These Nameless Things
by Shawn Smucker

Revell
Christian
Pub Date 30 Jun 2020


I am reviewing a copy of These Nameless Things through Revell and Netgalley:






Before opening his door to find a wounded woman who had escaped her tormentors in the mountain, his life had become quiet. He had mostly become friends with the eight other people, in the almost abandoned town. They had peaceful evenings around the campfire and had made vague plans to leave the ominous mountain behind someday.




The woman’s arrival changes everything. He wants to know who this woman is and how she knows about his brother who is still being held captive on the mountain? With her arrival long forgotten memories are starting to come to the surface but Dan can not understand why. And he does not understand why he is compelled to keep this woman’s presence in his house a secret, but he feels the need to do so.



This book by visionary Author Shawn Smucker gives us an unsettling but gripping story that draws you in from the first page to the last.




I give These Nameless Things five out of five stars!




Happy Reading!

If you have not read a Shawn Smucker book before, there are a couple things you should now (and one specific to The Nameless Things). First, it you’re looking for a light read, this one isn’t it. Wait until your in a contemplative state of mind because Smucker gives your brain a workout with his lyrical prose and intricate plots.

Second, this author’s books are hard to set firmly into a genre. This particular book is part allegory, part speculative, and part literary. And specific to this one is the inspiration, which comes from Dante’s Inferno so if you’re not familiar with that piece of literature, you may want to visit Google first or pick up a copy of the classic if you really want to dig into it.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, These Nameless Things is an exploration of choices and how far they reach, of how guilt nudges us to hide instead of step into the light, of forgiveness and eternity. And I am positive that if I read this book again in another two weeks or months, I will get even more out of it.

Smucker drew me in and kept me there even while I tried to put together the pieces of this world of the mountain and those who leave. All of that while trying to figure out Dan’s story.



Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

From the beginning I could tell this was going to be a challenging read. It’s not because I didn’t like the book, rather that I couldn’t read it fast enough. The suspense starts right away and never lets up.

Several people leave the mountain and discover what held them there , why they left and what affects it left on their lives. Just looking at the cover tells me there are secrets that once revealed will change many lives. I love the details the author gives as the story slowly progresses. The characters seem to come alive and I was mesmerized by them.

What happened in those mountains seep out into a unforgettable tale of abuse, pain, secrets and an ending that delivers a punch to the mind. The authors reaches deep into the soul as the characters experience forgiveness, truth and a journey to discover their destination.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

These Nameless Things is a powerful and startling work of fiction that imagines a world where the past with all its stories has been (temporarily) forgotten. Even so, it has not lost its power over the people who lived it, and author, Shawn Smucker has woven a tale of magical realism in which Dan, having escaped a place of tortured confinement, cannot feel free as long as his twin brother is still held captive.


The reader is invited into Dan’s wrestling to explore significant themes and to ask wrenching questions:

Whom do our memories belong to?
Do the stories of others have the power to change us?
Can we fix the broken past–even if we did not do the breaking?
Is forgiveness the only path to freedom?
Why do our secrets hold so much power over us?
Smucker employs two devices of traditional allegory, the dream-vision and the journey, in weaving his tale, and I was reminded of C.S. Lewis’s The Great Divorce with its freedom of movement between the spheres and the setting of gloomy Grey Town. The author tips his hat to Dante’s Inferno as well, but my advice to the reader is to enjoy the rich story-telling, unencumbered by excessive concern over its literary or eschatological implications.

I found myself reading with a growing resolve to spend my lifetime becoming the kind of person who will enjoy heaven. Until then, along the way, I may be required to stop in my tracks, to address commitments to family and friends, and to comb through our shared memories. Sometimes, however, I will be spurred forward by those same tangled stories.

Even with implied trauma and a scene or two steeped in hopelessness, the narrative’s forward momentum kept me believing for future grace. Fiction with a redemptive story line shouts, “Even here. Something is happening.”

And a cast of growing characters might just convince a reader that forgiveness and hope can change the course of her own story as well.

Honestly, this was the first Shawn Smucker book that I finished. It was well written and interesting. I have just decided that I am not a fan of this genre of books.

From page one I could tell this wasn't like any story I had read before. Shawn Smucker is a new author to me but after reading this book I will find more of his work to enjoy. A tangled story that kept me wondering what exactly was happening for much of the beginning; but I was invested and captivated by Shawn's writing and the way he story tells in such an intricate way. I received an advanced reader copy from Revell and these are my own opinions and thoughts.

