I was totally consumed by this beautifully, beautifully written book. I cannot recommend it highly enough (indeed, I haven't stopped talking about it since I read it)

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Grace Holland is a young mother caring for her family in Maine just after WWII when her very life is suddenly threatened by fires which start raging along the coast. The description of the fire and her escape from it is gripping and quite terrifying. Grace has all the reader’s sympathy. Afterwards nothing will ever be the same again and unfortunately nor is the book as it rapidly goes downhill. From a tightly constructed and convincing portrait of a family making a life for themselves it descends into very banal and ordinary chick-lit. Grace is plucky and undaunted, romance follows and there’s a predictable and Hollywood style ending. Although Grace herself is a well-rounded character (and her mum’s not so bad) the others are all pretty flat and one-dimensional, and the dialogue made me cringe at times. I know Anita Shreve can do a lot better than this and I found her latest offering very disappointing.

I finished this novel about a week ago and the main feeling I have about it is that it felt claustrophobic.
The plot itself is interesting enough to en joy the book and to keep reading, but it went a bit up and down between drama and romance.

The feeling of claustrophobia stems from two things. First the setting; we have the 40's/50's housewife who has no life outside being a mother, is not supposed to work and has barely a say in the household affairs. She has never earned her own money and has no idea how the finances are arranged. She gains a little freedom, but in the second half of the book is imprisoned again by her circumstances.
Second reason is the flatness of the secondary characters. We experience everything from Grace's point of view and are confined to her head. All the other characters seemed rather flat, nothing more than cardboard props.

I did enjoy reading it and would recommend it if you're looking for something with a bit of drama without having to be too afraid of the ending.

I really enjoyed this book about the struggle Grace and her family suffered during and after the devastating forest fires in America in 1947. To my shame I didn't realise it was based on actual historical events until I read the acknowledgement on finishing the book. Well worth a read.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Anita Shreve was a favourite of mine after I read the wonderful Fortune’s Rocks as a teenager. Over the last few years I drifted away from her but have been drawn back into her world with this wonderful novel that reminds me why I adored her writing. She beautifully navigates family dramas, often based in New England. Her descriptions of the New England environment are just as compelling as her plots are filled with personal drama.
In this post-Second World War novel, Grace and Gene live in their coastal town with their two children. Grace is not strictly unhappy but neither is she actually happy with her aloof, controlling and emotionally detached husband. She thinks this is just how married life is. When a swathe of fire demolishes much of the region and Gene goes missing Grace is forced to start again with her children, to become independent. Then just as things start to make sense again she is faced with a huge threat to all the happiness she has created.
This is a really good read, watching Grace learn to be her own woman, to revel in her independence, is a joy. Without giving too much away seeing her become the kind of woman who says “No, I’m not going to be what you want me to be. I’m going to be who I am,” is an uplifting experience. Anita Shreve is certainly on form with this one.

I have been a fan of Anita Shreve's books since reading The Pilot's Wife many years ago but I have found that some of her later books lacked a certain something. I always read them though and when I saw she had a new book The Stars are Fire I knew that I had to read it.
The story is set, as most of hers are, in Maine just after the Second World War in 1947. Grace, her husband Gene and their two young children live in a small coastal town not exactly living the American dream. Gene is not a likeable man, unkind and unloving towards Grace and indifferent to the children. The story begins in a very wet spring with day after day of rain which keeps everyone indoors with the fractiousness which is inevitable with being cooped up together. Eventually the rains stop and the weather turns so dry that wildfires start to engulf the area. Grace and her friend and neighbour, Rosie are left to look after their children while the men go to fight the ever nearing fires.
As the fires reach their homes it is Grace's ingenuity which saves them all although everything they own is lost to the conflagration. She is rescued and thus begins a new part of her life.
Gene is lost in the fire and eventually she makes her way with the children and her own mother to the home of her mother in law who died of cancer shortly before the fires came. She reasons, quite rightly, that the house would have become Gene's and therefore she is entitled to live there. When she gets there she finds a man, Aidan, who is a concert pianist squatting in the house. She finds him and his music delightful and allows him to stay as long as he needs to. Eventually he leaves to take up a job with a symphony orchestra in Boston and Grace, her mother and the children are left behind.
Now Grace shows what she is made of coming out from the shadow of her dominant husband, getting a job and starting a new chapter. But things are about to change for Grace yet again and she needs to call on her new found independence to get through it.
This is Anita Shreve back to her very, very best. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a really good read.

