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First Fires

by Jinat Rehana Begum
$12.90
First Fires
First Fires

Intimate tales of family, heritage, and belonging.

"First Fires" might resonate with you if you're drawn to stories that explore the complexities of family dynamics and cultural heritage. It's the kind of book that offers a glimpse into personal narratives filled with deep-rooted traditions, generational voices, and the enduring impact of a parent's early influence. Jinat Rehana Begum weaves a tale that's likely to stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

First Fires

by Jinat Rehana Begum
$12.90
ISBN: 9789810950613
Authors: Jinat Rehana Begum
Publisher: Ethos Books
Date of Publication: 2015-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Drama
Related Topics: Literature, Asia, Asian Literature, Philosophy, Theatre
Goodreads rating: 3.2
(rated by 20 readers)

Description

Minutes after birth you held my head to your lips and whispered, “Difficulties are fires.” It came unbidden, unplanned. Your mother’s voice speaking through you. Ma would have been horrified. She would have accused you of being irresponsible. Failing in your first duty to me as a father. You never told anyone that you had whispered your mother’s words to me before the Azan except me. You couldn't wait to tell me. In the early seventies, a father defies the two-child policy in Singapore and insists on a third. He wants a second son to help protect his frail daughter Sarah. When another daughter is born, he breaks with Islamic tradition and whispers a personal mantra into the ears of his new-born daughter Sal. As she grows up, she hears her father repeat these words. Twenty-five years later, Sal loses her way as she struggles against the tide of pragmatism that surrounds her. As her family try desperately to look for her by sifting through their own memories of their lives together, Sal reaches out to her dead father and attempts to fight the fires within her.
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

 

Similar Reads

Intimate tales of family, heritage, and belonging.

"First Fires" might resonate with you if you're drawn to stories that explore the complexities of family dynamics and cultural heritage. It's the kind of book that offers a glimpse into personal narratives filled with deep-rooted traditions, generational voices, and the enduring impact of a parent's early influence. Jinat Rehana Begum weaves a tale that's likely to stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.