What Burns Away

by Melissa Falcon Field

One woman's life is about to explode into flames-but she's the one lighting the match

Upon relocating to snowy Madison with a distant physician husband, New England native Claire Spruce is besieged by a dark past when her first love finds her again. Breaking decades of silence, old flame Dean offers an intoxicating, reckless escape from motherhood's monotony. Enchanted by his return, while yearning for her own mislaid identity, she agrees to repay a favor that could incinerate her marriage and her child's well-being. What Burns Away is a story of loyalty, family and the realization that the past is nearly always waiting for us in the future.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Family Drama, Relationships, Family, Novels, Contemporary

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Melissa Falcon Field was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and earned her MFA in Fiction Writing from Texas State University. She has been a recipient of the Katherine Anne Porter Writer- in- Residence appointment and attended the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference. For nearly a decade, she worked with Teach for America and AmeriCorps, in New York, Boston and San Francisco, as an inner city schoolteacher. Later, she later taught Creative Writing at small colleges across New England, including the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and the SALT school for documentary field work in Portland, Maine. In addition, she helped develop and pioneer the YEAR UP writing curriculum used nationally. Her writing has appeared in various literary magazines and journals, including: Hip Momma: The Parenting Zine, Kaliope Literary Journal, The Portland Phoenix, Across Curriculums, The Austin American Statesmen, The Ballantine Books Reader’s Circle, The Hartford Courant and The Maine Scholar. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her young son, her husband, and four chickens, returning to the coast of Maine each summer. What Burns Away is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must be picking books that I should not read. I'm about tired of the whole cheating and stupid women trend in books. Most women aren't stupid..so I hate when we are portrayed as such.


Claire is married to a decent guy. They have recently moved so that he can advance his career (he is a doctor) and so that she can stay at home with their new child. He is putting in long hours at work and Claire gets lonely.
So...she looks up her first love on Facebook.


She starts talking to her childhood love Dean. Of course things move right along since Claire is lonely. She discovers that Dean is now getting a divorce and still has that torch for her.
Bleck.
I almost dnf'd this one so many times. I did keep going because it is well written. There are parts about the Challenger disaster that I enjoyed.
Like a comet, our dust casts an infinite trail, leaving and returning still.

This book will probably be enjoyed by some and it may just be one of those cases of it's not you book..it's me.
I'm just this kinda girl about cheating:


I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever thought about your first love? The one that got away?

Have you searched for that person on Facebook? Twitter? Have you googled their name and searched online forums for them. Curiously wondering what their life is like now? Does a part of you still hold a tiny flicker of flame for that first love? I bet you have right? What would you do if you were married with a child and that first love got in touch with you again?

This book was an absolutely brilliant read. This one got read cover to cover in a number of hours, once I had started, I could not stop. Go to love that right? A book that not only threw up it's fair share of surprises but was incredibly easy to read, the passing time just went so quickly as my eyes soaked this one up.

Good wife, good mother. That's all Claire Spruce is trying to be, but the never-ending snow in this new town and her workaholic husband are making her crazy. Even the sweet face of her toddler son can't pull her out of the dark places in her head.

Feeling overwhelmed and alone, she reconnects with her long-lost high school boyfriend, Dean, who offers an intoxicating, reckless escape. But Dean's reappearance is not a coincidence. He wants something from Claire-and she soon finds that the cost of repaying an old favor may lead to the destruction of her entire life.

Claire is not having a really great time of it, missing friends and her lifestyle after a move to a new town for her husband's job, she is stuck at home looking after a toddler and finding no solace in mundane tasks.

Then one day a message on Facebook changes all of that...

As Claire makes choices I was talking to her about them as I read, and boy, did I change my mind a lot along the way, this one kept my on my toes. It's a book where I made my mind up about a character or situation then changed it a few pages later.

Her husband is a classic workaholic, married to the job and not spending enough time on his marriage or with his family. It's a sure way to have a marriage lose it's zing and ping, it's dead in the water really. Claire is fed up of her husband's late nights, broken promises and her boring existence. Remember that Facebook message?

The choices that Claire from here will have long lasting consequences. We watch the journey she goes on as helpless spectators, wanting to give her wise advice or just give her a jolly good shaking. Does she make the same choices you would make in that situation? Would you meet with your old flame at a time when your marriage is at it's most vulnerable? Tricky question isn't it?

