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gennifer's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know why I keep going back to Tracy Chevalier's books. I keep thinking I like her as a writer but the last few books I've read of hers have been...huge disappointments. I loved her first book, but, lately, her stuff seems repetitive. It's as though she found something that worked once and has decided to re-use the mold over and over. It's no longer working. I don't know if she's picking poor subjects (I doubt this is the case), if she's working too fast, or if she's sloppily researching but I think I'm done picking up her stuff until she gives herself a (creative) break.
soiseau's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
paging_snidget's review
2.0
Unevenly paced with very little plot and underdeveloped characters. The ending leaves a lot unresolved. An underwhelming, ultimately forgettable novel.
jennybeastie's review against another edition
3.0
About William Blake, at least in theory. He was really a secondary character, but there was a great deal of interesting circus and historical chair-making action, so it was pretty good. Wrapped up a bit too neatly for me.
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
3.0
Since reading Girl with a Pearl Earring, I've counted Tracy Chevalier as one of my go-to authors for historical fiction, but her work is not always consistent. I found her Falling Angels to have the same spark as Girl, and Virgin Blue had the same eerie quality as did Angels, but her other works failed to pull me in. However, when I heard that she had a new book coming out (I was waiting for what seemed like ages for her to write another), I eagerly put it on my to-read list. Real Life interfered and it wasn't until this week that I was able to pick up Burning Bright.
The story is set in London in the year 1792, at a time when revolutionary spirit was growing in nearby France, making mostly everyone in England express either disdain or support for those events. Thomas Kellaway, a carpenter, brings his family to London after the death of his youngest son and also after receiving an invitation from Philip Astley, the owner of a traveling circus based in the city. The book focuses on Thomas's son, Jem, and the young friend he makes in Maggie Butterfield, the daughter of a local con artist, and their adventures in London as well as their growing friendship with the poet William Blake who lives next-door to the Kellaway family.
Blake as the main historical figure in this book is portrayed in a mysterious light. Chevalier writes about his piercing gaze, his knowing look. He is present and watching many of the events that occur in the story, but often does not participate. Beyond this portrayal, the reader doesn't really learn anything about Blake or get to know him in any way. He is set apart from the story. That is not to say that the other characters have more depth to them. Chevalier clearly has attempted to make Jem and Maggie - as well as Jem's sister Maisie and really, any children at all who enter the story - into metaphors for innocence and experience, the subjects of Blake's most famous poems. At times, the metaphor is too forced and too obvious. The author is not timid about describing the characters' working conditions and family life, but her writing in this book is lacking. It is not as refined as in some of her other works, and many of the characters are not completely three-dimensional. The story did pull me in - I read the entire book in one day - but it was not up to the standards that Chevalier has managed to pull off before. Also, as a small nitpick, I had hoped there would
be a historical note at the end, as in some of her other books, explaining what characters she made up entirely and which were based on historical records. Unfortunately, there wasn't. Three stars for writing, three and a half for enjoyment.
The story is set in London in the year 1792, at a time when revolutionary spirit was growing in nearby France, making mostly everyone in England express either disdain or support for those events. Thomas Kellaway, a carpenter, brings his family to London after the death of his youngest son and also after receiving an invitation from Philip Astley, the owner of a traveling circus based in the city. The book focuses on Thomas's son, Jem, and the young friend he makes in Maggie Butterfield, the daughter of a local con artist, and their adventures in London as well as their growing friendship with the poet William Blake who lives next-door to the Kellaway family.
Blake as the main historical figure in this book is portrayed in a mysterious light. Chevalier writes about his piercing gaze, his knowing look. He is present and watching many of the events that occur in the story, but often does not participate. Beyond this portrayal, the reader doesn't really learn anything about Blake or get to know him in any way. He is set apart from the story. That is not to say that the other characters have more depth to them. Chevalier clearly has attempted to make Jem and Maggie - as well as Jem's sister Maisie and really, any children at all who enter the story - into metaphors for innocence and experience, the subjects of Blake's most famous poems. At times, the metaphor is too forced and too obvious. The author is not timid about describing the characters' working conditions and family life, but her writing in this book is lacking. It is not as refined as in some of her other works, and many of the characters are not completely three-dimensional. The story did pull me in - I read the entire book in one day - but it was not up to the standards that Chevalier has managed to pull off before. Also, as a small nitpick, I had hoped there would
be a historical note at the end, as in some of her other books, explaining what characters she made up entirely and which were based on historical records. Unfortunately, there wasn't. Three stars for writing, three and a half for enjoyment.
sarah1984's review against another edition
4.0
10/11 - The reason it didn't get five is because there was no real climax to the story. There is a little bit of tension built during the first 3/4 of the book and then it's a total anti-climax - a little disappointing, but still a good story. Chevalier describes London so well that you can clearly see it all in your head. I noticed that she has written a few other books since Girl with the Pearl Earring and I look forward to reading them at some point in the future.
*Update* Haven't got around to reading any further Chevalier books, yet, five years later.
*Update* Haven't got around to reading any further Chevalier books, yet, five years later.
rebeccasreadingrambles's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good story, but didn't have the most captivating plot. It took a while to get into it and still I felt like I was waiting for more. The characters were good, if a little under-developed. I would have liked to know more about Mr. Blake and his "revolutionary" ties. I would also like a little more emotion from Jem and Maisie. This book was not as good as "Girl with a Pearl Earring", so I was a little disappointed. I was left thinking "that was it?" when I finished. It got better in the end, but I still wasn't totally hooked. A quick and entertaining enough read. I still look forward to reading other books by Chevalier.
chandraisenberg's review against another edition
4.0
Burning Bright wasn't my favorite Tracy Chevalier novel, but it wasn't my least favorite either. She really captured the essence of lower- class, Georgian London and I became quite invested in the main characters. I like the fact that Chevalier typically bases her novels on everyday people who encounter artistic movers and shakers of the period. Blake's character was pretty flat and I was left feeling that Chevalier could have made better use of him in the novel. IMO, she would have done better to choose another player from late 18th cent. London...
Overall, Burning Bright was worth reading.
Overall, Burning Bright was worth reading.