Why read Home Fire?

Book cover of Home Fire

Book description

_______________ WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION WINNER OF THE LONDON HELLENIC PRIZE A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, TELEGRAPH, NEW STATESMAN, EVENING STANDAND AND NEW YORK TIMES _______________ 'The book for our times' - Judges of the Women's Prize 'Elegant and evocative ... A powerful…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Home Fire as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Rajat Narula

Author

I loved the book because of my deep interest in its theme: the radicalization of Muslim youth in Europe. It’s a convincing account of a young Londoner getting drawn to ISIS, which upends a family already mired in tragedy.

The key characters shine in their own narrative, and their respective truths speak to me. I also loved that the writer gives us a snapshot of the lives of the ISIS recruits living in Syria.

From Rajat's list on race, ethnicity, and belief system collisions.

Chika Unigwe

Author

This is a retelling of Antigone by Sophocles, set in contemporary UK.

Shamsie’s characters are well developed, the story deeply moving and insightful, and the writing delightful.

This is an important novel for the themes it addresses: radicalism, Islamophobia, family, identity and belonging. This is very much a book for these times.

From Chika's list on re-imaginings of history, classics and myths.