By Rachel Beanland

What a book. This one is by a Richmond local author and I read it for the new book club I’ve joined, Lit Happens. It is set in 1811 and is based on true events of the Richmond Theatre fire.

Beanland follows several characters (Cecily, Jack, Sally, and Gilbert) after the fire occurs. Through a series of trauma, racism, classism and sexism, the reader sees how society handles such a tragedy during slavery. If you are from Richmond, you get a tour of the city in 1811 through the lens of slaves, slaveowners and women competing with their white privileged male counterparts. If you don’t live locally, you can see how the capital of the confederacy dealt with tragedy in a not so great way.

I mentioned that I’ve joined a book club, and it’s been fun. I have been able to try new places and new bites along the way. This time we went to Jardin on West Main Street. I ordered an iced lavender cinnamon latte and a ham and cheddar and fig puff pastry. It did not disappoint!

This one is five stars both on the book and the snack! You should check it out!

#TheHouseisonFire #goodreads #localeats #localauthor