The Brightest Moon of the Century

Christopher Meeks has transitioned from short stories to his first novel - and the result is a book which draws the reader in with humor, empathy, and a gentle understanding of what it means to live our lives with a sense of wonder.

The Brightest Moon of the Century is organized into nine distinctive chapters which allows the reader to experience the life of Edward Meopian from the age of 14 through his 45th year. Edward is a bit of a nerd and socially naive, a character who consistently made me feel for his struggles and celebrate his triumphs. As a young boy, he loses his mother to a tragic accident and it is perhaps this one event which shapes the man he ultimately becomes. Forced to attend a private boy’s school by his father (who show more is seeking his own happiness while struggling in his role as single parent), Edward must confront bullies and figure out his place in the world. Edward’s teenage challenges and search for love in the first two chapters reveal Meeks’ finally honed sense of humor and understanding of what it means to be young.

Edward moves from his childhood home in Minnesota to college in Colorado, later makes his way to Los Angeles (where he tries to follow his dream of becoming a movie director), and finally ends up in rural Alabama managing a mini-mart in a trailer park (my favorite part of the book). It is through these years of his life that Edward struggles with self-discovery, faith, and fate.

“Failure seems to follow me around,” said Edward.

“You’re no failure, son,” said the officer, and Edward turned to face him. “This is God,” said the man. “Or the disorder of life, if you like. This is what we all have to live with.” - from The Brightest Moon of the Century -

In the final chapters, the reader watches Edward grow into middle-age and discover that often the joys of life are balanced with pain. Edward is revealed as a man who empathizes deeply with others and never loses his hope and optimism despite tragedy.

And this is what I love about Meeks’ writing ability - he gives us characters who are very human and who face many obstacles in life, and then he infuses their stories with hope. As in his previous short story collections, I found myself caring deeply about the characters in The Brightest Moon of the Century. Meeks writes with a wry humor as he shows Edward tripping and stumbling through the world with a refreshing openness to what life has to offer.

He was simply going to be open to the moment, like a sunflower or the Hari Krishna guy at the airport. - from The Brightest Moon of the Century -

Christopher Meeks’ work is joyful, funny and sensitive. The Brightest Moon of the Century is a satisfying read and one which made me hope that Meeks will continue to write novels. show less

"Near mid-century when Edward was born, the full moon was years from being the brightest. That would happen - in terms of luminosity and size - in the last month of the century." [Opening of The Brightest Moon of the Century]

Christopher Meeks came highly recommended by fellow blogger and friend Wendy from Caribousmom. Wendy has good taste in books, and so I knew I could trust her not to steer me wrong. Although she hadn't read The Brightest Century of the Moon at the time I agreed to read and review the book, she had read some of the author's other work and knew he was a gifted writer.

The Brightest Moon of the Century is Meek's first full length novel. If it is a sign of what he has already written and what is to come, Christopher Meeks show more is well on his way to becoming one of my favorite authors. In this particular novel, the reader is introduced to Edward Meopian. The story spans a good portion of his life, beginning when he is 14 years old and coming to a close when he reaches his mid-40's, from 1968 to 1999.

This is a difficult book to summarize without giving too much away, but I will give it a try. Edward lost his mother when he was a young boy and is raised by a father struggling to do the best he can under the circumstances. They live in Minnesota where his father works as an encyclopedia salesman. Edward is not too happy when his well meaning father forces him to attend a private school during his teen years. During the glimpse into his life we are presented, Edward gains a stepmother and stepbrother, heads off to college in Denver, Colorado and makes his way in the world in Los Angeles and later in Alabama. He finds love as well as heartbreak. His life is full of ups and downs as he discovers just who he is, and as he sets off on the path he has chosen for himself. That path does not always go in the direction he anticipated, sometimes taking unexpected detours; and yet it is exactly that which makes Edward's story all the more real and interesting.

The Brightest Moon of the Century is full of funny moments as well as sentimental ones. I laughed out loud on occasion and got teary eyed in others. While I enjoyed every word in this book, my favorite section has to be Edward's stay in Alabama where he and his college friend Sagebrush own and run a mini mart in a trailer park. The two couldn't be more different from one another, one being more interested in playing while the other strives to be responsible. The two men compliment each other, balancing each other out. Small town Alabama was such a contrast from the life Edward had been living in Los Angeles. He grows quite a bit while in the South.

