Everything The Light Touches | Book Review

Review of Janice Pariat's book - Everything the light touches.

• Title - Everything the light touches
• Author – Janice Pariat
• Year published – October 25th, 2022
• Publisher - Fourth Estate
• Pages - 512
• Genre – Fiction
• Format - Hardcover
• Get the book - Amazon

In Everything the Light Touches we meet many travellers: Shai, a young Indian woman who journeys to India's northeast and rediscovers, through her encounters with indigenous communities, ways of living that realign and renew her. Evelyn, an Edwardian student at Cambridge who, inspired by Goethe's botanical writings, embarks on a journey seeking out the sacred forests of the Lower Himalayas. Linnaeus, botanist and taxonomist, who famously declared "God creates; Linnaeus organizes" and led an expedition to Lapland in 1732. And Goethe himself, who travelled through Italy in the 1780s,formulating his ideas for a revelatory text that called for a re-examination of our propensity to reduce plants - and the world - into immutable parts.

Drawing richly from scientific ideas, the novel plunges into a whirl of ever-expanding themes, and the contrasts between modern India and its colonial past, urban life and the countryside, capitalism and centuries-old traditions of generosity and gratitude, script and "song and stone." At the heart of the book lies a tussle between different ways of seeing - those that fix and categorize, and those that free and unify.

Everything the Light Touches brings together, with startling and playful novelty, people and places that seem, at first, removed from each other in time and place. Yet all is resonance, we discover; all is connection.

Four characters, Shai, Evelyn, Gothe, and Carl, each with their own distinct stories set in varying times and locations, find themselves intricately linked by a common thread. The book embarks on its journey with a deep exploration of the natural world before transitioning to the other tales, ultimately culminating in a poignant path toward self-discovery.

The narrative style employed in the book is notably intriguing and descriptive, a facet of the storytelling that greatly appealed to me. It provided an excellent opportunity to immerse myself in a wealth of fascinating details. Right from the outset, Shai's story painted a vivid picture, bringing to life the diverse array of sights, sounds, culinary delights, and the unique lifestyle of the indigenous people. This attention to vivid descriptions and immersive details is a recurring theme throughout the entire book, consistently enriching the narrative with a strong sense of place and culture.

The message the author imparts in this book carries significant weight, especially in the present times we live in. The core concept of adopting a mindful approach to consume only what is truly necessary deserves deep contemplation and practical integration into our daily routines. Equally intriguing is the notion of reciprocity with the natural world, suggesting that as we utilize its resources, we should also leave a respectful offering in return. This idea, rooted in the principles of sustainability, advocates for a more balanced and harmonious relationship with our environment, presenting a timely and compelling call to action in today's world.

The characters, consisting of two fictional and two historical figures, seamlessly weave the central theme into a narrative that skillfully presents elements of nature, adventure, and travel. While each character's story can stand alone as a separate novella, reading them as a collective whole beautifully reveals the core essence of the book by interweaving their distinctive ideals and experiences.

The main characters and the supporting cast across the different timelines shine brilliantly throughout the book, collectively rendering it an engaging read.

The book explores concepts including seeking solace in one's heritage, venturing into uncharted domains to advance scientific knowledge, and ultimately, harmonizing philosophy with modern science to gain a deeper understanding of our existence.

Overall, it's a  4/5-star read, inviting you to savor its content and fully absorb the book's essence, ensuring your engagement from start to finish.

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