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The Stars Are Fire
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2017)In October 1947, after a summer-long drought, fires break out all along the Maine coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery and are soon racing out of control from town to village. Five months pregnant, Grace Holland is left alone to protect her two toddlers when her husband, Gene, joins the volunteer firefighters. Along with her best friend, Rosie, and Rosie's two young children, Grace watches helplessly as their houses burn to the ground, the flames finally forcing them all into the ocean as a last resort. They spend the night frantically protecting their children and in the morning find their lives forever changed: homeless, penniless, awaiting news of their husbands' fate, and left to face an uncertain future in a town that no longer exists. In the midst of this devastating loss, Grace discovers glorious new freedoms--joys and triumphs she could never have expected her narrow life with Gene could contain--and her spirit soars. Then the unthinkable happens and Grace's bravery is tested as never before.
256 pages, ebook
First published April 18, 2017
5715 people are currently reading
37460 people want to read
About the author
Anita Shreve
107 books4,556 followersAnita Hale Shreve was an American writer, chiefly known for her novels. One of her first published stories, Past the Island, Drifting (published 1975), was awarded an O. Henry Prize in 1976.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,347 reviews
March 3, 2017
I always look forward to novels by this author, and this time it has felt like a very long wait. She writes such good stories about women, hemmed in by the expectations of their time periods, but women that find and harbor an inner strength that allows them to supersede and rise above their circumstances. Grace, the young wife and mother in this story is no exception.
The largest fire in Maine's history, October 1946, a fire that raged from Bar Harbor to Kittery. Grace, five months pregnant and her two children under three, are on their own. Her husband is fire fighting with a crew, and as the fire approaches she must save herself and her children. Parts of this novel were predictable but the history and the time period made this much more than just a predictable read. As always her characterizations are amazing, one pulls for Grace, suffers along with her and wishes her better things and an easier way than that which she faces. Her mother and her friend are also great characters.
This was an enjoyable read from an accomplished writer. A sentimental read on my part but I find that it is refreshing to read a novel that is set in only one time period and that doesn't go back and forth, just presented as we live life, in a forward manner. I look forward to the next strong woman this author will present to her readers.
ARC from publisher.
Publishes April 18th from Knopf.
The largest fire in Maine's history, October 1946, a fire that raged from Bar Harbor to Kittery. Grace, five months pregnant and her two children under three, are on their own. Her husband is fire fighting with a crew, and as the fire approaches she must save herself and her children. Parts of this novel were predictable but the history and the time period made this much more than just a predictable read. As always her characterizations are amazing, one pulls for Grace, suffers along with her and wishes her better things and an easier way than that which she faces. Her mother and her friend are also great characters.
This was an enjoyable read from an accomplished writer. A sentimental read on my part but I find that it is refreshing to read a novel that is set in only one time period and that doesn't go back and forth, just presented as we live life, in a forward manner. I look forward to the next strong woman this author will present to her readers.
ARC from publisher.
Publishes April 18th from Knopf.
May 19, 2017
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The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve is a novel of fiction that takes place around the disastrous fire that ravaged Maine's coast in 1947. This is the first book I've read by this author. I listened to this on audible and enjoyed the narrator, Suzanne Elite Freeman.
May contain a mild spoiler...
The main character, Grace Holland, is suffering with a less than mediocre marriage with little to no attention from her husband, Gene. She enjoys her children, but really craves love and desire. A blazing fire heads toward the town and she must escape the area with her two children. All she has is her best friend as her husband Gene has left with the fire brigade to help control the fires.
As time moves on, Grace's husband is still missing and she must make a new life to care for her kids. She moves into her mother-in-laws house and finds some belongings to help get her feet on the ground and enjoys a new found job. Her mom is there and other characters come into the story, including a new love, but the story still remains quite bland. I appreciated that Grace was making a new life and enjoying new freedoms, but there wasn't enough going on to keep me interested and engaged. Even with the added twists, I found my mind wondering throughout the story.
It's possible the main issue with the book for me were the characters. All of them were flat and never really developed which made the story uninteresting for me. I really wanted more development with Aiden and less information about Graces job with the doc.
It seems like a good story, but just wasn't a fave and wound up in the okay range for me.
I do think the author writes very well and I'm still looking forward to reading some of her other books.
3***
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve is a novel of fiction that takes place around the disastrous fire that ravaged Maine's coast in 1947. This is the first book I've read by this author. I listened to this on audible and enjoyed the narrator, Suzanne Elite Freeman.
May contain a mild spoiler...
The main character, Grace Holland, is suffering with a less than mediocre marriage with little to no attention from her husband, Gene. She enjoys her children, but really craves love and desire. A blazing fire heads toward the town and she must escape the area with her two children. All she has is her best friend as her husband Gene has left with the fire brigade to help control the fires.
As time moves on, Grace's husband is still missing and she must make a new life to care for her kids. She moves into her mother-in-laws house and finds some belongings to help get her feet on the ground and enjoys a new found job. Her mom is there and other characters come into the story, including a new love, but the story still remains quite bland. I appreciated that Grace was making a new life and enjoying new freedoms, but there wasn't enough going on to keep me interested and engaged. Even with the added twists, I found my mind wondering throughout the story.
It's possible the main issue with the book for me were the characters. All of them were flat and never really developed which made the story uninteresting for me. I really wanted more development with Aiden and less information about Graces job with the doc.
It seems like a good story, but just wasn't a fave and wound up in the okay range for me.
I do think the author writes very well and I'm still looking forward to reading some of her other books.
3***
May 14, 2018
The Stars are Fire by Anita Shreve is a 2017 Random House publication.
I must confess, I had this book sitting on my TBR pile for a while, not in any big hurry to read it, until I heard the news of Anita Shreve’s passing. I decided to do a blog post in her honor and wanted to include the first book I’d read of hers- “The Pilot’s Wife” and thought it would be fitting, in a way, to feature the last book she published. So, I while I was re-reading TPW, I slowly worked my way through this one, as well.
What captured my interest about this book, initially, was that it is centered around true events. In 1947 a massive fire in Maine burned over a quarter of a million acres of land, and destroyed many homes in its wake, leaving sixteen dead. I’d never heard about this fire until I read the synopsis of this book. After doing a few Google searches I was interested to see how Shreve would weave a story around such a monumental occurrence.
Grace Holland is in an unhappy marriage, the mother of two small children, with another one on the way, when her husband, Gene, volunteers to help fight the fire. He goes missing, presumed dead, leaving Grace, her children, and her mother to find a way to survive on their own.
Just when Grace is hitting stride, feeling more confident, enjoying the relief and release she feels without Gene, life throws Grace a curve ball she never saw coming.
“Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt thou the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love.” - Hamlet
This story is not incredibly long, but due to its bleakness, which depicted the hardships that resulted from a horrific disaster, while detailing the limited options women had in the forties, it often felt like the story was moving at the speed of molasses.
However, I would advise readers to stick it out, because this is not a book that is meant to be a fast-paced novel of suspense or action. It’s beautifully written piece and an amazing character study, focused on Grace Holland. Grace will go from being at the will and mercy of a cold, bitter husband, to finding the strength and courage to search for inner peace, and maybe even happiness, against all odds.
Women, especially, stayed in miserable marriages to avoid the stigma associated with divorce, and because of the lack of career opportunities. But, for Grace, duty and responsibility figure into things, as well. But, the book also points to how rigid, assigned roles, and duties also impacted men.
Gene might have felt trapped, and certainly felt intense pressure to provide for his family, which began to change him from a rather amiable sort, to a resentful, cold, and very bitter man. His anger soon manifests itself in very dangerous ways, which is where the marital tensions often become so taut, and so intense, it is nearly unbearable.
Yet out of the dust and burnt ash, this story emerges into one of great resilience and courage. Grace does the best she can, takes risks, capitalizes on advantageous situations and is helped by good people and wonderful friends along the way. Even when she seems to hit rock bottom, with no way out of her misery, she rises to the occasion, determined to escape her phyical and metaphorical incarceration.
