lou's library

Until recently, I only knew Ethan Hawke as the actor from Dead Poets Society and father of the incredible Maya Hawke (his biggest achievement, some might say). But then I heard him talk about his love of writing on a podcast, and something within me was sold immediately. I had a gut feeling that this guy would be really good at writing not just scripts, but also novels. And what can I say? A Bright Ray Of Darkness is proof I was right. I mean, come on, that title in itself is stunning!!

It’s his most recent novel, published in 2021, and focuses on a thirty-something actor called William whose marriage is falling apart because he cheated on his wife. In a desperate attempt to get it together and finally be seen as a serious actor, he chooses to do a Broadway rendition of William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, in which he plays Hotspur. The book is set during the rehearsal and performance stages of the play, and we follow William as he tries to be the best actor, but also father and just generally human, he can be.

Utterly humane and believable

What makes A Bright Ray Of Darkness so compelling is the humanity with which it is told. William is a deeply flawed character, and that is being made clear to the reader from the very start. But as we get to know him better, we get to understand his struggles and see his determination to be better, particularly for his two small children. I found his indecision about his marriage, the going back and forth between wanting his wife back and hating her, as well as his desperate determination to be taken seriously as an actor, to be utterly believable.

I guess one could argue that there already exist more than enough books about white dudes who mess up in a big way, and then want redemption and success anyway. And that’s true. But A Bright Ray Of Darkness is not a celebration of William’s actions or character, it does not hesitate to show the depths one can fall to, especially someone in the public eye. Plus, the parallels between William trying to find his footing as Hotspur in the Broadway play and as a human being outside of acting, were created with so much skill and care that it seemed utterly natural and foreground the importance of art, particularly during difficult times.

Given the subject matter, one might easily be led to believe that Ethan Hawke drew heavily from his own experiences when writing A Bright Ray Of Darkness. This is particularly tempting when recalling that he allegedly cheated on Uma Thurman, causing their marriage to fail. But I think it is important not to confuse the author with the narrator of a book. A lot of authors likely draw from real experiences for their stories, but that does not mean William is Ethan. After all, this is not a memoir or autobiography, but a novel. It’s fiction, but it is also clear that the inside knowledge Ethan Hawke has of the acting world, greatly benefits A Bright Ray Of Darkness.

A very flawed, yet deeply lovable character

There’s a tenderness to this painful story and a clear love for acting, intermingled with hatred for stardom. It’s multi-layered, William changes his mind all the time, at times I just wanted to shake him, but I loved the way he interacted with his children, and ultimately, I loved him as a character. He’s so very flawed, and incredibly lonely, but the story is being told in a way that makes it entirely understandable how he got to this point. I couldn’t help but root for him.

A Bright Ray Of Darkness is a book I enjoyed reading from the very first page, but it grew on me so much more once I had finished it. I kept thinking about William, wondering what would have happened to him after the end of the novel, thinking about the role of Shakespeare in this book, and how acting helped our protagonist in a moment of utter darkness. In case you are worried about not knowing Henry IV: You do not need to have read the play to be able to read and enjoy A Bright Ray Of Darkness. Everything you need to know will be explained in the book, although I will admit that knowing the play will probably enhance your reading experience, as you will be able to pick up on nuances otherwise missed.

There are trigger warnings for substance and alcohol abuse, so please only read this book if you feel comfortable with those. It’s not a light read, but ultimately a hopeful one, in my opinion. It’s a wonderful hommage to theatre and Shakespeare, as well as to the messiness of life. And it sure as hell won’t be the last book I will read by Maya Hawke’s Dad.