The Snow Queen

In November 2004, Barrett Meeks, reeling from another lost love, finds himself in Central Park, where he is inexplicably drawn to a pale, translucent light in the sky that seems to regard him with a godlike presence. Despite his skepticism towards visions and faith, he cannot ignore this experience. Meanwhile, in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Beth, engaged to Barrett's older brother Tyler, is battling colon cancer. Together, they navigate a fragile yet happy existence. Tyler, a struggling musician with a drug addiction, is desperately trying to compose a wedding song that transcends mere sentimentality to embody eternal love. As Barrett grapples with the significance of the light, he unexpectedly turns to religion, while Tyler increasingly believes that drugs are the key to unlocking his creative potential. Beth confronts her mortality with courage and stoicism. The narrative follows the divergent paths of the Meeks brothers in their quests for transcendence. With subtle, lucid prose, the author captures the complexities of his characters and delves into the depths of the human soul, blending beauty and heartbreak, comedy and tragedy, affirming his status as a significant voice in contemporary literature.