Reviews

Home Fires by Elizabeth Day

ruthlemon08's review against another edition

5.0

I love Elizabeth’s writing. Her prose is so beautiful, even when dealing with difficult or upsetting scenes. The way in which she presented the characters, flitting back and forth, made for quite the emotional ride as I fell in and out of love for each individual. By the end of the book, I think all three of them had a place in my heart!

jodib's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

emiliewin3's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

mslaura's review

4.0

Caroline Weston has lost her only son, Max, aged 21, in the Sudanese conflict. Still reeling with grief, she learns that her 98 year old mother-in-law, Elsa, increasingly incapacitated both mentally and physically, will be coming to live with her and her husband Andrew. Elsa, as she feels her memories, her independence and her very self slipping away, is haunted by recollections of her own father, who returned from WWI a broken man.

This is a beautifully told narrative of family, love, loss, war, anger, fear and regret, which eloquently depicts one family's story through glimpses into four generations.

gb123's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

katheastman's review

4.0

Home Fires is a beautifully written novel that tells the story of one family and the devastating impact which two wars have on its members, not only on those who serve, but especially those at home, who have to deal with the aftermath of war. It also deals with having to deal with an elderly and failing parent, PTSD, grief, how a marriage copes with all these and the pressures of being an only child.

pippins101's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

leahmouse's review

3.0

I'd probably give it 3.5 as it's really well written but in the end a bit slight in terms of plot for me. I read it in one sitting but I wouldn't call it a page-turner.