Reviews for Here Burns My Candle

The average rating for Here Burns My Candle based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-10-24 00:00:00 Yuhong Liu This is basically the story of Ruth (from the bible) but set in Scotland in the 1700s during the Jacobite rising. I usually love historical fiction but couldn't even finish this book (did read about 200 pages). It moved too slowly, none of the characters were very likeable (or relateable), and the author writing the characters speaking in actual Scottish dialect drove me a little crazy (ie, writing out bricht instead of bright- why?! Is it not enough for the reader to imagine the accent in our heads?)

Review # 2 was written on 2017-11-16 00:00:00 Mark Cross Once again, I didn't read enough of the synopsis to get that this is (very) loosely based on the book of Ruth, and it didn't hit me until the last couple of chapters. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, siding with bonnie Prince Charlie who is bent on taking his rightful throne, widow Lady Marjory and her daughters-in-law (Lady Elisabeth Kerr and Janet) are left in a hostile town after her sons enlist. If you know the book of Ruth, you know what happens, but this book is FAR more detailed and FAR longer, seemingly interminable in fact. Kudos to the author for adding history in an enjoyable way; not just facts like a history lesson, but woven into the story line in letters, conversations, or reports from soldiers and decrees handed down. One daughter-in-law is likeable, the other not so much. Mother-in-law Marjory is a typical higher society lady who looks down her nose at anyone in the working class, but learns to soften her stance from Elisabeth, who takes on responsibilities when their finances dwindle during the war. Part of me liked this book, the historical fiction lover in me, but it was slow, with unnecessary detail making the book drag. I listened to the audio version of the book which was read by the author herself. That was a real treat. So, as for the audio: 4 1/2-stars. As for the book: 3-stars.