Those Who Favor Fire

by Lauren Wolk

In the small town of Belle Haven, built on abandoned mine shafts, a fire is burning below ground, occasionally erupting to the surface. Rachel is an insider in a place where insiders would be outsiders any place else, and Joe is an outsider fleeing TO rather than FROM who knows what. They are the central characters in this love story of small-town life, where Americana and the American nightmare converge.

Genres: Fiction, Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Novels

374 pages, Hardcover

First published January 26, 1999

About the author

Lauren Wolk is an award-winning poet and author of the bestselling Newbery Honor–winning Wolf Hollow, described by the New York Times Book Review as "full of grace and stark, brutal beauty." She was born in Baltimore and has since lived in California, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Canada, and Ohio. She now lives with her family on Cape Cod.

Reviews

[John Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Wolk is an amazing writer. This is her first book and different from all her following books, it was not at all what I expected. Parts were as intense as any book I have read this year, not always easy to read, but always interesting. I guess in part it is a romance, a love story of a place and people and just how long people will persevere long past the time they should have moved on.

Mostly taking place in Pennsylvania, the town of Belle Haven sits above coal mines. A fire started several years earlier and this danger is always hanging (well below the surface anyway) under everyone in the town's heads (or feet I guess). Wonderful characters, Rachel and Joe are our leading characters, so different in personality and temperment, yet also tied together.

I sometimes struggled with the story, yet was enthralled all along the way. Sometimes so intense, I had to take breaks from the writing, but also long periods of waiting for something to happen. As I have given every Lauren Wolk books five stars previously (whoops, I just saw I gave her last book only four stars), I will give this one 4.5, but round it up.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing transformative writing

Amazing, transformative wfiring. Great coming-of-age, growing story. Awesome well rounded characters. It does ramble a bit, but not unpleasantly so.

[Jacque · Rating 2 out of 5]

After I finished reading this book I kept wondering why I felt disappointed, especially because it had an interesting story that I became involved in. I pondered on it for a while and came to the conclusion that I read the book expecting at some point someone in the book would become a better person morally. Maybe it would be Rachel and she would overcome her past and stop using Joe. Or it would be Mendelson, finally admitting that the government and his self had been at fault for not listening and stopping the fire sooner. Or possibly Joe and Holly would learn their father had changed and wanted to reunite. Nothing. There was none of this. Nothing was especially bad about the book, but I also didn't feel like anything was especially good about it either.

[Raquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was written in the late 90s and set in the early 80s, and it has that feel of an old-fashioned, rambling literary novel. It's about a small town built over coal mines in which a fire has started burning, and keeps burning, and how it affects the town residents, especially Rachel and transplant Joe. It meanders, hops points of view, delves deeply into backstory, goes far into details, and is generally slow and steady. It's enjoyable, as nd the writing is often lovely, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be published today by a big house without heavy edits, or it would go to a small house, because it's so dense and slowly paced. Wolk pivoted to writing literary middle grade and truly found her voice and talent there, and it's interesting to see her evolution as a writer. I'm glad I read this one, because I love character driven, richly set books, it might not be for everyone.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever plot, never read a book quite like it

[Lana Hasper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Wolf Hollow. I found this tedious and disappointing.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5. Interesting story of self discovery and dealing with life. My mom sent the book to me and I was reluctant at first but got into about 1/3 through. There's a slow burn to the action (pun intended) and enough character development after the long set up keep me interested. I remembered hearing a TAL podcast about the inspiration for this town and wondering what kept people there. Living through the pandemic I have a better sense of how people can choose to overlook the potential danger until too late.

[Debra Dahlgren Rowand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy to have discovered Lauren Wolk! After reading her two youth novels, I found out she wrote this as her first adult novel. I was thoroughly immersed in the world of Belle Haven that Wolk created. It's a quirky read in some ways, but so so interesting. Would very much recommend. Am waiting for Wolk's next read. (Both youth books are excellent)

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, especially the characters. A young man who comes from wealth and has a twin sister gives it all up to try to find a more peaceful life and he does in a small town with a big problem. My only complaint is that it was a bit predictable.

[Carol Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't want to read another of Wolk's books after hating the violence in Wolf Hollow, but this was personally recommended. Interesting theme, and quite enjoyable! I think this was her first novel and it needs a little editing, but such a different plot!

[Llenerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Unique, but my least favorite of Wolk’s novels.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a stunningly awesome start and became utterly lackluster and uninteresting by the halfway point.

[Debbie Ladd]

Gave up on this one

[Frank Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite genre.

[Lulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has that cadence and lyricism somewhat of a Wendell Berry. Felt so caught up in the angst of the story, almost unbearably painful. Intense characters, beautiful imagery.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author created an interesting storyline with engaging characters but the book dragged on in what seemed to be a story that could have been told in half the pages.

[Christine]

In a word, fraught.

[Eileen]

Too slow and it’s long.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will read anything by Lauren Wolk. Echo Mountain was my favorite book of the year, for it’s splendid prose, spectacular setting, deep characters and precise, yet unforced, insight. This, an earlier work, written for adults, was great to read in that it revealed the impressive work the author has done to find her stride and voice and perfect audience. A much clumsier book than any of her middle grade books, it also had memorable characters and a unique setting that influenced them profoundly, but the dialog was clunkier, and the specter of the enamored author was too evident. I found myself resenting the main characters, not only for their inherent issues but largely because it was so clear how partial the author was to them.

[Sharon Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching story of commitment

I do not like love stories as, generally, they are unbelievable with no real life matters being met. This story I has varied aspects to it that make you part of the process, cause you to ponder why people do things and show the nuances that make life so unique and challenging. You can really accept that this is a story that is believable and that people are not always what they seem. Well written and moving.

[Sharon Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about a small town and their nonacceptance of a serious problem in their community. Was also a look at people and how family relations can affect one's personality. How tragic incidents change a person and the coming together of people in real-life situations. I liked the characters and was kept wondering what would happen next. All in all, a good book.

[Shani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolk swept me away wholly into the world she created. Immensely readable.

[Juli]

dnf

[Kelsey Burnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seemed promising at the beginning but ultimately just kind of a weird plot and characters I didn't quite fall in love with.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, Lauren Wolk good story writer. Enjoyed it.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story of life & love in a dying community.