Welcome to Quill Quotes Book Club, Burn Discussion #1! We hope you are enjoying Burn by Patrick Ness so far. Please keep in mind this discussion is only for Part I (Chapters 1-13). If you have read ahead or finished the book, please keep any spoilers or thoughts on later parts for the next discussion. See the Burn Book Club Summary Page for the reading schedule details and other discussions.
Brooke’s Thoughts
I really like books with dragons and I really books set in the ’50s and ’60s. But seeing dragons in a story set in that time period was strange for me at first. When I think of dragon books I think of The Hobbit or Game of Thrones. I think of books with other mythical creatures and beings or set in medieval times. So it took me a bit to get into it but I am enjoying it so far. Kazimir is my favorite and I can’t wait to find out what happened to him!
Favorite Quote
“Sarah felt that any world that needed this many lessons must have something deeply wrong with it.”
– Patrick Ness, Burn
Kevin’s Thoughts
I agree with Brooke that it was a bit strange at first having dragons in such a modern setting but I think it’s been executed really well. Adding fantasy elements to a normal human world, especially one some people alive still remember, and having it seem legitimate would be a real challenge. I love dragons, so I was excited about this book but worried about the setting and especially the inclusion of FBI agents. So far, these worries haven’t been a problem and I’m really enjoying the book! I also found it funny that, for the second book in a row, we have some type of travel between dimensions/alternate realities. I can’t wait to find out where Sarah, Kazimir, Malcolm, and Mitera Thea ended up and whether they’ll make it back or have to start new lives.
Favorite Quote
“Knowing the future is part of that future’s past. Perhaps the foreseen happens because we try to change it.”
– Patrick Ness, Burn
Burn Discussion #1 Prompts/Questions
Feel free to comment whatever thoughts and questions you have! But if you aren’t sure where to start, consider some of the prompts/questions below:
- What do you think about Dragons set in this time period?
- Do you think the world will end in fire?
- Who is your favorite character and why?
- Do you think everyone is in the same alternate reality or different places? Will they make it back to their world or have to start new lives?
- How did you feel about each chapter alternating perspectives between Sarah and Malcolm?
- Share a favorite quote
Commenting
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It all starts so innocently-father and daughter hiring a 70 ton dragon with 50 foot wing span to. clear two farm fields. I have never read fantasy before but this is written so well that one could almost believe it could happen. Chapter 13 was certainly bloody so now I am anxious to read the rest of the story. Especially about Kazimir and Sarah. Kazimir has a soft spot for Sarah and Sarah certainly likes the dragon. The Russian satellite was a surprise. Russian satellite-Russian dragon?
Quote from Kazimir: Prophecy is slippery, dangerous, open to fatal misinterpretation
Hope this makes sense. 😄
I agree! He writes the dragon so well that it seems normal a mythical creature is walking around and talking.
I really like Sarah and Kazimir too and I have no idea what happens next! I can’t even guess at this point! I hadn’t thought about the fact that he was a Russian dragon and it was a Russian satellite. Can’t wait to see how it all plays out?
I really like that quote too! Are prophecy actually wrong or are they just misinterpreted?
Could be both.
Sarah and Kazimir’s friendship is definitely interesting. I think they’ll get even closer in Part 2 as they learn more about each other and their situation. I’m also interested in how Malcolm responds now that he knows Mitera Thea betrayed him and the prophecy wasn’t what he thought. The different ways prophecies can be interpreted has always fascinated me, especially how they often end up coming true based on people’s actions to try to change them.
I agree with both of you on having dragons in the 50’s is different but I loved the idea, I actually kept forgetting it was 50’s and would imagine present time but something would remind me it’s the 50’s.
My favorite character is Sarah I’m so curious to find out where they ended up and why Sarah is such an important person maybe has something to do with her mother which we don’t know much about.
I did like how the book went back and forth between characters kept it moving fast. I was surprised agent Woolf was part of the end of the world hoping they can stop her.
My favorite quote “Every day in a town with people who didn’t look like you, in a life that didn’t look like you, it eventually just wore you out.” Patrick Ness, Burn
I thought this was exactly how Sarah felt especially set in the 50’s with her mixed race. This is still true for many people today and is a problem in many areas and needs to be changed so no one feels that way.
I’m excited to read the rest of the book and keep thinking wouldn’t it be cool if dragons existed in today’s world.
I also forgot a few times that it was set in the past and was imagining the present day. I really like Sarah too! She’s my second favorite character.
The book is a super-fast read which is always nice.
I wondered if Woolf was still a believer and would end up helping Malcolm but I did not expect she was Mitera Thea.
That’s a great quote! I couldn’t agree more!
I can’t wait to read more either! I also think it’s funny that this book has possible multiple universes like Dark Matter.
I also like Sarah and wonder what makes her so important, seems too simple that she just happened to live in the wrong place at the wrong time near that antenna. I think she’ll play a bigger part in saving the world or whatever happens in part 2!
The changing perspectives did make the book read fast but there were several times I wanted to stay with the character rather than switch over. I didn’t expect Agent Woolf to be Mitera Thea either but wasn’t sure she’d completely given up being a Believer.
I liked that quote too, although it’s sad. It’s often said/thought that small towns are close-knit communities where everyone looks out for each other, which can be true; but if someone finds themselves as an outsider or is different from the rest of the town, it could definitely get really lonely.