In "Everything the Light Touches," Janice Pariat weaves an intricate tapestry of time, memory, and the natural world, embarking on a storytelling journey that transcends the boundaries of history and geography. Through the intertwined narratives of four voyagers, Pariat explores the vast expanse of human curiosity and our eternal quest for understanding. Shai, a modern Indian woman, seeks solace and meaning in the traditions of indigenous communities; Evelyn, a budding scientist in Edwardian England, is drawn to the sacred forests of the Himalayas, inspired by the botanical musings of Goethe; Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy, ventures into the uncharted territories of Lapland; and Goethe himself, whose journey through Italy leads to revolutionary ideas about plant metamorphosis. These characters, separated by centuries, are bound by their relentless pursuit of knowledge and the profound realization that everything is interconnected. Janice Pariat's masterpiece is a celebration of the impermanent and ever-changing tapestry of life, where science and spirituality, history and future, are delicately interlaced. "Everything the Light Touches" is not just a novel; it is a philosophical odyssey that challenges our perceptions of permanence, urging us to embrace the fluidity and movement inherent in the natural world. With lush prose and a visionary scope, Pariat crafts a narrative that is as expansive as the universe it depicts, reminding us that in the vastness of time and space, all life is a mere speck of light, touched briefly by the sun.