The Blazing World

A Novel

By: Siri Hustvedt

Narrated by: Patricia Rodriguez, Eric Meyers

“A spectacularly good read...feminism in the tradition of Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex or Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own: richly complex, densely psychological, dazzlingly nuanced.” —Slate

From the internationally bestselling author of The Summer Without Men comes “an electrifying work” (The Washington Post) about the lengths one woman will go for artistic recognition amid the deceptive powers of prejudice, money, fame, and desire.

After years of having her work ignored or dismissed by critics, artist Harriet Burden decides to conduct an experiment: she presents her own art behind three male masks, concealing her female identity.

Yet when the shows succeed and Burden steps forward for her triumphant reveal, she is betrayed by the third man, Rune, who claims the work as his own. After critics side with him, Burden and Rune suddenly find themselves in a charged and dangerous game—one that ends in his bizarre death.

An intricately conceived, diabolical puzzle presented as a collection of texts, including Harriet’s journals assembled after her death, this “glorious mashup of storytelling and scholarship” (San Francisco Chronicle) unfolds from multiple perspectives as Harriet’s critics, fans, family, and others offer their own conflicting opinions of where the truth lies.

An surprising, amazing and inspiring book

If you could sum up The Blazing World in three words, what would they be?

A story that went right under the skin, intricately crafted, psychologically compelling

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Blazing World?

The ending of the book was deeply moving, it is still with me

Have you listened to any of Patricia Rodriguez and Eric Meyers ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I don't think I have heard these two performers before, they were both masterful at setting down the various characters in a believable manner, allowing the listener to experience these different internal worlds in a very authentic manner

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't think the subtleties of the character's inner worlds would be translatable into a movie, so please don't!

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this compelling and challenging novel with its complicated female hero who is struggling with the times she lives in as woman and artist, and the discrepancies of her inner and outer life. I especially appreciate that the darker aspects of the main characters are not hidden and that we as listeners/readers are pulled into these sometimes almost unbearable struggles. Something I sometimes was reluctant to do, but which the novel compelled me to, moving me often to existential ponderings.

not for everyone, but definitely interesting

there were times i hated this book, and times i loved this book, and then times i hated it again. and that is why i'm giving it 5 stars.

i have a very soft spot in my heart for books that invoke in me extreme emotions. this book did that. enter -- soft spot.

but seriously. i think that Harriet "Harry" Burden was fantastic. the chapters narrated by her were just the pinnacle of perfection. this novel is a moving and interesting portrait of an extremely unique and obscure artist. the rest of the cast of characters narrating the other portions, some boring and annoying, some riveting and empathetic, made this a well rounded story.

it's definitely not the type of novel for everyone, but it was for me.

Divine Insanity

One of the most engaging books I've read in many years. Not since I read Faulkner's 'Sound and the Fury' have I so lost myself in the flow of a tale.

Narrated brilliant.

Pure joy to read and interesting ideas

I find it hard to say what I liked best in his book, since it has so many layers, voices and themes. I enjoyed the gradual uncovering of the events, like a crime story. I also liked the use of the many different voices. The different persons are characterized by what they tell and how they tell it. The different voices are written with different feeling, for exampel some with love, some with irony and some with a combination. The book covers many interesting thoughts, one main issue is the problem women have to get credit for their art and intellect. But there are also many other themes that was interesting: The workings of the art world in New York, motherhood, aging, dying, how it feels like to be a tall woman and many more. Finally: It's a long time since I had such a good read!

Difficult read

very disconnected and hard to follow
No real storyline that ties everything together
confusing plot