While this book is mostly well-received, it did have a few mixed reviews, which gave me pause, but as is often the case, a book will speak to one in a very different way than it speaks to someone else, if at all.
For me, I was very impressed with Shreve’s portrait of marriage during a time when people were basically forced to remain in an untenable relationship. I was in awe of her in depth creation of Grace Holland, who is ultimately a survivor, a person who is inspirational, determined to live life on her own terms and refuses to allow convention to dictate her destiny. Her journey is a long, labored trip, and is not going to end all wrapped up in a nice, neat package. This may bother some readers, but, I thought it was fitting and, did justice to Grace’s character.
Having said that, one can’t avoid the impression that Grace will reinvent herself, will be in control of her own destiny, embarking on a whole new adventure in life, no matter which path she winds up on or how things turn out.
In all honesty, based on the books I’ve read by this author, this one was not my all -time favorite, and I don’t know that it’s Shreve’s best effort, but it is still a very solid, atmospheric and compelling novel. I really enjoyed the history, the writing, and the deep character study, and how the tragedy of the fire, ultimately provided a way for Grace to experience freedom and forge a new life for herself.
Overall, I thought this book was very thought provoking and would make a very good book club selection. This may be our last novel by Anita Shreve, and if that is the case, I’d say she left us with a very positive impression of her and her books.
4 stars
I must confess, I had this book sitting on my TBR pile for a while, not in any big hurry to read it, until I heard the news of Anita Shreve’s passing. I decided to do a blog post in her honor and wanted to include the first book I’d read of hers- “The Pilot’s Wife” and thought it would be fitting, in a way, to feature the last book she published. So, I while I was re-reading TPW, I slowly worked my way through this one, as well.
What captured my interest about this book, initially, was that it is centered around true events. In 1947 a massive fire in Maine burned over a quarter of a million acres of land, and destroyed many homes in its wake, leaving sixteen dead. I’d never heard about this fire until I read the synopsis of this book. After doing a few Google searches I was interested to see how Shreve would weave a story around such a monumental occurrence.
Grace Holland is in an unhappy marriage, the mother of two small children, with another one on the way, when her husband, Gene, volunteers to help fight the fire. He goes missing, presumed dead, leaving Grace, her children, and her mother to find a way to survive on their own.
Just when Grace is hitting stride, feeling more confident, enjoying the relief and release she feels without Gene, life throws Grace a curve ball she never saw coming.
“Doubt thou the stars are fire; / Doubt thou the sun doth move; / Doubt truth to be a liar; / But never doubt I love.” - Hamlet
This story is not incredibly long, but due to its bleakness, which depicted the hardships that resulted from a horrific disaster, while detailing the limited options women had in the forties, it often felt like the story was moving at the speed of molasses.
However, I would advise readers to stick it out, because this is not a book that is meant to be a fast-paced novel of suspense or action. It’s beautifully written piece and an amazing character study, focused on Grace Holland. Grace will go from being at the will and mercy of a cold, bitter husband, to finding the strength and courage to search for inner peace, and maybe even happiness, against all odds.
Women, especially, stayed in miserable marriages to avoid the stigma associated with divorce, and because of the lack of career opportunities. But, for Grace, duty and responsibility figure into things, as well. But, the book also points to how rigid, assigned roles, and duties also impacted men.
Gene might have felt trapped, and certainly felt intense pressure to provide for his family, which began to change him from a rather amiable sort, to a resentful, cold, and very bitter man. His anger soon manifests itself in very dangerous ways, which is where the marital tensions often become so taut, and so intense, it is nearly unbearable.
Yet out of the dust and burnt ash, this story emerges into one of great resilience and courage. Grace does the best she can, takes risks, capitalizes on advantageous situations and is helped by good people and wonderful friends along the way. Even when she seems to hit rock bottom, with no way out of her misery, she rises to the occasion, determined to escape her phyical and metaphorical incarceration.
While this book is mostly well-received, it did have a few mixed reviews, which gave me pause, but as is often the case, a book will speak to one in a very different way than it speaks to someone else, if at all.
For me, I was very impressed with Shreve’s portrait of marriage during a time when people were basically forced to remain in an untenable relationship. I was in awe of her in depth creation of Grace Holland, who is ultimately a survivor, a person who is inspirational, determined to live life on her own terms and refuses to allow convention to dictate her destiny. Her journey is a long, labored trip, and is not going to end all wrapped up in a nice, neat package. This may bother some readers, but, I thought it was fitting and, did justice to Grace’s character.
Having said that, one can’t avoid the impression that Grace will reinvent herself, will be in control of her own destiny, embarking on a whole new adventure in life, no matter which path she winds up on or how things turn out.
In all honesty, based on the books I’ve read by this author, this one was not my all -time favorite, and I don’t know that it’s Shreve’s best effort, but it is still a very solid, atmospheric and compelling novel. I really enjoyed the history, the writing, and the deep character study, and how the tragedy of the fire, ultimately provided a way for Grace to experience freedom and forge a new life for herself.
Overall, I thought this book was very thought provoking and would make a very good book club selection. This may be our last novel by Anita Shreve, and if that is the case, I’d say she left us with a very positive impression of her and her books.
4 stars
April 24, 2017
I started off giving The Stars are Fire 4 stars, however while writing my review I realized that there was a few things that were missing for me or did not really work for me.
When we first meet Grace Holland she is in a dutiful and loveless marriage to sour Gene who is a man of few words. The setting is based on the real life fires from October 1947 that raged in Maine following months of severe drought. I thought Anita Shreve gave me a good feel of the daily life in 1947 and the impact the fires had on Grace’s life. The fires left quiet and meek Grace Holland alone with her children and homeless. She becomes brave, resilient, and resourceful as she rewrites her life for herself and her family. I found myself rooting for Grace as she discovers new freedom and finds joy in her life.
All the other characters all seemed like an uninteresting “type” to me with no depth or development. I wanted to learn, understand and have some more insight to why Gene was so sour and angry with little words to share. Even though Gene was a menacing character, I found I had no emotions towards him whether it be dislike, sympathy or anger. I wanted more from his character.
I enjoyed Shreve’s writing and Grace’s story as she goes through the devastation and finds the courage to create a new life. It was not an absorbing read for me but a comfort read with a satisfying ending.
All of Norma’s & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
When we first meet Grace Holland she is in a dutiful and loveless marriage to sour Gene who is a man of few words. The setting is based on the real life fires from October 1947 that raged in Maine following months of severe drought. I thought Anita Shreve gave me a good feel of the daily life in 1947 and the impact the fires had on Grace’s life. The fires left quiet and meek Grace Holland alone with her children and homeless. She becomes brave, resilient, and resourceful as she rewrites her life for herself and her family. I found myself rooting for Grace as she discovers new freedom and finds joy in her life.
All the other characters all seemed like an uninteresting “type” to me with no depth or development. I wanted to learn, understand and have some more insight to why Gene was so sour and angry with little words to share. Even though Gene was a menacing character, I found I had no emotions towards him whether it be dislike, sympathy or anger. I wanted more from his character.
I enjoyed Shreve’s writing and Grace’s story as she goes through the devastation and finds the courage to create a new life. It was not an absorbing read for me but a comfort read with a satisfying ending.
All of Norma’s & my reviews can be found on our Sister Blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
May 24, 2019
Wow this is one special book! I was excited to read it so I had to jump ahead even though the pub date isn’t until May.
This is by far the best book that Ms. Shreve has ever penned. The characters are so well developed and the story simply brilliant and believable, the factual part based on a true story of the worst fire ever to occur in coastal Maine.
Time frame is Maine in 1947. Grace is a young woman with two small children in an unhappy marriage. She is young and doesn’t really understand her husband and why he treats her with so little love but she has her children and her best friend.