Anita Shreve rarely disappoints and this book ranks, for me, among her best. Her carefully drawn characters hooked me from the start and rarely have I woried so much about characters when I had to put the book down to deal with real life! An exceptionally good read with a very satisfying ending.

Set in Maine USA, The Stars are Fire focuses on the effects of the devastating wildfire which raged through this area in the autumn of 1947. Homes and lives were ruined forever and whilst this catastrophic event brought more than its share of tragedy into the life of Grace Holland, it also brought an opportunity to explore a life she could never have imagined. I was entranced by Grace’s story. I wanted life to be everything she ever wanted because she deserved so much happiness and just when contentment seemed to be within her grasp something comes along to shatter her expectations.

Beautifully written from start to finish this story has all the trademarks of this author writing at her absolute best. The narrative never falters; there are no superfluous words, no unnecessary waffle, just wonderful story telling from beginning to end. The succinctness of the writing only serves to showcase the absolute strength of an author who can say so much in just a few words.

There is something both profoundly sad and hugely uplifting about The Stars are Fire which, whilst a strange dichotomy, serves to accentuate the overall strength of the story telling. The author does a fine job of allowing the main characters to evolve with such precision that you can't help but become emotionally attached to them, and even though one character, in particular, is not at all likeable, such is the power of writing that you can’t help but be moved, emotionally, by his plight. She infuses the narrative with such a sense of empathy and understanding that by the end of the novel I felt like I was saying goodbye to close friends.

I am delighted to see that the author has returned to her beloved Maine for the setting of The Stars are Fire an area which featured so prominently in her earlier books. I am especially fond of The Pilot’s Wife and Fortunes Rock. There is no doubt that fans of Anita Shreve's excellent writing will love this book, and for those readers who haven’t read any of her work, well, picking up a copy of The Stars are Fire is a good place to start.

(Longer review at https://verityreadsbooks.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/book-of-the-week-the-stars-are-fire/ - this is the Goodreads one)

I really enjoyed this - despite thinking initially that I might not. This is set around the Great Fires of 1947 in Maine and the impact they have on Grace, a mother of two, trapped in a not particularly happy marriage to Gene. When the fire breaks out, Gene goes to help the volunteer firefighters, setting in train a chain of events that will change Grace's life forever.

Without saying too much and spoiling the book, I thought the middle section was the strongest, and although I knew it wouldn't last I was hoping it would because there was so much potential in that scenario for Grace to grow and progress. I did feel that there were a number of strands from that section of the book which were left hanging and should have been resolved better. The final section felt slightly rushed to me - although I wouldn't have wanted anymore of some of it - but I was very glad that it resolved the way that it did because I found portions of it quite upsetting and would have been really upset and disappointed if the book had ended on that note.

My first Anita Shreve, and I'll be looking out for more.

Ms Shreve does it again. Her unique sparse style of writing cuts to the heart of the matter and draws the reader in. I had no idea where the book was going as I turned page by page, but I had really strong feelings about where I wanted the story to go. It is hard to put yourself in th shoes of another, whose life is so different to your own, unless the book has been written by Anita Shreve. She makes you understand a myriad of characters with a range of emotions.
A very different read to some of her other books, but I smiled at the scene collecting sea glass. This book kept me up late into the night. Excellent.

Wonderful story wonderfully told. I would expect no less from Anita Shreve who always holds my attention from start to finish with her writing. The characters are rounded and believable both those I loved and those I didn't. i never want to put Anita Shreve books down once I start and this was no exception.

I’ve read several books by Anita Shreve and I think I’ve enjoyed every one of them. Grace joins a long line of exceptional female characters. Over the course of the novel she evolves into the kind of woman I hope to one day be – strong and independent, putting only the lives of her children before her own.

