Make the Dark Night Shine
Inspired by the author’s family history, Make the Dark Night Shine is a love letter from a father to the daughter he never met. In 1919, Kenzo Uchida and his partner Mitsu arrive in Constantinople to open the new Japanese Consulate. Kenzo meets Elisa, a feisty Ukrainian cigarette girl in a nightclub and she becomes his consort to hide his gay relationship while in Europe. The unlikely trio begin an adventure in the decadence of post-war Paris until disaster strikes. Returning to the growing militarism in Japan, Kenzo finds an unexpected path in Zen Buddhism. Yet no teachings prepare him for the revelations to come — about his life, his loves, and the events around him. On the eve of WWII, he discovers that he has a daughter living with Elisa in New York. He leaves the monastery on a perilous mission to promote peace with a secret plan to reunite with his daughter Nina. Cinematic in scope, this novel lyrically captures the world on the brink of war. As Kenzo builds — and fights for — his chosen family, larger forces threaten all. Sweeping, meditative, and achingly beautiful, Make the Dark Night Shine explores the many worlds a life can inhabit, and the hidden worlds we find in ourselves.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 8.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Make the Dark Night Shine is an epic historical story that largely unfolds on the brink of war. Protagonist Kenzo adventures through post-WWI Paris with two companions until he returns to Japan and leads a path in Zen Buddhism before the onset of WWII. Lessik delivers a consistently compelling narrative that is driven by his protagonist's personal growth.
Prose: Lessik uses clear and exacting prose that make for an enjoyable and multilayered read. He is able to capture Kenzo’s straightforward and analytical tone while also encapsulating his feelings and conflict throughout the novel.
Originality: Kenzo’s identity as a queer Japanese man offers a singular and striking perspective on an era often explored through historical fiction.
Character/Execution: Lessik capably develops the international settings and historical era, but the strongest aspect of the novel lies in Kenzo's journey. From his efforts to conceal his identity to his pursuit of Buddhism and his perilous quest to reunite with his daughter, the protagonist allows the narrative to truly come alive.
Date Submitted: May 01, 2024