After an agonizing Spring of continued rain the rest of the summer is hot and very dry, drought conditions. A wildfire starts on the coast of Maine and becomes all consuming. The town where Grace lives is at first thought to be far enough away from the fire and isn’t evacuated. Grace’s husband is fighting the fire along with most of the men in the town. Grace uses all of her strength and intelligence to save herself and her children.
After the fire Grace and her children and mother have survived and relocate to her mother in law’s house. There is a romantic encounter with another man who makes Grace realize all that she has been missing in her marriage.
There of course is a lot more to this wonderful story but I won’t give away the plot. What I loved about this story was how the character grew, learned how to survive, what was important to her, how strong she really was!!
The ending was a great one with some answers about Grace’s husband, his character and why he behaves the way he does. No,you won't even come close to guessing, so don't even try! Well you can try if you want to but it's a great REVEAL.
I read this book in two sittings, only because I had to go to bed. I recommend this book to everyone, read it, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this awesome book!
This is by far the best book that Ms. Shreve has ever penned. The characters are so well developed and the story simply brilliant and believable, the factual part based on a true story of the worst fire ever to occur in coastal Maine.
Time frame is Maine in 1947. Grace is a young woman with two small children in an unhappy marriage. She is young and doesn’t really understand her husband and why he treats her with so little love but she has her children and her best friend.
After an agonizing Spring of continued rain the rest of the summer is hot and very dry, drought conditions. A wildfire starts on the coast of Maine and becomes all consuming. The town where Grace lives is at first thought to be far enough away from the fire and isn’t evacuated. Grace’s husband is fighting the fire along with most of the men in the town. Grace uses all of her strength and intelligence to save herself and her children.
After the fire Grace and her children and mother have survived and relocate to her mother in law’s house. There is a romantic encounter with another man who makes Grace realize all that she has been missing in her marriage.
There of course is a lot more to this wonderful story but I won’t give away the plot. What I loved about this story was how the character grew, learned how to survive, what was important to her, how strong she really was!!
The ending was a great one with some answers about Grace’s husband, his character and why he behaves the way he does. No,you won't even come close to guessing, so don't even try! Well you can try if you want to but it's a great REVEAL.
I read this book in two sittings, only because I had to go to bed. I recommend this book to everyone, read it, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this awesome book!
April 13, 2017
Oh dear. I'm afraid I'm just the wrong audience for this book. After a strong beginning, it devolved into just another romantic fairy tale. Its strengths lay in the depiction of the devastating coastal fires that ravaged a drought-ridden Maine in 1947. Despite some glaring anachronisms, the era is well represented, and Grace is truly a woman of that age. There were several jarring mistakes in what followed, and half way in, I found myself skimming over too much attention to clothes and not enough to character.
October 2, 2017
I haven’t read anything by Anita Shreve in a long time. One of my favorite women’s fiction writers is back. Grace is in an unhappy, controlling marriage with two toddlers and one on the way. A fire breaks out and Gene, her husband, volunteers to help in the effort to get it under control. This was less about the Great Fires of 1947 and more about the resilience of a woman in 1947. 1947 is important because women weren’t seen as independent and capable. Grace is just that and determined.
When Gene doesn’t return she is left with no money and no place to live after the fire took her home. Grace is resourceful and picks herself up. Along the way she makes valuable friendships and just when she has a comfortable living arrangement, Gene comes back. Cue Katy Perry’s Roar:
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sit quietly, agree politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything
You held me down, but I got up
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up
Get ready 'cause I've had enough
I see it all, I see it now
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Now I'm floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero
I wanted to see Grace succeed and find love and happiness. I will look forward to the next novel by Shreve.
When Gene doesn’t return she is left with no money and no place to live after the fire took her home. Grace is resourceful and picks herself up. Along the way she makes valuable friendships and just when she has a comfortable living arrangement, Gene comes back. Cue Katy Perry’s Roar:
I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sit quietly, agree politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything
You held me down, but I got up
Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up
Get ready 'cause I've had enough
I see it all, I see it now
I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Now I'm floating like a butterfly
Stinging like a bee I earned my stripes
I went from zero, to my own hero
I wanted to see Grace succeed and find love and happiness. I will look forward to the next novel by Shreve.
April 29, 2022
Beautifully written; sadly desperate and melancholic.
June 1, 2017
This one started off slowly and it took a little while for me to engage with it, but then suddenly I found myself in that wonderful state of being so involved I did not even notice when people were talking to me.
Grace is a superb character, someone who lives within the narrow confines of her life until circumstances demand that she step up and step up she does! The scene where she saves her children's lives by holding them in the sea as a huge wildfire burns down the town is amazing, as is the way she builds herself back up after the fire. I found myself longing for her to succeed and find herself the life she deserved. And then that brilliant ending - loved it!
This was just my second Anita Shreve novel but I can tell I have found a new favourite author.
Grace is a superb character, someone who lives within the narrow confines of her life until circumstances demand that she step up and step up she does! The scene where she saves her children's lives by holding them in the sea as a huge wildfire burns down the town is amazing, as is the way she builds herself back up after the fire. I found myself longing for her to succeed and find herself the life she deserved. And then that brilliant ending - loved it!
This was just my second Anita Shreve novel but I can tell I have found a new favourite author.
May 2, 2017
You can read all of my reviews at Lit·Wit·Wine·Dine.
Having never read any of Anita Shreve's earlier novels, I was drawn to The Stars are Fire because I enjoy learning about historical events I know little or nothing about. This events in this book unfold as a result of what has become know as the Great Fires of 1947, a series of forest fires that devastated hundreds of thousands of acres in Maine.
Grace Holland is five months pregnant when the fires rip through her neighborhood, destroying everything in their wake. Grace is smart and resourceful. She manages to save herself, her two small children, her best friend, Rosie, and Rosie's children. Her husband, Gene, with whom she shares a dispassionate though not horrible marriage, has been called to help the men of the town build a fire wall. But as the other men begin to return home, Gene remains missing. Finally, homeless and destitute, Grace is forced to consider moving into her recently deceased mother-in-law's home. As she arrives to check out the condition of the home, she is greeted by beautiful piano music. Enter Aiden, the handsome, educated, piano-playing squatter.
Things go along just swimmingly for a time. Grace gets a job at the local physician's office. Her mother, now living with her, cares for the house and the children. Grace and Aiden seem to be growing closer together. When Aiden leaves for a job in Boston, they are both hopeful that it won't be the end. Unfortunately, a sudden (and somewhat expected, if I'm honest) plot twist occurs. You can probably see where this is going but I do not wish to add any spoilers.
Overall, I enjoyed the book quite a lot. This wasn't an edge-of-the seat book for me but I found the pacing to be steady and enjoyable. My rating is a reflection of the balance between fabulous writing and character development and a somewhat clichéd and predictable story. Though this wasn't a five star read for me, I can certainly understand why Anita Shreve has such a devoted following and I would be open to reading her past or future titles.
3.75/5 stars
Thanks to the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Having never read any of Anita Shreve's earlier novels, I was drawn to The Stars are Fire because I enjoy learning about historical events I know little or nothing about. This events in this book unfold as a result of what has become know as the Great Fires of 1947, a series of forest fires that devastated hundreds of thousands of acres in Maine.
Grace Holland is five months pregnant when the fires rip through her neighborhood, destroying everything in their wake. Grace is smart and resourceful. She manages to save herself, her two small children, her best friend, Rosie, and Rosie's children. Her husband, Gene, with whom she shares a dispassionate though not horrible marriage, has been called to help the men of the town build a fire wall. But as the other men begin to return home, Gene remains missing. Finally, homeless and destitute, Grace is forced to consider moving into her recently deceased mother-in-law's home. As she arrives to check out the condition of the home, she is greeted by beautiful piano music. Enter Aiden, the handsome, educated, piano-playing squatter.
