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Review June 2019

 Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie.

First Published: 2017

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Home Fire

by Kamila Shamsie

A challenging and interesting read raising interesting questions about the times in which we live.

The book takes Antigone by Sophocles (written in or before 441BC) and re-expresses the essential moral quandary in a modern, 21st Century context.

The characters were complex and interesting although the character by character structure was challenging to begin with. The integration of technology into the story added a modern flavour, and the treatment of government officialdom was inspired.

A lot of character, interaction, and sheer story is packed into the 260 pages. But as in “real life” all the characters and issues were in shades of grey, nothing was presented with crystal clarity.

There are many interwoven themes, including sibling rivalry, treatment of the dead, inter-personal manipulation, Muslims in a Christian world, downfall from high places caused by a member of the family, how men fall for beautiful women, love, power.

Given the inspiration from ancient Greece, this story was never going to have a happy ending, but it was a good read in a strange sort of way, and it was interesting to see the Book club discussion burst into an animated discussion. The “score on the door” was as high as any book has achieved (i.e. would have been a 5 when Nigel Smith ran the club), but achieved the accolade: “It made you think”.

PC, 4.5 Stars


Awards:

AA Book Club
Four point Five stars