When it comes to books, I love to be proven wrong. My indie bookstore in town had this novel as the chosen book for this month’s group discussion and I was prepared to be let down. I hate to say it, but most popular fiction is not my preferred cup of tea. I was so happy I ignored my reservations about this novel and decided to read it because it’s a gem of a story that shines brightly despite the dark and complicated themes that reside within the pages.
What makes a good mother? Should we be forgiven for the mistakes of our past? Is family truly a congruent concept or is it merely a social construct, one that punishes individuals that dare to not conform with the family mores and ideals? All of these ethical questions and more are explored in Celeste Ng’s beautiful and deeply moving novel, Little Fires Everywhere.
I am extremely proud of Ms. Ng (pronounced “ing” as per her Twitter account) for writing such a hypnotic, excellently written novel that seamlessly blends in amazing characterization, wonderful use of setting, and an engaging, visceral plot that keeps you turning the pages, salivating for more. I highly recommend this novel for any fiction lover out there. It is definitely one of the best novels to come out in the past few recent years.
5/5 stars.