Things go along just swimmingly for a time. Grace gets a job at the local physician's office. Her mother, now living with her, cares for the house and the children. Grace and Aiden seem to be growing closer together. When Aiden leaves for a job in Boston, they are both hopeful that it won't be the end. Unfortunately, a sudden (and somewhat expected, if I'm honest) plot twist occurs. You can probably see where this is going but I do not wish to add any spoilers.
Overall, I enjoyed the book quite a lot. This wasn't an edge-of-the seat book for me but I found the pacing to be steady and enjoyable. My rating is a reflection of the balance between fabulous writing and character development and a somewhat clichéd and predictable story. Though this wasn't a five star read for me, I can certainly understand why Anita Shreve has such a devoted following and I would be open to reading her past or future titles.
3.75/5 stars
Thanks to the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2018
Man, I didn't realize how much I have missed Anita Shreve until I started this book this morning and finished it tonight. It is that good. I enjoyed Grace's story tremendously.
Grace is a thoughtful young woman feeling confused and trapped in what I would call an odd marriage, when the Maine coast is set ablaze one particularly dry autumn. Wildfires wreak devastation for miles. Everyone Grace knows is affected by the fires, by the huge losses, and by the kindness of strangers. This is how she survives and comes into her own. Her husband is missing and it gives her time to consider a different kind of future for herself and her children.
Wonderful female characters make up most of the cast -- women you just want to cheer on or give them a hug. I was just a little disappointed by the Epilogue, but I definitely do recommend. 4.75 stars.
Grace is a thoughtful young woman feeling confused and trapped in what I would call an odd marriage, when the Maine coast is set ablaze one particularly dry autumn. Wildfires wreak devastation for miles. Everyone Grace knows is affected by the fires, by the huge losses, and by the kindness of strangers. This is how she survives and comes into her own. Her husband is missing and it gives her time to consider a different kind of future for herself and her children.
Wonderful female characters make up most of the cast -- women you just want to cheer on or give them a hug. I was just a little disappointed by the Epilogue, but I definitely do recommend. 4.75 stars.
September 13, 2017
The Stars are Fire was my first by Anita Shreve and whilst the writing its self was exceptional and beautiful to read the storyline let me down. I wasn’t moved!
I had intended to write a huge spoiler ridden rant about the “convenience” of the plot but I hate spoilers in reviews so here is a condensed version.
Every event that happened throughout the story, even though at the time some seemed like great hardship, turned out to be very convenient to the storyline and so far removed from real life it just lost all credibility for me. It’s very hard to elaborate more on this without spoilers.
I found Grace sullen and spoilt. Nothing pleased her and by the time I finished the book I actually disliked her immensely.
The ending was too well tied up as though the author didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I finished the book thinking I would still be happy to give Shreve another go as her writing is moving even if the story wasn’t. What should I try, any recommendations?
I had intended to write a huge spoiler ridden rant about the “convenience” of the plot but I hate spoilers in reviews so here is a condensed version.
Every event that happened throughout the story, even though at the time some seemed like great hardship, turned out to be very convenient to the storyline and so far removed from real life it just lost all credibility for me. It’s very hard to elaborate more on this without spoilers.
I found Grace sullen and spoilt. Nothing pleased her and by the time I finished the book I actually disliked her immensely.
The ending was too well tied up as though the author didn’t want to disappoint anyone.
I finished the book thinking I would still be happy to give Shreve another go as her writing is moving even if the story wasn’t. What should I try, any recommendations?
March 2, 2017
4.5 stars
The Stars Are Fire is a beautifully written story that is both heart-breaking and ultimately redemptive. The story is based on the true story of the 1947 fire that burned a significant portion of Maine’s coastal towns. As the book opens, Grace and her family live in a small coastal town that is in the midst of a drought. Grace struggles with the discontent she feels with her life and her husband. As the drought continues, the land becomes so dry that fire becomes a giant fear for Maine’s residents. The fire begins fairly far away from Grace’s town and skeptical that the fire will reach their town, residents are unprepared when the fire rapidly sweeps through and devastates the community. Grace saves herself, her children, her neighbor Rosie and her children but is left homeless and without a husband (Glen disappeared the night of the fire when he went to fight the fire). Brave and resilient, Grace builds a life for her family and spreads her wings as she was unable to do while Glen was around. When she finally feels that her life is on track, Grace is faced with yet another stumbling block and must force herself to survive.
Grace is a fantastic protagonist; she is intelligent, quick thinking, proactive and loyal. Trapped in a situation beyond her control, she manages to overcome the obstacles and persevere. The world could use more people like Grace.
My favorite thing by far about this book is Shreve’s prose. Her writing is both elegant and stark. Shreve provides a fascinating window into Grace’s mind; Grace is constantly wanting to know more than she learns from the news and her neighbors and frequently questioning why things are the way they are. Her constant questioning and thoughtful pondering added a different dimension to the novel and provoked a similar response from me as I view the incidents happening in my world. I also learned so much about Maine during that era and about the horrific fire that destroyed so many coastal towns. I like that Shreve provided that historical context for the story.
I definitely recommend The Stars Are Fire and love that the cover is so perfect for the story. Thanks to BookBrowse for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Stars Are Fire is a beautifully written story that is both heart-breaking and ultimately redemptive. The story is based on the true story of the 1947 fire that burned a significant portion of Maine’s coastal towns. As the book opens, Grace and her family live in a small coastal town that is in the midst of a drought. Grace struggles with the discontent she feels with her life and her husband. As the drought continues, the land becomes so dry that fire becomes a giant fear for Maine’s residents. The fire begins fairly far away from Grace’s town and skeptical that the fire will reach their town, residents are unprepared when the fire rapidly sweeps through and devastates the community. Grace saves herself, her children, her neighbor Rosie and her children but is left homeless and without a husband (Glen disappeared the night of the fire when he went to fight the fire). Brave and resilient, Grace builds a life for her family and spreads her wings as she was unable to do while Glen was around. When she finally feels that her life is on track, Grace is faced with yet another stumbling block and must force herself to survive.
Grace is a fantastic protagonist; she is intelligent, quick thinking, proactive and loyal. Trapped in a situation beyond her control, she manages to overcome the obstacles and persevere. The world could use more people like Grace.
My favorite thing by far about this book is Shreve’s prose. Her writing is both elegant and stark. Shreve provides a fascinating window into Grace’s mind; Grace is constantly wanting to know more than she learns from the news and her neighbors and frequently questioning why things are the way they are. Her constant questioning and thoughtful pondering added a different dimension to the novel and provoked a similar response from me as I view the incidents happening in my world. I also learned so much about Maine during that era and about the horrific fire that destroyed so many coastal towns. I like that Shreve provided that historical context for the story.
I definitely recommend The Stars Are Fire and love that the cover is so perfect for the story. Thanks to BookBrowse for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2017
★★★½
In The Stars Are Fire, Anita Shreve writes with a simple and minimal style but surprisingly succeeds at developing characters, a historical time period, a traumatizing setting, and a variety of relationships. This story follows the female lead character: Grace while life leads her through several situations and relationships that occur before, during, but mostly after a horrific state-wide fire. Some are happy and some severely unhappy, but the journey remains engaging through its entirety. I enjoyed watching Grace's resilience and growth in a time when women were not viewed as capable or independent apart from their husband. This element in particular was my favorite. This was the first time I have read this author, and overall, I enjoyed the experience. Check it out!
Note: The Stars Are Fire is a fictional story based on a nonfiction and tragic event: the Maine fires of 1947. If interested, you can learn more about this event HERE.
My favorite quote:
"You have to stay," her mother says calmly.
"Why?"
"You're married. ... You made your bed," her mother adds.
"I didn't make this bed," Graces says.
