This is a beautifully written moral nightmare of a book, set in the aftermath of a terrorist attack when emotions are running high. Three people's stories are intertwined as they try to balance their personal actions and opportunities for gain against the need to do the right thing for someone else's benefit.

The characters of Jivan, Lovely and PT Sir are well-drawn and very convincing in their portrayal and they are set in a very prescribed society where opportunities to succeed or move up don't always present themselves.

I really enjoyed the interplay of issues and characters, and the heartbreaking conclusion is haunting in its sadness and emptiness.

A heartbreaking but brilliant debut. The book focus on three strong characters all trying to better themselves. I don’t normally like books with politics in it but this worked so well and fitted the Indian background to the story. This was definitely an inspiring read

Wow what a debut! a brilliant and heart breaking novel set in contemporary India with three disparate characters trying to improve their lives with varying success. The author manages to weave hugely important issues such as politics, class, religion and justice into a page turning story .
Thank you to netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book

This is a tense and emotional read about Jivan, a Muslim girl from the slums who just wants to make a better life for herself when she is wrongly accused of a terrorist attack, becoming the central point of a swirl of anger and injustice. It follows her life in prison as the truth of what happened is replaced by people who have something to gain from rewriting her story. The novel is told from three main perspectives, Jivan, a schoolteacher who feels slighted by her lack of gratitude, and Lovely, a trans woman who desperately wants to become a famous actress. I liked that it was told this way, with the addition of interludes from other people surrounding the main characters, as the reasons people find to justify what they do to get what they want is a central part of this novel. Lovely’s voice in particular is really strong and her arc was the most interesting to me. The plot is propulsive and the structure makes it very easy to read, although I would have appreciated more time spent with each character and on each plot point so I could properly reflect on what was happening and get to know the characters better. The writing wasn’t particularly impressive until the second half, when there are some incredibly striking images and beautifully-worded moments that made me stop and read them again. Not a new favourite but definitely worth the read for the interesting story and fresh perspective on political advancement, fame and scapegoating.

After finishing this book, I kept thinking about the title and how clever it is in retrospect. It encapsulates so much of what this book is about. The characters display burning ambition, there is a literal burning of bodies on a train following a terrorist attack and there is a metaphoric burning that society demands as penance for the horrific act of violence that has taken place in their community

In A Burning we read from the perspectives of three main characters. Lovely - a trans woman who aspires to be a famous actress, PT Sir - a PE teacher who finds himself consumed by a political movement and Jivan - a shop worker who is accused of colluding with terrorists and contributing to an attack on a train which sees dozens killed. My favourite perspective to read from was definitely Lovely's. She is unapologetically herself and while some may find her voice jarring as she speaks in a broken form of English, I thought it conveyed an innocence and naivety which was endearing. Javin's story was hard to read but sends an important message of how powerless poor people, especially poor women, can be in a system not designed to benefit them. PT Sir, although on the surface a rather odious character, holds understandable notions when taken in context. He is a teacher who is not particularly well paid or respected and I could see how putting aside his morals in order to gain status would appear to be a fair exchange.
Through these three different, loosely connected characters we see how one event can have a life-altering impact on those who are seemingly on the side lines. A theme that came through strongly as well throughout the novel was the gap between the story we tell of our own lives and the story that others would tell about us.
This was a quick read but no less impactful for being so. The characters and their voices are distinct and I could have easily read a full novel from any one of their perspectives.

Wow, this was a roller-coaster of emotions. I found myself frightened, scared and constantly guessing throughout this book! I was desperate to get to the end! Beautifully written. Would recommend.

This triad narrative follows the aftermath of a terrorist attack near a train station in the Kolkata slum. Jivan, a young Muslim woman, comments ‘If the police didn’t help ordinary people like you and me, if the police watched them die, doesn’t that mean that the government is also a terrorist?’ on a Facebook video of the event. As a result, she finds herself in a cell and on trial. A trial which if she loses; she'll die. Her pleads of innocence are questioned as those in her community accuse her of speaking ill of her country, seeing her with terrorist supplies, and ultimately demanding justice.