Grace’s story hooked me in from the first page and I found myself living the days with her – sheltering from the fire, learning to live without her husband, and every other obstacle she faced. Shreve’s writing is impeccable again.

This is a very good read. Set in 1940s Maine the main character faces disaster when a fire takes everything. The story discusses her situation and how she improves her fate within the confines of being a woman in these times. it is really well written and has credibility as it is based on a true historic event. Really enjoyed it and would recommend it.

I have read a couple of Anita Shreve's books before but this is definitely one of the best. An unusual story based on real events. Great attention to detail and realistic characters. I was gripped from start to finish

The Stars are Fire is a wonderful heart warming story .Grace is a plucky heroine and the story focuses on the aftermath of the terrible fire of Maine in 1947. Grace and her friend Rose,her Mother and hundreds of others lost everything ,some lost their lives .Grace is strong and resilient and tries to build a new life for her family with very little ,her husband Gene is missing trying to fight the fires. I was really rooting for Grace and all the challenges she had to face .I absolutely loved this book .Anita Shreve has done it again !!!!

I must admit I had no prior knowledge of the fire which eroded the communities on the Maine coastline, but the author does an excellent job of painting a wild and vivid picture of not only the ferociousness of the fire but also the fear and panic which it instilled in all those who crossed it's path.
This fire is the background of the story of Grace and her children. It is a time when women weren't expected to think for themselves or have opinions differing from their husbands. Due to being left on her own with her children as the fire approaches, Grace has to step up and take responsibility for the family.
Anita Shreve is an author whose books I have really enjoyed previously. However, there are a couple of glaring errors in this one which definitely annoyed me but overall it is a very readable novel and, I think, true to the period in which it is set.

I received an arc via Net Galley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

great read and easy to follow story line. look forward to reading more from this author

I knew almost nothing of the post-war history of Cape Cod,but I am familiar with the sort of make who makes a child cry just by his oppressive presence. Judging by the accurate portrayal of the latter I can realise how accurate the former is - very.
Grace has a husband, two children and a friendly neighbour, at one point she even has a wringer-washer which is the dream of the 1947 housewife in her community, but itis only after catastrophic fires (that really happened I find) that another way of life opens up to her.
Learning to drive and take a job are are the least of the liberating events which take place, but to enlarge any further would be to spoil this really good story.
Just from the description of a rain hat which conducted water inside Grace's coat collar I could see the era, visualise how she holds her cigarette and carries her handbag. The smallest detail just seems so right that the gripping events are almost secondary to the film which plays out in the reader's mind. Some love scenes seemed to slow the action, but with so much action this is not delayed for long. I was really sorry to have finished it.

A delight of a book for both fans of Anita Shreve and new readers of this author's work. This book has a thought provoking story line with good characters that you want to read about. A real page turner which is always the sign of an exciting story. Thoroughly recommend.

4☆ A beautifully Poignant read

This is my first book by Anita and I will most definitely be reading more.

The stars are fire is a story based on a real event. The biggest fire in Maine's in 1947. Which burned for two weeks destroying everything in it's path.
Devastating and fearfull, a story of courage and the need to survive and new beginnings.

The main character is Grace, she is a strong and courageous mother and I admired her determination to survive and rebuild her life when devastation took hold.

Grace is a mother of two, she seems to be just living day to day in a unhappy marriage. Gene seems controlling and Grace just seems to exist for being a housewife and mother.

Grace's best friend Rosie lives close by and the two share a special bond with their children.

One tragic night Grace is awoken.... their house is on fire and Grace's desperate need to get the children and herself out safely.
Grace also helps Rosie and her children to escape.
Grace's husband Gene is nowhere to be found, she assumes he is still helping the other men to put the fires out.

Grace, Rosie and their children rush to the safety of the beach, to await help.

For me the reality of the fires made my hair stand on end. The fires actually took place, some where not so lucky to escape it was all very real.

It's from this moment Grace's life is about to change forever. With no home and no where to go, you see the strength and courage shine through. She will do anything to keep her family safe.
Grace has to start again, without her husband to hold her back, Grace shines.

This is a real gem. Such a strong story. It's not a tense read or a heart thundering read. But it is very poignant and very real.

Would I recommend this book..... most Definetly.