Jack Corman is everywhere and nowhere all at once. He’s in debt, can’t hold down a steady job, and his familial relationships are unstable. He’s also the son of a well-known film director with a mixed reputation. Deeply affected by his past experiences with his father, Jack reluctantly returns to his childhood home to settle business matters after his father’s death. Once there, pushing negative memories aside, Jack sets his “make a quick buck” plan in motion only to be thrown off by a catastrophic thunderstorm that reveals the familiar and the unknown living in his childhood home. The puppets from his father’s film are alive and in need of his help. From there, a life-changing journey ensues.
Josh Winning’s The Shadow Glass wasn’t on my radar until a bookish friend of mine, Ven of Ven’s_Corner posted a review about it. He mentioned how the book had an 80s nostalgic feel to it because of the characters and storyline. ‘80s nostalgia’ seems to be a buzz phrase for me, so I took a chance and borrowed The Shadow Glass from my local library.
The book delivered on the 80s nostalgia and put me in the mood to rewatch some of my childhood favorites by the late Director, Jim Henson. I was immediately transported to the feelings I felt when watching Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. The emotions that come with humans fighting alongside puppet-like creatures are not only nostalgic but heart-warming and inspiring. In The Shadow Glass, the fantastical seamlessly converges with reality. Initially, the characters are less than fond of each other, but through their collective efforts to complete the hero’s journey, they gradually create a bond and work toward their internal journeys. The construction of the story reminded me of a Matryoshka doll.
The main journey is finding the Shadow Glass. An otherwise easy quest that is not without its obstacles. Jack and his crew are racing against time and opposing characters. A notoriously vile villain and her minions are on the hunt for the coveted Shadow Glass too. Along the course of this journey, Jack is forced to conjure deeply archived memories of his father and the film. Specifically, the memories of people, places, and events that are connected to finding the Shadow Glass.
Through these recollections, we learn about Jack and his father, and why they grew estranged. This estrangement is better understood as Jack’s search for the Shadow Glass grows into a life-and-death situation. Furthermore, they act as a vehicle; helping Jack realize his purpose in life and understand facets of his father that were difficult to understand or put into perspective prior to his father’s death. It goes without saying, the quest to find the Shadow Glass propulses the plot and carries the story.
The internal journeys of each character are carefully woven throughout the story but did not add to the development of the story in the way that I would expect. In other words, character development was lacking. Imagine my surprise at the realization of this when I’ve made 70 to 80 percent progress through the book. It was disappointing, to say the least. I had expected to feel something or shed a tear when a character experiences distress, panic, suffering, or death. Although the characters are endearing and feel familiar, my time with them felt incomplete. Unfortunately, my emotional attachment to them affected my enjoyment.
If someone were to ask me what I most enjoyed about The Shadow Glass, I’d say the 80s nostalgia. I stayed and completed the book for the vibes. The story is different but familiar, the pacing is medium, and the balance between the story being character or plot-driven leans more towards the plot. It’s an overall good read and I look forward to reading other books by Josh Winning. Give it a try. It’s guaranteed to give you the hankering to watch something with puppeteered characters à la Jim Henson films. Don’t be surprised if you want a lub after reading this book.
