The Light Remains

Samantha Keller’s The Light Remains is a coming-of-age novel set on a dairy farm in 1960s South Africa. Following her father’s death, Eve Hunter must navigate grief, family expectations and her growing feelings for Jack, her closest friend, whose future has long been tied to that of her older sister, Kate. As family secrets come to light and the farm’s future hangs in the balance, Eve is forced to reckon with the life expected of her and the possibility of choosing differently. What I found interesting was how Keller situated an intimate family drama within apartheid-era South Africa. Although racial tensions shape the world in which the characters live, the novel’s focus remains on the family and the personal conflicts that unfold within it. I also appreciated that it offered something different from the historical fiction I usually read, focusing on domestic life rather than making historical events the central concern. As a debut, The Light Remains offers an interesting introduction to Keller’s style, and I’m curious to see what she writes next. Amyn Bawa-Allah