Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere

By Julia Padgett

Author Celeste Ngs Little Fires Everywhere follows two families and the brief, but significant, intermingling of their lives. On the surface, it seems to be a book that is about and for women. Do not be fooled; this is a book about life, the decisions we make, our passions, and what defines family.

There are moral issues that are worth exploration and contemplation. Ng does a wonderful job of refraining from judgement and presenting a picture of mothers, husbands, sons, daughters, and the various issues that arise in life. She pulls readers into a character-driven world and makes them care about, relate to, and cheer them on. Indeed, it would be a challenge for anyone to not be able to see a reflection of him/herself or a dear friend in at least one of the characters.

The two mothers on whom the book focuses are brilliant combinations of similarities and contrasts. Little Fires Everywhere starts with an act of destruction and tells the story of where that flicker of wild recklessness stems from, and how it can happen in the town of Shaker Heights. It is set in the glory days before cell phones, and some readers may feel a longing for the simplicity of the 90s.

Shaker Heights is a backdrop of normalcy and planning, and a lovely counterpoint to how sometimes life is messy. Ngs writing, her ability to let the story and characters speak for themselves, and her insight into some of the more complicated aspects of human nature make this an exceptional read for anyone.