She Treads Softly: Waves of Light and Darkness

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Waves of Light and Darkness

Waves of Light and Darkness by John K Danenbarger
5/26/26; 326 pages
Mindbuck Media

Waves of Light and Darkness by John K Danenbarger is a recommended collection of 23 literary short stories which explore in a contemplative manner the search for something more through a multitude of unexpected perspectives. The wide variety of stories are all character-driven and each one occurs in a different setting and time period as they explore universal themes of relationships, love, grief, death, anxiety, hope, religion, and human connection as well as conflict.

The quality of the writing is excellent and there are a wide variety of stories in this collection. As with all short story collections, some of the stories are stronger than others, many have twists in the ending, and not every story will connect to every reader. Additionally, while some of the stories are given more time to evolve, others end rather abruptly which detracts from their impact. The majority of the characters in the stories are portrayed as unique individuals, although some are archetypes on repeat.

Personally, the stories I enjoyed, I loved, and the ones I didn't, I really didn't enjoy them at all, which is an unusual reaction for me. This could be because Danenbarger doesn't shy away from some controversial opinions or occurrences. Note that there are some adult scenes and encounters described in some of the stories. 3.5 rounded down

Waves of Light and Darkness will best be appreciated by readers who enjoy literary short stories. Thanks to Mindbuck Media for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.