Jivan's story is interwoven with that of her former PE teacher—PT Sir, who forgoes his morals for the affection of a right-wing political party - and Lovely—the inspiring trans actress she used to tutor. Lovely holds the alibi that can set Jivan free, but telling the truth will cost her everything she holds dear including a shot at a blockbuster movie.

The technique of patching together of alternating perspectives provides presence and weight to the events. Jivan's trial is the ultimate catalyst for the unfolding of the events which all ultimately tether together in some way to form an all-engulfing fire that sets the three characters' worlds ablaze.

This is an incredibly thought-provoking and poignant look at the themes of ambition, truth, gender, religion and class. It's electrifying and challenging from the offset with a taut sense of injustice and corruption throughout.

An overarching theme of fear and ambition to rise above oneself are the driving forces behind each of the characters' motives and action. There is a heavy theme of political ambition in PT Sir's arc which I was unsuspecting of, but it provided a fascinating look at the consequences of harrowing circumstances, a taste of power and lying for personal gain. Whilst Lovely's story shows the struggle of ambition in Contemporary India, within a landscape she doesn't fit in with people who don't understand. Both Lovely and PT Sir question their own morals, values and human compassion during their opportunities to advance their own livelihoods and career. It's a spectacular take on how marginalized groups will often be forced to take any opportunity to succeed.

High strung with tension this is an electrifying read and a transfixing look at fate and injustice. It's a potent statement that whilst words have the power to provide opportunity and invoke hope, they can also hold the equilibrium between life and death.

A burning tells the story of personal benefit versus doing what we know is right. The story is told from three separate points of view: Jivan, a teenage girl who lives in a Kolkata slum; Lovely, a hijra whose dream is to become an actress; and PT Sir, Jivan’s gym teacher who joins a rising Hindu party movement. By a cruel twist Jivans fate becomes juxtaposed with that of Lovely and PT Sir. This story is heart wrenching, each person is deeply flawed yet their point of view can be understand. Highly recommended.

The blurb made me think this is exactly my kind of book, and the proof was in the reading.

The plotting is pacy and clever, and the use of three different character voices is both appropriate for the narrative and sneakily compelling - it's hard to stop reading, even if you have planned to ("just one more section ... ").

I particularly loved the characterisation of the three voices. The linguistic distinctiveness of each is delightful. Of course my favourite character is Lovely, an irrepressibly optimistic Hijra trying to make it in the movie business. PT Sir is a fascinating character study - less likeable, but painfully sympathetic. In many ways Jivan, who performs the inciting incident (the Facebook comment), is the least interesting character, perhaps because after this gesture she is mainly acted-upon rather than acting.

4.5/5 stars

Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK, Scribner UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

Megha Majumdar's debut, A Burning, is set in modern Kolkata, and alternates between the perspectives of three characters: Jivan, a young Muslim woman falsely accused of being involved in a terrorist attack; Lovely, a hijra who longs to be an actress and who has been learning English from Jivan; and PT Sir, Jivan's former teacher, who is now becoming dangerously involved with a nationalist political party who want to use Jivan as a scapegoat. All three characters use, and are used, by social media. Jivan was originally ensnared by the police after posting an angry Facebook status criticising the government, PT Sir uses YouTube to spread the word about the party he works for, while Lovely is delighted when a video of her goes viral.

A Burning is emotionally moving, but I found it disappointingly thin. All three of the protagonists are relatively one-dimensional, with Jivan defined by her wronged innocence, Lovely by her sassy narration, and PT Sir as the typical social climber seduced by the opportunity of power. The quick switches between them make the novel a swift read but also reinforce the impression that it's only skating over the surface of these political injustices. Majumdar also breaks away from her three central narrators when she needs to - for example, there are brief snatches from the point of view of Jivan's parents - which means that the novel ends up spelling out things that it doesn't really need to, slipping into a mode of storytelling that is more common in YA than in adult fiction. Ultimately, I wished that Majumdar had had the confidence to leave more unsaid.

