SHORTLIST FOR THE EMERGING WRITER AWARD

Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding, Shortlisted for the Dalkey Emerging Writer Award 2022

Lisa Harding is a writer, actress, playwright and the author of one previous novel, Harvesting. She lives in Dublin.

Bright Burning Things, by Lisa Harding

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.

Reviews

“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

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