The book is no mere narrative and it is not simply about the author. It is also an accurate eye-witness account of the way things were in 1930's London, in wartime Kent and Snowdonia, on a crowded troopship, in the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme, and in the Klondike goldfields and construction camps of British Columbia. With echoes of Dickens' Pip, Wordsworth, and Mr. Chips, among other things it takes a glance at climbing, the occult, flying, gold-mining, teaching (in B.C. and in London), recurrent dreams and dissociation. It is a tale of perseverence in the face of repeated disappointment, bereavement and post traumatic stress disorder. And it is an affirmation of the supreme virtue of love.
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"The true strength of this book is the author's experiences, from his time as a pilot to the four seasons he spent in Klondike goldfields....It is clear that Condon has led a full life...and has risen after every bump and dive. Thus, the phoenix is an appropriate section title and an apt symbol for the writer himself."- Foreword Clarion Reviews
"P. A. Condon's literary gem of a memoir...shares sensitive details of his hard-scrabble life with the deft story-telling of Frank McCourt and a healthy dose of Julian Barnes' keen wit....The author's gifted writing and emotional honesty make this book a winner."- Blue Ink Review"A deft, compelling autobiography of an Everyman. Thorough, organized and well-researched, Towards the Light...is powered as much by the storytrelling and language as by the subject matter....Wise and ntertaining, this book is hard to put down."- Kirkus Review..".a beautifully-written book."- Writer's Digest Judge