“A Burning” by Megha Majumdar
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My first Book Review of 2021 and what a stunning debut to kick start the new year.
⭐️
I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. And not at all too premature of me to rank this in my ‘Top READS of 2021’ box. No sireee
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A young woman Muslim woman in Kolkata - Jivan is accused of a terrorist attack at a railway station near the slum where she lives.
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An innocent post on Facebook the same night “If the police didn’t help ordinary people like you and me, if the police watched them die, doesn’t that mean the government is also a terrorist?” Changes her life forever.
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Witnesses claim they saw her the night of the attack. Worst still are rumours that the person she has been chatting to on Facebook is a well known terrorist recruiter. Jivan is arrested and sent to jail to await her fait.
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Her only hope of freedom lies in the hands of P.E (Sports Teacher) PT Sir and Lovely - a budding actor who is mocked locally for being a misfit simply because she is a young Hijra (a class of intersex and transgender people in India). Up until being arrested, Jivan had been giving English lessons to Lovely.
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Can they vouch for Jivan? Can they save her from execution.
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You’ll have to read this book to find out….
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‘The Burning’ is a book that boils up so many issues.
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Poverty.
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Social aspiration.
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And lastly and perhaps the biggest thorn in all of this - Morals. Both PT Sir and Lovely are on the way up in both their chosen paths - politics for PT Sir and the big lights fame through acting for Lovely. Will they risk all to help Jivan?
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My favourite character was by far Lovely - simply because she is just so damn funny. And also shes a misfit. I’m a huge fan of the underdog. Always.
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And that is as much as I’m going to say on this book.
⭐️
What a book. What a debut.
⭐️
Buy this book and let me know what you think.

Wow. Just Wow. I dont even know where to start. First thanks to Simon & Schuster for the ARC - I finished it in one sitting!

This story is so real and so sad and so relentless. Jivan is a young girl who makes a stupid comment on facebook (havent we all?) and is then accused of aiding a terrorist plot and taken to jail. The story takes us through her imprisonment, court case and the aftermath. It also introduces us to a wealth of characters that she interacted with. PT Sir was a former teacher of hers who fuelled with petty resentments and political ambition, leverages Jivan's plight to push his nationlist agenda. Lovely is a Hijra - in this case seen a s a transgender woman (who is also revered as having a close connection to divinity). She is an aspiring actress who was being tutuored by Jivan on how to speak English. She is initially a staunch defender of Jivan but lverages the publicity of the case to push her acting career.

Another main character in this book is the might of the state. There are several interludes and sub plots where we see how poor people are marginalised - like the case of 2 men being charged to enter a new mall (a tactic designed to keep poor people our), or how a moslem family is killed in a village because a cow goes missing, and ofcourse how Jivan is treated. I've read articles about the rise of nationalism in India and how thats creating religious tensions and how women are raped or molested - which are themes you see reflected in this book.

The author does a very deft job of tackling the issues and the characters who all have issues and are morally ambiguous. Even Jivan who is innocent of her charges isnt completely pure - what she is, is young and you cant help but think her actions would have very different consequences in oher countries. I always enjoy reading books with morally grey characters but in this case you also have a view of the unfairness of the world which is what makes it very real for me as there's nothing that can be done about it and not everyone gets their comeuppance. Jivan remains ever hopeful whilst the people who you would think will support her are corrupted or bought in different ways.

I would love to read an Indian person's take on this and how realistic the portrayal is. I really enjoyed this - the end finished me but I loved it. Excellent book and highly recommended from me.

A Burning is a powerful, ambitious novel by a wonderfully talented writer. The novel is centred around the perspectives of three characters in modern India, each tied together through ambition, government corruption and political gain. It is a quick read but not necessarily an easy read, and the destructive power of social media is present from start to finish, A Burning is a tragic, compelling novel that managed to move me in fewer than 300 pages.

Jivan, PT Sir and Lovely's lives intersect in this lively and thought-provoking novel of politics and modern life. For Jivan, we question what happens when a Facebook post can lead to incarceration? For PT Sir, we ask what happens when people trick themselves into believing that corruption is fine. For Lovely we ask what would we all do when given the chance to succeed against the odds, and to rise despite our lifetime of being barred from the life we want?

The personal is the political and the political is pretty grim. I'm not sure enjoy is the right term for this novel, but I did race through it. All three narrators are well-written and offer a lot of scope for readers to think about the issues at hand. Not all of these characters can win. Their rise and fall is connected. This could have been slightly more nuanced but ultimately, I found this a useful way to link the stories and bring us to the conclusion.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jivan is wrongly imprisoned when she is accused of assisting a terrorism plot. Her fight for justice touches many people's lives including Lovely, a student of Jivan, and PT Sir her old teacher. We follow all their journeys as a corrupt political agenda threatens them all.