In The Stars Are Fire, Anita Shreve writes with a simple and minimal style but surprisingly succeeds at developing characters, a historical time period, a traumatizing setting, and a variety of relationships. This story follows the female lead character: Grace while life leads her through several situations and relationships that occur before, during, but mostly after a horrific state-wide fire. Some are happy and some severely unhappy, but the journey remains engaging through its entirety. I enjoyed watching Grace's resilience and growth in a time when women were not viewed as capable or independent apart from their husband. This element in particular was my favorite. This was the first time I have read this author, and overall, I enjoyed the experience. Check it out!
Note: The Stars Are Fire is a fictional story based on a nonfiction and tragic event: the Maine fires of 1947. If interested, you can learn more about this event HERE.
My favorite quote:
"You have to stay," her mother says calmly.
"Why?"
"You're married. ... You made your bed," her mother adds.
"I didn't make this bed," Graces says.
April 25, 2017
In October 1947, the biggest fires in Maine's history swept though the state burning for two weeks and destroying over 12oo homes and holiday houses. With this as backdrop, Anita Shreve has crafted her story of Grace Holland, a wife and mother of two, caught up in the fires and spat out to reinvent herself in the aftermath. Before the fires, Grace was a typical woman of her times, rearing her children in a tiny cottage, cooking and washing for her husband in a loveless marriage. Her best friend Rosie lived next door and each day they would take time out to enjoy each others company while their children played together. After the horrendous day of the fire when Grace and Rosie were forced to take their children into the ocean to survive, Grace waits for her husband to return from fire fighting and wonders how they will cope now that they are homeless and penniless.
Anita Shreve has painted Grace as a fierce survivor, a women who will adapt and cope with whatever adversity life throws in her way to keep her children safe. Along the way she discovers her own strength and bravery and learns what it is to really love another. A beautiful story of rebirth in the aftermath of catastrophic fires.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Brown for a copy to read and review
Anita Shreve has painted Grace as a fierce survivor, a women who will adapt and cope with whatever adversity life throws in her way to keep her children safe. Along the way she discovers her own strength and bravery and learns what it is to really love another. A beautiful story of rebirth in the aftermath of catastrophic fires.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Little Brown for a copy to read and review
September 9, 2017
3.75 ★
Anita Shreve has a way about her storytelling. For me the reading pace is measured but I’m immediately all in, even when I’ve experienced lukewarm reception in the past. Her characters are so compelling.
The story is set up against the historic 1947 wildfires that ravaged the coast of Maine. As I was reading, hurricanes Hugo and Irma, catastrophic Asian monsoons, an 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, and record setting heat waves and wildfires following years of drought in California and other states as well as Canada were all in the news. Shreve’s descriptions of Grace Holland’s battle to escape the raging flames engulfing everything in their path was palpable…that moment you walk outside and smell the smoke and your brain and adrenaline kick into overdrive.
The general plot and outcome has a been there—read that framework but Grace’s character and Shreve’s talented writing made for such pleasurable reading. This was a group buddy read and I’m looking forward to further discussion later this month as we all catch up.
Anita Shreve has a way about her storytelling. For me the reading pace is measured but I’m immediately all in, even when I’ve experienced lukewarm reception in the past. Her characters are so compelling.
The story is set up against the historic 1947 wildfires that ravaged the coast of Maine. As I was reading, hurricanes Hugo and Irma, catastrophic Asian monsoons, an 8.1 earthquake in Mexico, and record setting heat waves and wildfires following years of drought in California and other states as well as Canada were all in the news. Shreve’s descriptions of Grace Holland’s battle to escape the raging flames engulfing everything in their path was palpable…that moment you walk outside and smell the smoke and your brain and adrenaline kick into overdrive.
The general plot and outcome has a been there—read that framework but Grace’s character and Shreve’s talented writing made for such pleasurable reading. This was a group buddy read and I’m looking forward to further discussion later this month as we all catch up.
February 24, 2017
The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve is a one sitting read. Once you pick up the book and read the first sentence, you will not want to or be able to put it down. A five star book of engaging historical fiction.
Shreve transports us to coastal Maine in 1947 where we meet Grace, a mother of two and married to Gene. Her best friend Rosie lives next door with her two children and husband Tim. All summer there has been a drought and now wildfires are raging across the state. Grace and Rosie’s husbands have gone to fight the fire and left the women and children at home. The fire is escalating and the women must rely on their instincts to save their children and themselves. At this pivotal moment Grace’s life is changed forever. Nothing she knew or depended on can help her when the winds of change come. Grace must now light the fire that has been buried deep inside of her in order to survive.
Grace is a character of deep emotions and resilience. In the beginning of the book she is very meek and quiet. In time we come to see her fierceness and drive that compels her to live. Rosie is another favorite character of mine. She is not quite as well developed, but I loved her from the beginning. She is everyones best friend and ally. My least favorite is Gene for many reasons. He is a self-centered egotistical man that cares nothing for his family!
Shreve transports us to coastal Maine in 1947 where we meet Grace, a mother of two and married to Gene. Her best friend Rosie lives next door with her two children and husband Tim. All summer there has been a drought and now wildfires are raging across the state. Grace and Rosie’s husbands have gone to fight the fire and left the women and children at home. The fire is escalating and the women must rely on their instincts to save their children and themselves. At this pivotal moment Grace’s life is changed forever. Nothing she knew or depended on can help her when the winds of change come. Grace must now light the fire that has been buried deep inside of her in order to survive.
Grace is a character of deep emotions and resilience. In the beginning of the book she is very meek and quiet. In time we come to see her fierceness and drive that compels her to live. Rosie is another favorite character of mine. She is not quite as well developed, but I loved her from the beginning. She is everyones best friend and ally. My least favorite is Gene for many reasons. He is a self-centered egotistical man that cares nothing for his family!
July 16, 2019
Warning: this review will be kind of vicious. But the book really upset me. Also, contains spoilers.
What do you do if you lose your house and money in a fire? Answer according to the book: Live in the empty mansion that’s conveniently available to you and find a fortune in precious jewelry that no one else knows about. And it will be easy to take a job for extra money too, since your mother is around to babysit your children.
And if your husband is a terrible person you want to leave but he needs a caretaker because of injuries due to the same fire? No worries – you can use that same fortune to hire someone else to take care of him so you can leave for good. And of course the need to leave him isn’t an ambiguous choice at all, because the man has absolutely no redeeming qualities and admits that he never even loved you.
And if you miraculously meet the man you really love but his job forces him to travel and it seems like you’ll never see him again? You’ll coincidentally run into him two years later and he’ll indicate that he’d be ready to settle down and stop traveling. (A couple of pages after you say that you love being independent and unattached to a man.)
Also, no worries if you’ve had three pregnancies. The author will reference your tiny waist over and over so that we understand why the two main men you meet after the fire are both so interested in you.
What do you do if you lose your house and money in a fire? Answer according to the book: Live in the empty mansion that’s conveniently available to you and find a fortune in precious jewelry that no one else knows about. And it will be easy to take a job for extra money too, since your mother is around to babysit your children.
And if your husband is a terrible person you want to leave but he needs a caretaker because of injuries due to the same fire? No worries – you can use that same fortune to hire someone else to take care of him so you can leave for good. And of course the need to leave him isn’t an ambiguous choice at all, because the man has absolutely no redeeming qualities and admits that he never even loved you.
And if you miraculously meet the man you really love but his job forces him to travel and it seems like you’ll never see him again? You’ll coincidentally run into him two years later and he’ll indicate that he’d be ready to settle down and stop traveling. (A couple of pages after you say that you love being independent and unattached to a man.)
Also, no worries if you’ve had three pregnancies. The author will reference your tiny waist over and over so that we understand why the two main men you meet after the fire are both so interested in you.
May 21, 2017
4.5 stars
Few people can write like Anita Shreve. Once she determines a topic she takes control.
This is the story of a woman not only surviving but prospering.
