Reviews tagging 'Torture'

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

32 reviews

readwithev's review

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

I love this book more than I initially thought! At first I was hesitant because Isma’s perspective starts the story. I didn’t feel like I understood her. However, each section of the book is from another character’s perspective (written in 3rd person). As more information is revealed by each character, I learned to empathize with Isma more. Home Fire asks powerful questions of us as readers and from the characters: how to endure racism as an immigrant, what does it mean to be a citizen, how do we endure grief, and what we are willing to do for our family? There were two unexpected twists that chewed my heart up and spit it back out 😭💔
I learned to see Eamonn as a man trying to escape his father’s shadow, coming to terms with his father’s selfishness and political motives, and learning to speak his mind.
All these characters have flaws that make them painfully human and relatable, but they also have redeemable qualities. They love their families, they feel lonely and inadequate sometimes, but they’re also seeking/working towards a life purpose. Even Karamat who is motivated by potential political gains, but loves his wife and is afraid of losing the power he has worked hard for. He’s also caught between his life as a political figure and his identity as a Pakistani immigrant.
Highly recommend!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Grief, Death, Islamophobia, Murder, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Blood, Child death, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

dominika_benmichael's review against another edition

sad tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Islamophobia

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Torture

potteresque's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Not a word wasted. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief and Religious bigotry

Minor: Violence, Torture, Trafficking, and Murder

withlivjones's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.5

This book exemplifies what a mythology retelling can be - by transporting Sophocles’ Antigone into the present day where the characters are no longer Greek royalty but instead British Muslims, Shamsie gives the myth clear relevance to today’s society, all while staying true to the plot and retaining the themes and conflicts that make Antigone so timeless. The complex moral issues in this book are discussed with such empathy, so that even when characters make decisions one may not agree with, one can understand why they might be driven to do what they do. Antigone is one of my favourite plays, and this book captures its essence perfectly. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, and Misogyny

Moderate: Abandonment, Murder, Gun violence, Death, Violence, and Sexual content

Graphic depictions of terrorist organisations

eve81's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Islamophobia, Racism, Violence, Murder, Grief, Torture, and Religious bigotry

helliec's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Torture, Violence, and Islamophobia

oriana095's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Death, Islamophobia, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent and Misogyny

deanchaudhri's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Grief, Islamophobia, and Murder

Moderate: Hate crime, Misogyny, War, Torture, and Death of parent

astridmalmhester's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Islamophobia, Racism, War, Death, Murder, Violence, Grief, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Misogyny

rakkaussipsi's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

The most heart-breaking and beautiful book I've read in a long time. I couldn't stop crying. Sophocles' Antigone is my favourite play, so I could appreciate all the obvious and more subtle ways the novel took inspiration from the tragedy.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Death, and Islamophobia