Reviews

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

reydeam's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this story. It was good. But it wasn't mind blowing. The characters didn't grab me except for Isma the older sister. And when I did start to become involved in the characters' lives the book ended. It ended with a bang. It ended without resolution. It ended in a way that is real; life doesn't always offer up resolutions. I liked this story but it fell short of deeply exploring the complex issues at hand—racial profiling, family, misguided youth, mistakes made, forgiveness, government policies vs human needs, manipulation of the vulnerable. The story did make me pause and reflect on how easily it is for us to judge others' choices and trajectory in life without giving any thought as to how the person got there. There definitely is a time and need for hard stances. But when do those hard stances need to be softened? Tough decisions can lead to tough and heartbreaking outcomes. Where does love and compassion and the desire for understanding play a role?

Home Fire is certainly a book worthy of discussion but it fails to convince me that it is worthy of a book award; the characters and plot were not fleshed out enough for the depth I was expecting.

Side note: I did enjoy the narrator for the audiobook. She did a great job keeping me engaged in the story. Her voice added a depth that the printed word cannot give.

manilabookgirl's review against another edition

emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

pnewb's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kjtheo's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

maryvdb2024's review against another edition

5.0

Remarkable and timely book dealing with absentee fathers, con-men, jihadists, politics and religion clearly demonstrating how laws made out of fear of terrorism have unforeseen tragic consequences destroying families and individuals in the process. As Peter Carey said "Recommended reading for prime ministers and presidents everywhere". Beautifully written. I couldn't put it down.

aimeedobson01's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

4.25

zubiashakeel's review against another edition

challenging tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Gripping. But that doesn't excuse the kind of characters it chose to portray and the kind of image it chose to perpetuate 

flyingfox02's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.0

I almost DNFed it early on. I didn't care for any of the characters, found some of their choices very questionable. Something about the writing also didn't click for me.

aylads's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

alirbwgirl's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25