The plot is brilliant, the pace is steady and has some oomph behind it, it's not a book I was bored with for a second. I was fascinated getting inside Claire's thinking processes and feelings. She is an interesting character. All the characters in this book are really well done, and with all of them I fluctuated about how I felt about them back and forth, I didn't make my mind up totally until the end of the book.

It blazes along towards a most surprising set of outcomes, I honestly didn't see it all coming. It proves that with every decision, a consequence is waiting for you on the other side of it. Some of Claire's actions and decisions just seemed plain crazy to me, but she is a flawed human being with hurts and wounds that are in no way healed. I really liked what the author did with the ending of this book. It felt somewhat just and satisfying.

This one is a great read, nothing to dislike here, 4 stars from me, recommended reading!

I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher via NetGalley, many thanks for the opportunity to read and review it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Sourcebooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This novel was published on January 6th, 2015.

What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field is a powerful debut of a middle aged mother; who has lost herself, Claire Spruce, a mother and wife is lonely and feels isolated. Miles, the physician husband is caught up in his career and has no time for his wife or toddler son Jonah. Claire Spruce is struggling after moving from New England to Wisconsin with her physician husband, Miles. While she loves being with her son, Jonah, she misses her former home, and her career as a research meteorologist, and the absent husband, Miles who often works 18 hour days.

And then her routine life suddenly fell apart…she receives a message on her Facebook account from her old high school boyfriend, Dean….He wants to see her!! This could happen to anyone today. What would you do? Would you go running to the hills or escape to a new life, full of risks and unknown.

Claire decides to reconnect with her childhood sweetheart, Dean, via Facebook.

"I found my loneliness blooming— missing...our former life, who I was before I became a mother, my job, my brain, my research, my body, and who Miles and I used to be together. I started living my life looking backward, seeking out the past and longing for familiarity because nothing in our new life was recognizable to me."

This novel has episodes of flashbacks to Claire’s teen years, her time with Dean and her parents. We get a better appreciation of the family that Claire grew up in, and how she is dealing with the struggle of moving forward, and the choices she will make. Claire is a very complex person.

This novel should have been called “What If”, because it deals with personal choices and their consequences. I think it is very realistic as couples get bored with their lives and the fantasy of what could have been! But actions always have consequences…

But what future will Claire choose?

Fans of literary fiction, women's fiction, and family drama will enjoy this well-written suspense novel. This was a very compelling read that I enjoyed very much.

“The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.”

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should be called, "WHO DOES THAT??!???!?"

That's what I was thinking the entire time I was reading it, from the very first inappropriate emails between Claire and her true love from foreverago.

Like,

Dean, the long-ago love, gets on a plane and flies halfway across the country to show up on Claire's doorstep. 100% uninvited. Ewww.
And then she won't even have coffee with him. What? At least sit down with him in a well-lit public place and tell him to fuck off!
And THEN, while he's staying at a hotel in town, HE SENDS HER A PACKAGE with some old bullshit memorabilia in it. Um? You're two blocks away! Leave it on the doorstep!

The UPS man who delivered the stupid package "jogged down our drive and left his trail of footprints in the snow."
Have you ever seen a UPS man jog? Especially in the snow? NO.


At one point, she's remembering a nice time with her husband where they decided to go sailing at night ...with their newborn! awesome idea.
The newborn sleeps peacefully in the cabin below (ALONE??!) and Claire and husband make love on the deck or some bullshit.
No one drowns.
Dude. No.

There's a part where she's sitting indian-style on the counter island, eating dinner with a plate in her lap.
Why?

Her dad decides to dye his hair. They drive to a campground and apply the hair dye in the camping facilities bathroom.
WHO DOES THAT??!!
And later makes a dandelion necklace and crown for his younger daughter.
Sure!

At least twice, Claire mentions her husband checking his nostrils before he leaves the house.
Wtf?

Yeah, so, anyway, this was totally ridiculous.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read.

