Markus employs the motif of dreams to symbolize the impact of Jason’s scar on his psyche. Jason, who works at an investment firm, has a recurring dream of “living on the dark side of the moon,” which serves as a metaphor for his dual life—one with loved ones who accept him beyond his scar and another with the outside world, where he believes he’s only noticed for his scar. While Markus’s heartfelt narrative is engaging, and the self-loathing question of whether Jason should “spare her the trauma of seeing my face, seeing the ugly creature she thought she could love” has power, the storytelling edges toward the philosophical and allegorical, with details about life and work presented somewhat flatly.
Still, Markus conjures many engaging characters and situations, plus purr-y encounters with the cat Ms. Knuckles and probing talk with a therapist, whom Jason asks, point-blank, ““Do you think I will ever be able to see anything but the scar?” Living on the Dark Side of the Moon offers a moving exploration of love, identity, and the perception of scars—both physical and emotional. The novel leaves readers pondering the complexities of human relationships and the ways in which our past experiences shape our present and future.
Takeaway: Touching story of a scarred man, his blind love, and how we see ourselves.
Comparable Titles: Kalyn Fogarty’s What We Carry, Carian Cole’s Tied.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
