Days by Moonlight

Days by Moonlight chronicles a road trip through Southern Ontario, where botanist Alfred Homer accompanies literature professor Morgan Bruno on a quest to research an enigmatic poet. Alfred, still processing the death of his parents and a recent breakup, joins this expedition as both an escape and an exploration. The journey takes them through small Ontario towns where they encounter local customs, rituals, and social practices that exist outside conventional Canadian society. Their quest to find traces of the disappeared poet John Skennen leads them into increasingly strange territories and revelatory encounters. Professor Bruno and Alfred document their findings as they travel, Bruno focused on his literary research while Alfred catalogs rare plants. Their dual mission creates an intersection between the natural world and human mythology, revealing hidden aspects of both. This novel operates in the space between reality and fantasy, using the familiar landscape of rural Ontario to explore themes of grief, truth, and the stories communities tell themselves to maintain their identities.

Readers describe Days by Moonlight as a surreal road trip novel that blends reality with magical elements. Many found the book darkly humorous and appreciated its exploration of Southern Ontario's hidden histories and racial tensions. Readers liked: - The dream-like atmosphere and subtle supernatural elements - Sharp observations about small-town Canadian life - The complex relationship between the two main characters - Integration of botanical research with storytelling Readers disliked: - Pacing issues, particularly in the middle sections - Some found the surreal elements confusing or hard to follow - Several noted the ending felt abrupt Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ ratings) Common reader comments highlight the book's "strange but compelling" nature. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "Like a fever dream you can't quite shake." Another wrote: "A uniquely Canadian take on magical realism that doesn't always land but is never boring."

American Gods by Neil Gaiman A road trip across America reveals hidden gods and mysterious small towns, mirroring the blend of mythology and mundane reality found in Days by Moonlight.

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard The intersection of botanical observation and philosophical reflection creates a similar exploration of nature's mysteries and human understanding.

The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien A journey through rural Ireland presents increasingly bizarre encounters and surreal customs that challenge the boundary between real and unreal.

Lost Nation by Jeffrey Lent The protagonist's trek through remote New England towns uncovers hidden societies and rituals that exist outside mainstream culture.

The Hike by Drew Magary A man's seemingly ordinary journey transforms into an odyssey through increasingly strange territories, blending reality with mythology.

🌙 The book won the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize in 2019, continuing André Alexis's streak of major literary awards 🌿 The botanical elements in the story draw from real Southern Ontario flora, though Alexis playfully invents several fictional species 📚 Days by Moonlight is part of Alexis's quincunx series - five thematically linked but independent novels exploring faith, place, and love 🗺️ The road trip route through Southern Ontario visits both real and imagined towns, creating a magical realist map of the region 🎭 The character Morgan Bruno was inspired by Alexis's own experiences with eccentric professors during his time at the University of Toronto