Welcome to my eight-part blog series about the main themes in A Long Lost Time. You may have read my previous blog series on the themes in the other books in the series so now it’s time for the final one. This week I’m going back to the themes of An Undercover Dream and seeing how things have changed now in A Long Lost Time in the final blog in this series. The penultimate blog of the year!
Warning: This blog contains spoilers.
It’s pretty clear by the end of An Undercover Dream, Luke’s learnt how to become pretty independent, and when he goes back home in A Long Lost Time, it’s something his parents aren’t expecting. He’s so different to the boy who left all that time ago. Yet, Luke does find himself relying heavily on others, especially Vi, which means he can’t be fully independent – something he does find frustrating at the start of the book.
Again, Luke comes back to A Long Lost Time with a different view on his dreams. Being at acting school didn’t work out, and despite knowing he has to mend the Atlantic Split, he knows that dream is so far out of reach. When Vi has a chance to achieve her own dreams, he starts to wonder whether he’ll ever achieve his. But luckily for Luke, he has so many people supporting him, and it means his dreams might not be so out of reach after all.
I’ve always said The Luke Bright Series is a love story, but the love story comes in the form of learning how to love yourself, and it’s one thing that Luke really gets to do in this book. After all the time he’s spent resenting or hating or fearing who he really is, he finally learns to accept and love the person he’s become. And I think that’s a fantastic note to end the series on.
I think it’s clear to anyone reading it that there’s a certain level of grit in the narrative of A Long Lost Time, and that’s because of Luke’s mental health struggles throughout the book. He’s a different narrator now, because he’s constantly battling with his depression. It does put a darker tone onto the book, but I think it’s one that’s more real. More honest and deeper in fact.
The loss Luke felt back in An Undercover Dream pales in comparison when he arrives home and realises his family have moved out of their house. The loss he feels at that moment is so intense, and leads up to the realisation that there will be moments Luke won’t ever be able to get back. So much has changed in this book by the time Luke gets home, and he feels a huge amount of grief knowing that he’s lost the old life he used to have. Yet, he realises with the help of Vi that he instead needs to embrace his new life with them and leave the past behind.
I’ve already touched upon this theme but I’ll say it again. This is the moral of the series, this is the one theme that really comes to light throughout the whole book series and what it’s all been leading up to. Being able to accept yourself fully and be proud of who you’ve become.
And finally…leadership. It does go without saying that this book series is one whereby an influential, powerful and heroic revolutionary leader is born. Luke Bright is the leader of the fight against the Atlantic Split and he’s going to make a massive difference to the world now he’s free to do so. He’s got so many adventures still ahead of him and his story really is only just at the beginning.
Thank you for reading this blog, that wraps up the theme blog series for this book! Next week I’ll be leaving you with some thoughts about the year just passed and what my plans are for the year ahead. See you then! Have a Merry Christmas everyone!
Atlantic Split Theme Blog Series Links:
At Liberty To Live Theme Blog Series Links:
- New Beginnings
- Inner Strength
- Following Your Passion
- Rushing in too quickly
- Feminism
- Self Discovery
- Making a Difference
- Previous Themes
A Long Lost Time Theme Blog Series Links:
All four books in The Luke Bright Series is available to purchase NOW! Please follow me on my blog and social media links below, and use the links on my website to purchase a copy of each if you have not done so. Don’t forget to leave a review! Thank you once again for taking the time to read this blog post
N.A.K
Neil A. King 