Cover Image: The House Is on Fire

The House Is on Fire

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Member Reviews

Wow.. another five star read from Rachel Beanland… I had the privilege of reading Florence Adler Swims Forever and could only hope that The House is on Fire, could be as good and it was. They are both HF but in two completely times in history.
Yet, the writing and the characters are excellent. This story starts in winter of 1811. The setting is Virginia and the time is the middle of the winter Social Season. The men of Virginia’s gentleman planters and their wives and children are all heading to town for the General Assembly. Everyone is tired from the long journey and all are looking forward to the holidays, rest and the theater. Charleston based Placid and Green is putting on two plays a night to make sure all can see it. The night after Christmas the theater is packed. Everyone is buzzing from the holiday spirit and looking forward to the show. There are over 600 patrons and all seem well. Newly widowed Sally Henry Campbell is in a box seat in the third floor and is happy to be at the theatre again. Cecily Patterson is one floor down and couldn’t care less about the play but is excited to have four hours off. She is sitting in the colored section and needs the night off. Her life is going from bad to worse.. Jack Gibson is a young stage hand and he is trying to do his best. If he can do all his tasks, he will likely be asked to move with the show, on the road. Across town Gilbert Hunt is dreaming of freedom for his wife. He wants to buy her freedom but it could take a lifetime. When the theater goes up in flames, everyone in a panic runs for their lives. Men are tripping over woman to get to safety. People are jumping from windows and there are bodies everywhere. As the night of the fire, becomes morning and the investigation begins. These four main characters, will be connected for a very long time. Their survival depends on each other in the craziest of ways. This story was so good. I am so glad that I was able to read it and review it. I have told everyone to read it. I couldn’t believe how deeply involved I became seeing each persons life play out. I love Historical Fiction and this book hit every one of my likes. I want to thank Netgalley, Simon & Schuster for my copy, for an honest review. It was my pleasure to do it and I can’t wait to read Rachel Beanland’s next book.

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Based on the true story of Richmond’s theater fire, the story follows four people directly impacted by the fire and its aftermath. Sally, a widowed woman, Jack, a stage hand, Cecily, a young enslaved girl, and Gilbert, an enslaved man. The most unlikely people step up to aid others and others who only fight to save themselves. This is historical fiction at its best - it reminds us how the rights of people (slaves and women) were limited and the privileged remain privileged.

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This historical fiction focuses on a real event from 1811. A theater fire in Richmond, VA highlights the differences in experience from the perspective of a young widow, a stagehand, an enslaved blacksmith and a young, slave girl. While the story centers on the fire and the aftermath, we get a slice of each character's life as well. It was an engaging, fictional look at a real life event and the possible outcomes for the people involved.

The narration was fantastic as well.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster for a free copy of #TheHouseIsOnFire by Rachel Beanland. All opinions are my own.

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Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a readers copy of this book. My reviews never contain spoilers and are freely given.
This is the story of a theatre fire in Richmond. It details both the cowardice and heroism of people who were in attendance, as well as those who were nearby when the tragedy struck.
Excellent story telling which makes you feel as if you were there.

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Fascinating historical fiction and a great example of the Butterfly Effect — small actions by one can lead to great consequences for many. Characters come alive under Beanland’s masterful voice.

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Rachel Beanland's The House is on Fire is a fictionalized account of the actual 1811 Richmond, Virginia theater fire. In this tragic event, many people died from flames and smoke since they were not able to escape the building.
The story is told from the perspective of four characters - a theater backstage hand, a young widow, a young slave girl, and a middle-aged slave blacksmith. Each character is impacted by the outcome of the fire. We learn about tough choices each must make.
Beanland does a nice job of weaving in issues of the day such as child labor abuses, lack of women's rights, slaves' desire for freedom, and many more.
I enjoyed the story and understand more about how one unfortunate event had an impact on a city and its citizens. Beanland keeps you engaged and it’s easy to follow as the story jumps around to the different characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for making the book available to me.

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⁉️Are you able to sneak in any reading time today?
We’ve got some plans early afternoon, but I plan on sitting down with some spring candles lit, a gin cocktail in my hand and this on my kindle later today 🐇 I’m almost through, and though historical fiction isn’t usually my jam, I’m into it 👍

Anyone else read this one? Review to come!
Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

#currentread #nowreading #currentlyreading #whatimreading #netgalleyreads #kindlereads #kindlereader #kindlepaperwhite #readersgonnaread #readersofinsta #booksandbreakfast #bookishpost #bibliophile #historicalfiction #thehouseisonfire #rachelbeanland #newbookstagram #bookstafam #bookishflatlay #easterbasket #eastereggs #egghunt

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I highly recommend this book! It was everything historical fiction should be and then some. Utterly unputdownable. The main characters (based in part on real people) will stay with me for a good long while.

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This book is the exact reason why I love the historical fiction genre. A fire in the 1800's (that I had never heard of) is the setting of this existing book. I loved the way the author chose 2 real people and 2 based on real people to tell this story. How you learn how the fire connected them and the ramifications after the event. I also appreciate the author's note in the back - served as a bit of an epilogue. Lastly - this would make a great movie!

