Home Fires by Kamila Shamsie.
A reworking of Antigone in a modern setting.
My notes: According to the notes, a modern reworking of Antigone. Two Muslim families in Britain, one two sisters and a twin brother who joins ISIS and is killed when he tries to leave, and the other the Home Secretary and his son who has fallen for the twin sister. How the Home Secretary is being steadfast in his treatment of terrorists, but his son goes to the aid of his love, with disastrous results. I found that the first section did not grab me, but on prompting I kept reading and was really caught up in it. I can't say enjoyed it, but I did find it fascinating. At the same time I was reading 'Walk in My Combat Boots' which was recollections of american soldiers of their time in the army, much of it in Afghanistan & Iraq, and how the soldirers tried to help the locals. This contrasted heavily with the Isis treatment of the book.
This book got high marks from all of us - 8's and a 9.
It was well written and we thought that we could be sympathetic to all the characters, though I think a bit less to the older daughter. It was very clever on the conversion of the characters from Antigone to the modern day. It was a broad and far reaching story, and it has kept us thinking about it after finishing it - always a good sign.
Would we read another of hers? Yes, but we need a gap, it was too intense.
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