- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (2 Mar 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747597073
- ISBN-13: 978-0747597070
- Product Dimensions: 23.8 x 15.8 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 344,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Burnt Shadows
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'In this brilliant book Kamila Shamsie opens a vista onto the century we have just lived through - pointing out its terror and its solace. She is so extraordinary a writer that she also offers hints about the century we are living through - the dark corners that contain challenges, as well as the path that leads to beauty's lair.' --Nadeem Aslam (author of Maps for Lost Lovers)
'Through its succession of seemingly disparate, acutely observed worlds, Burnt Shadows reveals the impact of shared histories, hinting at larger tragedies through individual loss'
--Maya Jaggi, The Guardian
`This is an unnervingly ambitious canvas, but the quality of Shamsie's writing swiftly draws you in and proves strong enough to carry it. A tremendous, impressive and thoroughly enjoyable book' --Daily Mail
'Through its succession of seemingly disparate, acutely observed worlds, Burnt Shadows reveals the impact of shared histories, hinting at larger tragedies through individual loss'
--Maya Jaggi, The Guardian
`This is an unnervingly ambitious canvas, but the quality of Shamsie's writing swiftly draws you in and proves strong enough to carry it. A tremendous, impressive and thoroughly enjoyable book' --Daily Mail
Review
'An absorbing novel that commands, in the reader, a powerful emotional and intellectual response Kamila Shamsie is a writer of immense strength' - Salman Rushdie 'A brilliant book she is so extraordinary a writer' - Nadeem Aslam 'I feel that I have travelled the world and spent the past six decades with Hiroko and her family. Burnt Shadows is a beautiful, beautiful book' - Tahmima Anam 'Audacious in its ambition, epic in its scope. One can only admire the huge advances she has made, and helped us to make, in understanding the new global tensions' - Anita Desai
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was bowled over by this book, beautifully written from page 1, it was quite simply, wonderful. I can also add that, having just returned from discussing the book at a book group - all 8 of us were unanimous in our praise.
It has a huge canvas - from Nagasaki in 1945, through Partition in India, the 9/11 bombing and war in Afghanistan. Along the way it covers a multitude of subjects. These include the long term effects of radiation damage, training camps for the Muhajideen and the suspicions that fell on Muslim citizens in the US after the Twin Towers were attacked.
The characters were well drawn and very cleverly interwoven through several generations and across three continents.
I can see why some reviewers felt it attempted too much, the second half is pretty eventful. However, for me, the sheer joy of the beautiful language and (not excessive) descriptions, held me transfixed.
Very highly recommended - this could be my favourite book this year!
It has a huge canvas - from Nagasaki in 1945, through Partition in India, the 9/11 bombing and war in Afghanistan. Along the way it covers a multitude of subjects. These include the long term effects of radiation damage, training camps for the Muhajideen and the suspicions that fell on Muslim citizens in the US after the Twin Towers were attacked.
The characters were well drawn and very cleverly interwoven through several generations and across three continents.
I can see why some reviewers felt it attempted too much, the second half is pretty eventful. However, for me, the sheer joy of the beautiful language and (not excessive) descriptions, held me transfixed.
Very highly recommended - this could be my favourite book this year!
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An ambitious yet easy read, Burnt Shadows is a book I find hard to place. Despite dealing with heavy issues of war and politics, there is something strangely leightweight about it. The storyline spans fifty years and a large swathe of the planet. It's original and interesting, but not entirely convincing. The characters are rather flat and it's hard to get emotionally involved. There's a lack of subtlety, the author falling foul of the old adage to 'show and not tell'.
I found the best sections of the book to be those in Pakistan, and the story's conclusion, which was rather courageous and had a twist I wouldn't have expected based on the rest of the novel. The author's attempt to link the topics of modern day Islamic extremism, the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and the British Raj and Partition, is certainly brave and deserving of credit.
