Review: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

From the Orange and Baileys Prize-shortlisted author comes an urgent, explosive story of love and a family torn apart.

Isma is free. After years spent raising her twin siblings in the wake of their mother’s death, she is finally studying in America, resuming a dream long deferred. But she can’t stop worrying about Aneeka, her beautiful, headstrong sister back in London – or their brother, Parvaiz, who’s disappeared in pursuit of his own dream: to prove himself to the dark legacy of the jihadist father he never knew.

Then Eamonn enters the sisters’ lives. Handsome and privileged, he inhabits a London worlds away from theirs. As the son of a powerful British Muslim politician, Eamonn has his own birthright to live up to – or defy. Is he to be a chance at love? The means of Parvaiz’s salvation? Two families’ fates are inextricably, devastatingly entwined in this searing novel that asks: what sacrifices will we make in the name of love?

A contemporary reimagining of Sophocles’ Antigone, Home Fire is an urgent, fiercely compelling story of loyalties torn apart when love and politics collide – confirming Kamila Shamsie as a master storyteller of our times.

Claire's Review 4 of 5 Stars

This is the story of Isma, who after the death of her mother and grandmother, has cared for her younger siblings and put her dreams on hold. Now they have turned eighteen, Isma decides to take her life back by studying in America.

This book is divided into 5 sections, each section is a perspective from a different character.

This story focuses highly on the issues British born Muslims face in today's society. The author does a fantastic job in pursuing these sensitive issues and makes this a very powerful and thought provoking read.

Definitely, one to add to your TBR list.