A retelling of Inferno that will draw readers from all genres.

Dan has lived in the village for a long time. He escaped captivity from the mountain long ago and occupies the first house of the village that other people come to after they have escaped captivity. He keeps watch as they come through and rushes them to the village leader to best decide how to help and rehabilitate them. There is one person that Dan has been waiting to see come out of the mountain: his brother. He knows that he can’t leave this village until his brother comes through. Many of the villagers have begun to move out of the village toward the eastern plains, but some remain and are unsure why they are waiting. But one day a woman comes through the mountain and people begin to remember their lives before the mountain. One thing begins to become clear; everyone seems to be waiting for Dan’s brother.

At its core, this is a modernization of Inferno by Dante Alighieri. Readers will discover many parallels between this book and the original. However, if you haven’t read Inferno, it will not take away from this story. I was quickly pulled in by the intrigue of Dan’s experience in the village and the appearance of Kathy. I devoured this book to discover what was going on and why people were suddenly remembering past lives and what it all had to do with Dan. The first half of the book sets up the base of the story and the second half is the trip through the inferno to rescue Dan’s brother. There were several tie ins -between the two parts that I had to reflect on to fully understand the significance. My one complaint is that the ending just wrapped up to quickly. I felt that there was a lot of tension built up and it just sort of ended. Aside from that, it is a worthwhile read that many will enjoy.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

After reading Light from Distant Stars, I was excited to have the opportunity to read Shawn Smucker’s These Nameless Things. I was definitely not disappointed. I thought Dan’s story was great. It is one of those that makes readers really think. So many lessons to be learned within the pages.
I am giving These Nameless Things a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it. I look forward to more by Mr Smucker in the near future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Author Shawn Smucker doesn't disappoint. In this dystopian like novel, I found myself wondering how it was all going to come together, and it did so, beautifully in the last few chapters. I found myself getting invested in the characters, wondering what decisions they were going to make, and trying to anticipate how their decisions would affect the rest of the group.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, but this review is mine.

Dan has lived in the village in the shadow of the mountain since he escaped from the pit beneath the mountain. The village used to house hundreds of people, and there was singing and joy and contentment. But slowly, the inhabitants of the village have left. Heading to the east, they say. There are but a handful of people remaining, and one more is set to leave when a mysterious woman drops into Dan's life. She tells him she has come from the mountain, and his brother is the last one left there. His twin brother, Adam.

Shawn Smucker has, yet again, crafted a story that has a dreamlike, yet irresistible, quality about it. This is not a quick, light read. At times it moves very slowly indeed. But it is a thought-provoking read that prompts the reader to consider how hard it is to be completely honest, even with oneself, and how far one might go for the good of someone he loves. Grace and forgiveness, and the hope of redemption.

My one disappointment with the story was Adam's character. His role in the story was covered in fairly short order, and given the description of the journey of others up from the pit, his seemed remarkably quick for his having been there the longest. I'll keep my theory as to why that is to myself, as I don't want to spoil anything for other readers.

Shawn Smucker is one of a handful of authors whose latest I will pick up without hesitating, because I know it will be a beneficial experience to read whatever tale he spins. These Nameless Things stays true to my experience of his work, and is deserving of the time it may take you to read and savor it.

Dan lives with several others at the base of a mountain. Though they have different pasts, they share a connection of having escaped the torment inside the mountain. When a strange woman shows up at Dan’s door, things begin to twist for those in the village, and they find out they have another connection to each other.

When I started this book, it was a bit difficult to see where is was going. I had to keep reading to see if I could understand what was going on. Before I realized it, I was reading because I wanted to see what would happen next. Though the plot is unusual, it proved to be an interesting story. The message in the plot started out subtle, but became more evident as the end neared. Without spoiling things, the characters had to come to grips with truly understanding forgiveness.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary:
Dan and his friends live in a small village at the base of the mountain–the same mountain where they escaped from their tormentors. The village is a place of refuge, rest from the horrors of the past. Happy days pass, yet in the back of their minds they all know it is still a place of waiting, and each must eventually decide whether they will leave for the hope of a better life in the east.

As you progress through the chapters, you’ll dart back and forth in time, exploring the role of past memories in guilt, forgiveness, suffering, and grace.

