Bright Burning Things
by Lisa Harding
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Pub Date 4 Mar 2021 | Archive Date 4 Mar 2021
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Publishing
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Description
'Absolutely dazzling' Marian Keyes
'Startling, urgent and intimate' Lisa McInerney
'I lived every scene as I read' Donal Ryan
Being Tommy’s mother is too much for Sonya.
Too much love, too much fear, too much longing for the cool wine she gulps from the bottle each night. Because Sonya is burning the fish fingers, and driving too fast, and swimming too far from the shore, and Tommy’s life is in her hands.
Once there was the thrill of a London stage, a glowing acting career, fast cars, handsome men. But now there are blackouts and bare cupboards, and her estranged father showing up uninvited. There is Mrs O’Malley spying from across the road. There is the risk of losing Tommy – forever.
Advance Praise
Absolutely dazzling . . . While the subject matter is dear to my heart, I’d have loved it even if I knew nothing about addiction. It’s instantly engrossing. Sonya’s emotional interiority is fascinating and compelling. I really cared about her and Tommy – they felt very real to me - Marian Keyes
A novel of extraordinary intimacy and vividness, a uniquely disquieting account of a mind sinking into the depths and rising again, full of such powerful love and fear - Megan Hunter, author of 'The End We Start From'
A tense, unflinching, immersive mapping of a pitted track of addiction and recovery . . . I lived every scene as I read, and I know that these characters will be with me for a long time - Donal Ryan
Startling, urgent and intimate, Bright Burning Things is a meticulous portrait of a life unravelling, and of the painstaking, heartbreaking work to put it all back together - Lisa McInerney
Tender and electric, Bright Burning Things interrogates the raw edges of love and addiction with an honesty that made me ache. It captures the fragility of our fractured minds and illuminates our power to break legacies of hurt - Jessica Andrews, author of 'Saltwater'
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781526624468 |
| PRICE | £14.99 (GBP) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Chiara L, Reviewer
A constellation of :bright, burning moments
Sonya’s life is not rosy: she is a single mother on benefits, abandoned by the father of her child, and an actress who is not acting anymore. She has a history of abusive relationships, a judgmental, absent father, a nasty stepmother and now prying neighbours to deal with. She also lives for her child, with whom she has the most tender relationship. But the fact that she drowns her fear and insecurities in alcohol makes her dangerous and leads her to rehab. Once out, abusive people have not changed, her son has been estranged from her, and it is not easy to find a valid belief system to sustain sobriety. That’s when the real challenge begins.
I don’t know if I can do justice to Sonya’s wonderful, captivating voice. Her gripping account, her emotional turmoil, her rage and her way to see things ring true and authentic; her self-scrutiny honest, devoid of self-indulgence, and often brimming with humour. Some moments in the narration are heartbreaking, other sheer tenderness and filled with a beautiful sense of wonder: the relationship with her son and shaggy dog is one of the most endearing things I have read about recently. A real page-turner for me, a constellation of “bright, burning” moments.
I am grateful to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fiona Marie C, Reviewer
Bright, Burning Things is my favourite read this year.
Lisa Harding does a remarkable job of painting the relationship between Sonya and her four year old son, Tommy. Tommy's dialogue reminded me of Room by Emma Donoghue. The story is told from a first person viewpoint, which made it come alive. I really felt invested in Sonya's story.
The key issue is Sonya's addiction to alcohol and we follow her journey through rehab and beyond, exploring her relationships with her father and his partner, her neighbour, Sister Ann at the rehab facility and her love interest, David.
What stood out for me was the unique relationship between mother and son and how it prevails over every hurdle. The author brings the threads to a good conclusion.
This was a thought provoking read, which I will highly recommend.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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