Due to a fast moving wild fire following a drought in Maine in 1947, many towns and cities were totally wiped out. Grace, pregnant, is alone with her two children to make her way to safety, her husband Gene has left to fight the fires. Nothing is saved. The small family is rescued, none to soon, and given shelter by a loving couple whose home skirted the fire. Gene is missing. Grace takes control and makes decisions that are best for her, her children and her Mother, who also survived the fire. The next year is both heaven and hell for Grace. She goes through the best of times and the worst of times, until once again she is homeless. However her plight is not yet over.
This is a story of courage and sacrifice. It follows the ups and downs of both marriage and life in general; the deepest of valleys and brightest of days, turmoil and peace.
Few people can write like Anita Shreve. Once she determines a topic she takes control.
This is the story of a woman not only surviving but prospering.
Due to a fast moving wild fire following a drought in Maine in 1947, many towns and cities were totally wiped out. Grace, pregnant, is alone with her two children to make her way to safety, her husband Gene has left to fight the fires. Nothing is saved. The small family is rescued, none to soon, and given shelter by a loving couple whose home skirted the fire. Gene is missing. Grace takes control and makes decisions that are best for her, her children and her Mother, who also survived the fire. The next year is both heaven and hell for Grace. She goes through the best of times and the worst of times, until once again she is homeless. However her plight is not yet over.
This is a story of courage and sacrifice. It follows the ups and downs of both marriage and life in general; the deepest of valleys and brightest of days, turmoil and peace.
September 22, 2017
The Star are fire did not set my interest on fire.
Grace Hollond is living a less than exciting life in Maine during 1947. She is in a strained marriage with a less than stellar sex life. She has two young children, and becomes pregnant with her third child and has resigned herself to that fact that this is how her life is going to be. Her happiness comes form her children and her best friend who lives next door. Her husband is a volunteer firefighter who gets called into action when a fire breaks out along the Maine Coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery. The area has seen a drought and everything is dry and burns out of control.
During the fire, Grace is helpless to save her home. She and her friend watch as their homes are burned to the ground. They must flee into the Ocean to save their own lives. The next morning they are all lucky to be alive but what remains of their lives is in turmoil. Both women are now homeless, do not know the location of their husbands, if their spouses are even alive and where they will go from here.
Grace eventually goes to her deceased Mother in law's home where she finds a new freedom. She can now do what she WANTS. She can get a job, own a car and begin to carve out a future for her and her children. The reader sees Grace grown and come into her own if you will. She shows strength and resiliency. She also gets a hint at romance which is then dashed when her burned and injured husband returns home. Her happiness is dashed when her controlling husband is back home.
Sounds great, right? I can't quite put my finger on why, but this book really failed to grab me. I know what I didn't like. I did not care for Grace's husband, Gene. I did like Grace's strength and determination. But overall this book failed to WOW me. I thought it was good and not great. I did not connect with the story or the characters. This was a book that I thought I would enjoy a lot more than I did. The description sounded great - interesting in fact. But it was just meh for me. Good not great.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Grace Hollond is living a less than exciting life in Maine during 1947. She is in a strained marriage with a less than stellar sex life. She has two young children, and becomes pregnant with her third child and has resigned herself to that fact that this is how her life is going to be. Her happiness comes form her children and her best friend who lives next door. Her husband is a volunteer firefighter who gets called into action when a fire breaks out along the Maine Coast from Bar Harbor to Kittery. The area has seen a drought and everything is dry and burns out of control.
During the fire, Grace is helpless to save her home. She and her friend watch as their homes are burned to the ground. They must flee into the Ocean to save their own lives. The next morning they are all lucky to be alive but what remains of their lives is in turmoil. Both women are now homeless, do not know the location of their husbands, if their spouses are even alive and where they will go from here.
Grace eventually goes to her deceased Mother in law's home where she finds a new freedom. She can now do what she WANTS. She can get a job, own a car and begin to carve out a future for her and her children. The reader sees Grace grown and come into her own if you will. She shows strength and resiliency. She also gets a hint at romance which is then dashed when her burned and injured husband returns home. Her happiness is dashed when her controlling husband is back home.
Sounds great, right? I can't quite put my finger on why, but this book really failed to grab me. I know what I didn't like. I did not care for Grace's husband, Gene. I did like Grace's strength and determination. But overall this book failed to WOW me. I thought it was good and not great. I did not connect with the story or the characters. This was a book that I thought I would enjoy a lot more than I did. The description sounded great - interesting in fact. But it was just meh for me. Good not great.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
November 27, 2025
"Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar; But
never doubt I love."
-William Shakespeare, Hamley
― Anita Shreve, The Stars Are Fire
I knew nothing about the Maine coast fires before reading this book. This was a book club selection and we had fun discussing it. nearly everybody enjoyed the book.
SPOILERS:
Although I enjoyed this, my dislike of the main character Grace interfered a bit with my enjoyment. I was not the only one who expressed this. Also the issue for me is it (the book) became less about the historical element and more about Grace and her husband (who was a jerk by the way). I find this often with books of all genres, that what I think they will be about is not always correct.
Although I did eventually warm to Grace, I had not ben looking for a romance when I started reading this. I did think the writing was deeply moving and it made a great book club selection so it is good that I read this.
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar; But
never doubt I love."
-William Shakespeare, Hamley
― Anita Shreve, The Stars Are Fire
I knew nothing about the Maine coast fires before reading this book. This was a book club selection and we had fun discussing it. nearly everybody enjoyed the book.
SPOILERS:
Although I enjoyed this, my dislike of the main character Grace interfered a bit with my enjoyment. I was not the only one who expressed this. Also the issue for me is it (the book) became less about the historical element and more about Grace and her husband (who was a jerk by the way). I find this often with books of all genres, that what I think they will be about is not always correct.
Although I did eventually warm to Grace, I had not ben looking for a romance when I started reading this. I did think the writing was deeply moving and it made a great book club selection so it is good that I read this.
July 4, 2017
This book is based on the real-fire catastrophic wildfire that took place in 1947 in Maine. There’s been a very long drought and Grace Holland and her best friend, Rosie, long for rain. But the lack of water isn’t the only drought Grace is facing. From what she hears from Rosie, Grace knows that her marriage bed is not what it should be. A violent night with her husband leaves her pregnant with her third child. This is her third pregnancy in less than two years and she’s exhausted.
When Grace is five months pregnant, the wildfires start to rage out of control. Her husband, Greg, leaves her with their two very young children to join the firefighters. The fires wreak havoc upon the homes and lives of Grace and Rosie. But Grace’s tragedy doesn’t end the day of the fires.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Anita Shreve and she has surpassed herself with this book. I’ve read reviews saying that it’s too slow moving but I thought it was just perfect. This is a complex plot that only begins with the tragic fires. The author has done a masterful job of depicting the difficulties of this marriage, its effect on Grace and her longing for a better life. I was glued to each page of this book and had no idea what was going on around me while I was reading it. The day of the fire is edge of your seat suspenseful. The story of Grace and her marriage and the time following the fire is so gorgeously written. The ending brought tears to my eyes.
Most highly recommended.
When Grace is five months pregnant, the wildfires start to rage out of control. Her husband, Greg, leaves her with their two very young children to join the firefighters. The fires wreak havoc upon the homes and lives of Grace and Rosie. But Grace’s tragedy doesn’t end the day of the fires.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Anita Shreve and she has surpassed herself with this book. I’ve read reviews saying that it’s too slow moving but I thought it was just perfect. This is a complex plot that only begins with the tragic fires. The author has done a masterful job of depicting the difficulties of this marriage, its effect on Grace and her longing for a better life. I was glued to each page of this book and had no idea what was going on around me while I was reading it. The day of the fire is edge of your seat suspenseful. The story of Grace and her marriage and the time following the fire is so gorgeously written. The ending brought tears to my eyes.
Most highly recommended.
August 16, 2021
A Beautiful Story
“The Stars Are Fire” is a wonderful book. I loved it on so many levels.