What I liked:
The storyline is unique. I can’t think of many books like it. Dan is a solid main character, and his struggles with guilt can be quite relatable.

The writing itself is good and definitely poetic in its style. Despite the story revolving around internal character issues and coming to terms with the past, there was a good amount of build-up and suspense. Each chapter managed to draw me in and keep me wanting answers.

While there were points that made me pause and think, I felt that the story was lacking in a few important places.

What I didn’t like:
These Nameless Things treads a weird line between real and allegorical. I felt misled by this about halfway through. Maybe my mind was just set on a thriller story, but I was disappointed with the answers it gave. Some of the plotlines became confusing, and a few of the mysteries built throughout the story still felt unresolved in the end.

Part of the symbolism was lost on me, which may be due to my lack of familiarity with the story it was inspired by, Dante’s Inferno.

Final thoughts:
Overall, it was a decent read, just not my kind of book. Readers who enjoy stories that defy genre categories will probably find it interesting. If you do give it a shot, I would recommend going in blind with as few expectations as possible. Just be prepared for it to get dark at times and to keep an eye out for the symbolism.

This is very well written and not what I would normally read. This is told in Dan’s pov he has been living in the village at the bottom of the mountain for a long time with some other survivors who escaped the mountain as well. He is waiting for his twin brother Adam to escape the mountain. People in the village start remembering things and a mysterious woman appears and tells Dan he needs to go back in the mountain to rescue his brother. It was pretty weird and I kept having more questions than answers the more I read the book. While this was super interesting I didn’t really get the stories deeper meaning and it just went right over my head.

Thanks to Revell and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is my first book by this author and I think he did an excellent job in his writing style however it was not my cup of tea. I wanted to like it so badly because the description is so intriguing and that cover just draws you in but I just could not get into it. The story is very much allegorical.

Dan is the main character and the one mainly telling the story. He once was a captive of the mountain but now he lives with the sole purpose of guiding others who have escaped the mountain into a new life. He also struggles with the fact that his brother is still in the mountain. I am honestly not going to give you more on the story because although there were other characters but you they don't truly delve into them and you don't find out what happens to them. (Again... so many questions).

I don't know if it was my mood or just the fact that the book gives you more questions than answers but I just was not into this book at all but I never liked Dante's Inferno and this is somewhat like that. I kept reading hoping I would start to enjoy it but I never did. At the end I was very disappointed that I was left with more questions than when I started and perhaps that may be that's the feeling the author wanted you to have at the end. I personally did not like that. I also felt that there was no real explanation on the redemption theme.

This is obviously just my personal review on the book and you may think differently and I hope you do! If you enjoy allegorical, dystopian and speculative books then this is definitely the read for you. Like I said before Shawn Smucker knows his style of writing an does a superb job in it however it was just not my type of book.

This book is is definitely very angsty and will keep you on your toes wanting to know what happens next. The main character, Daniel, has gone through an extremely hard and scary situation and lost his brother. He stays quite hopeful that his brother will return to him, but new people
I have never read a book quite like this one, and while it was definitely good book to read, if you like angst, suspense books. I had a hard time getting into it and following the story line.

I graciously received an advance e-copy from Netgalley for review. All opinions are my own.

"We smell like exhaustion, like miles piled on top of miles, like time when it has already run out. Yet somehow we also sound like hope, like fresh water washing through the reeds."

What an intriguing, thought-provoking novel by Shawn Smucker! His lyrical, poetic, mesmerizing writing style is captivating and the plot is quite unique. The author seamlessly integrates themes of guilt, unbearable pain, bonds of family, loyalty, hope, forgiveness, and redemption into a beautifully written, other-worldly kind of story. If you haven't read Dante's Inferno, I would suggest at least reading the synopsis of the classic work (like I did) before starting this book.

The story is told in first person from Dan's perspective and he, along with several others, are at a village right outside of the mountain from which they had all escaped. Dan is waiting for his twin brother Adam. Most in the village have already left and headed east but the ones who have chosen to stay all have memories and past experiences that tie them together. The memories, including Dan's, are foggy and dream-like at first but they start rushing back to the people left in the village. The first few chapters can be a little confusing since the author is laying down the foundation of setting and characters but the story picks up pretty quickly once the cast of characters is introduced and relationships are explained. How each person's past and pain fit into the giant puzzle of the plot is surprising when discovered but also wonderfully redemptive when forgiveness is extended and accepted.

