Title: Home Fires
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...
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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