Sometimes a Light Surprises, by Jamie Langston Turner

Jamie Langston Turner wrote a modern-day novel set in the Carolinas. The book focuses on four main characters - Ben, Kelly, Caroline, and Erin - with various sections of the book written from each of their points of view. Each character is seeking out truth in his or her own way and relating to his or her own life and struggles.

I struggled with this book. I felt like the story was choppy and anticlimactic. I felt like I was still getting to know basic facts about some of the main characters halfway through the book. I never found the "climax" of the story - it almost seemed too choppy to ever have a true climactic moment. The end of the book also was a letdown in the fact that I didn't feel as if the characters had reached a true resolution - each of them was close, but nothing was truly resolved. I did find myself getting into the story, but I had a hard time following the gaps of lapsed time throughout it.

Altogether, the story line was good, but there seemed to be key elements and sections of the story missing. I'd give this book a 3 out of 5 - good idea, poor execution.