The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th April 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A true story told from four perspectives; poignant but not perfect 

Richmond, 1811

The winter season is in full swing, and the Virginia planters are in the capital to have some family time and entertainment. Placide & Green Company is putting on two plays per night, and the tickets are sold out. The night of Christmas is no different as people queue into the theater filled to the brim. Everything seems great until the place catches fire, and hell breaks loose. 

Four people, Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert, find that their lives change forever because of the decisions they make during the chaos. Their lives are not intertwined, whether they know it or not. And maybe, this is their chance to do what they’ve always wanted. But everything comes at a price. 

The story is presented in the limited-third person POV of the four main characters and divided into four days. 

What I Like: 

The shift in narratives works well in this one. It helps in maintaining momentum by forcing the reader to read faster and know what happens next. There are a lot of characters (not an issue for me as I make notes), and it can get overwhelming for some. 

While the writing style takes some time to get used to, it becomes easier to read as we sink into the story. I like that I could seamlessly go from one POV to another, irrespective of the chapter length. 

The book deals with various topics like slavery, racism, gender bias, lack of women’s rights, greed, obsession, ownership, loyalties, etc. It does justice to most themes, even if sometimes the author’s voice overpowers Sally’s voice. I didn’t mind it as much because it works for the plot and the setting. 

The setting comes alive, especially the theatre, the fire, and the aftermath. It’s like watching a reel play in the mind as you turn the pages. Some of it is triggering, but it is impactful and clear. The strength of the setting highlights the characters’ decisions and how these impact others’ lives. 

The author’s notes at the end are the best part of the book. They detail the real incident and the people involved. The author mentions how much of the book is true, which elements she speculated on, and how she used the material to create a plot. She also writes about her thoughts, opinions, and ideas when dealing with the topic. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

The characters seem almost uni-dimensional and without much depth. This could be because due to different reasons, but I think the reader’s experience could have been enriching if there was more depth to some of them. 

This also means that we have to take the actions of certain characters at face value instead of exploring them in detail. A little too convenient for the plot, even if done with the right intentions. 

The overall pacing is slow, which I expected, given the topic. However, the middle tends to stretch a little longer than necessary. Considering that the book’s ending is ‘realistic’ rather than fictional or neatly tied up, the middle part feels extra heavy and dragging once we reach the end. 

To summarize, The House Is on Fire is a poignant novel about people and how their true selves become apparent in crisis. It is not an easy book (multiple triggers), but definitely worth reading. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheHouseIsOnFire 

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TW: Rape, assault, violence, racism, death.