Whilst I cannot rave about the book for the reasons described above, I did find it an intriguing read and although not gripped by it, it does move along at a good pace. It would actually be a good holiday read for those who can't bear very light fiction but don't want anything too demanding. Maybe the award nominations and back cover comments gave me overly high expectations; think of it as a historical romance with a literary bent and you're more likely to come away satisfied.
I found the best sections of the book to be those in Pakistan, and the story's conclusion, which was rather courageous and had a twist I wouldn't have expected based on the rest of the novel. The author's attempt to link the topics of modern day Islamic extremism, the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, and the British Raj and Partition, is certainly brave and deserving of credit.
Whilst I cannot rave about the book for the reasons described above, I did find it an intriguing read and although not gripped by it, it does move along at a good pace. It would actually be a good holiday read for those who can't bear very light fiction but don't want anything too demanding. Maybe the award nominations and back cover comments gave me overly high expectations; think of it as a historical romance with a literary bent and you're more likely to come away satisfied.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'Burnt Shadows' is set in three periods, 1947, 1983, 2001 and in several countries - Japan, Pakistan, Afghaistan and New York in particular, and traces the interconnections between the members of two families against the backdrop of major world events. This an involving and worthwhile read, and the ambition is laudable, but it falls down between too many stools. There seemed to be just too many characters, with little or no attempt to get under the skin of several of them. None of the Burtons convinced: both of the males were ciphers if not cliches, and nothing was made of Ilse's German origins,though the interaction of different nationalities and cultures is a major theme of the book. (I noticed that there were no German nor Japanese names amongst the individuals the author consulted). No particular insights seemed to be given into the major historical events that were encountered. The style seemed rather undistinguished, aspiring to 'fine writing' and imagery at times but often giving us clunky, unrhythmic, and poorly punctuated sentences. The evocation of different countries or cities was patchy, unsurprisingly better at Pakistan than elsewhere. However, Shamsie is an original devisor and manipulator of plots. The complex narrative moves along very efficiently - unlike some reviewers, I was especially gripped by the thriller-like final section and its surprising, if improbable, denoument. And there were a number of memorable images or epigrammatic remarks.
So, worth reading, but not superb, especially when compared with other writers on comparable territory - eg Nadeem Aslan, 'The Wasted Vigil'.
So, worth reading, but not superb, especially when compared with other writers on comparable territory - eg Nadeem Aslan, 'The Wasted Vigil'.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
You will not be disappointed
Some books you out down and walk away from and look for your next great read. Other books you put down and still need a day or two to fully digest and reflect. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Samarnold1975
A book you must read
This is an absolutely amazing book. Beautifully written and very thought provoking. I really didn't want it to finish where it did.
Published 6 months ago by ellieoakley
A poignant journey through recent world events
A poignant journey through fifty years of world events, as seen through the eyes of members of two inter-connected families and their experiences of language and culture; identity... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sally-W
A brilliant, thought-provoking read
Kamila Shamsie's novel "Burnt Shadows" is quite simply one of the best novels I've read this year. It's hugely ambitious in scope, taking in vast historical, geographical and... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Sofia
Moving Book
One of the best Book that I have recently read. Need only two pages to be completely absorbed by it. A pearl!
Published 9 months ago by Morgan
Marvellous, expansive story telling and beautifully drawn characters
I picked this up by chance, and was bowled over by the wide ranging story around a family dynasty.
Beautifully detailed characters to rival novels of generations by Amitav... Read more
Beautifully detailed characters to rival novels of generations by Amitav... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Hc Williams
Shadowy tale
Took this book out of the library after reading reviews in The Sunday Times I think it was. And I wasn't let down. Read more
Published 12 months ago by nickyb
Great story
Bought this because it was on special offer and the sample interested me. It takes the reader from Nagasaki in 1945 via India during partition to New York post 9/11, and follows... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mrs O
Way Too Ambitious
This book was ok to start with, quite liked the beginning of the book when the character was in Japan. I liked the description and the main characters at this point. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Louis
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
This is a well written and interesting book - from the time of the Atomic Bomb in Nagasaki to the current situation in Afghanistan. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Victoria Mackenzie
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