Through the lives of two very different Muslim families living in the U.K., Ms. Shamsie considers how racism and terrorism have affected relationships between Islamic and dominant communities in the U.K. I’m hoping this novel will give us the opportunity to look at the lives of minority groups, understand how terrorists are recruited from them, and how terrorists operate in the countries in which they fight. The characters move from the U.K. to Syria and America. Not very cheerful reading, I fear, but there is a romance in here somewhere, which could provide some relief. The questions we might want to consider are, first, how realistic are the events and the characters caught up in them? And, second, does the portrayal of the characters mean we sympathise with the government, or the minority group that feels it has been oppressed.
Thursday, 14 February 2019
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
by Sue,
Through the lives of two very different Muslim families living in the U.K., Ms. Shamsie considers how racism and terrorism have affected relationships between Islamic and dominant communities in the U.K. I’m hoping this novel will give us the opportunity to look at the lives of minority groups, understand how terrorists are recruited from them, and how terrorists operate in the countries in which they fight. The characters move from the U.K. to Syria and America. Not very cheerful reading, I fear, but there is a romance in here somewhere, which could provide some relief. The questions we might want to consider are, first, how realistic are the events and the characters caught up in them? And, second, does the portrayal of the characters mean we sympathise with the government, or the minority group that feels it has been oppressed.
Through the lives of two very different Muslim families living in the U.K., Ms. Shamsie considers how racism and terrorism have affected relationships between Islamic and dominant communities in the U.K. I’m hoping this novel will give us the opportunity to look at the lives of minority groups, understand how terrorists are recruited from them, and how terrorists operate in the countries in which they fight. The characters move from the U.K. to Syria and America. Not very cheerful reading, I fear, but there is a romance in here somewhere, which could provide some relief. The questions we might want to consider are, first, how realistic are the events and the characters caught up in them? And, second, does the portrayal of the characters mean we sympathise with the government, or the minority group that feels it has been oppressed.
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by Katie, The brother of a dear friend of mine witnessed the suicide of a friend/classmate inside his school during normal school hours. ...
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Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteHope you both are well. Nancy, did you have your surgery yet? Are you doing okay? Sue, how are you and Jay? Weather still holding up? We’ve had a lot of precipitation. I’d like to say “snow” but it has been more like thick rain. Supposedly we are getting more at the end of this week. Benjamin has missed several school days because of the weather. And both children are upset they can’t play in it since it is mostly just wet slush than actual snow.
I found this month’s book to be very powerful, fast pace and difficult to put down. I found Parvaiz’s section to be the most difficult to read as Farooq was just a horrible character. He reminded me similar to Omar Duvall from last month’s book. He seemed like someone who knew how to find another’s weakness and use it against them as he did to poor Parvaiz. On the whole though, it was difficult to put down.
To answer your question Sue, I feel that events in the novel are incredibly realistic. Young people being brainwashed into terrible deeds happens probably daily. I wonder how many young people in real life get lured away from their homes with false promises only to find a gruesome reality waiting for them. I felt particularly bad when Parvaiz realized the error of his decision and longed to return to his former life. How many others like Parvaiz are unable to escape from their poor choice and meet his similar fate?
I believe I felt a lot of sympathy for our characters over the government. I felt so much sympathy for Isma. She just wanted to live a normal life. She was forced to deal with so much prejudice because of a father she never asked for. And then her life was put on hold to raise two children. So much struggle for one woman, I admired her strength and fortitude. Karamat is forced to assimilate to become accepted in society or to scale the political ladder. Our characters are forced to choose between their faith or societal acceptance.
So much to think about while reading this novel. Thank you for the wonderful choice Sue. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I look forward to hear what you both thought.
Much love,
Katie
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteHope all is well with you and your families – most especially that you are feeling stronger, Nancy. Take care of yourself, and thank you for your participation in our reading group despite current low energy levels. According to records, we have just had the most glorious February ever. This is perhaps not a good omen for climate change, but the short-term effect was joyful. Hope the weather settled down for you, Katie and that the children and Franklin continue to do wonderfully. We’re fine here. Mum and Dad a bit up and down, but in one’s mid-nineties, one is perhaps entitled to be a bit up and down.
Regarding Home Fire, so glad you enjoyed it, Katie. I really don’t know enough to be able to say whether this is a realistic portrayal of the development of a terrorist. Silly question I asked, really, given that collectively we ladies probably know little about the inner workings of terrorist groups. But it was a convincing sequence of events: conscription the result of manipulation based on personal knowledge; idealism disappointed; impossibility of escaping from the enveloping ‘brotherhood’ of a terrorist group. Farook was nastily realistic. You’re right, of course, Katie – very like Duvall. The terrorists’ relationship with the residents of the area it had, to all intents and purposes, colonised reflected all one has read about occupying forces of whatever kind.
Yet, I could not sympathise with the British government’s home secretary. Strangely enough, our current home secretary is the son of a Pakistani immigrant, too, and is also right wing in his views. (He was appointed well after this book was written. Currently, he’s trying to prevent a woman who, aged 15, left the U.K. for Syria, and now, aged 19 with a baby, wants to return. To prevent this happening, he’s taken away her British nationality, but this may be illegal, so he’s going to have to go to court to defend his action.) The attitude of the immigration officials rings very true. Mostly, Jay’s progress through airports and other entry points is painless, but there have been some gratuitously unpleasant exchanges.
So, I was left feeling that the writer had been quite even handed. The last section’s emphasis on Karamat Lone was fascinating and moving. I am not familiar with the story of Antigone on which Shamsie has based the plot, so I looked up a synopsis. As I understand it, the story considers a king’s refusal to bury a body, and his subsequent loss of both his entire family and his credibility. You probably knew this already ladies. But it was only on learning this that I understood more fully the dimensions of the tragedy, and the cleverness of Shamsie’s modern interpretation. Not just clever, very moving - shades of Romeo and Juliet too. At least I knew that story.
My love to you both
Sue
ReplyDeleteHello Ladies,
Hope all is well with you both. Sue, so glad you’re enjoying some lovely spring weather. Katie, I hope the mud has cleared up a little and the children can get. Outside and play.
I’m OK at the moment my operation is on the 15th so all should be well after that.
I very much enjoyed this months novel and like you Katie found it hard to put down. Both your comments have covered beautifully my thoughts on it.
It is interesting now as news unfolds of the last of the ISIL stronghold disintegrating, and the many members fleeing and seeking refugee status, especially the women and children, how the world and the media will view these people.
It seems many are holding strong to their belief in the Caliphate while others are more like Parvaiz and wish to return to their own countries. There seems to be so many children involved, so sad.
Thank you Sue for such a wonderful novel that is so balanced and timely. We’ve read it at a time when our society desperately needs tolerance and understanding of each other .
You’re right Sue, knowing the story of Antigone gives more meaning and understanding to the final chapter of Karamat. I also googled that synopsis !
Love,
Nancy