Sun House

David James Duncan

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'Sun House' by David James Duncan seems to delve into themes of spiritual seeking, inner peace, and self-examination through the journeys of various characters exploring philosophies like Sanskrit, Buddhist, and Beguine. The plot unfolds as characters come together in a community in the mountains of Montana, reflecting the author's own experiences and connections. The novel is described as unsettling, intense, and thought-provoking, inviting readers to ponder the mysteries of human life without resorting to easy answers or cliches.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, relatable, and come from diverse backgrounds, each searching for inner peace and connection.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by creative language, emotional depth, and philosophical exploration.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around the interconnectedness of characters and their journeys through themes of relationships, spirituality, and nature.

Setting:

The setting is primarily in a community in Montana, emphasizing natural surroundings and a focus on interconnectedness.

Pacing:

The pacing starts slow with deep reflections and builds to emotional intensity, creating a sense of unease and depth.

Notes:

The novel 'Sun House' by David James Duncan has no dragons or wizards but is considered a fantasy.

The story explores themes like interpersonal relationships, connection to nature, and sustainability.

Readers relate deeply to the characters, experiencing strong emotional responses like increased breath rate and blood pressure.

Duncan spent 17 years writing this book, addressing the urgency for a change in human consciousness.

The book includes a detailed bibliography with personal notes on related spiritual literature.

Characters are introduced individually before coming together in a community in Montana where Duncan lives.

Duncan's writing synthesizes elements of various spiritual traditions, including Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu philosophies.

The character development is praised, with a mix of humor and hope throughout the stories.

Some readers found the book too long and repetitive, while others were deeply moved by its themes.

The book's audio version is 42 hours long, suggesting its depth and complexity.

It took time for the plot to layer, roughly around page 200 to 250, leading to a more engaging experience afterward.

Readers report a need to read slowly due to the book's intensity and depth.

There are mixed reviews, with some praising it as life-changing while others found it disappointing.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes themes of emotional distress and existential crises which may be triggering for some readers.

Has Romance?

There is a moderate presence of romance intertwined with the characters' journeys.

From The Publisher:

An epic comedy about the quest for transcendence in an anything-but-transcendent America, set amid the gorgeous landscapes of the American west: A "spiritual journey" full of "fun, joy, love, courage and compassion" ( Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Powers) from the author of the perennial cult bestsellers The River Why and The Brothers K .

A random bolt from a DC-8 falls from the sky, killing a child and throwing the faith of a young Jesuit into crisis. A boy's mother dies on his fifth birthday, sparking a lifetime of repressed anger that he unleashes once a year in reckless duels with the Fate, God, or Power who let the coincidence happen. A young woman on a run in Seattle experiences a shooting star moment that pierces her with a love that will eventually help heal the Jesuit, the angry young man, and innumerable others.

The journeys of this unintentional menagerie carry them to the healing lands of Montana and a newly founded community-where nothing tastes better than Maker's Mark mixed with glacier ice, and nothing seems less likely than the soul-filling delight a troupe of spiritual refugees, urban sophisticates, road-weary musicians, and local cowboys begin to find in each other's company.

With Sun House , David James Duncan continues exploring the American search for meaning and love that he began in his acclaimed novels The River Why and The Brothers K .

2017

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785 pages

Reader Stats (2):

Want To Read (1)
Not Interested (1)

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