A History of Burning - Book Review

A History of Burning 

Janika Oza  

debut novel, pub date May 2, 2023

3.5 stars 

This is a book covering a lot of history and many deep, interesting characters. It traces the route of Pirabhai's family through the generations from India, Africa, Britain and Canada. 

I really wanted to like this book more, and am somewhat familiar of the history and circumstances faced by visible minorities from this part of the world (as I am one) but I found the overwhelming belief that 'family survives no matter what' tiresome by the end. I wish that the weight of obligation and duty were also covered.

The numerous people mentioned from neighbours, friends, school mates was really too much for me (SO much detail) and other essential pieces of the family dynamic were missing (Meetu, what was the family's response, how did they cope?) and I wanted to know more of how the ending transpired. 

 I felt that the author shared an overabundance of accumulated misdeeds of discrimination (in Toronto) and the impact of them lost steam. Yes, I have lived first hand with 'being' an outsider and cultural norms of responsibility to family can be painful too. I wish the author could have spoken to that side of it. Perhaps a second book is warranted.

For a deeper look into the history on resistance to authoritarianism as faced by east Indians, this is a good overview, but as a long time #canadian a more balanced approach would have been more appealing (and less unsettling). 

In spite of my star rating, I would still recommend this book to anyone interested in colonization and how it effected those involved.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #PenguinRandomHouseCanada for this early copy.

The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict and Victoria C. Murray is my next book.

It's hot and smoky here, no better time to sit indoors and read.


 

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