I am always happy when I read a strong female character— this one has a powerful female lead.
I highly recommend this wonderful book.
“The Stars Are Fire” is a wonderful book. I loved it on so many levels.
I am always happy when I read a strong female character— this one has a powerful female lead.
I highly recommend this wonderful book.
October 18, 2024
I am not usually a fan of stories told in present tense, but this is Anita Shreve and so it works. She is an accomplished writer who can pull it off. Beautifully written as always, this is not an easy read in some ways as Grace had a hard life and a lot to deal with. As a reader I was right there with her, hoping and hoping for things to get better for her.
It is fiction but based on real facts of the fire which engulfed Maine in the drought of 1947, destroying so many homes and taking or at least changing lives.
Grace Holland is left to cope with two children after her husband Gene goes to help fight the fires. Her life changes drastically in ways she never expected, when their home is destroyed and Gene does not return. What can she do to provide for her family?
Grace is reliant, enterprising and intelligent. Some of her choices are questionable but she has been dealt a raw hand by life. As a reader I could empathise with her struggles.
Her mother and her friend Rosie are great support characters.
The writing is stark and clearly presents a harsh life. Towards the end a couple of things felt a little too neat, but over all a great portrayal of a woman battling odds stacked against her. Not my favourite book by this author, but still well worth reading. But now onto something a bit lighter.
It is fiction but based on real facts of the fire which engulfed Maine in the drought of 1947, destroying so many homes and taking or at least changing lives.
Grace Holland is left to cope with two children after her husband Gene goes to help fight the fires. Her life changes drastically in ways she never expected, when their home is destroyed and Gene does not return. What can she do to provide for her family?
Grace is reliant, enterprising and intelligent. Some of her choices are questionable but she has been dealt a raw hand by life. As a reader I could empathise with her struggles.
Her mother and her friend Rosie are great support characters.
The writing is stark and clearly presents a harsh life. Towards the end a couple of things felt a little too neat, but over all a great portrayal of a woman battling odds stacked against her. Not my favourite book by this author, but still well worth reading. But now onto something a bit lighter.
June 30, 2017
Anita Shreve is an excellent story teller. Not all authors who can write are. And this tale is exceptionally well done.
The window into the time is nearly perfect for the "eyes" and the context characters. So is the language, especially within its cliches. Such as "you made your bed, now you have to lie in it."
It's also quite spot on for larger catastrophe, in this case a wide spread coastal area wild fire. All changes of such dire nature (tornado was ours), and individual importance becomes differently relative. As does "stuff" or "luck" or "safety". It does and I know it. Quickly relative. So quickly it is hard to convey and yet Shreve does that here. Well.
She's also nailed personality dynamics that are far more common than the psychopathic neighbor or serial killer or obsessive stalker fare. But in real life, far more dangerous.
She's also captures here an authentic maturing of identity that centered much of the feminine journey through the 2nd half of the last century. Not just in the USA either. Place of wife and role of self-identity - the pivotal adjustments. Times have and had changed.
Gene's detailing was also top notch. This particular slant of personality and mindset is not one that is easily captured in print. Because much of what IS- IS in the major sense an absence. An absence of context that in myriad ways is not translatable as overt actions and vicious words could more easily capture. She captured both the Gene before and after superbly.
Our heroine is just that. But the connection with Rosie and their duo force- much more than either alone. Too much more would give you spoilers. But if you don't want any, stop reading here.
This is a book that also held an avenues of "doors" open to Grace's escape that, for me anyway, were too rare and often so overly lucky that they became contrived. Would we all have had such luck after life changing disaster to find such worth replenished. So that office needing an organizer, that jewelry perk, that Aiden would squat just there etc.?? And the ending was pure chick lit. too. But DESPITE all of those variables being not quite common real life? She still nailed the characters. Marjorie not the least. But Rosie to a ten.
But all of that is forgiven for the "mother thought" and the growth Anita Shreve completely captured in this woman's story of refusing to be used. That's where the bed becomes not one you made at all.
4.5 stars rounded up. Hers are often a favorite, but this one is cream of the crop.
The window into the time is nearly perfect for the "eyes" and the context characters. So is the language, especially within its cliches. Such as "you made your bed, now you have to lie in it."
It's also quite spot on for larger catastrophe, in this case a wide spread coastal area wild fire. All changes of such dire nature (tornado was ours), and individual importance becomes differently relative. As does "stuff" or "luck" or "safety". It does and I know it. Quickly relative. So quickly it is hard to convey and yet Shreve does that here. Well.
She's also nailed personality dynamics that are far more common than the psychopathic neighbor or serial killer or obsessive stalker fare. But in real life, far more dangerous.
She's also captures here an authentic maturing of identity that centered much of the feminine journey through the 2nd half of the last century. Not just in the USA either. Place of wife and role of self-identity - the pivotal adjustments. Times have and had changed.
Gene's detailing was also top notch. This particular slant of personality and mindset is not one that is easily captured in print. Because much of what IS- IS in the major sense an absence. An absence of context that in myriad ways is not translatable as overt actions and vicious words could more easily capture. She captured both the Gene before and after superbly.
Our heroine is just that. But the connection with Rosie and their duo force- much more than either alone. Too much more would give you spoilers. But if you don't want any, stop reading here.
This is a book that also held an avenues of "doors" open to Grace's escape that, for me anyway, were too rare and often so overly lucky that they became contrived. Would we all have had such luck after life changing disaster to find such worth replenished. So that office needing an organizer, that jewelry perk, that Aiden would squat just there etc.?? And the ending was pure chick lit. too. But DESPITE all of those variables being not quite common real life? She still nailed the characters. Marjorie not the least. But Rosie to a ten.
But all of that is forgiven for the "mother thought" and the growth Anita Shreve completely captured in this woman's story of refusing to be used. That's where the bed becomes not one you made at all.
4.5 stars rounded up. Hers are often a favorite, but this one is cream of the crop.
June 15, 2017
Anita Shreve is taking shortcuts here. Whereas some of her prior books: "The Weight of Water", "The Pilot's Wife", and "Fortune's Rocks" held surprising plot twists and in depth characters, this one felt like she was writing a paint-by-numbers story. Without spoiling the plot, lady stuck in a bad marriage in rural Maine in the early 50's. Along comes a fire and destroys her life as she knows it. But surprise, there is a wonderful empty furnished house for her to move into, complete with a new romantic interest. Ain't life grand? It's readable and entertaining but predictable and formulaic so you're left with the feeling that you just ate caramel corn for lunch.
April 17, 2017
Well this was a surprise of a book. I'm not normally one for a love story but this has additional elements that draw you in. This was my first Anita Shreve book and my can she write: the story moves along seamlessly like liquid gold. The setting is Maine and the impact of the great fire on those living there. The main character Grace, is a young married woman, with a young family. I don't want to give the plot away because i read a review for this book when mid way through and hit a spoiler which gave away the second half of the book. Anita Shreve has created a truly likeable character in Grace, she is well written: I felt her misery and her joy. Gene (the husband) is a truly dreadful man and the author has completely captured his arrogance, cruelty and dismissiveness. The settings and historical event brought the book to life for me and gave it added interest. My only criticism is that the second half of the book and run up to the ending was quick. However; that spoiler meant that I knew what was coming, and it's true that I was so enthralled by this author style that i didn't realise i was approaching the end of the book. So perhaps that is the opposite of a criticism. This is not one of those books where you repeatedly check the kindle percentage to see how long is left.
This book gets a solid 4 stars from me. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book gets a solid 4 stars from me. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2017
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
The Stars Are Fire is a wonderfully written, touching story of life during the post-war 1940's, and how traumatic events can either make or break someone.
I really liked the main character, Grace, who is a strong and likeable woman. Her married life is not unhappy, as such, but she feels like something is missing between them. She's not completely happy, but happy enough, until...
