Bright Burning Things

SHORTLISTED FOR THE KERRY GROUP IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2022 'Absolutely dazzling' MARIAN KEYES 'On every page there are little shimmering bombs' LISA TADDEO 'Quietly devastating . . . Reminded me repeatedly of Shuggie Bain ' OBSERVER Being Tommy's mother is too much for Sonya. Too much love, too much fear, too much longing for the cool wine she gulps from the bottle each night. Because Sonya is burning the fish fingers, and driving too fast, and swimming too far from the shore, and Tommy's life is in her hands. Once there was the thrill of a London stage, a glowing acting career, fast cars, handsome men. But now there are blackouts and bare cupboards, and her estranged father showing up uninvited. There is Mrs O'Malley spying from across the road. There is the risk of losing Tommy – forever. AN OBSERVER , GRAZIA, IRISH TIMES AND IRISH INDEPENDENT HIGHLIGHT FOR 2021 'A tense, unflinching, immersive mapping of a pitted track of addiction and recovery . . . I lived every scene as I read, and I know that these characters will be with me for a long time' Donal Ryan An immensely powerful and compulsive novel of maternal love, control and a woman at the mercy of addiction Sonya has traded a career in acting to raise her young son. On the surface, their life seems like that of any other family: trips to the beach, to the supermarket, hours spent in front of the telly. But running through their family is alcohol, and Sonya's burning need for it. Emerging from nights of drinking into days of self-awareness, she is haunted by loneliness and past trauma, finding it harder to reconcile her love for her son with the insistence of her addiction. When her behaviour grows more erratic and her estranged father steps in, Sonya is sent to rehab. There, she questions if alcohol is ever something she will truly be free from - and whether it will mean losing her son forever 'absolutely Dazzling' Marian Keyes 'on Every Page There Are Little Shimmering Bombs' Lisa Taddeo, Author Of Three Women 'quietly Devastating . . . Reminded Me Repeatedly Of Shuggie Bain' Observer An Observer, Grazia, Irish Times And Irish Independent Highlight For 2021 Being Tommy's Mother Is Too Much For Sonya. Too Much Love, Too Much Fear, Too Much Longing For The Cool Wine She Gulps From The Bottle Each Night. Because Sonya Is Burning The Fish Fingers, And Driving Too Fast, And Swimming Too Far From The Shore, And Tommy's Life Is In Her Hands. Once There Was The Thrill Of A London Stage, A Glowing Acting Career, Fast Cars, Handsome Men. But Now There Are Blackouts And Bare Cupboards, And Her Estranged Father Showing Up Uninvited. There Is Mrs O'malley Spying From Across The Road. There Is The Risk Of Losing Tommy – Forever. "Being Tommy's mother is too much for Sonya. Too much love, too much fear, too much longing for the cool wine she gulps from the bottle each night. Because Sonya is burning the fish fingers, and driving too fast, and swimming too far from the shore, and Tommy's life is in her hands. Once there was the thrill of a London stage, a glowing acting career, fast cars, handsome men. But now there are blackouts and bare cupboards, and her estranged father showing up uninvited. There is Mrs O'Malley spying from across the road. There is the risk of losing Tommy - forever."--Publisher Een jonge werkloze actrice uit Dublin met een alcoholverslaving laat zich opnemen in een afkickkliniek omdat zij het ouderlijk gezag dreigt te verliezen over haar vierjarig zoontje. NL-ZmNBD