Celeste Ng
Average rating: 8.5333
Highest rating: 9.25
Lowest rating: 7.5
Number of voters: 6
Percentage of voters who finished the book: 100
In case you're wondering: The title is literal. Little Fires Everywhere blazes out of the starting gate with the burning of the Richardson home, with literal fires everywhere. From there, the novel is a retrospective of how a thousand tiny sparks burst into a thousand figurative fires that ignite a teenage girl's desire to burn down her own house.
Also in case you're wondering: I haven't spoiled anything by telling you how it all ends. One of the joys of Ng's writing is that even when you know how it ends—maybe because you know how it ends—you want to know how the author and the characters will get there.
And it's quite the journey. Touching on issues of privilege, race, and class, Ng focuses most tightly on what makes a mother. (Hint: There are many ways to be a mother. Also: There are many way a mother can abandon her children.*)
Little Fires Everywhere isn't a perfect book. Some of us wanted more character development. Others felt the plot pushed believability in places. But in spite a few little flaws, Little Fires Everywhere is can't-put-it-down, harrowing tale of survival in the suburbs. No one walks away without getting singed.
*Quote credit to Emily! Again!
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