At first I found this a little hard to get into, as it took me a while to tolerate Claire and her depressive attitude. I don't have children, or plan to have any, so couldn't relate to her with regards to motherhood. As for her being so lonely because her husband worked long hours, well, she should try being a Navy wife like myself, & see how she copes with her husband going away to the Middle East for 3 months at a time. Because of my inability to truly connect with Claire, I was concerned it would spoil my enjoyment of this novel, but thankfully it didn't, as there was enough exciting drama to keep me entertained.

Claire’s first love sending her a Facebook friend request was a fun concept, and is what attracted me to this book. What unravelled because of that one friend request made for an entertaining read. I’m so pleased I’m already friends with my first love on Facebook, otherwise I’d be inclined to panic and decline the friend request, after having read this novel.

I really don’t want to spoil the enjoyment for other readers by giving too much away, so I’ll just that that this was well written, flowed well and once I got into it, it was very hard to put down, and resulted in a very late night of reading last night, or should I say this morning, so that I could finish it.

I was interested in Claire’s past memories, I became very suspicious of one character at one stage, and something that Claire did later on in the novel had me so anxious my heart was pounding and I was physically sweating with panic.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a gritty romance with a lot of drama.

I would like to thank the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all let me thank SOURCEBOOKS Landmark via Net Galley.

I feel a bit like the odd one out. I did like the concept of the books storyline. But it was a case of 'The grass is greener on the other side' for me.

Yes her husband worked all hours [for his family] yes his attention was lacking, but isn't that life?

An old "flame" contacting her on Facebook, this is where it all starts and the decisions that she has to make for herself, we all know, whatever we decide in our walk of life there is ALWAYS a consequence we need to pick up or face, this was no different for her.


I read it, it was an easy read, didn't take any thinking about or grey matter, but for me personally it was just an OK book.


The author did brilliantly with the story I thought, complex and some thoughtful moments. Made me reflect.


I do think its where the reader is in their own life as to what you get from this book. If I was a young newly wed or married for 10 years or so, I can see how disgruntled I would get, but when you are my age and see a lot of things, experience a lot of things [within marriage] you stick with it, unlike some today who take the easy way out I guess.

I didn't see anything wrong with her husband, he seemed to be providing for her well and his family, it was her that was disgruntled and miserable, depressed. I took a while to get into the book as she made me all depressed!

I don't normally evoke a response like this for my reviews and it doesn't reflect on the authors ability or agility to write, just that the concept of her being so dam miserable and wanting something else exciting, I thought her quite selfish.

Anyway, that's me done. :)

[Esil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me access to an advance copy of this book. I must say that I am surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Told from the first person, the story is about Claire who has recently given up her work as a climatologist, had a baby, and moved with her physician husband to middle America from the east coast. It takes a while to realize that Claire as a narrator is not entirely reliable, but it becomes clear as the book moves toward a suspenseful crescendo. But the shift from a novel about a lonely dislocated new mother to the suspense worked really well (and I won't say more not to give anything away). I noticed a few times that my shoulders were up to my ears with tension from the anticipation of what might happen to Claire next. What works best in this book is that many of the characters don't fall easily on the good/bad spectrum, including Claire's parents and her old boyfriend Dean. The writing was simple but engaging. Very good first novel for Melissa Falcon Field. I would be happy to read her next novel.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A special thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field is a powerful debut of a middle aged mother; a woman who has lost herself, and the temptation of the past; excitement, a risk –a captivating and intense page-turner of loyalty, forgiveness and atonement.

Claire Spruce, a mother and wife– she is lonely and feels isolated. Miles, the physician husband provides for his family. He is caught up in his career and Claire does not fit in.

A past, an old flame resurfaces, social media connection, a father’s infidelity, a mother-daughter relationship, marriage, children, motherhood, expectations, careers, anger, resentment, a life without fire, ambition, affection, attachment, isolation, love, the past, the present, the future –what will Claire choose?

Told in the present day with flashbacks to Claire’s teen years, highlighting her time with Dean and her parents. An emotional novel of choices, second chances, secrets, a fairy tale marriage destroyed and a woman who does not see or appreciate what is in front of her.

Melissa Falcon Field delivers a second coming of age novel, as many readers will connect, as we look back on our life for “an awakening”, as we redefine ourselves both personally and professionally as we move forward.

