Bright Burning Things, Lisa Harding
Bright Burning Things, Lisa Harding
2 Rating(s)
List: $25.99 | Sale: $18.20
Club: $12.99

Bright Burning Things
A Novel

Author: Lisa Harding

Narrator: Lisa Harding

Unabridged: 7 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperVia

Published: 12/07/2021


Synopsis

A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY * A PEOPLE MAGAZINE PICK * AN INDIE NEXT PICK * A LIBRARYREADS PICK *AN AMAZON EDITORS PICK “On every page there are little shimmering bombs. Like Room, where parenthood is at once your jail and your salvation, it is almost claustrophobic—but in the most glorious way.”—Lisa Taddeo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Three Women and AnimalA rising international literary star makes her American debut with this visceral, tender, and brave portrait of addiction, recovery, and motherhood, as harrowing and intense as Shuggie Bain.Sonya used to perform on stage. She used to attend glamorous parties, date handsome men, ride in fast cars. But somewhere along the way, the stage lights Sonya lived for dimmed for good. In their absence, came darkness—blackouts, empty cupboards, hazy nights she can't remember.What keeps Sonya from losing herself completely is Tommy, her son. But her immense love for Tommy is in fierce conflict with her immense love of the bottle. Addiction amplifies her fear of losing her child; every maternal misstep compels her to drink. Tommy’s precious life is in her shaky hands. Eventually Sonya is forced to make a choice. Give up drinking or lose Tommy—forever.Bright Burning Things is an emotional tour-de-force—a devastating, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful look at an addict’s journey towards rehabilitation and redemption.A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK FROM: Washington Post, The Millions, PopSugar, Shondaland, Good Morning America, Nylon, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country

About Lisa Harding

Lisa Harding's first novel Harvesting won the Kate O’Brien Award and was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award and the Kerry Group Prize. It was republished in the US in 2023 as Cloud Girls. Her second novel Bright Burning Things was a Today Show Book Club Pick, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a People Magazine Pick and an Observer, Grazia, Irish Times and Irish Independent highlight for 2021. It was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and a Dalkey Literary Award. Her new novel The Wildelings is an Observer, Harpers Bazaar, Economist and Irish Times pick for 2025. She lives in Dublin.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Barbara on May 08, 2023

3.5 stars: “Bright Burning Things” is a story that makes you hold your breath…in worry. It’s a story of an alcoholic woman who has a four-year-old son. You will NOT stop worrying about her or her son as you read this. The story begins with that “stream-of-thought” writing, which can be off-putting (a......more

Goodreads review by Ceecee on December 19, 2020

Sonya Moriarty was once a successful actress but her life is now spiralling out of control into alcoholism. Her very absent father finally steps in to intervene to protect Sonya’s four year old son Tommy from some of her worst behaviour. She is to have a three month detox in a convent. This is a pow......more

Goodreads review by Danielle on May 30, 2022

This was a pretty sad story. 😢 A single mother struggles with her addiction and mental health. Definitely a train wreck. 😬 But one of strength too. 😉......more

Goodreads review by Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer on July 05, 2021

We connect, and the Catherine wheel is set alight, blazing. The two of us run to the farthest edge of the yard, cheeks pulsing with heat and excitement. The wheel turns, a whirling dervish cast ing its hypnotic spell, and I’m there, in the happy scene I’ve been chasing. I am eight, held high on m......more

Goodreads review by Paradise on July 25, 2021

I was given a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Sonya is a single mother on benefits. Once she was an actress, surrounded by glamorous people, parties and popularity. But her life hasn’t quite gone to plan. She's now burning fishfingers, stealing food and upsett......more