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Andrew H. Housley, a versatile author and storyteller, is a wordsmith who fearlessly plunges into the profound intricacies of life and the human psyche. With a heart divided between the vibrant cities of Atlanta and New Orleans, he embodies the very spirit of the Renaissance, effortlessly guiding others as a yoga teacher while nurturing his own spiritual path.
In his debut novel, Waiting Impatiently, Housley takes readers on an introspective journey of self-discovery, described by critics as "thoughtful, raw, and downright engaging." His words are a powerful mirror, reflecting the deepest corners of the human soul.
Housley's latest work, Invisible Sun, is a poignant exploration of mental illness and the often painful consequences of choice. With a clever hand, he unravels the complex tapestry of brotherly bonds, belief systems, and the intricate web of interconnectedness. In this absorbing narrative, the lines between reality and illusion blur, leaving readers enthralled.
As an author, Andrew H. Housley skillfully combines his passion for writing with his profound life experiences. His books are a testament to the complexities of life, relationships, and the enigmatic human condition. Each story is a rich tapestry of relatable characters and narratives that are both thought-provoking and profoundly meaningful. In Housley's words, readers find not only stories but mirrors reflecting their own experiences and the universal truths that bind us all.
Listen to his podcast No Expectations the Podcast. Read his spiritual-based articles and blog posts at NoExpectations.me
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Invisible Sun by Andrew H. Housley is a starkly dark look at suicide and its effects on those left behind. Brothers Ian and Chadwick are reunited after many years apart, in the city of New Orleans, for the awful task of tidying up the affairs of their other brother, who had taken his own life by blowing his brains out. For Ian, it was doubly traumatic as he had arrived at his brother’s house just minutes after the suicide and had held Hugo’s body in his arms as he died. All three boys had grown up under a domineering, authoritarian, and brutal father who was quick to administer corporal punishment on them for even the slightest perception of misbehavior or lack of fealty to their father’s Catholic religion. Tortured by their childhood and torn by the loss of Hugo, Ian and Chadwick have very different ways of dealing with their grief but somehow they must find the common ground that will allow them to conquer their grief as well as still deal with the demands and constant ridicule of their father.
Invisible Sun is a tough read and I mean that in the very best possible way. Andrew H. Housley's novel stretches the bounds of politeness and forces readers to face some incredibly harsh and often brutal thoughts, emotions, and outcomes. Suicide is never an easy topic to write about but the author achieves the fine balance between the horror of the act and the understanding of the motives behind it. Ian and Chadwick, as brothers, were wonderfully defined and so very different in the way they had dealt with both their father’s casually cruel brutality in the past and Hugo’s seemingly senseless and painful death. The author cleverly uses the conflict between the two boys to peel away the politeness of societal response to any death and examine closely and with real rawness the emotions and pain that those left behind after a suicide are invariably required to deal with and recover from. I particularly appreciated the conundrum faced by Ian as he sought answers to his own continued existence following the death of the brother he had idolized all his life. This is an emotional and heartrending tale that I learned from and I can highly recommend it.
