From the Bookshelf of Retro Chapter Chicks …

The House Is on Fire

Rachel Beanland

Start date: September 1, 2023

Finish date: September 30, 2023

Discussion: 2023 Past Book Discussions

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2023 Past Book Discussions

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What Members Thought

May 25, 2023 Maureen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

The House is on Fire is based on the true story of a tragic fire that destroyed the only theater in Richmond, Virginia in 1811, along with many of
its residents.

December 26, 1811, Richmond Virginia, the city’s only theater puts on two plays to entertain people from miles around. Many have traveled long distances with their families to attend this performance. The theater is packed with 600 people, young and old.

The story focuses on the lives of four different people with different perspectives o ...more

48 likes · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2022 Celia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023-pub, ten-year-challenge, historical-fiction-read, stellar-recs, netgalley, 2023-kindle-counted, 2023-read

Rachel Beanland, you have done it again. First it was Florence Adler Swims Forever, a historical fiction novel that revealed much about history AND family dynamics. I love it and this book too.

I had never heard of this fire, described as the worst urban disaster in U.S. history at the time. Beanland has revealed the stories of 4 people involved.

Sarah Henry Campbell, daughter of Founding Father Patrick Henry; widow, survived to marry another survivor.

Gilbert Hunt, a slave, who assisted in saving ...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2023 Joanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction-read

The story of a tragic fire in 1811 in Richmond, VA. Beanland takes the facts and melts them into a historical fiction that I seriously think is one of the best books I have read in a while. I am wondering why I did not go 5 stars, something stopped me-I just do not know what.

The story is told through 4 POV's 3 of whom were actual people. I related to all 4 and each POV had a true voice and I never felt like I was being left in the dark as we went from one to other. The telling of the story was ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Sep 11, 2023 Tasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audio-reads, historical-fiction, favorites-2023

This is such a great hist fic book. I was captured by the story almost immediately but it's the characters after the fire (which was intense storytelling as well) that I truly felt so much empathy in their stories. Such a wonderful sense of time and place as well. I can't wait to see what Rachel Beanland writes next! ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Sep 17, 2023 Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Jenn Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ Schu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction

In 1811 Richmond, there is one theater to entertain the town's populace. During the holiday season, six hundred attendees were at the theater during the holiday season to enjoy the night's performance, which included wealthy attendees, political officials, freed slaves, slaves, and everything in between. An unfortunate decision was made during the performance which led to the disasterous fire. Rachel Beanland tells the story of the fire from four different character perspectives including a surv ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2023 Lory Sakay rated it really liked it

A wonderful book about a little known event in American History, integrating the all to well-known gender and racial castes strictly drawn during that time period with historical figures, varying personalities, and an intriguing story. There was suspense, joy, disgust, relief...an array of emotions as we followed three different people/families' responses, following this devastating fire in Richmond, Virginia oh so long ago. Very well done. A very good book.

PS. Glad I read this book about factua ...more

1 like · Like · see review