Home Fire - Kamila Shamsie- 4.5 Stars

[[deleted user]]

Home Fire is not what I thought it would be. It was far more complex than just a story of a sister living her life away from her family. So much deeper than a son finding his own path away from his father. This book is about the myths that sons tell themselves about their fathers, the damage that fathers pass down to their sons. Daughters who go continue on with life without facing the fallout of choices parents make. Home Fire is also about assimilation and individuality, state borders and crossings, the secular and the religious.

To go into detail about the plot of this book will not give it justice. So the simplistic foundation of this story is of Isma goes to America to further her education. After the death of both her mother and grandmother she was forced to raise her twins siblings, now 19 years old. With Isma leaving them, Aneeka and Parvaiz now must figure out where their life will take them. Aneeka has plans to stay in school and live with a family friend. Parvaiz is still finding himself, which leaves him vulnerable. This vulnerability is the essence of this novel, and causes the sisters, Aneeka especially, and Eammon, the son of a very powerful political figure, to learn the power of love. The characters in this story were so complex, but not so complex that I felt lost. Home Fire is told from five different perspectives, and as the story becomes more intense. Truly words cannot describe Aneeka's thoughts or emotions, but while reading this you feel as though you are her at time. The love, the anguish, the anger, all the emotions twisted together into one very large character. The book starts off slow, but by the end, I was left with emotions and questions that I didn't know what to do with. I never could have predicted how this story was going to end. And when it ended I was shocked.
I have not read any of Kamila Shamsie’s books but after this I will most definitely try another of her books.

[Susie]

I loved this book too. I did try another of hers and didn’t enjoy it as much as this. I can’t remember the title!

[Susie]

It was A God in Every Stone.

[Anita]

I like your review more than I liked the book. You make me feel like I missed something really great. Well done.

[Jen]

I loved the book too!

[[deleted user]]

Anita wrote: "I like your review more than I liked the book. You make me feel like I missed something really great. Well done."

Thank you Anita. I really liked this book. Although the end took me by surprise.

[[deleted user]]

Susie wrote: "It was A God in Every Stone."

I was looking at all her books. Definitely not rated as high as this one. Burnt Shadows sounds interesting. I think I'm going to read this one.

[Susie]

Let us know how you go.

[Amy]

Phenomenal Review. This book was already on my list but I am moving it up.