Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

11 reviews

jackbifrost's review against another edition

dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Grief, Murder, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Racism, and Death

Moderate: Racism, Classism, Hate crime, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

msjenne's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Racism, Colonisation, Abandonment, Classism, Death, Deportation, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexism

antoniav's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Grief, Violence, and Death

Moderate: Torture

Minor: Sexism, Sexual content, and Misogyny

carolinalopezwatt's review

challenging informative medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, and Torture

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, and Sexism

Minor: Classism and Racism

stw07's review

challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.0

Well, that was disturbing. 

I enjoyed the first quarter of the book, but that section is drastically different from the rest of the novel. Honestly I don’t know how I feel about it. It throws a lot at you, and makes you spend a lot of time in the perspectives of characters with disturbing viewpoints. And then the ending. 

This is actually a retelling of the Antigone myth. I only learned that from the author’s acknowledgments since I’ve never read it. I think knowing that would have been useful for interpreting it, although it does spoil some plot points.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry and Islamophobia

Moderate: Confinement, Murder, Sexism, Death, Misogyny, Torture, and Violence

Perspectives of members of extremist groups

rhianh's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Islamophobia, Sexism, and Death

Minor: Death of parent

spinesinaline's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-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? Yes

4.75

I learned of this book from Sunni @ Van Reads and when she explained that it was a retelling of Antigone, one of my favourite plays, but through the lives of British Muslims, I immediately added it to my list.

Even knowing that going in, it took me an embarrassing long time to pick up on how the story is connected (I really need to reread the play). But once I did, I was blown away, and the way the story progresses becomes a bit easier to stomach because it echoes the original. I do not disagree with those who are angry and disagree with the ending, though.

I think knowing that it’s a retelling, and knowing the source material, does help to piece this story together, particularly in reference to the above. The main antagonist in Shamsie’s story echoes the ‘villain’ of Antigone but with the context of the modernized story, it is a bit awkward that one man comes to stand for all of Islamophobia when we as readers know it’s not that simple to pin down to one person.

My final thoughts on this one were that it was depressing and infuriating and still an incredible retelling. I still want to seek out more reviews by Muslim readers as the book stirs up a lot of Islamophobia – portrayed as wrong but still a constant throughout the story. It’s certainly not a hopeful picture for Muslim communities as so much of the content is focused on the threat of jihadist movements and anti-Muslim sentiments in government so I wouldn’t be surprised if some choose not to pick this one up at all.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Death of parent, Sexism, Sexual content, and War

signeskov's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Islamophobia, Death, Torture, Racism, Misogyny, and Sexism

vivboyd98's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective tense slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, Racism, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Sexual content and Sexism

9_13kg's review

emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

This was an emotional, compelling and strong book, exploring topics of religion and xenophobia, culture, and family. The little moments brought up, such as the beginning airport scene, bring to the light an important discussion of perceived racism and xenophobia, that is shown through micro-aggressions to political decisions; there is certainly a clear discussion of the often dismissed prejudice and xenophobia in Britain against Muslims, from in schools to the government. Overall, this book brings up such timely discussions and a much needed change in political and social perceptions of Islam as a religion and countries that have a predominantly Muslim population. 

The storyline and the characters are incredibly powerful, each with complex emotions that reflect the experiences and relationships they have. The dynamic of the three siblings is shown so beautifully, though their thoughts and small forms of affections they give to each other. 

I would strongly recommend this to everyone, especially as a reminder of the social and political climate we live in and the changes that need to be made of society's understand of religion and faith. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Rape