I enjoyed reading about Edward's experiences in graduate school. as well. The rather demanding Professor Neff reminded me of one of my former college professors, albeit in an entirely different field of study. And I loved the moments when Edward struggles to understand girls and women early on in the book. The final section of the book also left quite an impression on me, taking a more serious turn. As quirky and funny as the book could be at times, there was also a seriousness about it. Life is not always easy. It certainly wasn't all that easy for Edward.

As Edward's story unfolds, the author effectively captures the essence of where Edward is in the moment at each point in his life, both mentally and developmentally. As a result, I grew up right along side Edward. I felt his teenage angst, his optimism about the future, his frustrations and disappointments, his hope and the shifting of his dreams. I experienced first hand his transition from boy to man and as he came into his own. The transition was very subtle, as it is in real life. Life events building on one another and the people that come in and out of our lives are a part of what makes us who we are, shaping the direction our lives take. We play it safe; we take risks. It is no different for Edward.

Edward himself is a bit naive in some ways. It's that innocence which makes him easy to relate to initially. He is insecure and yet there is also a confidence about him that balances his character out. He does not realize just how smart and capable he truly is. Edward is a romantic at heart, and, like many, he longs for love, hopes for it and searches it out. He wasn't the cool kid in school nor do the beautiful women flock to his side (although I'm sure he wished they would). He is down to earth; someone who is easy to identify with. He is someone I wouldn't mind having as a friend.

The other characters in the book are just as memorable. My favorite perhaps is Beatrice, Edward's stepmother. She seems to take everything in stride and is supportive of both Edward and Edward's father. Len, the handyman, is another favorite. Like all of the characters in the book, he is flawed, but it is his good intentions and heart that stand out. Many of the characters brought something to the story all their own and made me long to know more about them.

What I got most out of this wonderful novel is a sense of hope. Life is full of bumps in the road, and those bumps make us stronger, helping us to become who we are and who we will eventually be. It's important not to forget to watch that sunset once in awhile.

"This world could be heaven on earth if only people let it, Edward realized. Every sunset could show you. Take it." [pg 224] show less

Those who read last year’s Christopher Meeks short story collection "Months and Seasons" will likely remember Edward, a boy trying to cope with the sudden death of his mother with very little support from his still grieving father. Edward, already having a tough time adjusting to life without his mother, has the rest of his world turned upside down when his father decides to send him to an all-boys private school for rich kids. But by the end of that story, “Hands,” Edward and his father are starting to figure things out and it appears that, together, they might just make it.

"The Brightest Moon of the Century," Meeks’s debut novel, uses the same short story to kick off its account of Edward Meopian’s life from ages 14 to 45. show more Edward, at age 14, is perfectly content to blend into life’s background, seeing that as the best way to avoid trouble with bullies, teachers and intimidating people of all stripes, including girls his age. However, when he finds it impossible to lose himself in the crowd at his new school, Edward begins to focus on solving life’s two biggest mysteries as he sees them: girls and finding that niche in the universe meant just for him.

There is a bit of Everyman in Edward and, like many of us, he sometimes takes life’s path of least resistance rather than the straightest one toward his goals, causing him to reach those goals a little later, but much wiser, than others. Because of that habit, he finds himself for a while running a trailer park mini-mart deep in the heart of Alabama and working in the back room of a southern California camera shop before finally gaining access to the prestigious Los Angeles film school program of which he dreamed for so long.

Edward Meopian, by his mid-forties, puts together almost exactly the life he dreamed about as a young man. He has the beautiful wife, the son, and the dream career he dared chase. Life, though, has a few more surprises for Edward but, this time, he is ready for them. He has lived, and he has learned, and now the brightest moon of the century gives him hope that the best part of his life is still ahead of him.

"The Brightest Moon of the Century" is one man’s story, a very ordinary man, at that, but Christopher Meeks has filled that story with enough interesting characters and episodes to remind just how limitless and filled with surprises even the most ordinary of lives can be. Meeks’s characters, and his slightly off centered view of life, continue to remind me of John Irving’s early work, definitely a good thing.

