Read Light Years by James Salter Online or Download the EPUB File for Free
James Salter's Light Years: A Novel of Love and Loss
If you are looking for a novel that will captivate you with its beautiful language, its complex characters, and its profound exploration of life, then you should read Light Years by James Salter. Light Years, published in 1975, is the fourth novel by American writer James Salter, who is widely regarded as one of the finest stylists of modern literature. It is the story of Nedra and Viri, a married couple who live with their children in an idyllic house near New York City, but who gradually drift apart as they pursue their own desires and dreams. It is also the story of how time changes everything, how love fades and dies, and how memory preserves and distorts the past.
james salter light years epub download
Introduction
Light Years is a novel that defies easy categorization. It is not a plot-driven novel, but rather a series of vignettes that span over two decades in the lives of its protagonists. It is not a realistic novel, but rather a poetic one that uses language to create mood, atmosphere, and emotion. It is not a conventional novel, but rather an experimental one that shifts perspectives, jumps back and forth in time, and blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality.
The novel begins with a description of Viri and Nedra's house, which is situated on the banks of a frozen river. The house is a symbol of their idealized life, which is centered around dinners, games, parties, friends, and family. They seem to have everything they want: beauty, wealth, culture, passion. But beneath the surface, there are cracks in their marriage. Both Viri and Nedra have affairs with other people, both feel restless and dissatisfied with their roles as husband and wife, both yearn for something more than what they have.
The novel follows their journey from happiness to unhappiness, from intimacy to estrangement, from union to divorce. Along the way, we witness their interactions with their children (Franca and Danny), their friends (Peter and Catherine), their lovers (Jivan and Eva), and themselves. We also witness how they cope with aging, illness, death, loss, and loneliness. We see how they try to find meaning and purpose in their lives, how they struggle with their identities and ambitions, how they remember and forget their past.
Light Years is a novel that has been praised by critics and readers alike for its exquisite prose, its nuanced characterization, and its profound insight into human nature. It is a novel that challenges and rewards the reader with its complexity and beauty. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
The Characters and Their Relationships
One of the most remarkable aspects of Light Years is the way Salter portrays his characters and their relationships. He does not rely on direct exposition or dialogue, but rather on subtle details, gestures, impressions, and emotions. He does not judge or condemn his characters, but rather empathizes and understands them. He does not create stereotypes or clichés, but rather complex and realistic individuals.
Viri and Nedra are the central characters of the novel, and their marriage is the main focus of the story. They are both attractive, intelligent, cultured, and charming. They love each other, but they also love themselves. They are both restless, ambitious, and adventurous. They are both dissatisfied with their conventional roles as husband and wife, father and mother, provider and homemaker. They both seek excitement, novelty, and freedom in their affairs with other people.
Their affairs are not merely physical, but also emotional and intellectual. They are not merely escapes, but also explorations. They are not merely betrayals, but also discoveries. They reveal aspects of themselves that they hide or suppress in their marriage. They challenge their assumptions and expectations about love, sex, and happiness. They complicate their feelings and identities.
Their children, Franca and Danny, are also important characters in the novel. They are witnesses to their parents' marriage, but they are also independent agents who have their own lives and personalities. They are both smart, creative, and rebellious. They both love their parents, but they also resent them. They both inherit some of their traits, but they also develop some of their own. They both grow up to be successful, but they also face difficulties and disappointments.
Their friends, Peter and Catherine, are another significant pair of characters in the novel. They are contrasted with Viri and Nedra in many ways. They are less glamorous, less wealthy, less cultured, less passionate. They are more stable, more loyal, more conventional, more content. They admire Viri and Nedra's lifestyle, but they also criticize it. They support Viri and Nedra's marriage, but they also question it. They represent a different model of love and marriage, one that is more realistic but also more mundane.
Their lovers, Jivan and Eva, are the final pair of characters in the novel. They are the catalysts for Viri and Nedra's divorce, but they are also more than that. They are not mere flings or fantasies, but rather genuine partners who offer Viri and Nedra something that they lack or desire in their marriage. Jivan is a young man who seduces Nedra with his charm, energy, and spontaneity. He makes her feel alive, adventurous, and free. Eva is a divorced woman who attracts Viri with her independence, intelligence, and sophistication. She makes him feel respected, challenged, and fulfilled.
