So this was actually my first novel by the author and man did it live up to expectations! I was lucky enough to hear Kamila discuss this novel at a showcase last year and instantly knew I needed it, and now I can happily recommend everyone else pick it up too!
Now I’d definitely put this novel into the “clever books” category, but not in an intimidating or condescending way which so often puts me off - it’s just a brilliantly perceptive look at world politics, Britain today and female friendship which had me nodding my head in recognition.
It’s a powerful look at a friendship spanning over thirty years and how one fateful night in their teens could have repercussions decades later. It explores with honesty that period as a teenager when a girl finally starts to understand her power over men, but also the new risks which that brings. And all this set against a new dawn in Karachi as Benazir Bhutto came into power, which is why this novel treads that line between a story of friendship and so much more.
In London years later, I found the focus on immigration and the detention centres especially harrowing and necessary - Azam’s storyline was probably the one which captured me most even as a very small character, which just goes to show how well Shamsie builds every single character in this story.
I can’t even begin to touch on everything this novel covers because the scope is so big - power, money, privilege, education, sexuality, racism, identity and family are just some of the things which Shamsie has written so well throughout this tale of female friendship. It’s just really, really brilliant and so insightful, and I think it’s about time I read that copy of Home Fire!
Now I’d definitely put this novel into the “clever books” category, but not in an intimidating or condescending way which so often puts me off - it’s just a brilliantly perceptive look at world politics, Britain today and female friendship which had me nodding my head in recognition.
It’s a powerful look at a friendship spanning over thirty years and how one fateful night in their teens could have repercussions decades later. It explores with honesty that period as a teenager when a girl finally starts to understand her power over men, but also the new risks which that brings. And all this set against a new dawn in Karachi as Benazir Bhutto came into power, which is why this novel treads that line between a story of friendship and so much more.
In London years later, I found the focus on immigration and the detention centres especially harrowing and necessary - Azam’s storyline was probably the one which captured me most even as a very small character, which just goes to show how well Shamsie builds every single character in this story.
I can’t even begin to touch on everything this novel covers because the scope is so big - power, money, privilege, education, sexuality, racism, identity and family are just some of the things which Shamsie has written so well throughout this tale of female friendship. It’s just really, really brilliant and so insightful, and I think it’s about time I read that copy of Home Fire!