Monday 11 March 2019

Book Review: HOME FIRES by Fiona Lowe



Title: Home Fires
Author: Fiona Lowe
Publisher: HQ Fiction
Read: February 2019
Expected publication: out now
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟1/2


Book Description:


When a lethal bushfire tore through Myrtle, nestled in Victoria's breathtaking Otway Ranges, the town's buildings - and the lives of its residents - were left as smouldering ash. For three women in particular, the fire fractured their lives and their relationships.

Eighteen months later, with the flurry of national attention long past, Myrtle stands restored, shiny and new. But is the outside polish just a veneer? Community stalwart Julie thinks tourism could bring back some financial stability to their little corner of the world and soon prods Claire, Bec and Sophie into joining her group. But the scar tissue of trauma runs deep, and as each woman exposes her secrets and faces the damage that day wrought, a shocking truth will emerge that will shake the town to its newly rebuilt foundations...


My musings:


I'm usually a thriller girl through and through, but when I'm on holidays I often crave a lighter, feel-good read. Lucky for me, HQ Fiction came to the rescue with this bookmail just before our last trip, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it whilst lying on a tropical island beach!

Home Fires tells the story of three women from a small community in Victoria's Otway ranges in the aftermath of a devastating bush fire that cost many lives and properties. 18 months later, the townsfolk are still struggling, trying to rebuild their lives. Each of the women have been affected by the fire in ways that left them feeling trapped. Claire, who lost both her parents in the fire and is aware of her new in-laws' constant disapproval of her, which causes friction in her marriage. Bec, whose husband was injured and disfigured in the fire, robbing her of any chance she may have had to leave her unhappy marriage. And Sophie, who had to assume the role of breadwinner when their house burned down and her husband lost his job. When these women join a project to help rebuild their community, there may be a chance of healing for each of them as well.


Lowe presents us with a rich cast of relatable and true to life characters that drove this story for me. I loved her insightful portrayal of a community in the aftermath of a disaster, which I can relate to very well, having lived through a similar event when our kids were little. It's the closest I've ever felt to death and some of the emotions Lowe describes brought back some powerful memories. It is also a very current and seasonal topic in Australia, with the reality of fires in various regions of this vast country raging as we speak. Lowe has done her research and has allowed her characters to speak out for the many victims of these natural disasters, who will have to live with the scars of their experiences and the aftermath of loss and devastation. I know from personal experience that this can make or break a community, which is also reflected in the story, as the group of women actively try to get the small township of Myrtle back on its feet.

One thing I particularly enjoyed is that Lowe also describes the feelings of women who have moved to Myrtle after the fires, and who are now living with the giant elephant in the room, always feeling like outsiders and afraid to “say the wrong thing” that may trigger bad memories for those who have lived through the tragedy.


Women’s fiction is not a genre I generally gravitate towards, but Lowe’s great story telling and her true-to-life characters made this one an enjoyable experience for me, and one that would make for many great discussion points. Whilst I felt that it was overall a feel-good read that did not focus on the tragedy of the fires but on the healing journey of each character involved, there are many topical issues that gave food for thought: PTSD, domestic violence, gender stereotypes ( in various guises), and the way people react to a tragedy – amongst others.  Lowe writes well, the story flows seamlessly and all characters are relatable and well-rounded, with personal backstories that add depth to this novel. Whilst I think that female readers will feel more drawn to the story than men, everyone wanting to get a realistic snapshot of community spirit and life in rural Australia may find that this book is exactly what they are looking for.




Thank you to HQ Fiction for the free copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

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