My Darkness (5 stars!)

Well, I told myself that I was going to re-read 'My Darkness' before totally spilling about it on-line, but multiple other people want to read it, and I'm so excited for them to, that I figured I would re-read it when I get another copy. I know I want one for myself and one for my youth group's library;) Anyway, before I give you guys a bit of a book review, keep in mind that I'm a very picky reader, and very critical of books. So you know I won't give credit where credit is not due. In light of that, here are my thoughts on 'My Darkness,' by Hayley Gallucci...

First off, about the author...
Hayley Gallucci was my RA in the dorms at Biola University:) She is now married and teaching kindergarten. Hayley taught me what the joy of the Lord is. I mention that because I've heard it said that one can only conceive of as much joy as they can sorrow, as much laughter as they can tears, as much hope as they can hopelessness. Your capacity for pain and your capacity for true joy are reversely proportionate. With that in mind, it makes sense (to me anyway) that someone like Hayley, the "shiny-est" person I know, would be able to write a book like 'My Darkness,' appropriately full of shining light, and deepest darkness...

Secondly, what 'My Darkness' is about:
"My Darkness is a novel about sixteen-year-old Sadie who has the ability to see another world. Tormented by a depressive demon of darkness and a manic foster brother, Sadie's life is a string of rejections and close calls until she meets Mark, her mysterious admirer. Her life begins to turn around, but she faces violent opposition at every turn, including a threat from her brother to leave home immediately or else. With the attacks intensifying, will Sadie survive long enough to embrace the truth, uncover the mysteries surrounding her foster brother and Mark, and escape from the Darkness that surrounds her?" (Product description on Amazon.com)
The story itself is a real page-turner. There is a consistent flow of action that keeps you reading. The main characters are well developed, so before you know it you will HAVE to know what happens to Sadie and Mark next, because they become quite real! I would highly recommend reading this book on a quiet Saturday when you can just keep reading, because you certainly won't want to stop!

And for those who care about these things (any Lit people out there?)
Literary elements...
The battle between good and evil is very vividly portrayed throughout the story in an unconventional way, as Sadie can actually see the angels and demons who make up the spiritual world. (Normally I think this method of portraying spiritual beings is cheesy, but that is because the few other books I've read that incorporate this element do not involve characters responding to what they see as, I think, a normal person would! Sadie, on the other hand, is a very realistic character with believable thoughts and feelings, and her responses to the spiritual world are such that a real person would probably have. This removes the cheesiness that is present in the few other books I've read with angels and demons in them).
Every story needs a source of conflict. In some stories it is opposites colliding. In some, it is characters who are too much alike finding their true colors (at least the disagreeable ones) in each other. 'My Darkness' is full of opposites, along with many varying results of their collision. There is the complete contrast between extreme good and extreme evil, with the consequent full-fledged battle going on. Then there is the partial contrast between hopeful characters and hopeless characters who are caught in between the extremes of good and evil. There is Mark, full of love, hope, and encouragement; and Sadie, full of distraction, discouragement, and a desire for hope that seems lost. Consequently, Sadie cannot understand Mark's goodness, and sometimes isn't sure if it is good.

Personal thoughts...
Some factors that could have contributed to my personal response to 'My Darkness': I am a critical reader, and I get nightmares way too easily. In light of that, I enjoyed the story too much to criticize it, and it didn't give me the creeps like most 'spiritual world' stories do. This is not to say that the demons were not very dark, or the dilemma not very serious. In fact, the depth of the darkness of the situation, and the spiritual forces involved, were very clear. I would highly recommend this book for teens and young adults in particular. It is a great story full of great (but not too great to relate to) characters, with a page-turning plot that will keep you on your toes:)

Here's where you can order a copy!
http://www.amazon.com/My-Darkness-Hayley-Gallucci/dp/1448661986/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252776290&sr=1-1