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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Burning Bright is a quiet, atmospheric historical novel set in late 18th-century London, where the lives of two young outsiders—Jem, newly arrived from rural Dorset(shire), and Maggie, a bold city girl—intertwine with the revolutionary spirit of the time. At the heart of the story is the poet and artist William Blake, who lives nearby and becomes a somewhat peripheral yet symbolic figure representing imagination, innocence, and rebellion.
Chevalier does a lovely job evoking the grime and vibrancy of Georgian London, the period detail like the buttons feels authentic and while the pacing is gentle, the novel offers a coming-of-age story steeped in political change, social class, and the contrast between innocence and experience—echoing Blake's own poetry. If you’re looking for fast-paced drama, this might feel a little slow, but if you enjoy character-driven stories with historical texture and literary undercurrents, it’s a satisfying, thoughtful read.
Chevalier does a lovely job evoking the grime and vibrancy of Georgian London, the period detail like the buttons feels authentic and while the pacing is gentle, the novel offers a coming-of-age story steeped in political change, social class, and the contrast between innocence and experience—echoing Blake's own poetry. If you’re looking for fast-paced drama, this might feel a little slow, but if you enjoy character-driven stories with historical texture and literary undercurrents, it’s a satisfying, thoughtful read.
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
As a Chevalier fan and a Literature student, I was excited to see her take on a historical literary figure by way of Blake. However, as many others have said, I felt this one fell short of the standard of 'The Virgin Blue', and even 'The Lady and the Unicorn'. The inclusion of Blake felt forced and unnatural, and the plot just wasn't as compelling as other of the authors works.
Some time ago I had read other book by Tracy Chevalier - the Lady and the Unicorn, and I had enjoyed it very much, so when opportunity came to purchase Burning Bright, I was quite thrilled to read it. But the book turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Too hard to say what exactly wasn't right about the book, maybe it just was too...boring. Characters seemed fine enough, but the events didn't offer enough space for development. Despite Chevalier's atmospheric language, it felt like the author was miserly with the words - like the book was too short for its inhabitants.
Too hard to say what exactly wasn't right about the book, maybe it just was too...boring. Characters seemed fine enough, but the events didn't offer enough space for development. Despite Chevalier's atmospheric language, it felt like the author was miserly with the words - like the book was too short for its inhabitants.
for the Mostly ex-Mana Book Club...
I finally finished this a few weeks after book club. It took a while because the author read slowly and it was just not my type of book. Considering that, I did enjoy it a bit.
I finally finished this a few weeks after book club. It took a while because the author read slowly and it was just not my type of book. Considering that, I did enjoy it a bit.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This story is solid and definitely paints a detailed portrait of its characters' lives. The emotion didn't really resonate with me, though. Not the way I wanted it to.
This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down. It was just lovely in the sense that it was a great read and flowed very well. I liked the misadventures of these children and wasn't expecting it to be the way it was.
I had high hopes for this book, what with William Blake being one of the historic characters she wove in to the story this time around. I'd have to agree with other readers that the story was weakened by her attempt to balance to historical figures (the other being Philip Astley). When I was studying character animation in school, we learned to visually create characters which belong in the same universe. Artistically speaking, my impression was that these two figures belong in different worlds. Perhaps while focusing on the theme of dichotomy, she became tangled up in it?
That said, it's still a lovely little stroll of a book. It's an easy read. It has a few interesting moments. If you don't mind that it isn't terribly cohesive, you can sit back and enjoy the story unspool. Chevalier really has set a high bar for herself, and this isn't one of her best stories, but I did enjoy spending time with one of my favorite authors all the same. I'm still looking forward to reading more of her work.
That said, it's still a lovely little stroll of a book. It's an easy read. It has a few interesting moments. If you don't mind that it isn't terribly cohesive, you can sit back and enjoy the story unspool. Chevalier really has set a high bar for herself, and this isn't one of her best stories, but I did enjoy spending time with one of my favorite authors all the same. I'm still looking forward to reading more of her work.