Burning ISSUE
THIS THOUGHT-PROVOKING NOVEL FOLLOWS A WOMAN WHO IS PUSHED TO THE BRINK
I’ve read quite a few of Anita Shreve’s novels. Some I’ve really loved; others not so much, and one I actually threw across the room because I was so annoyed by the ending. There was no risk of that happening to her latest book TheStarsAre Fire. It’s a great read – involving and thought-provoking.
The story is set in coastal Maine just after the end of World War II. Housewife
Grace Holland lives a small, quiet life with her husband
Gene and their two young children. Her main concern seems to be whether the weather will be fine enough to hang out the laundry.
If her marriage to the deeply troubled Gene isn’t what she had hoped, then she is prepared to put up with it in return for the security it brings, especially when she falls pregnant again.
However, soon Grace discovers this security was a fragile thing. After a summer of drought, wildfires rip through Maine, destroying everything in their path. Grace’s home burns and her husband goes missing while trying to dig a forest firebreak. She and her children are left with absolutely nothing.
In adversity Grace discovers a whole new side to herself. She turns out to be strong, resourceful and a survivor. And while new her life is a constant struggle, it brings with it a new sense of freedom and the opportunity to experience the world in exciting ways.
Then suddenly Grace’s hard-won independence comes under threat.
There is usually some sort of tragedy at the heart of Anita Shreve’s books and this one is based on historical fact – the Great Fires of 1947 destroyed hundreds of homes and thousands of acres in Maine.
The story that has been woven round this real-life disaster is elegantly written and the period detail precise. In some ways, it is quite simply told – there’s no jumping around between different eras and it’s entirely Grace’s tale. But the complexity of her character will draw you in and hold you.
Fans of historical fiction and anyone who loves a story about a strong woman – this one is most definitely for you.