The Valley of Light

By: Terry Kay

Narrated by: Terry Kay

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The novel begins when a stranger comes to town...Noah Locke, a gifted fisherman, has wandered up from Georgia, doing odd jobs and fishing. Noah had been with the 42nd Infantry when they liberated Dachau and images of what he saw there still haunt his dreams. The friendly residents of Bowerstown, N.C. take an interest in the mysterious young man and encourage him to stay at least until the annual fishing contest.

Littleberry Davis, the six-time champion has become too arrogant and the townsfolk would like to see him taken down a peg. Noah agrees to stay and is given a room by a young widow whose soldier husband killed himself shortly after returning home from the war. Over the course of the next week, Noah will be let into the secret lives of the town's residents and join with them as they mourn a tragedy. The novel ends with a miracle that surprises everyone except Noah...and will be the sign he needed to find his way home at last.

Beautifully capturing the rhythms and personalities of small town life, Terry Kay's novel is a tender celebration of the special gifts inside each of us. The simplicity of Kay's prose belies the mythic nature of his story. Luminous, memorable, and deeply moving, The Valley of Light is Kay's finest work to date.

©2004 Terry Kay (P)2004 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Of Fish and Men

Great telling of how tragedy effects character changes in folks different ways as time passes. The character developments in this novel is as good as it gets. Noah, returning from the cruel experiences in WWII to no family but a brother locked away in prison and no place to settle. Becomes a wise old soul whose peace and power exhibits itself in fishing talent and the quite ability to take measure of folk around him. Yet, he holds no will to outshine nor harm any. Having lived in small communities not far from the scene set in this novel (Elbert County, as a matter of fact) I know well the scenes and conversations on the porch’s of community stores. As well as how these communities would turn over heaven and hell in response to neighbors in need or tragedy. Whether it be almost supernatural abilities such as Little Bear witnessed with Noah with fish at the ending or some other inexplainable capabilities, I’ve known folks who seemed to possess such traits. Old souls, we sometimes call them……very much like Noah.

Worth the Read

I purchased this after I watched the movie. I enjoyed both. It is a great story about a WWII veteran who travels about the country fishing. His parents deceased and his only brother in prison, his family ties are such that he doesn't have that anchor to a particular place. He meets an old man named Hoak who starts him on his journey to the Valley of Light. The book is filled with many colorful charters that you get to know much better than the movie (Which is true of every book verses the movie). Loved the Southern charm. Even if your not a fisherman/woman I think you will enjoy the book. The author narrates this Audible Book which makes it even more enveloping due to his voice. I look forward to listening to it again