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serendipitysbooks's review
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Radiant Fugitives is the the story of three generations of a Muslim Indian family and is set in San Francisco during the Obama era. The focus is on Seema who has been estranged from her family since she came out as lesbian, her sister Tahera who is a devout Muslim and their mother Nafeesa, who is suffering from a terminal illness.
The story is narrated by Seema’s son, Ishraaq, in utero and immediately after his birth. It’s certainly an unusual choice. I initially liked it since it caught my attention, being a real point of difference from other books. It allowed the author a lot of flexibility with regards to point of view and perspective. Sometimes the book was written in the first person, sometimes in the second addressed to his grandmother, while other times Ishraaq was an omniscient third person narrator. While I mostly appreciated the novelty of this approach it did sometimes distract and take me out of the story. This was especially so when he was being overly ponderous, as in the haunting final scenes of the novel.
The novel unfolded in two main timelines. In the present (2010) we see the female family members come together to support Seema who is heavily pregnant. Although the love and desire to support is always evident, especially when a crisis hits, rifts and divisions are also clear. Gender, sexuality, religion, immigration and sibling rivalry are all factors. I love a good messy yet nuanced family story and this book certainly delivered in that regard.
The earlier timeline provides that background of the relationship between Seema and Israaq’s father Bill, who is a Black man. They met as a result of their shared political activism. This was the era of Obama winning the presidency, Kamala Harris standing for election as California’s Attorney General and Proposition 8, intended to ban gay marriage in California. I was less interested and invested in this storyline, possibly since I’m not American and lack strong connections to this period. I did like the way it explored the intersections between the personal and political, not to mention the motivations, disappointments and frustrations of political activity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Homophobia and Islamophobia
thereadhersrecap's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This debut novel follows three generations of Muslim Indians as they attempt to reconnect after years of separation, it’s told by the newest member of the family starting from the time of his birth using flashbacks and present day storytelling.
It’s poetic, and bold and I absolutely loved it. Somehow all the characters exhibited a stubbornness that completely infuriated me, yet I was in awe of their ability to hold on to the their beliefs in the midst of constant judgement and criticism.
For all my literary fiction lovers out there, this one is for you! It comes out August 3rd! It’s a MUST READ! GO
It’s poetic, and bold and I absolutely loved it. Somehow all the characters exhibited a stubbornness that completely infuriated me, yet I was in awe of their ability to hold on to the their beliefs in the midst of constant judgement and criticism.
For all my literary fiction lovers out there, this one is for you! It comes out August 3rd! It’s a MUST READ! GO
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pregnancy, Outing, Medical trauma, and Grief
mezzano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Radiant Fugitives is a unique book with a lot going on. Told in the perspective of the main character's unborn child, the baby-in-the-womb is somehow privy to all of his mother's family history and traumas. This story is beautifully written and an example of modern and inclusive literary fiction. Seema is a complex character, whose lesbian identity cost her a solid relationship with her Indian family. When Seema becomes pregnant, both her mother and sister come out to support her, however hesitantly. What ensues is the dredging of hurt feelings, jealousy, and confusion.
As the story continues and twists from past to present, there are honestly great moments that I deeply connected to. Seema's memories of her current and past lovers were raw and showed a perspective of the LGBT community many don't represent in literature: the person who doesn't quite know what label to identity as. Seema is incredibly flawed in this book, and while there are plenty of times I grew frustrated at her choices, I couldn't help but understand why she felt so determined to follow through with her original declarations. When you lose people close to you, you tend to cling closer to the things that divided you from them.
Seema's sister and mother were interesting in their own right. I loved the challenge Seema's mother had with supporting her daughter and also her husbands wishes for the household. I thought it was special that at the news of a big life event, Seema's mother would fly all the way from India to Seema's home to support her, even when it was against the family's wishes. The jealousy Seema's sister experiences due to this was also very frustrating. Seema's sister seemed to be there only for the mother, and she serves as a point of stress for Seema, even when Seema tries her best to reconnect with her family. The fact that Seema's sister and mother are almost always together in the narrative paints a tragic "what could but will never be" scenario. By the time this novel started, Seema will not be able to fix the hurt that has already been established. She will always be a mark, and by extension, so will the narrator of this story.
Be aware that this story doesn't end happily. This is a literary tragedy, set in Obama-era USA. If you want a new piece of literary fiction which tells a complex story with a different perspective, however, Radiant Fugitives will be comfortable on your bookshelf.
As the story continues and twists from past to present, there are honestly great moments that I deeply connected to. Seema's memories of her current and past lovers were raw and showed a perspective of the LGBT community many don't represent in literature: the person who doesn't quite know what label to identity as. Seema is incredibly flawed in this book, and while there are plenty of times I grew frustrated at her choices, I couldn't help but understand why she felt so determined to follow through with her original declarations. When you lose people close to you, you tend to cling closer to the things that divided you from them.
Seema's sister and mother were interesting in their own right. I loved the challenge Seema's mother had with supporting her daughter and also her husbands wishes for the household. I thought it was special that at the news of a big life event, Seema's mother would fly all the way from India to Seema's home to support her, even when it was against the family's wishes. The jealousy Seema's sister experiences due to this was also very frustrating. Seema's sister seemed to be there only for the mother, and she serves as a point of stress for Seema, even when Seema tries her best to reconnect with her family. The fact that Seema's sister and mother are almost always together in the narrative paints a tragic "what could but will never be" scenario. By the time this novel started, Seema will not be able to fix the hurt that has already been established. She will always be a mark, and by extension, so will the narrator of this story.
Be aware that this story doesn't end happily. This is a literary tragedy, set in Obama-era USA. If you want a new piece of literary fiction which tells a complex story with a different perspective, however, Radiant Fugitives will be comfortable on your bookshelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Infidelity, Grief, Death, Body shaming, and Blood
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