Sean Hewitt's debut novel, 'Open, Heaven,' draws on literary traditions to explore the journey of protagonist James, a librarian reflecting on his past and lost love. Following his divorce, James returns to the village of Thornmere, where he experienced youthful affection for a boy named Luke. The narrative intertwines poignant themes of love, identity, and the passage of time, evoking the spirit of works by Eliot and Blake. The novel captures James' introspective and sometimes tumultuous exploration of his unresolved past, wrapped in expressive and beautiful prose that resonates deeply with readers.
"Its opening recalls... Time runs faster backwards. The years long, arduous and uncertain when taken one by one unspool quickly."
"James, a librarian who loved but never desired his husband, is a man arrested in time past... he returns endlessly to thoughts of his youth."
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