A review by withlivjones
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

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

4.5

This book exemplifies what a mythology retelling can be - by transporting Sophocles’ Antigone into the present day where the characters are no longer Greek royalty but instead British Muslims, Shamsie gives the myth clear relevance to today’s society, all while staying true to the plot and retaining the themes and conflicts that make Antigone so timeless. The complex moral issues in this book are discussed with such empathy, so that even when characters make decisions one may not agree with, one can understand why they might be driven to do what they do. Antigone is one of my favourite plays, and this book captures its essence perfectly. 
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