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A fascinating look at the Richmond theater fire of 1811, the lives that it changed, and some unexpected opportunities that occurred as a result.

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This book was a little slow for me and pretty confusing. Sadly i couldnt finish this. This might work for someone else but i could never get into the story.

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Thank you to netgalley.com for this ARC.

I found this book very interesting. Told from the perspective of different characters, it is the story of a deadly fire that took place in a theatre from 1811. This book was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. Based on real life events it tells the story from the actors point of view, slaves, the wealthy, and widowed women.

This book was well written and a good choice for fans of historical fiction.

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I'm a historical fiction fan, so I was so excited to find this gem. Based on real events in Chicago's history about a theater that goes up in flames resulting in the loss of many souls. It touches on how many, to save their own skin, will point a finger at the innocent to divert attention away from themselves.

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What a different book than Florence Adler novel! I enjoyed this southern historical fiction piece very much.
There was a fire in a theater costing 100 lives in VA.
This tale details the journey of 4 people involved that day, and 2 were based on real world people.
Very well done! Great read!

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Absolutely fantastic book, I only have two regrets. First that I waited so long to read it and second that it ended. I shouldn't have been surprised and well I wasn't but still the fact is that I loved Florence Adler and I knew I would love this book too I just had to be in the right mood to read it. I would tell anyone anytime to read this one all of the characters and settings were so detailed that I could see them in my mind like a movie, which it absolutely should be by the way. Seriously my top book of the year. Just read it.

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On December 26, 1811, Richmond, Virginia’s theater burst into flames during a crowded performance, killing nearly a hundred in the audience. In The House Is on Fire, her second novel, Rachel Beanland follows four people who will find their lives transformed by the tragedy: Sally, a young widow who does not suffer fools gladly; enslaved blacksmith Gilbert, who dreams of buying his freedom and that of his wife; enslaved housemaid Cecily, anticipating a miserable future at the hands of a sexual predator; and the orphaned Jack, a stagehand who hopes that his job might lead to onstage glory. All are based on historical figures.

I loved Beanland’s first novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, featuring a Jewish family in 1930s Atlantic City, and this one, with its very different cast and setting, did not disappoint. Not only are the four protagonists captivating and well-drawn, but those who surround them are memorable as well, especially Mary Cowley, an outsider who ministers to the survivors; the actors of the Placide & Green Company, desperate to avoid blame for the catastrophe; the decaying Price family, who appear to have stepped out of a Tennessee Williams play; and newspaper editor Thomas Ritchie, determined to get at the truth—to a point.

Beanland’s writing is sharp and clever (“He tried to follow along, but all those white girl names sounded the same, and they were each as mean as the next”), with lively dialogue. And although this is a character-driven novel, the plot kept me in suspense until the very end; only having to get off my train made me stop reading. I wouldn’t have minded staying on board.Review at link below.

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There is no doubt in my mind that Rachel Beanland CAN WRITE! She has a gift for just making the words flow. And I have tremendous respect for the undertaking of fictionalizing a real event and real people. Her author’s note at the end of the book alone was almost enough for me to love the whole book. But, in reality, my feelings for this book are mixed. What I loved: the time period, the writing style (very Jane Austen-esque), the alternating POVs, and that author’s note. But there were also a few things that didn’t work for me. For starters, that “Friday” section of the book just dragged. It was too long and the pace too slow. I almost called it quits. Secondly, I hated the chapters from Jack’s perspective. I felt the character was too magnanimous and ethical for someone so young. Idk, as much as we all want to think we would be different if we had had lived during the times of slavery, idk how many people really would be. So, he just didn’t seem to fit with my concept of an orphaned 14 year old of the time. Maybe I needed more backstory to sell me on it? Idk. But also, his chapters were LOADED with ancillary characters. The whole book had too many ancillary characters to not have a character list at the front. And then the ending left so many things unresolved. We have to read the author’s note to find out what really happened to Sally and Gilbert. And Jack and Cecily got enough that I can imagine things working out for them. But, what about Margaret??? Did she make it? Idk little things like that at the ending kind of bothered me. Overall, I would recommend to many people but not all and I will definitely check out other works from the author.

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I love historical fiction, especially when it is an event like this that I hadn't heard of before! It started off pretty strong but I thought there were a few too many characters to keep track of and that it lacked some emotional depth.

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I loved Florence Adler Swims, This book is different but just as good if not better.

A fire starts in the middle of a performance with the theater full due to Christmas holidays. Pandemonium ensues as families race to find escape.

Also notable is the 'colored section' in the theater during this time of slavery. In fact, very recently Florida government wants this book banned. Slavery was despicable but it remains part of our history.

Notable characters are entwined with each other for a lifetime.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher.

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I loved this historical fiction. It is rare to pick up a novel about history and not feel like I am reading a textbook but this was perfectly achieved.

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