What Burns Away dives into a woman’s mind for a suspenseful novel of love and betrayal; the power of the past, for readers young and old. We all experience change as we grow older, as materialistic things which were important to us in the past, have been replaced with more simplistic things, where you learn to live on less without all the baggage. Time is more important.

Unfortunately as the author mentions, we cannot stop aging – it is a fact of life; however, rather than focus on outside appearances, we have to capture our inner self. This is especially difficult for women, emotionally sometimes; and the author depicts the struggle of past and present, as Claire redefines herself.

The social media presence in the novel is very realistic as couples get bored with their lives and the fantasy of what would have been, and old flames sometimes surface. (the grass is not always greener). Many women will relate to parts of Claire’s character— actions have consequences.

Fans of literary fiction, women's fiction, and family drama will enjoy this well-written suspense debut novel. The novel would make an ideal selection for book clubs or discussions regarding the different perspectives of characters, and what ifs.

Judith D. Collins Must Read Books

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.mx/2...

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Sourcebooks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is January 27th, 2015.

I have mixed emotions about this story. I will start with the part that I struggled with.

Characters - I had a hard time identifying with any of them. I could not understand Claire's depression and grief. It seemed very juvenile to me. Yes I can see how she was frustrated with her husband and her new living conditions but it was evident her grief was deeper than that. It was the ghosts of her past I couldn't understand. Miles her husband - I was indifferent to him. He worked to much and didn't pay attention to his family as he should but aside from that I have no opinion

Dean deserves his own paragraph. There was nothing remotely likable about him. Not in his adult version nor the version that fourteen year old Claire fell in love with. I go back to when I was fourteen and I still would have seen nothing but a deadbeat. He was practically an adult and taking advantage of a fourteen year old girl. This was creepy and I couldn't get past it. He continued with the same behavior as an adult. I just could not see how someone like him could lead Claire astray the way he did.

This is where I can talk about the deeper themes at play in the story. This is a story about guilt, depression, family and loss. It could be argued that these were the driving factors for Claire's actions and not an old love from when she was still a young girl. I get this, I really do. It doesn't make the story sit any easier for me. I can easily see how this book could be discussed at length in a book club as there are many parts with deeper emotion than is displayed on the surface.

For me at the end of the day the story was an ok read.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fabulous read, unexpectedly so to be honest. I must thank friend and fellow book blogger Maxine for recommending it to me, because otherwise it may have sadly passed me by.

So we have Claire then, generally unhappy having moved away from her home and feeling increasingly isolated from her workaholic husband, she embarks on a flirtation via social media with her first love, Dean. Things take a dangerous turn as Claire tries to recapture her sense of self and may end up exploding her whole life in the process.

Beautifully written this – it just flows along, capturing you in Claire’s story, her emotions and her actions, sometimes you are nodding along, sometimes you want to scream at her to THINK first. The themes running throughout the story are all emotive and authentic – after all as we grow older that sense of those things we may have missed can often solidify in our mind. I especially related to Claire – she grew up at the same time I did, things like the Challenger disaster setting the scene, putting you right along with her during the flashback portions of the tale.

Whilst I did not always find Claire likeable, often a bit entitled and whiny, a lot of what she goes through is understandable. Her husband is distant, as a Doctor his work keeps him away for long hours, while Claire is at home with a young child. This resonated with me, as someone who also has been at home with the children, her loss of self image rang utterly true.

There are a lot of surprises along the way, this is not always as straightforward as it seems – as such it is an intelligent and clever drama with fascinating themes of love, family and loyalty and exploring in an engaging and utterly captivating way how every action has consequences. I hesitate to say much more about the full intensity of the plot, but it will definitely give you pause for thought and may end up completely surprising you.

Highly Recommended.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Burns Away by Melissa Falcon Field is a poignant novel about loss, loneliness, longing and burning temptation.

Claire Spruce is struggling after moving from New England to Wisconsin with her physician husband, Miles. While she loves being with her much wanted toddler son, Jonah, she misses her former home, her career as a research meteorologist, and the company of her busy, distracted husband who often works 18 hour days. Overwhelmed, frustrated and restless, when Claire reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Dean, via Facebook, she is startled and then drawn to the memory of light, heat and warmth he offers.

