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tegmo's review against another edition
3.0
This story is very well written and after enjoying Chevalier's book, Remarkable Creatures, I really wanted to like this. It painted a beautiful picture of late 18th century London but I kept waiting for the plot to start. As far as I could tell there was little thread of a story through the whole book which left my ultimately unfulfilled.
emmamolyneux's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jenniferdeguzman's review against another edition
3.0
Tracy Chevelier vividly sets the scene in a working-class neighborhood in 1790s London as Jem and his family relocate from the countryside after his brother's death on the promise of work from a charismatic circus impresario. Jem, twelve years old, soon makes friends with a street-smart neighborhood girl his age, Maggie, thus setting up the symbolism so that when they meet Jem's neighbor, William Blake, The Songs of Innocence and Experience have two ready examples. To be fair, Chevelier doesn't handle it quite so heavy-handedly. The children are intrigued by their eccentric (he wears a bonnet rouge that signals his support of the French Revolution and writes and prints books, which are exotic to the children, as Jem can barely read and Maggie cannot at all) and quietly kind neighbor, and their conversations spur both to consider the meaning of experience in their own lives.
Since one of the themes is loss of innocence, two young girls in the book are sexually or violently victimized, and while it was handled skillfully, I wondered why it's always girls who have to be the illustrative cases in that theme. But perhaps that was the point.
Maggie is a far more active character than Jem, and of all the characters in the book, she is really the only one who does not passively absorb her experiences. She questions and grasps at something beyond what her station in life seems to dictate.
Chevelier's prose is quite breezy; this is a quick, light read, with some added literary interest and historical color for fans of William Blake and the tumultuous times in which he lived.
Since one of the themes is loss of innocence, two young girls in the book are sexually or violently victimized, and while it was handled skillfully, I wondered why it's always girls who have to be the illustrative cases in that theme. But perhaps that was the point.
Maggie is a far more active character than Jem, and of all the characters in the book, she is really the only one who does not passively absorb her experiences. She questions and grasps at something beyond what her station in life seems to dictate.
Chevelier's prose is quite breezy; this is a quick, light read, with some added literary interest and historical color for fans of William Blake and the tumultuous times in which he lived.
aliciasirois's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, but was a little disappointed in what I have come to expect of the symbolism of blue that Tracy seems to use in all her books. Can't wait for the next one!
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
Most of the action of the novel centers around the unease generated in England by the French Revolution. Blake’s unusual publications have made him appear to be seditious, and he and his family are threatened as the hysteria rises.
Unfortunately, the characters and story are not very interesting, and William Blake is almost incidental to the novel. The novel does nothing to make the mysterious Blake more understandable to us.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/burning-bright/
Unfortunately, the characters and story are not very interesting, and William Blake is almost incidental to the novel. The novel does nothing to make the mysterious Blake more understandable to us.
See my complete review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/burning-bright/
ekb523's review against another edition
3.0
a little difficult to get into, but about halfway in the story started taking lots of turns and got much more interesting
lauriestein's review against another edition
3.0
Though a bit heavy-handed thematically, a well-researched story of life near an artist (or artists, if you count the circus man Astley as well as the poet Blake, which you're clearly supposed to given Chevalier's (overuse?) employment of opposing pairs). Jem and Maggie are (mostly) believable protagonists on the cusp of Blake's vague line between innocence and experience, though I think Maggie was a nuanced enough character without her Horrible Deed. The ending was very pretty, and felt far more satisfying than the usual Chevalier ending.
nolegirl's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but not as much as her previous books.
frannieman's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5