Last updated on October 6, 2020
This is a story of family and love told from the perspective of several characters. Home Fire starts with Isma, who misses one flight as the police interrogate her as she tries to leave London to go to Boston to pursue her PhD. We know there is more to the story, and the author slowly reveals the details to us as she takes us back and forth in time.
Parvaiz, Aneeqa and Isma are close-knit siblings. They are orphans, with Isma having brought up the twins, Parvaiz and Aneeka, from when they were 12 years old. As the three siblings get older, they spread out geographically to pursue career and life options. Isma goes off to Boston to pursue a PhD, Aneeka attends university in London to study Law, and Parvaiz searches for meaning and purpose. He loves music but his sisters pushed him to study something more employable.
The relationships each sibling forms to people outside the family impact their choices and actions, as does the legacy handed down from their parents. The things that we don’t talk about may have the power to destroy us. Ultimately, Parvaiz’s choice tears the family apart.
Final thoughts on Home Fire
I was captivated by the story in Home Fire. When I started this book, I had just heard a news report on BBC news about the incredible number of people who have left Trinidad for Syria. The question of what to do with them and their children is an enduring one that faces many countries and societies.
Some parts of the story are predictable but that did not detract from its impact on me. Read this book for a story that explores the different bonds of love that can exist and how love (or the absence of it) influences our actions. Heartbreakingly, some bad choices are irrecoverable. Home Fire also raises questions about citizenship and identity.
I give this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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