The fire that rips through their house (and almost kills her and her children) seems to have taken husband Gene with it, in some way. His absence (or perhaps death?) leaves Grace without a husband and her children without a father, but without the ability to properly grieve for him, because his body is missing.
Gene can be mean, spiteful and quite nasty at times - but he has been through hell, and Grace herself wrestles with feeling hatred towards him and pity for what he has - and is - going through. Grace is such a great character and I really enjoyed reading about her, willing her to stand up to her husband.
The story is not action-packed; I'd describe it as a bit of a slow burner but without leaving me feeling bored or uninterested. It's a story that feels real, and could be someone's life. There's no unnecessary drama or ridiculous occurrences - what happens no doubt reflects life for many women at that time, plus the fire in Maine did really happen. You feel as if you're really getting a glimpse into women's lives during that time, and the constraints and expectations they faced from all angles.
The Stars Are Fire is sad and poignant at times, whilst at others there are real hints of hope and optimism - mirroring the ups and downs that many feel in their lives. This is definitely a story more about characters and their feats of strength or despair, rather than just about a chain of events.
There's a strong element of love - and at times, a lack of love - to the story, which I really enjoyed reading about - romance is not a single genre I read a lot of, but Anita Shreve has created something touching and really absorbing here without any of the cheesiness that I sometimes expect from the genre.
The descriptions are vivid and the writing is beautiful, making this a slow but satisfying story.- and something a little different for me.
[Rating: 3.5/5 bumped to 4/5]
Many thanks to Little Brown UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
The Stars Are Fire is a wonderfully written, touching story of life during the post-war 1940's, and how traumatic events can either make or break someone.
I really liked the main character, Grace, who is a strong and likeable woman. Her married life is not unhappy, as such, but she feels like something is missing between them. She's not completely happy, but happy enough, until...
The fire that rips through their house (and almost kills her and her children) seems to have taken husband Gene with it, in some way. His absence (or perhaps death?) leaves Grace without a husband and her children without a father, but without the ability to properly grieve for him, because his body is missing.
Gene can be mean, spiteful and quite nasty at times - but he has been through hell, and Grace herself wrestles with feeling hatred towards him and pity for what he has - and is - going through. Grace is such a great character and I really enjoyed reading about her, willing her to stand up to her husband.
The story is not action-packed; I'd describe it as a bit of a slow burner but without leaving me feeling bored or uninterested. It's a story that feels real, and could be someone's life. There's no unnecessary drama or ridiculous occurrences - what happens no doubt reflects life for many women at that time, plus the fire in Maine did really happen. You feel as if you're really getting a glimpse into women's lives during that time, and the constraints and expectations they faced from all angles.
The Stars Are Fire is sad and poignant at times, whilst at others there are real hints of hope and optimism - mirroring the ups and downs that many feel in their lives. This is definitely a story more about characters and their feats of strength or despair, rather than just about a chain of events.
There's a strong element of love - and at times, a lack of love - to the story, which I really enjoyed reading about - romance is not a single genre I read a lot of, but Anita Shreve has created something touching and really absorbing here without any of the cheesiness that I sometimes expect from the genre.
The descriptions are vivid and the writing is beautiful, making this a slow but satisfying story.- and something a little different for me.
[Rating: 3.5/5 bumped to 4/5]
Many thanks to Little Brown UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
November 19, 2017
There are some authors that I always know I will enjoy reading, and Anita Shreve has been one of those for me for a long, long time. She has a way of putting her characters into unusual situations and having them react just the way you think a person would. In this case, there is a serious fire that burns out much of Maine (based on an actual event in the 1930s), and a young mother’s life is turned upside down. Amid all this loss, Grace finds herself, and finds a kind of strength of character that she would never have suspected she possessed.
This novel was pure pleasure to read, because Anita Shreve knows how to write in a way that makes you feel you are in this woman’s skin and experiencing her travails right along with her. If you have ever felt trapped by life or imprisoned by a situation you cannot control, you will relate to Grace and feel the pressure she is under. There is little more I can say without giving away some detail of the plot, and that would be to ruin this for other readers.
If you have enjoyed Anita Shreve in the past, you will not be disappointed by this release. It is not my favorite of her works, there are several that could make my short-list of books you cannot miss, but it has that flavor that is uniquely her own. BTW, for those of us who are fans, the house is back.
This novel was pure pleasure to read, because Anita Shreve knows how to write in a way that makes you feel you are in this woman’s skin and experiencing her travails right along with her. If you have ever felt trapped by life or imprisoned by a situation you cannot control, you will relate to Grace and feel the pressure she is under. There is little more I can say without giving away some detail of the plot, and that would be to ruin this for other readers.
If you have enjoyed Anita Shreve in the past, you will not be disappointed by this release. It is not my favorite of her works, there are several that could make my short-list of books you cannot miss, but it has that flavor that is uniquely her own. BTW, for those of us who are fans, the house is back.
June 4, 2017
I must say that one of the best experiences when reading a book is the sensory aspects. The quiet promise in the bookstore. The smell of a new book. The graphic artistry on the cover. The feel of the page as it turns in your hand. This book has AMAZING artistry on the cover and the page stock is that perfect stiff thickness, just below a cardstock that makes reading and holding the book a treat! This was definitely a total sensory experience and for me, that makes book reading and reviewing all the more magnificent. Now... on to your regularly scheduled reviewing (The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve) already in progress. :-)
Wet. Have you ever just wished it would stop raining? You know, from one of those week long rains that feel like it will never go away? Grace, the main character knows all about that. Her life feels like rain. Wet. Unending chores. No end in sight.
Dry. What about those times in your life when you just wished it would rain? When things feel heavy...stagnant...brittle.
Fire. Cleansing. For Grace, when fire comes to her small coastal town in Maine, it destroys everything in its path. She must flee to the comfort of the sea and pray to save her two small children, and her unborn baby. Does the fire really destroy all?
An unhappy marriage, a missing husband, the loss of her home and all her belongings, combined with the loss of an unborn child to the raving effects of a fire may just be the cleansing that Grace needed. Can she rebuild after so much chaos?
For the first time, Grace must stand on her own and face the music...HEAR the music even.
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For the first time, maybe even experience love.
Until something threatens to take Grace back into the fire.
I am not one for an overly romantic book. The Stars Are Fire was such a refreshing novel for me. Emotional, creative, but not over the top sappy. I devoured this book in less than a day. The writing is amazing, the plot believable and the characters I expected to pop off the page and sit with me awhile. This was a 4.5 out of 5 stars read for me. I truly hope that you, too, enjoy The Stars Are Fire by the talented Anita Shreve. This was the first of her novels I have ever read, and it won't be the last!
Wet. Have you ever just wished it would stop raining? You know, from one of those week long rains that feel like it will never go away? Grace, the main character knows all about that. Her life feels like rain. Wet. Unending chores. No end in sight.
Dry. What about those times in your life when you just wished it would rain? When things feel heavy...stagnant...brittle.
Fire. Cleansing. For Grace, when fire comes to her small coastal town in Maine, it destroys everything in its path. She must flee to the comfort of the sea and pray to save her two small children, and her unborn baby. Does the fire really destroy all?
An unhappy marriage, a missing husband, the loss of her home and all her belongings, combined with the loss of an unborn child to the raving effects of a fire may just be the cleansing that Grace needed. Can she rebuild after so much chaos?
For the first time, Grace must stand on her own and face the music...HEAR the music even.
[image error]
For the first time, maybe even experience love.
Until something threatens to take Grace back into the fire.
I am not one for an overly romantic book. The Stars Are Fire was such a refreshing novel for me. Emotional, creative, but not over the top sappy. I devoured this book in less than a day. The writing is amazing, the plot believable and the characters I expected to pop off the page and sit with me awhile. This was a 4.5 out of 5 stars read for me. I truly hope that you, too, enjoy The Stars Are Fire by the talented Anita Shreve. This was the first of her novels I have ever read, and it won't be the last!
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