"I found my loneliness blooming— missing...our former life, who I was before I became a mother, my job, my brain, my research, my body, and who Miles and I used to be together. I started living my life looking backward, seeking out the past and longing for familiarity because nothing in our new life was recognizable to me."

Field has created an interesting, complex character in Claire, who is struggling with her present and haunted by her past. Unable to really consider the consequences, she is drawn to Dean, or perhaps more accurately to what he represents, as helplessly as a moth is to a flame.

The pace is measured, perhaps a little slow to start but worth persevering with. The writing is evocative and the settings vividly rendered. The suspense builds steadily as Claire's behaviour grows more erratic and the flickering flame becomes a raging inferno threatening to destroy everything Claire loves.

A taut, atmospheric and impassioned tale, What Burns Away is a compelling read.

[Jumi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. thought provoking book about family relationships. remembering first loves and the what if of everyday life

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What Burns Away is an engrossing and somewhat suspenseful debut novel by Melissa Falcon Field. It is a very fascinating story about a stay at home mom whose life takes an unexpected turn after she reconnects with her first love on Facebook.

Claire Spruce is a middle aged wife and mother who finds herself increasingly unhappy following a move from her beloved home on the coast to Wisconsin. After struggling with infertility, she left a fulfilling job to care for her son Jonah full time, but she struggles to find meaning and fulfillment without a career. With her husband Miles working long hours and lacking any type of social support, her growing dissatisfaction is somewhat relieved when she accepts a friend request from Dean D'Alessio, her first boyfriend. This is just the first of many impulsive decisions that Claire makes and these ill-fated choices take her down an increasing dangerous path that could destroy everything she holds dear.

None of the characters in What Burns Away are particularly sympathetic. Miles is so completely focused on his career that he neglects both Claire and Jonah. He completely misses how miserable Claire is and even when they are together, he is distracted by his crushing workload. His motives for accepting the new job are well-intentioned, but that does nothing to alleviate Claire's growing resentment for his neglect.

Claire is, quite frankly, a mess. It is obvious that she is depressed and she probably has been for quite some time. As the story progress and she reflects on memories from her childhood, it becomes clear that she has never gotten over her dysfunctional past. Of course Dean played a vital role during this tumultuous time and while reconnecting with him brings up painful memories, she also recalls the passion and strong emotions associated with young love. As her dissatisfaction with her life grows, Claire is quite flattered by Dean's attention which makes her very easy to manipulate.

What Burns Away is a well-written novel and Melissa Falcon Field takes the story in a very unanticipated and somewhat shocking direction. Claire's past and present collide in an absolutely stunning plot twist and the story races to a dramatic conclusion that is a little unsatisfying but incredibly realistic.

[Jeannette Diaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I found this book at the library. It's quite difficult to find good Ebooks at the library that are not "self help".

this book is about a woman in her forties, mother of a very young child who feels lonely just to being a wife and mother. I understood her loneliness and feelings of losing her identity while trying to be supportive of a spouse's career.

I tried to relate and thought I would care a lot about the main character considering her story. Her marriage, her mother's abandonment and her father's suicide. But past all this, I couldn't relate.

She is so bored with her life and her marriage that she begins making really bad decisions. The thrill of burning things. No. Sorry. Couldn't relate. Leaving the baby locked in the car. Not only could I not relate, this actually pissed me off and made me want to choke her for being so dumb and irresponsible.

I would have given this book 1 star but it was the first book I read for free. That made it worth 1 extra star.
End of story.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first blurb I thought I would be reading about an unhappy housewife who reconnects with her first love. Simple, a bit daring and really, in the end I thought all would end up right in the main characters world. What I got was the story of a disturbed woman who starts talking with her equally disturbed first love. I enjoyed reading it anyway!

Clair Spruce is struggling. She has the son she always wanted however she feels unloved and unwanted by her husband. Stuck in a state she hates. When she logs on her computer and finds her first love has contacted her she sinks quickly to her past with dangerous repercussions.

What Burns Away could have easily been a 5 star read for me. Except the flow of the book (mainly the shift between present and past)was often clumsy and sometimes I wasn't sure which I was reading.

I don't want to give away any spoilers. So I'll stop my review here.

What Burns Away will be available on January 27th in both Kindle and Paperback format.

