helenephoebe's review
3.0
Review - Burning Bright was dark and tackled some very controversial issues, but it dealt with them sensitively. However, I think that the novel could have benefited from some more emotional involvement and depth than was present. The characters are all quite forgettable and it is the storyline which pulls the novel along rather than the characters.
Genre? - Drama / Romance
Characters? - Enid / Kai / Nadine
Setting? - London (England) & Finland
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - No
Rating - 12/20
Genre? - Drama / Romance
Characters? - Enid / Kai / Nadine
Setting? - London (England) & Finland
Series? - N/A
Recommend? - No
Rating - 12/20
libs's review
4.0
Helen Dunmore is one of my mum's favourite novelists (the other being Barbara Trapido) and she raised me accordingly, with a steady diet of Dunmore's books for children. I wasn't allowed to read her books for adults though, and I kind of slowly forget I had ever wanted to. When she passed away earlier this month, my mum texted me asking if she could lend me her favourites of Dunmore's work - Burning Bright being the first of those.
Mostly, I really enjoyed it. Although the plot is arguably complex and dramatic, the way Dunmore writes makes it feel quite slow-paced. There's beautiful descriptions of things and a generally wonderful use of language. You can tell she's a poet too. Sometimes I wanted something more to come - a break from the calm prose - but it's a style she writes well in, so reading it is no hardship.
Mostly, I really enjoyed it. Although the plot is arguably complex and dramatic, the way Dunmore writes makes it feel quite slow-paced. There's beautiful descriptions of things and a generally wonderful use of language. You can tell she's a poet too. Sometimes I wanted something more to come - a break from the calm prose - but it's a style she writes well in, so reading it is no hardship.
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