Burning Bright

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For Christmas, I got this book by Tracy Chavalier, the author of Girl With a Pearl Earring (of which I've only seen the movie). After reading a review, I wanted to have this book for almost a year, so the annual book giving time by Santa (preferably the one with the martini) was my chance to get it. As I got Nigella's new book for Boy Charming (who's name I ought to change to something like Chef) and as I'm educating Ze Wise One in his knowledge of Toni Morrison's masterly works, I myself went for something new and not on the list of 134 books I still have to read according to the Big Read's list of best English literature (I've already read some and I scratched out some uninteresting children's books from the list).


I've just finished it, sitting on my balcony reading whilst bathing in sunshine, and I must say I'm not disappointed. Now I wanted to have it because it was about William Blake. Well, actually, it's a fictional story about two neighbourhood children of mister Blakes on whom he allegedly partly based his Songs of Innocence and of Experience. It is set in London during the beginning of the French Revolution, when mister Blake is wearing the 'Bonnet Rouge' in support of the efforts of the common Frenchman and is thought of as a radical by his surroundings. It was a wonderful story, and although it does not contain The Sick Rose explicitly, you can hazard a guess as to which character in the book this one's based on.

Next up is The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, if I ever get any free time again, that is..