It's an intensely emotional, unforgettable allegory and definitely worth reading. I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing Group via Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This isn't the type of book I'm typically drawn to - speculative, allegorical, almost dystopian - but I'm glad I decided to read it! I think it's important to expand your reading horizons, to see life from different perspectives, and These Nameless Things definitely provides a different perspective. The writing is haunting and poetic, leaving things open to your imagination and interpretation. The story explores themes of guilt, forgiveness, and redemption in a compelling, thought-provoking way. It will make you consider how the choices we make have effects that reach farther than we can imagine. The questions it raises will stay with you after the final page!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and the Revell Reads program. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“Through me is the way to the city of woe.
Through me is the way to sorrow eternal.
Through me is the way to the lost below. Justice moved my architect supernal.
I was constructed by divine power,
supreme wisdom, and love primordial.
Before me no created things were.
Save those eternal, and eternal I abide.
Abandon all hope, you who enter.”
― Dante Alighieri, Inferno

Dan has long ago escaped the captivity of the mountain but has waited in the nearby town for his brother, Adam to join him. For some reason, others have left the mountain, but Adam has not. Adam has been waiting for a long time for his brother, what he doesn't know is that others in the town have been waiting as well.

"It's the kind of place you have to leave o your own. Everyone who has ever left has battled their own way out. In this place, our guilt consumes us."

This is a very thought-provoking book that looks at guilt, grief, personal demons, anger, etc. It is a nod to Dante's Inferno (if you haven't figured that out already). I found it to be beautifully written and atmospheric. My advice is to go into this as blind as possible knowing nothing more than the small synopsis. This is Christian fiction, which I did not know when I requested the book. I was intrigued by the synopsis. You should be as well. I found this to be well written, a little slow in the middle but I acknowledge that this book is about a journey and journeys are not always fast-moving. There are beautiful passages that drip with despair, guilt, and hope.

"...I went deeper than that. Deeper than the floor of the house, deeper than the foundations of the canyon, deeper than the dreams or nightmares or memories. I stayed there in that depth, and I slept like I never have before and will probably never sleep again, there on the edge of the river."

I am purposely not saying much more about the storyline. What I will say that I found it to be intriguing, captivating, thought-provoking, and well thought out.


A journey that is not to be missed.

Thank you to Revell Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

These Nameless Things by Shawn Smucker was unlike anything I have ever read, and that is saying quite a bit. I have read a lot of books over the period of my life. Many, I have enjoyed. Others, I have wanted to shove under a bed and never mention again. These Nameless Things for me falls somewhere in between. It was incredibly well written, and I could tell how much time and effort Smucker had put into the novel. He made each character unique, with their own personality traits that made them relatable. From the moment I read the first page, I had questions. Even if I did not like the book, I knew I had to finish it, because I wanted my questions answered.

Unfortunately, most of my questions were still unanswered. The book was good; do not get me wrong. I think, however, many of the concepts went way above my head. Sleeping on it, I believe I might have taken These Nameless Things a little too literally. It left me wanting more. There was so much imagery in the novel, and I do not dispute I missed most of it. I wish I would have read some of the Goodreads reviews before reading These Nameless Things, otherwise I might not have picked it up. The synopsis on NetGalley, though, attracted my attention.

I have never read nor studied Dante’s Inferno, so I missed…well, ALL of the references to it in These Nameless Things. Because of that, I do not feel that I could truly appreciate all that the novel had to offer. I am sure there were both blatant and subtle allusions to Dante’s Inferno, but I only caught one or two of them, like “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” That one was obvious. The rest, though…I missed all of them. Had I read Dante’s Inferno, I think I would have enjoyed--and understood--These Nameless Things a lot more.

First of all, you need to know this is strongly influenced by Dante’s Inferno. If you know that going into it, you won’t be surprised by the plot or setting. Having just recently listened to a podcast do a review of The Divine Comedy over several episodes, I really enjoyed the setting and plot of this book.
It does not have a lot action, but it does have a lot of character and feeling. We have time to sit and feel with these characters. Sometimes we are sitting alone with a character and sometimes we are sitting amongst a group of characters. So it isn’t really the story of one person. It is a little bit about everyone contributing to the whole even when they aren’t trying to be a part of the whole.
This will make you think about guilt, forgiveness, truth, grace, past and present, the connections between people, and the space to process all of this. This is a great study of people.