(Click above to purchase book)

Frankly, I can't say exactly what it is about this book that makes it so special, but there's no doubt in my mind that that is exactly what it is - special.

As you can see by the cover, New York city is lit up - with more light at the bottom than at the top.  This is most certainly not an accident, but extremely germane to the plot, which we won't delve too deeply into here.  Brightness Falls shows us what life could be like during the 1980s, with Reagan in power and Wall Street enjoying its largest boom ever, money flowed like wine, and the excesses enjoyed by the elite were unparalleled.

But as with all good times, this too had to end, and through our central characters, Russell and Corinne Calloway - Mr. McInerney paints us a roller coaster ride beginning with a party at their house with all their sordid friends and ending, well, let's just say ending.  This truly is one of my favorite books, and I wish I could describe to you why that is - but be it known that I have read this book probably seven or eight times over the last five years, cover to cover always in a few days - it's that good.  Hopefully this is a ringing endorsement, even though this review covers few specifics.

It always annoys me when the back cover of a book gives away plot details in the hope of persuading you to buy the book (much in the same way movie trailers do nowadays), so I will refrain from doing that in this review.  This is an outstanding novel, with a broad story, pertinent issues, dreams, hopes, and well developed characters that you actually come to care about.  Read it.  Now!