Home Fire
Ratings48
Average rating4
15
Ratings48
Average rating4
"Ingenious... Builds to one of the most memorable final scenes I've read in a novel this century." --The New York Times WINNER OF THE 2018 WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FINALIST FOR THE 2019 INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE The suspenseful and heartbreaking story of an immigrant family driven to pit love against loyalty, with devastating consequences Isma is free. After years of watching out for her younger siblings in the wake of their mother's death, she's accepted an invitation from a mentor in America that allows her to resume a dream long deferred. But she can't stop worrying about Aneeka, her beautiful, headstrong sister back in London, or their brother, Parvaiz, who's disappeared in pursuit of his own dream, to prove himself to the dark legacy of the jihadist father he never knew. When he resurfaces half a globe away, Isma's worst fears are confirmed. Then Eamonn enters the sisters' lives. Son of a powerful political figure, he has his own birthright to live up to--or defy. Is he to be a chance at love? The means of Parvaiz's salvation? Suddenly, two families' fates are inextricably, devastatingly entwined, in this searing novel that asks: What sacrifices will we make in the name of love?
Reviews with the most likes.
i'm a dumb butt who had no idea this was a modern remaking of antigone. completely changed my perspective on the book.
This is a very good book. The writing was beautiful, the story enthralling and the pacing very well done.
I liked that the story was broken up into different sections for different POVs, it really let you get to know that character on a deeper level and see that everything isn't one sided and perceptions can be wrong when looked at it from one person's view. What Shamsie conveys in such a short novel is an achievement.
The one thing I didn't really like or get was Isma and Eammon's relationship. It just felt like a way to get him to meet Aneeka and I just didn't like how his story progressed when he got back home. Maybe I missed the point but I just didn't like that side of him.
Don't be put off by this being a retelling of Antigone, I knew nothing about Antigone and was no worse off whilst reading this. I've since looked up the story and can see the underlying theme and how this is a retelling but it's still an excellent story without that behind it.
This novel presents timely perspectives (immigration, terrorism, family, love, social impact) and makes you ask complicated questions (do you stop loving someone just because he changes? is it someone's fault if he expertly gets manipulated into something? do you do the right thing or the most strategic thing?). I like it for that, possibly more than the actual story and writing itself.
3.5
