by Ruby Todd
HBO’s Covid hit series “The Vow” unveiled a fascination for cult documentaries, inspiring a craving for more extreme and captivating stories. Ruby Todd’s debut novel, “Bright Objects,” draws inspiration from the Heaven’s Gate cult, known for their belief in hitching a ride on the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 through a tragic event involving phenobarbital.
Set in the year 1997 in the quaint Australian town of Jericho, the novel follows the story of Sylvia Knight. Sylvia, who lost her husband Christopher in a hit-and-run accident, becomes enthralled by the impending arrival of a newly discovered comet named St. John. Seeking profound significance in the comet’s approach, Sylvia is torn between her plan to end her life on a specific date and unexpected romantic interests in Theo St. John, the comet’s discoverer, and Joseph Evans, a local mystic with ominous interpretations of the comet’s trajectory.
Sylvia’s narrative reveals a poignant journey marked by personal tragedy and the quest for meaning amidst celestial phenomena. The novel intricately weaves themes of love, loss, and the complexities of belief, offering a unique perspective on the extremes people will go to in search of purpose.
