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fast-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:
Complicated
I maybe missed the momentum for this book, but I felt quite underwhelmed by this story. I remember it being nominated for a lot of prizes, but I can’t really see why. This was quite unbelievable and cheesy. And I couldn't believe the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Misogyny, Death of parent
Minor: Torture, Violence
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was intense. It follows a family in the early to mid 2010s (I can only assume) in Britain. It’s a complex story and one that doesn’t seem to end and even the climax holds so much after it. Isma is my favourite and I feel for her so much. She sacrificed everything for her siblings who villainise her, and despite trying her best, she never succeeds. When she finally claims something for herself, it’s taken from her by her siblings (Eamonn for one, and then her entire PHD future thanks to the twins)
The twins are complex. They’re both so young, even if they’re not too much younger than me as I read this. You want to slap some sense into them but also pity them. Parvaiz being groomed into defecting to ISIS is painful and is completely centred around his daddy issues, and his twin is willing to violate her religion for her other half by seducing the home secretary’s son. There is no winner in this book, and it’s a painful but short read. Parvaiz’s fate is almost inevitable, as it’s clear within the subtext there’s no way out for him. And that his mistake is too big of a one to fix. Until the end of the first POV, you don’t realise what he’s done. But when it hits it’s even more shocking, and his own POV is painful and brutal. The author doesn’t glamorise terrorism at all, but it is clear in his first chapter why he was so easily recruited. It speaks to a complex climate of Britain that I was too young and to white to understand growing up but can only imagine is a hard hitting read for those who can understand a fraction of the characters lives. It is a short story in comparison to many others but it is hard hitting and not a light read.
The twins are complex. They’re both so young, even if they’re not too much younger than me as I read this. You want to slap some sense into them but also pity them. Parvaiz being groomed into defecting to ISIS is painful and is completely centred around his daddy issues, and his twin is willing to violate her religion for her other half by seducing the home secretary’s son. There is no winner in this book, and it’s a painful but short read. Parvaiz’s fate is almost inevitable, as it’s clear within the subtext there’s no way out for him. And that his mistake is too big of a one to fix. Until the end of the first POV, you don’t realise what he’s done. But when it hits it’s even more shocking, and his own POV is painful and brutal. The author doesn’t glamorise terrorism at all, but it is clear in his first chapter why he was so easily recruited. It speaks to a complex climate of Britain that I was too young and to white to understand growing up but can only imagine is a hard hitting read for those who can understand a fraction of the characters lives. It is a short story in comparison to many others but it is hard hitting and not a light read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A devastating examination on the intersection of racism, politics, religion, family and love told compassionately across multiple viewpoints. This novel is an absolute must-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful, moving, thought provoking novel. This is a story everyone should read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love this book more than I initially thought! At first I was hesitant because Isma’s perspective starts the story. I didn’t feel like I understood her. However, each section of the book is from another character’s perspective (written in 3rd person). As more information is revealed by each character, I learned to empathize with Isma more. Home Fire asks powerful questions of us as readers and from the characters: how to endure racism as an immigrant, what does it mean to be a citizen, how do we endure grief, and what we are willing to do for our family? There were two unexpected twists that chewed my heart up and spit it back out 😭💔
I learned to see Eamonn as a man trying to escape his father’s shadow, coming to terms with his father’s selfishness and political motives, and learning to speak his mind.
All these characters have flaws that make them painfully human and relatable, but they also have redeemable qualities. They love their families, they feel lonely and inadequate sometimes, but they’re also seeking/working towards a life purpose. Even Karamat who is motivated by potential political gains, but loves his wife and is afraid of losing the power he has worked hard for. He’s also caught between his life as a political figure and his identity as a Pakistani immigrant.
Highly recommend!
I learned to see Eamonn as a man trying to escape his father’s shadow, coming to terms with his father’s selfishness and political motives, and learning to speak his mind.
All these characters have flaws that make them painfully human and relatable, but they also have redeemable qualities. They love their families, they feel lonely and inadequate sometimes, but they’re also seeking/working towards a life purpose. Even Karamat who is motivated by potential political gains, but loves his wife and is afraid of losing the power he has worked hard for. He’s also caught between his life as a political figure and his identity as a Pakistani immigrant.
Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Torture, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Blood, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Religious bigotry
Moderate: Death, Death of parent
Minor: Torture
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, War
Minor: Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Classism