The Style and Structure of the Novel
Another remarkable aspect of Light Years is the way Salter uses language to create a style and structure that suits his theme and story. He does not follow the conventional rules of grammar, syntax, or punctuation, but rather invents his own rules that reflect his artistic vision and voice. He does not use plain or simple words, but rather chooses words that evoke images, sounds, and sensations. He does not write long or complex sentences, but rather writes short or fragmented sentences that capture moments, impressions, and emotions.
Salter's style is lyrical and poetic, creating a rhythm and melody that enchant the reader. His style is also visual and cinematic, creating a vivid and realistic picture of his characters and settings. His style is also suggestive and impressionistic, creating a subtle and nuanced meaning and mood for his scenes and events.
Salter's structure is also unconventional and experimental. He does not follow a linear or chronological order, but rather jumps back and forth in time, sometimes within the same paragraph or sentence. He does not use clear or consistent transitions, but rather switches abruptly or seamlessly from one perspective or scene to another. He does not use quotation marks or dialogue tags, but rather blends dialogue with narration, sometimes making it hard to tell who is speaking or what is being said.
Salter's structure is complex and challenging, requiring the reader to pay attention and make connections. His structure is also flexible and fluid, allowing the reader to experience different aspects The Themes and Messages of the Novel
Light Years is a novel that explores many themes and messages that are relevant and universal to human experience. Some of the main themes and messages are:
Love and loss: The novel shows how love can be both a source of joy and a source of pain, how it can bring people together and tear them apart, how it can endure and how it can fade. It also shows how loss can be both a tragedy and a liberation, how it can leave scars and how it can heal wounds, how it can make people cling to the past and how it can make them move on to the future.
Identity and fulfillment: The novel shows how identity can be both a gift and a burden, how it can define people and how it can confine them, how it can be stable and how it can change. It also shows how fulfillment can be both a goal and a challenge, how it can motivate people and how it can frustrate them, how it can be achieved and how it can be elusive.
Time and memory: The novel shows how time can be both a friend and an enemy, how it can create opportunities and how it can close doors, how it can enrich life and how it can diminish it. It also shows how memory can be both a blessing and a curse, how it can preserve moments and how it can distort them, how it can comfort people and how it can haunt them.
These themes and messages are not presented in a didactic or moralistic way, but rather in a nuanced and ambiguous way. Salter does not offer easy answers or solutions, but rather invites the reader to reflect and question. He does not impose his own views or values, but rather respects the reader's own views and values. He does not tell the reader what to think or feel, but rather lets the reader think and feel for themselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Light Years is a novel that deserves to be read by anyone who is interested in exploring the complexities and mysteries of human relationships and emotions. It is a novel that showcases Salter's mastery of language, style, and structure. It is a novel that challenges and rewards the reader with its depth and beauty. It is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, think, and feel.
If you want to read Light Years by James Salter, you can download the epub version of the novel from this link: https://www.ebooks.com/en-us/book/160042/light-years/james-salter/. You will need an epub reader app or software to open the file. Alternatively, you can also buy the paperback or hardcover edition of the novel from your favorite bookstore or online retailer.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Light Years by James Salter:
When was Light Years published and how was it received by critics and readers?
Light Years was published in 1975 by Random House. It received mixed reviews when it was released, with some critics praising its style and insight, while others criticizing its plotlessness and detachment. However, it has since gained recognition and appreciation as one of Salter's best works and as one of the finest novels of modern literature. It has been included in various lists of best books by publications such as Time, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Modern Library.
What are some of the influences and inspirations behind Salter's writing?
Salter was influenced and inspired by many writers, such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marcel Proust, Anton Chekhov, and Gustave Flaubert. He admired their craftsmanship, their elegance, their precision, and their emotion. He also drew inspiration from his own life experiences, such as his career as a fighter pilot, his travels around the world, his marriages and divorces, and his friendships and affairs.
What are some of the other works by Salter that are worth reading?
Salter wrote six novels, two collections of short stories, a memoir, and a book of essays. Some of his other notable works are:
The Hunters (1956) - his first novel, based on his experience as a pilot in the Korean War.
A Sport and a Pastime (1967) - his third novel, about a love affair between an American man and a French woman in France.
Dusk and Other Stories (1988) - his first collection of short stories, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.
Burning the Days (1997) - his memoir, which covers his life from his childhood to his old age.
71b2f0854b