[Tygrysica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na pierwszy rzut oka wydawać by się mogło, że Claire Spruce wiedzie idealne i beztroskie życie u boku wspaniałego męża, jednak nic bardziej mylnego. Kobieta spędzając całe dnie sama w czterech ścianach zaczyna czuć się coraz bardziej nieszczęśliwa i samotna. Tęskni za swoim starym domem, pracą, przyjaciółmi oraz dawną beztroskością Milesa. Pełna goryczy i poczucia zdrady zaczyna popadać w nostalgię i coraz bardziej oddalać się od ciągle zapracowanego męża. Czy małżeństwo Claire i Milesa przetrwa tą ciężką próbę?

„Szliśmy obok siebie, lecz podążaliśmy dwiema różnymi ścieżkami. Nie byłam w stanie wyobrazić sobie momentu, w którym nasze drogi znów mogłyby się przeciąć.”

Czytając opis tej książki można by pomyśleć, że sięgając po debiutancką powieść Melissy Falcon Field otrzymamy typowy romans opowiadający o nieszczęśliwej kobiecie postanawiającej nagle porzucić męża na rzecz innego mężczyzny. Jeśli jednak tego oczekujecie od tej historii to srogo się zawiedziecie. Ponieważ „Gwiazdy, które spłonęły” to fascynująca książka o tym jak wielki wpływ mają wydarzenia z dzieciństwa na nasze dorosłe życie. Autorka porusza tutaj wiele ciekawych i ważnych kwestii. Pokazuje między innymi jak wygląda rozwód oczami dziecka oraz jak trudno dostosować się dorosłej kobiecie do nowych miejsc i sytuacji.

Akcja rozgrywa się na dwóch płaszczyznach czasowych, umożliwiając tym samym czytelnikowi lepsze poznanie głównej bohaterki oraz motywów nią kierujących. Część wydarzeń jesteśmy w stanie odpowiednio wcześniej się domyślić, aczkolwiek w żadnym stopniu nie umniejsza to przyjemności z czytania i mimo że Melissa Falcon Field porusza tutaj wiele trudnych tematów to książkę tę czyta się szybko oraz bardzo przyjemnie.

Dodatkowy plus należy się za piękną okładkę, której ukryte znaczenie odkrywamy wraz z kolejnymi stronami powieści.

„Jesteśmy jak komety. Zostawiamy za sobą pył naszego życia, który wciąż do nas powraca.”

Gorąco polecam Wam debiutancką powieść Melissy Falcon Field. Ponieważ warto od czasu do czasu przeczytać książkę, która zmusi nas do zastanowienia się nad losem swoim i innych, a niezwykle poruszająca historia Claire nadaję się do tego idealnie.

Aleksandra

Wszystkie cytaty pochodzą z książki „Gwiazdy, które spłonęły” autorstwa Melissy Falcon Field.

Szukaj mnie na:
http://tygrysica.tumblr.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tygrysicaa/

[Katia Pandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Co by było gdyby...?" 🤔

Myślę, że nie raz sobie zadaliście to pytanie. Główna bohaterka (Claire) powieści "Gwiazdy, które spłonęły" zadała sobie to samo pytanie, kiedy rozpoczęła "niewinny" internetowy romans z Dean'em, jej pierwszą miłością sprzed lat.

Claire dla rodziny porzuciła karierę. Jest żoną i matką. Jej życie (jak i cała narracja książki) jest nudne. Autorka książki pokazuje obraz kobiety samotnej w małżeństwie. Kobiety, której potrzebna jest mała iskra, by wzniecić wielki ogień 🔥 "Ogień" to kluczowe hasło w tej książce.

Męczyłam się z tą książką. Zamysł autorki był naprawdę ciekawy. Samotność w związku to częsty przypadek naszych czasów. Dużo słyszy się o zaniedbywaniu drugiej połówki co rodzi konflikty, zdrady czy depresje. Uczucie jakie towarzyszyło mi przy czytaniu tej książki to na pewno współczucie. Niestety narracja książki jest bardzo nudna. A w tej książce tak dużo się przecież dzieje: mamy romans, mamy przeszłość, która nie daje o sobie zapomnieć, w tej przyszłości są relacje z matką. Popełniane są wykroczenia (nie chce spojlerować, chociaż niektórzy się już pewnie domyslają 🤪) W w tej książce jest tyle emocji, ale przez to jak jest prowadzona narracja tego nie da się czytać. Wkrada się chochlik, który chce nas uśpić.

