Reviews

In Flammen by Megha Majumdar

corporal_bookish's review against another edition

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bethchatsbooks's review against another edition

4.0

This was a powerfully politically charged novel. This story follows three main characters in contemporary India. Lovely a transgender female aspiring to be an actress, PT Sir a P.E teacher aspiring to work in politics and Jivan a poor young girl living in the slums suddenly accused of being recruited by terrorists. Through twists and turns of fate these three characters and their narratives become intertwined and that makes up the bulk of the plot.

I found this story incredibly poignant and sad. But very of these current times we are living in politically, with the rise of social media and news media and its influences on the public and public opinion. There is lots of rich material within this book to unpack. But also the short and snappy chapters make this book a pleasure to fly through. This book deals with hard hitting subject material but writes about it in such a compelling and propulsive way. An incredibly addictive and impressive debut.

Thanks to the author Megha Majumdar, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

svath's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

kaseyd's review against another edition

emotional medium-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

3.75

jackmchenry's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

4.25

mediumwellread's review against another edition

sad tense medium-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? No

3.5

charfaust's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.75

mmmmmm's review against another edition

challenging dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

i can't bvelieve it took me so long to get to this but I am SO GLAD I DID! i am also kind of glad I did wait this long because i feel like i am more politically and socially switched on now so it has been able to make its full mark on me. 

systems are fucked, soiciety is fucked, the only thing we can have faith in is people and even they are fucked too. i loved it.

bookph1le's review against another edition

4.0

This book was very hard to read because the subject matter is so disturbing. Given the Hindu nationalism that's sweeping through India, this is a very timely work of fiction. This isn't a very long book, but it does have a lot to say, and as disturbing as its portrayal of violence against Muslim Indians is, almost equally disturbing is its portrayal of how those who know the truth can be persuaded to veil it if not outright lie about it in the pursuit of their own interests. Though the book does a fantastic job with Jivan and its portrayal of her struggle, what chilled me the most was the way Majumdar showed how true it is that evil does triumph when good does nothing.

maestroalberti's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5