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readwithsabs's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
4.75
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.It is well written with impact and beautiful descriptions and as a result stirred emotions in me. It is a brilliantly compelling with insight into alcohol, addiction and motherhood which can be challenging at times, throw in the battles of addiction and this is the effect of this powerful novel.
I particularly enjiyed the fact that the author Lisa Harding narrates the book herself. It was an absolutely wonderful monologue. Well it felt like a monologue to me! It's very vivid and descriptive and that's one of the qualities of the audio in my opinion. I loved it.
Also, i just want to say that I will argue till I'm blue in the face that it is nothing like Shuggie Bain. I've seen lots of comparisons between the two books but for me they are two very different books the only similarity is the fact that they deal with the theme of alcohol addiction and motherhood.
My only hang up is that its a 5 star book and I would always recommend it but I wouldn't nessasarily rush to reread it if that makes sense? Not sure why.
It's a story that will stay with you.
And it did have an abrupt ending, which I didn't mind at all and was totally OK that it wasn't perfectly concluded, I mean how could it be when dealing with addiction and motherhood? It's always going to be a bumpy road.
Bravo Lisa Harding. You have written and narrated an exceptional book. Thank you.
I particularly enjiyed the fact that the author Lisa Harding narrates the book herself. It was an absolutely wonderful monologue. Well it felt like a monologue to me! It's very vivid and descriptive and that's one of the qualities of the audio in my opinion. I loved it.
Also, i just want to say that I will argue till I'm blue in the face that it is nothing like Shuggie Bain. I've seen lots of comparisons between the two books but for me they are two very different books the only similarity is the fact that they deal with the theme of alcohol addiction and motherhood.
My only hang up is that its a 5 star book and I would always recommend it but I wouldn't nessasarily rush to reread it if that makes sense? Not sure why.
It's a story that will stay with you.
And it did have an abrupt ending, which I didn't mind at all and was totally OK that it wasn't perfectly concluded, I mean how could it be when dealing with addiction and motherhood? It's always going to be a bumpy road.
Bravo Lisa Harding. You have written and narrated an exceptional book. Thank you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
bookbunny's review
dark
sad
tense
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? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
alyhutchss's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Powerful. This book is about navigating addiction and single motherhood. Sonya was once a famous actress, however after becoming a mother her life took a turn. She fell into a battle with alcoholism.
Each and every page was raw, chaotic, and pulled at my heart. I was emotional at every step of Sonya and her four year olds story. Tommy is a sweet and unique child who Sonya undoubtedly loves. She has a uniqueness that she brings to motherhood, however the addiction stands her in the way.
The writing of this book was really what brought it to life. Each chapter was short and easy to breeze through. The author brings a chaotic energy to Sonya’s narration which emulates what she is going through.
I felt like there was something missing to the ending as the story ended abruptly. There were some pieces of their story I felt were left hanging, however this could be intentional on the author's part.
I rounded this up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on goodreads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Stalking, Violence, Cancer, and Alcoholism
rferronetti's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
kleecu's review
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Child abuse
caseys_chapters's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding is a gut-wrenching story, but remarkably told.
The book follows Sonya, a former actress struggling with alcoholism while caring for her young son, Tommy. She’s flawed and missteps, but also coping with her own traumas without a healthy support system.
This story absorbed me. I read the whole book in a single day.
The first-person narrative is definitely what makes this so visceral. You’re put right into Sonya’s emotions. I read a physical copy, but heard this is done brilliantly on audio. I constantly ached for Sonya and Tommy, while another character made me sick to my stomach (iykyk).
The ending felt a little abrupt, maybe because I was invested in them and wanted to see more of their lives. But overall I was deeply moved by Harding’s searing portrait of addiction and motherhood.
The book follows Sonya, a former actress struggling with alcoholism while caring for her young son, Tommy. She’s flawed and missteps, but also coping with her own traumas without a healthy support system.
This story absorbed me. I read the whole book in a single day.
The first-person narrative is definitely what makes this so visceral. You’re put right into Sonya’s emotions. I read a physical copy, but heard this is done brilliantly on audio. I constantly ached for Sonya and Tommy, while another character made me sick to my stomach (iykyk).
The ending felt a little abrupt, maybe because I was invested in them and wanted to see more of their lives. But overall I was deeply moved by Harding’s searing portrait of addiction and motherhood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
lo2zaay's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
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