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December Meeting - Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
The Book
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| Source: Amazon |
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie is a powerful, contemporary retelling of Sophocles' Antigone, set within the tensions of modern-day British Muslim life. The novel centers on three British Muslim siblings—Isma, Aneeka, and Parvaiz—who are pulled in different directions by loyalty, love, and identity. When Parvaiz is radicalized and joins ISIS, the family’s world is shattered, and they find themselves in a tragic confrontation with Karamat Lone, a British Home Secretary with a complex relationship to his heritage.
Shamsie deftly examines themes of loyalty, the complexities of immigration, and the political divides shaping today's world. The story's tragic tension and its exploration of what individuals owe to their family and nation brought Home Fire widespread acclaim. Critics praised Shamsie’s narrative style, her nuanced characters, and her ability to translate a Greek tragedy into a story of modern significance.
Home Fire won the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction and became a major talking point, earning reviews in The Guardian, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. The book resonated globally, sparking conversations about extremism, loyalty, and the pressures facing immigrant communities, cementing Shamsie’s reputation as a writer of global consequence.
The Author
Kamila Shamsie is a renowned Pakistani-British novelist celebrated for her nuanced exploration of identity, politics, and history through fiction. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1973, Shamsie grew up in a family with a strong literary background, sparking her early interest in writing. She attended Hamilton College in New York and earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Shamsie debuted with In the City by the Sea in 1998, a novel that was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Over the years, her works have tackled themes of cultural displacement, war, and loyalty, earning her critical acclaim worldwide. Some of her most notable books include Kartography (2002), which explores the political and emotional landscapes of Karachi, and Burnt Shadows (2009), an epic narrative spanning continents and decades.
In 2017, Shamsie’s novel Home Fire reimagined Sophocles’ Antigone within a modern, British Muslim context and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018. Shamsie has been recognized for her literary contributions, named as one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2013. She now lives in London, where she continues to write and advocate for freedom of expression.
External interesting links - Home Fire - Kamila Shamsie
List of Characters:
Antigone (Plot Summary):
One curiosity: The Canal over North Circular Road
YouTube
YouTube - BritishCouncilPK - Kamila Shamsie talks her latest novel, Home Fire
YouTube - WheelerCentre - Kamila Shamsie: Home Fire
H.G. Wells - A portrait of the writer
Wells has been often called the “father of science fiction.” He wrote classic novels, and apart from writing great stories, Wells was a man with big ideas, which were shaped by his time and his passion for science and social issues.
Early Life and Times
Wells was born in 1866 in Bromley, England, during the late Victorian era. This was a time of massive changes. The Industrial Revolution was transforming the world with new machines, factories, and a huge interest in science and progress. Wells was fascinated by these changes, and they inspired many of his ideas about technology and the future.
Curiously, Wells didn’t come from a wealthy family. His parents were quite poor, so he had to work hard to get an education. He even worked as a clothig shop assistant—a job that he hated! Luckily, he eventually won a scholarship to study biology with Thomas Huxley, who was a strong supporter of Darwin’s theory of evolution. This background influenced his work as a writer.
Influences on His Writing
First, he was fascinated by the idea of progress and where technology might lead humankind. In The Time Machine, for example, he explores the idea of time travel and the future evolution of humans. But instead of seeing a perfect world, he imagined a dystopian future where society has split into two social classes. This was Wells’ way of criticizing social inequalities and warning us about the evolution of human societies.
Another big topic in Wells' work is the use—and misuse—of science. In The Invisible Man and The Island of Doctor Moreau, we see scientists who push the boundaries of their work with dangerous consequences. For Wells, science wasn’t just something to celebrate—it could also be a risk if it is used without ethics.
Finally, The War of the Worlds reflects Wells’ opinion on colonialism and imperialism. In this story, Martians invade Earth and treat humans the way European empires treated the countries they colonized. For Wells, this invasion was a way to criticize how the powerful nations of his time dominated and exploited others countries. It is widely known that years after its publication, when it was adapted into a radio play , some listeners thought it was a real Martian invasion and most of them panicked! This shows just how influential Wells' ideas were—and still are.
Legacy and Influence
So, the question is: why does Wells still matter today? First, he paved the way for modern science fiction, inspiring writers, filmmakers, and scientists. His books don’t just tell exciting stories; they make us think about the future, social issues, and the responsibilities that come with scientific progress. Wells’ vision and imagination still resonate because they explore questions we are still asking today, like how technology impacts society and what impact it will have on us. We should wonder what Wells would think about the development of artificial intelligence today. He was more than just a writer. He was a thinker who used stories to comment on the world he lived_in and to speculate about the world to come. His books invite us to imagine new possibilities and remind us that progress also comes with responsibility.
November Meeting, The Country of the Blind by H.G. Wells
The Book
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| Source: Amazon |
Nuñez initially believes that his ability to see will make him superior in this "country of the blind." However, he quickly discovers that the people do not value his sight; they view him as the one who is impaired, and they reject his insistence on the existence of the sense of sight. Ultimately, Nuñez is forced to confront the idea that his perception of superiority might be an illusion.
The story reflects Wells' interest in questioning societal norms and challenging accepted truths. Written during a time when ideas about progress and science were rapidly evolving, the tale explores themes of perception, power, and the relativity of human experience. Wells suggests that what is considered "normal" or "true" is often dictated by social context, rather than objective reality.
The Author
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| Source: Wikipedia |
Wells' writing was shaped by his deep interest in science, evolution, and human society, which he explored in his many works of fiction and non-fiction. While much of his early fame came from his science fiction, Wells also wrote short stories that delved into philosophical and societal questions, such as *"The Country of the Blind"* (1904).
Though less known than his major science fiction novels, *"The Country of the Blind"* stands as one of Wells' most insightful works. It reflects his interest in human perception, societal norms, and the limits of knowledge, themes that pervade much of his later writing. The story showcases Wells' ability to challenge the reader’s assumptions and to explore deep questions of power and human experience, contributing to his reputation as a masterful storyteller with a philosophical bent.
External interesting links - The country of the blind by HG Wells
Info about the author and his context:
Info about the story:
Links to the story and other stories, in case you are interested in further reading by the author:
> Project Gutenberg > H.G. Wells > The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories > The Country of the Blind
Link to audiobook:
YouTube
YouTube - ChapterVox - The Country of the Blind
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