Genre: Historical
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Tony
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About The Book
Kenneth Taylor has bright plans for a future as an engineer. In the summer of 1957, as soon as he returns home to Bristol from two years of National Service in the Royal Signals, a furious row with his dad means he’s thrown out of the house, and his prospects are in jeopardy.
He finds lodgings in the hilltop, bomb-damaged suburb of Kingsdown, determined to be independent and juggling night school with his humdrum day job. He soon meets Gino, the good-looking son of a local café owner and is thrilled when the attraction proves to be mutual. As their romance blooms, Kenneth finds unexpected encouragement from an apparition in the mirror who inhabited the house in the late 18th century.
When the ghostly vision of Kit also appears to Kenneth in his dreams, it seems they have much in common when Kit reveals his dilemma at a similar age, concerning his growing attachment to a young man, Ned. Past and present intermingle as Kenneth faces parallel and difficult decisions. But can he trust Kit? Or is it all merely a trick of the light?
The Review
A Trick of the Light is a short work about a young gay man named Kenneth, in his twenties, making his way in Bristol, England, in the late 1950’s. He has completed his military service and is looking to get an engineering apprenticeship. He has a job working in a warehouse at the docks while he attends night school.
His father wants him to work alongside him and give up all his ambitions. As a result of their disagreement Kenneth moves out to a cold and grim room.
He is hiding his sexuality, as everyone had to in those times. When he meets Gino, he discovers there is more to life than just making do.
The rest of the story follows Kenneth along the rocky road, as he gets to know Gino and negotiates with his father.
The trick of the light component of the title concerns something Kenneth sees in the old mirror in his rented room, and the dreams he experiences as a result. It adds an extra element to the story, and contributes to the choices Kenneth ultimately makes.
And the sexual activity between the two main characters was appropriate, natural and realistic.
The one slightly off-key note was the inclusion of Halloween in the story – the story is set in England, and Halloween was not something celebrated or even acknowledged back in 1957.
Still, this is an enjoyable read with great characters, a sweet story as Kenneth and Gino get to know each other slowly and innocently.
The Reviewer
Tony is an Englishman living amongst the Welsh and the Other Folk in the mountains of Wales. He lives with his partner of thirty-six years, four dogs, two ponies, various birds, and his bees. He is a retired lecturer and a writer of no renown but that doesn’t stop him enjoying what he used to think of as ‘sensible’ fantasy and sf. He’s surprised to find that if the story is well written and has likeable characters undergoing the trails of life, i.e. falling in love, falling out of love, having a bit of nooky (but not all the time), fending off foes, aliens and monsters, etc., he’ll be happy as a sandperson who has just offloaded a wagon of sand at the going market price. As long as there’s a story, he’s in. He aims to write fair and honest reviews. If he finds he is not the target reader he’ll move on.
