Star Light, Star Bright

Yes, nearly forty years in just five parts. This is a great story with fun protagonists and strong, lasting relationships. We skim along revisiting the protagonists in various significant portions of their lives. An express version of a grand historical saga.  ;–)

Awesome story! It looks like Geron has posted 61 stories on this site and this is only the fifth one I've read since joining earlier this week. I wonder how long it will take me to read the 56 stories I have yet to go, because after reading this one I am quite sure I want to read all of the others. 

A couple of things that stand out and made this story interesting to me. First would be the way in which Geron paced the story and moved the characters through time. The story begins with the main characters all being in their early teens. The story finishes with the main protagonist's 50th birthday. That great time span is covered in just five short chapters! At first it was a bit disorienting to be reading along and realize that we had just jumped a few years into the future. But then it occurred to me that it really worked. The next couple of times it happened didn't bother me at all.

The main thing that stood out for me with this story was the ending. I can't tell you how many times I've read what I thought were wonderful stories, all the way up to the end, when the author just can't stick the landing! This story had one of the best endings I've read in a long time. I don't think I'm exaggerating to say that it was profound. I'm not ashamed to say I was smiling and crying at the same time. Any author that can pull that off has earned my respect. 

Can't wait to get into the next story. 

     I read this story again after several years, and I appreciate it much more now than I did the first two times I read it.  I enjoyed it then. but it struck me even more positively this time.  So many small nuggets of observation and sometimes wry wisdom are in this story.  It covers quite a few years of the main character's life, demonstrating some ways friendships (and sometimes more) are formed.
     Geron has packed so much of one way life can happen.  The different phases of the life of Griffin Ballard are well covered in spite of being covered in brief.  The friends he makes; the challenges overcome -- all work together to make a really good story.