Editorial Review

Independent Book Review

Genre: Literary Fiction

Reviewed by Erin Britton

Capturing a series of day-to-day events in which the initial mundanity belies the deeper profundity, Ethan R. Ray’s Silhouette in Free Light offers an often poignant exploration of the nature of love, the mystery of the everyday, and the delicate balance between shadow and light when it comes to human relationships. The story centers on the intertwining lives of Clyde and Cassandra, two troubled and sometimes troubling individuals navigating the complexities of love, identity, and the haunting specters of the past.

The story begins with an intimate portrayal of Cassandra, a woman with an enigmatic past and an allure that captivates the narrator, Clyde, although he notes “I loved her only as much as a man could love.” They’ve been together for an unknown period, likely a while, but there are still many mysteries and secrets between them. “We always loved each other but sometimes the love was off because of a certain way someone had looked at her, but at least we had each other.” As such, it’s clear from the outset that trouble lurks within their relationship.

The couple live in New Hampshire and their unconventional lifestyle—“We get along well enough but we don’t have jobs. Somehow we have money but I don’t know where she gets it.”—is marked by moments of vulnerability and raw emotion. Clyde in particular seems to exist in an almost dreamlike state, with little understanding of the past and present and even less consideration of the future: “I don’t remember how we got the house and I don’t care.” Ray’s prose is both evocative and contemplative here, delving into the intricacies of human connections.

Both Clyde and Cassandra are deeply flawed and often peculiar characters, and their relationship, while often overtly loving, is very far from perfect. “I could have hit her. I could have yelled or I could have gotten a drink, for we still had a lot of wine. But I shrugged and sat down on the bed, not looking at her.” There are other hints, too, that the possibility of danger is never far away. Still, as Silhouette in Free Light progresses, Ray mixes these more shocking aspects with scattered moments and vignettes from their lives, with other characters only irregularly intruding.

Despite being the overwhelming focus, the two main characters, especially Cassandra (“She was the most mysterious thing in my life.”), are portrayed in a rather oblique fashion, which lends them both an air of mystery—whether ultimately deserved or otherwise—and provokes intrigue regarding how the many layers of their personalities will be unraveled. Ray skillfully combines moments of tenderness and moments of tension, creating a rich tapestry of emotions that mirrors the complexities of real-life relationships.

Given the ambiguous way in which Clyde and Cassandra (fail to) communicate, the motif of silence and the unspoken nature and quality of emotions runs throughout Silhouette in Free Light, adding another layer of depth to the story. The couple’s unorthodox love is palpable, but it is really the challenges they face, both internal and external, that serve as the background to Ray’s exploration of the overarching themes of acceptance and understanding. In this way, the outside world does occasionally— and violently—intrude upon their lives, for instance, when Clyde is hospitalized with alcohol poisoning.

Silhouette in Free Light is also rich in imagery, with Ray using vivid descriptions to paint scenes that are both intimate and atmospheric. His juxtaposition of mundane activities, such as grocery shopping (“Not the kinds that bristle with the unforgiving maliciousness of pre-baked lasagna, packaged ‘Chinese’ food or even soup, but I bought real things like tomatoes and onions and steak and rice.”), with profound moments of reflection (“I looked out the window and noticed the tree, but in a dull way, in a lost way I noticed the way that nature was around me.”) creates a nuanced narrative that captures the essence of the characters’ lives.

Moreover, the story takes several unexpected turns, introducing elements of suspense and intrigue, for example, when Cassandra receives a mysterious phone call from a persistent caller she alleges to be a car salesman. “Do not call this telephone because I do not want you to call it. Put away that piece of paper you have there in your hand which has my telephone number on it. You are calling from a pay phone. You are calling from New York. Stop calling this telephone—.” While they do not always give rise to significant consequences, these features adds a layer of tension to the story and further obscure its overall direction.

In dealing with the extraordinary moments in the ordinary lives of two pivotal figures, Silhouette in Free Light presents an engaging literary examination of the interplay of shadow and light in the human experience. Ray’s writing is both introspective and observant, inviting reflection on the nature of love, identity, and the elusive balance between freedom and connection.