I wonder where Edward will end up - and what he will think about it all when he looks back at the lonely 14-year-old boy he once was. As John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

Rated at: 5.0 show less

Having read and loved Christopher Meeks’s short stories, I had high hopes for this debut novel, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Presented as a collection of nine stories that follow Edward Meopian from his awkward teenage years well into adulthood (ages 14 to 45, to be exact), The Brightest Moon of the Century is, at turns, hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful.

I loved this book from the opening pages. The characters are real and recognizable in a way that few authors are able to capture. Meeks sees their humanity and presents them, warts and all, with great sympathy and understanding. And I loved the narrator’s voice and his understanding of Edward’s experiences.

With great clarity, and insight, Meeks captures show more Edward’s adolescent awkwardness and adult pain with equal skill and grace. He explores the full spectrum of human emotion, from the intoxication of first love to the devasation of heartbreak, and he takes Edward from the teenage crisis of identity to the middle-aged search for meaning.

Read my full review at The Book Lady's Blog. show less

The Brightest Moon of the Century is one of my favorite kinds of stories, it explores a large portion of one person's life, you get to see how they grow and change and the experiences that make them who they are. It's put together basically as 9 short stories from Edward's life. His teenage years to mid-adulthood. We're there for it all!

I loved all the stories, from Edward's time at a private high school to his college girlfriend to his time owning a trailer park mini-mart to his time as a film student. It was all interesting and strongly written. I couldn't pick a favorite section, it all built on itself to create a great character study! The things that he did and happened to him seemed so unique to his life, it read basically as a show more biography.

Another thing I really liked was that several times, characters from one part of Edward's life made a reappearance later on in the story, tying the story that much closer together. Another unique touch to an already unique story is a collection of photography that helps set the scenery for specific parts of the story. I loved that!

This book is a real gem, it's engaging and original! I loved it! show less

Not all authors can successfully make the jump from short stories to novels, but with “The Brightest Moon of the Century,” Meeks succeeds. ”The Brightest Moon of the Century” is somewhat structured as a novel in stories, as we follow the main character, Edward, from ages 14 to 45 in nine chapters. Unlike some books I’ve read in this format, though, the story flowed logically from one chapter/period of life to another.

I really liked Edward, he was an overall good and sympathetic person, but he inadvertently had a pretty interesting life. Other than his brief sojourn in a trailer park in Alabama I’m not actually sure what Edward did that was so interesting, but he never seemed like some boring schmoe, probably a testament to show more Meeks’ writing. Edward was just such a patently real, human character that I could not help but becoming involved and invested in his life. Yes, he had hardships and no, he didn’t always make the best decisions, but he was someone I could like and root for, which I always appreciate.

This is really a good read. In fact, if you’re ever considering picking up some of Meeks’ work, you can expect solid writing and an enjoyable story, so go ahead and give him a try. show less

Edward Meopian’s life is never easy. His mother dies before he goes to high school and his father has a hard time expressing his love. Edward is uncomfortable at school and it only gets worse when his father enters him into a prestigious private institution with the kids of famous people, especially given that he doesn’t even know how to tie his tie. Edward learns, though, and through this book we follow his life, through college, love affairs, strange jobs, and even fatherhood.

One thing I have loved in reading many of Mr. Meeks’ stories is the humanity of his characters. You can always feel for these people. In this novel, Edward is no exception, and in fact, he echoes the experience of many. He remains in the background for most show more of his early years, struggling with bullying and confusion over girls, especially given his raging adolescent hormones. Through college, he decides what he wants to be, but the path there isn’t easy or conventional. While on his unexpected detours, Edward figures out who he is and begins to achieve, but he still isn’t perfect, because no one can be. This book echoes the unpredictability of life in a way that will resonate with anyone who has ever been a little lost. I also think the time gaps were handled very well in this novel. For obvious reasons, we skip ahead every so often, but it was very easy to know how much time had passed and I never felt I was missing out on anything.

I think I was most amused by Edward’s adolescent years, particularly his struggle with girls. He doesn’t understand them at all but is mainly fixated on sex in a very believable teenage way. I’ll admit that I found this section hilarious. I can’t know what goes in the mind of a teenage boy, but I suspect the author has a better idea.

Overall, I enjoyed very much reading about the ups and downs of Edward Meopian’s fictional life. Christopher Meeks captures life’s unpredictability while retaining a message of the hope that inspires us all. I’m very pleased to say that I highly recommend this book. I think we can all find a little bit of ourselves in Edward.

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