Scan barcode
A review by corinth113
The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson
3.5
I love a book about a circus. This author is a very good writer with so much potential! I think she excels in her vividly portrayed descriptions, her imagination, and her beautiful one liners (see some of my highlights). Where the book didn’t quite land for me was in the character dialogue/banter and in some of the character development (like watching a movie but one of the actors can’t always act).
More importantly, this story creatively illustrates hard themes without feeling hopeless (the dangers of anti-semitism, abuse, anti-queer sentiments, toxic families, and general “othering”). In fact, juxtaposed with those are lovely mentions of Jewish traditions; a healthy, loving relationship (sapphic with a wink at a polyamorous potential); and reminders that family (and especially motherhood) aren’t always about what you’re born into, but who finds you in this life, and who helps you to shine. ✨
More importantly, this story creatively illustrates hard themes without feeling hopeless (the dangers of anti-semitism, abuse, anti-queer sentiments, toxic families, and general “othering”). In fact, juxtaposed with those are lovely mentions of Jewish traditions; a healthy, loving relationship (sapphic with a wink at a polyamorous potential); and reminders that family (and especially motherhood) aren’t always about what you’re born into, but who finds you in this life, and who helps you to shine. ✨