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Bright Burning Things
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Lisa Harding
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
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Bright Burning Things
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Publisher's Summary
A Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Featured on Today * A People Magazine Pick * An Indie Next Pick * A Libraryreads Pick * An Amazon Editors Pick
“On every page there are little shimmering bombs. Like Room, where parenthood is at once your jail and your salvation, it is almost claustrophobic — but in the most glorious way.” (Lisa Taddeo, number one New York Times best-selling author of Three Women and Animal)
A rising international literary star makes her American debut with this visceral, tender, and brave portrait of addiction, recovery, and motherhood, as harrowing and intense as Shuggie Bain.
Sonya used to perform on stage. She used to attend glamorous parties, date handsome men, ride in fast cars. But somewhere along the way, the stage lights Sonya lived for dimmed for good. In their absence, came darkness — blackouts, empty cupboards, hazy nights she can't remember.
What keeps Sonya from losing herself completely is Tommy, her son. But her immense love for Tommy is in fierce conflict with her immense love of the bottle. Addiction amplifies her fear of losing her child; every maternal misstep compels her to drink. Tommy’s precious life is in her shaky hands.
Eventually Sonya is forced to make a choice. Give up drinking or lose Tommy — forever.
Bright Burning Things is an emotional tour-de-force — a devastating, nuanced, and ultimately hopeful look at an addict’s journey towards rehabilitation and redemption.
A Most Anticipated Book from: Washington Post, The Millions, PopSugar, Shondaland, Good Morning America, Nylon, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country
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What listeners say about Bright Burning Things
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Josephine DeCesaris
- 2021-12-11
Depressing
I kept waiting for this book to be good. Do not waste your time and money on this. Can’t stress enough how much I disliked this book.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Vicki Palmore-Hale
- 2021-12-26
Narration is entirely too fast. Turn to 85%.
I am not impressed with this at all and just don't have the desire to proceed. I agree, Very depressing.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amanda Rice
- 2022-02-22
Too Much
The narrator spoke too fast for me to be even be able to absorb the story line. I couldn’t even finish it was so distracting.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Kate
- 2022-01-03
Not what I expected
I didn’t enjoy this book. I don’t think the author should have narrated this. I’ve listened to a lot of books on audible and this was by far my least favorite narrator. Her voice was fast, rushed and distracted from the story. It was also not my favorite story. It was a very slow read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Denise A.
- 2023-07-05
Favorite book of the year!
This was a glimpse into the world of addiction from the addict’s perspective. The frenetic, manic narration by the author makes it all the more impactful. Powerful book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Robert Blissitt
- 2023-04-13
Enlightening
Didn’t think I was going to like it at first… very fast narration. Glad I hung in there. The story sheds more light on the addictive mindset. I actually grew to like the narrators accent. She did an excellent job of conveying the pace of the inner voice at times. I liked the story and how YaYa evolved into a mature responsible mum while still maintaining the creativity in her personality.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nancy
- 2022-12-30
It’s hard to listen sometimes
The abuse and neglect of a child are hard to listen to in the beginning. But the story rights it’s self soon enough.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bekah
- 2022-09-03
Loved It
Illustrates the intense need addiction holds. Was on the edge of my seat through the first part. Then was talking out loud as your friend telling you to ditch David. He was bad news.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- melissa s faulkner
- 2022-06-29
Felt like I crawled into an addict’s mind
The fast paced, stream of consciousness style is difficult at first, but stay with it! This isn’t meant to be an easy read. The style is meant to demonstrate the lack of rationality and order that comprises an addict’s mind. Not since Crime and Punishment have I felt the same physiological experiences as a book character. Yes, I just compared Harding to Dostoevsky. I truly gained a better understanding of and empathy for addicts by reading this book. That is the whole point of literature.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- miles1
- 2022-01-16
Not for me
Too “sing song” for me , but I admit I’m not a great poetry fan and it seemed like a never ending ode. Listening was difficult from the get go. Story overdramatic at times with unsatisfying ending for me.
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