Huge content warning for anyone triggered by drug addiction вЂ“ Vlad spends much of this book addicted to the infamous krokodil and Fitzpatrick does not shy away from the graphic depiction of itвЂ™s use, itвЂ™s results, and itвЂ™s horrifying side effects. Of particular interest in this book is the well researched treatment of addition. Suffice it to say that, for this reader, the correct choices were made in terms of each characterвЂ™s fate. I deeply appreciated the bookвЂ™s conclusion, but to elaborate on why would be a fairly major spoiler. There are parts of the narrative that were a little too convenient, most involving the way the story wraps, but for me it didnвЂ™t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book. The way both Ilya and Vlad grow and evolve as characters also makes it easy to track when and where you are thereвЂ™s a lot of great character development here. The transitions are easy to understand and follow, the two locations and times being so very different and Ilya being their only real shared DNA. The two are woven together very well, with IlyaвЂ™s contemporary American experiences influencing his memories of what came before. There are two timelines here вЂ“ the time in Berlozhniki in the year or so before the murders and VladвЂ™s arrest, and IlyaвЂ™s arrival in Louisiana onward. Ilya goes to America and Vlad goes to prison for murders Ilya is convinced he didnвЂ™t commit, but their differences matter less than the bond that keeps them together. The two boys couldnвЂ™t be more different, but they are bonded by a true and deep love for one another that motivates more of the story than you realize at the start. Vladimir is his older brother, less gifted and therefore relegated to the fate of many young, restless men in small, poor places вЂ“ he turns to drugs and parties. Ilya is our prodigy, a young man with immense talent for English and education and therefore a world of possibilities spread before him. Lights All Night Long is a multi-timeline story of two Russian brothers, the prodigy and the fuck up. It also is the reason I went to my first book club meeting here!

Bingo Update: Lights All Night Long counts as my Listicle square, since it was on our list of picks for my workplace book club.

Whole night book summary