A review by ra_schmi
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
3.0
I just finished reading "Burnt Shadows" by Kamila Shamsie, my first book by a Pakistani writer. The main protagonist of the book is Hiroko Tanaka, a Japanese woman from Nagasaki whose world is ripped apart by the atomic bomb. Incidentally, this is where the book begins. It is set across several continents and many countries - Japan, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United States, and Canada - and spans many generations of people, all connected to Hiroko in some way.
Shamsie weaves a story that connects Nagasaki, the India-Pakistan Partition, the Soviet-Afghan war, and the post-911 world of the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay. I liked the ambitious scope of the book, Hiroko's character, the description of life in Delhi before the Partition, her glimpses into the lives of Pakistanis living in Karachi, the overall lack of judgment and the surprising humanity she bestows on even people like the mujahideen and the Taliban. I liked that she took me a little bit out of my comfort zone and made me rethink my gut reaction to soldiers and veterans. I reflected for the first time about military contractors and mercenaries for hire, and how dangerous the intersection of capitalism with war can prove to be if we allow it to get out of control.
As for the negatives - it was a struggle to get through the few chapters. Hiroko's character was interesting, but I was indifferent to or bored by everyone else, especially the Burtons. For a seasoned writer, Shamsie fails at the old adage - "Show, don't tell". We are told that Sajjad is charismatic and worthy of awe and respect but we never really feel it. We are told that Hiroko and Elizabeth become friends in Delhi but you never seen any warmth or closeness between them and it comes as a surprise that they remain in touch after Elizabeth leaves India. I never felt like I cared about Harry Burton or Hiroko's son Raza and it was a slog to get through the later chapters where they take over the narrative.
I guess I'd recommend this book with the caveat that there are sections that you might have to grit your teeth to get through, but overall it's worth a read.
Shamsie weaves a story that connects Nagasaki, the India-Pakistan Partition, the Soviet-Afghan war, and the post-911 world of the Patriot Act and Guantanamo Bay. I liked the ambitious scope of the book, Hiroko's character, the description of life in Delhi before the Partition, her glimpses into the lives of Pakistanis living in Karachi, the overall lack of judgment and the surprising humanity she bestows on even people like the mujahideen and the Taliban. I liked that she took me a little bit out of my comfort zone and made me rethink my gut reaction to soldiers and veterans. I reflected for the first time about military contractors and mercenaries for hire, and how dangerous the intersection of capitalism with war can prove to be if we allow it to get out of control.
As for the negatives - it was a struggle to get through the few chapters. Hiroko's character was interesting, but I was indifferent to or bored by everyone else, especially the Burtons. For a seasoned writer, Shamsie fails at the old adage - "Show, don't tell". We are told that Sajjad is charismatic and worthy of awe and respect but we never really feel it. We are told that Hiroko and Elizabeth become friends in Delhi but you never seen any warmth or closeness between them and it comes as a surprise that they remain in touch after Elizabeth leaves India. I never felt like I cared about Harry Burton or Hiroko's son Raza and it was a slog to get through the later chapters where they take over the narrative.
I guess I'd recommend this book with the caveat that there are sections that you might have to grit your teeth to get through, but overall it's worth a read.