You’ve read them before: boy meets girl, boy and girl become friends, boy and girl resist their friendship developing into anything more, and so on. The stubborn love story, wherein the characters refuse to acknowledge and/or embrace their love for each other. Beyond the Night by Marlo Schalesky is on one level such a story, but it develops into so much more.

The book opens with a passage from a mysterious third party narrator. Seemingly vague and general, this passage remains confusing and meaningless until the surprise ending. We then enter into a scene with the married couple Paul and Maddie taking a trip on a rainy night. A tragic accident occurs, and in the next scene we enter a hospital room. Maddie is hospitalized and drifting in and out of consciousness while Paul patiently waits.

Unlike many love stories, we are already privy to knowledge of the culmination of their relationship. The knowledge of Paul and Maddie’s status as a married couple helps us to weather their indecision and struggles as they resist and wrestle with their attraction to each other throughout the relating of their love story. As Paul reaches out to her, seeking to bring her out of this state, we travel along with them as they both remember their journey to love.

Maddie and Paul meet each other in college during the ‘70s; Paul aiming for a career in medical research and Maddie setting her sights on the title of Doctor. They quickly develop a buddy-buddy relationship that develops the glimmer of maybe, possibly, something more. Then Maddie starts to go blind – not a great time to be starting a new relationship.

Maddie’s loss of vision plunges her into a time of emotional darkness that parallels her journey into visual darkness. The recollection of this descent into darkness is set into scenes of Maddie’s present – struggling against the darkness that seeks to overcome her in her hospital bed. Maddie’s slow loss of vision causes her to doubt God and His plans for her life. She draws into herself and away from friends – fiercely independent and frightened of dependence on others, she pushes those away who seek to help her, including Paul.

Paul engages in a battle of his own – wrestling with his feelings towards Maddie and struggling to understand how he could love a blind woman. Both characters are extraordinarily cautious to act on their feelings, each for their own reasons. This reluctance definitely aroused my frustration with the two of them. Becoming emotionally engaged and caring for this couple makes me impatient. I want to wake them up, get their attention, and get them together! Thankfully we already know they’ll be united in marriage, helping to prolong my patience.

I am not typically a reader of romance stories; I can assure you that this is not your typical light and fluffy romantic fare. Paul and Maddie’s struggles with the imminent loss of vision and faith, and their own shortcomings add depth and meaning to the story of their love. I was relieved to find that the tale of their developing affections free them from sensual engagements. Too many romantic stories are mired in the promise or acts of physical intimacy, the reason I normally avoid the genre.

I was drawn to this title for several reasons – the assurance that the characters involved would marry, the spiritual struggle and theme of spiritual darkness brought on by the blindness and the promise of a surprise ending – I couldn’t resist. Schalesky doesn’t disappoint on any of these counts. Many would feel that a story in which you know the outcome of relationship would be without suspense or uncertainty. Countless titles offer formulaic and predictable endings; a skillful author, Schalesky succeeded in taking me by surprise with the book’s conclusion.

Read it for the love story, the spiritual struggle, or the surprise ending, but do read it. Paul and Maddie’s deep and enduring love along with their faith in God overcomes their fears and takes them Beyond the Night. You won’t want to miss this one. I’ll be watching for future releases from Schalesky, who is writing more titles with unexpected endings.

P.S.  This is one you’ll want to share with your girlfriends.

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Publisher Info:

Title: Beyond the Night
Author: Marlo Schalesky
Format: Paperback, 304 pages
Publisher: Multnomah Books (June 17, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1601420161
ISBN-13: 978-1601420169