The Light in the Dark: A Winter Journal – A journey towards hope Kindle Edition

I so completely loved reading this atmospheric book set mostly in West Yorkshire of snow and wet and wind, a world that a city person hurrying from warm restaurant to heated subway and apartment, cannot conceive. Set in journal entries over a four-five month period, it also chronicles the daily life of the writer as he hurries from crawling on a wet roof for emergency repairs, tries to give heart to his class of writing students, celebrates holidays with his wife and two sons and tries to define his depression, which seems to be from constant overwhelm in trying to keep the cold from entering the keyhole and writing enough to keep the wolf from the door. He does all so beautifully in my opinion that I do wish he would not berate himself so. When he stops wondering why he handles his life so badly, he is an exquisite observer of nature: how a snow bell opens, whether it is the male or female owl which cries, how sheep huddle in the snow. TO BE READ AGAIN FOR CERTAIN!! I LOVE THIS WRITER!

Readers of Horatio Clare's works will be aware that he does battle with the 'blues' on occasion and this particular work is a very personal and deeply honest journal, it seems used by the author as an aid in helping him fight the 'blues' brought upon him by winter. As I write this review on a dark damp November day I do have much empathy with the author. It would be wrong to think of this work as depressing, as it is really a celebration of self, family, friends and community and it is not without its amusing passages. There is some wonderfully written descriptive prose and the beauty of winter shines through the damp and dullness. Set mainly in Northern England, the reader is also taken to Wales where Clare spent much of his childhood and it is interesting to note how aging changes the perception of winter months. I found myself remembering my own childhood experiences in winter. There are also brief passages concerning experiences during winter in more exotic places (I accept that it could be debatable as to whether Venice is more exotic that Hebdon Bridge and Liverpool). The time in Venice is especially charming and it had me later re-reading Joseph Brodsky's Watermark, a wonderful recollection of the author experiencing the city in winter.One advantage of the dark evenings of winter is that it allows for reading of good literature and I most definitely include this book amongst this. It is so refreshing that more and more we have folk talking openly of mental health problems and the author and his like are to be applauded for their honesty. I am very much an observer of nature and this book will have me working on that even more so throughout this winter. I believe any reader of this journal will feel they want to do likewise. I enjoyed the reading of this journal very much indeed and felt more positive for having done so.

On reading the description when buying I thought that this book would be about all the different aspects of Winter in nature, contemplation and meditation. Which in a way it was, however, it was more about how the author copes with his varying depressive moods and tendancies throughout the season with him finally getting psychiatric assitance and advice with the coming of Spring. I enjoy all aspects of the seasons, so in effect I thought this rather a self indulgant ramble and unfortunately a waste of my time (and money). Not one for me I'm afraid.

I have huge admiration for all Horatio Clare's books, whether about travel or for children, but this is his most personal since his autobiography Running For the Hill and has some of the same magical quality. Now married and a father, he lives near Hebden Bridge in a place both like and unlike the remote Welsh hill where he grew up. (Some of the best passages come when he visits his mother for Christmas, in fact.) But as someone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Depression, this is not only a celebration of nature but about his struggle against a different kind of darkness as winter deepens and light fades. Family joys, teaching, walking and work help up to a point, as do the rare brighter days. Yet how is he to get through it all? Mostly what is glorious about this book is the quality of its prose, and the feeling that the author is an exceptionally nice person to spend time with. It's also a very beautiful book, and a perfect Christmas present.

Not quite what I thought. From the description i read before buying this book. I thought this book would be more positive and uplifting - I bought it as an Xmas present for a friend who suffers the winter blues. After reading it I am now in two minds as to give it to her as it seems quite self indulgant on the authors part and not very positive. It is only the last chapter that seemed more uplifting and positive when the author discovers omega 3 and St. John’s wort is the answer. Think it could have been much more uplifting than it is.

Not really what I expected. I wish someone would write one of these books in plain English instead of wracking their brains for similes and flowery, poetic descriptions. If this is the author’s life I’m not surprised he’s depressed