[Cameron Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character, Claire, comes off as whiney but she is easily relatable. Who hasn’t felt that way about an old boyfriend, marriage, children, parents and change? The story develops a little slow but I was intrigued to find out what exactly Dean wanted from Claire the minute he showed up at her door. It’s easy for Claire to fall back into old routines since she’s feeling ignored by her husband. I could also relate to Claire’s feelings towards her mother. The affair was in no way her and Kara’s fault but children don’t know everything. Just as Claire comes to find out. Miles has a heart with the best of intentions but he missed the mark for me. It took drastic measures for him to pay attention to the happenings within his marriage. And by then, it was almost too late. Miles and Claire’s relationship ended up exactly how I envisioned but I doubted once Claire came clean that the marriage could survive. Both sides had caused too much hurt and an affair is the ultimate betrayal. Overall, it was good read an I would read another by Ms. Fields.

[Kathleen DuVall · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked most about this book was the writer's style. From the very first chapter I was engrossed in the book because of the fluidity and the choice of words. They just resonated with me to the point that it was a pleasure to read. Some writers are like that and others I have the really slog through the first couple of chapters to get the pace and cadence.

As for the story itself, it was like watching a horror movie where you knew bad things were coming but you couldn't tell the characters not to go into the sharp-implement filled barn because that was where the creepy guy was hiding. Would she connect with him and do as he asked? Would she get caught? Would she get her old life back? Well worth the read.

[Maureen L · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has been awhile since I read this book. I had to reacquaint myself with the story line and the characters. I read some of the reviews and I am remembering some of the same sentiments. If you are looking for a story with a smart, strong female lead then I would stay away. But if you can tolerate some old stereotypes of “long lost loves”, woman searching for the one thing that is missing - then this won’t disappoint.

I only give it TWO stars because I do not strongly recommend it to everyone. If you picked it up in an airport you would probably find it easy to read, and entertaining. However, if you are looking for something thought provoking, or a book with a complex female character, you may want to skip this one.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire grew up in a dysfunctional family. Suicide and divorce were just some of the things she experienced. Fascinated by fire, she meets Dean D'Allesio her first love who takes her on a self destructive course. Years later. Claire is married to the successful Doctor Myles and has a 5 year old son Jonah. Once happy, Claire feels isolated and lonely. Then one day checking her mail, she finds a friend request from Dean. This was a very interesting novel about how people come into out life that can set us on a destructive force. Also I loved the metaphor of fire and like a moth to a flame I couldn't put this novel down!

[Kristen Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incendiary Read!

I loved this book for its compelling story, wholly real and flawed characters, and excellent writing. I couldn’t put it down, needing to find out which choices Claire would make and how those decisions would impact her life. Like so many women who are thrown into the fire of balancing work and motherhood — or, in Claire’s case — experiencing the loss of one for the other, I found myself connecting to Claire’s search for meaning and for her sense of self in the midst of upheaval in her married life. I also enjoyed learning more about fire and comets! Such a great story!

[Carson hall · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off, I agree with one reviewer who said that she hates stories about infidelity. Second, I started this book, and when I have to read the same page over and over it makes me think of the textbooks I read in high school. Too boring for me. I did not finish this one, and put it in the donation bin.

[Martha Freshley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting novel that captured me from the start. The author has great style and the plot moves along at a nice pace. Highly recommend!

[Iwona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Książka nie jest jakaś wybitna, ale dobrze się ja czyta. Historia wciąga i pojawia się ciekawość - co tam się wydarzy, i oczywiście przeczucie, że nic dobrego z tego nie wyniknie;)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this a 4 star. The writing, story line, and everything was great! But, coming from a child of divorce...due to an affair.. It was just... I don't know, Iffy feeling? It's hard to explain.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me forever to read. Wanted to “did not finish” it a few times. Wish I had.

Just didn’t care for the subject, the mixed messages, the characters.

[Kathryn L · Rating 3 out of 5]

rather depressing....

[Martyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

ten dean to był mi dziwny od samego początku