me a story about a place and people that I know. In fact, I am sure that she must know or have heard of some of the eccentric and wonderful characters in low country South Carolina! Bouknight is able to capture the essence and beauty of a place I call home. Unlike so much of what I have read and reviewed in my experience as a librarian and avid reader, her story also resonates with unconditional love and the hope that must surely follow. Well done!”
— Jenni Wilson
“From the time I received my copy of this novel, I could not put it down. Like a swift-moving mountain current, the two seemingly simultaneous yet separate stories skillfully revealed on alternate chapters, propel the reader. Deena Bouknight has crafted a novel that is excitingly non-predictable yet highly believable. I agree with her character, Maxine, there is beautifulness in 'broken shells'. The first read-through was swift, as I had to know . . . had to find out. . . how these seemingly seperate stories come together and end. The second read was to savor and ponder the story, its nuances, and to challenge myself to recognize the many literary elements a gifted writer uses and incorporates. After reading Broken Shells, my next thought was . . . I hope Deena Bouknight is writing another book!”