I really enjoyed the political storyline throughout this and loved how we got to see the both sides. Those who heavily support it and those against. I also liked how this highlighted just how easy it is to be swept up in the moment until you're in over your head.

This has great representation and I liked how it tackled issues such as prejudice, class and corruption.

I wish the story was slightly more linear as it did become a bit confusing to follow in certain areas as we jumped from perspective to perspective.

This is a great debut and I would definitely be interested in reading more from Majumdar in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for providing me with a copy to review.

This is a difficult book to read because of the subject matter, but the writing is cleverly done. Each character has a distinct voice, and even though each chapter is prefaced with the name of the POV character, it almost doesn't feel necessary. I'd recognize Lovely's use of language easily, and the way the sentences were structured reminded me of the time I spent living in the Arab Gulf states. There are a lot of immigrant workers there, most of them from India, and I could almost hear Lovely speaking to me in that same rhythmic way.

The story isn't really about one thing in particular but feels more like a snapshot of the difficulties faced by normal people in India. It rings true to me even though I've never been there, because I recognize the same issues from having lived in a different developing country, where freedom of speech is lip service and an ill-conceived social media post can absolutely land you in prison. I'm sure more people will feel the truth in this, and it makes the book powerful in a way I wouldn't have expected, considering it's less than 300 pages.

The choice of words feels very purposeful sometimes. I think PT Sir is an excellent example of this. His POV is the only one written in third person, and he's the only character without a name. I found myself wondering if this was because he represents the average person, someone not important enough to be known by name in the grand scheme of things, even though all he wants is to matter. Definitely a lot of food for thought.

I do think the middle part dragged a bit compared to the beginning and end, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Definitely worth reading.

A Burning is an absolutely outstanding debut with three distinct narratives, it is hard to believe that something written this beautifully is a debut.

Set in modern day India, the book follows Jivan, Lovely and PT Sir with alternating chapters for each character's story. The three characters are so instantly recognisable and authentic. Like many, Lovely was my favourite character and I found myself truly rooting for her the whole way through. Majumdar manages to weave so many topics and issues in to a relatively short novel and nothing felt rushed or unrealistic.

I would highly recommend this to anyone and I would add that the audiobook truly added to the richness of the experience (I would rate the audiobook 5 stars).

Note: there are some trigger warnings for A Burning that should be noted.

Although I just finished this one, I can feel that the effects of it will linger with me for a while.

We follow the ordinary lives of Jivan, Lovely and PT Sir. Lives that all swerve on their paths and make unexpected turns.

This isn't just another tale about some people in India, but rather a tale that zooms in on the lives of people who nobody talks about. The ordinary people. The yous and the mes! People who are affected by the politics and everyday decisions of those above them.

It covers everything from poverty, politics, ethics, family, progress, or the lack of it, corruption...

While the book talks quite a lot about politics, I don't think the politics overshadow the overall message of it, one that aims to demonstrate the hardships of life in India and how close politics and life are intertwined. What politics can do to a seemingly ordinary person.

In this society, classes do exist. There are people who barely have the means to live, who don't get the luxury of even going to school or having water in their houses. There's no justice and injustice here. There are circumstances and connections that either go to your advantage or disadvantage.

This isn't a game or a lie, this is reality. These are three characters that come from different backgrounds but represent just some of the people who are affected by life like this. Some will sell their morals for a better fridge, some will forget about their close ones for a better role in a movie, and some will pay with their life for someone else's crime. Point being, everyone has to take care of themselves, because nobody else will help them. And if you want to stand a chance of a normal life, you are bound to step over someone, close your eyes and pretend like you didn't. You are forced into this whether you want it or not. You have no choice even though you are told that you do have one.

The author doesn't shy away from painting this picture for us. It might even sound bizarre or exaggerated to some, but it's real. This isn't an easy story to read. It just isn't. The end really felt like a punch in my gut.

Writing style: There's a lot of usage of Present Continuous which initially confused me. I went back and forth between being confused and detached and just plain liking and understanding the writing. But by the time the book finished I completely and wholly understand the purpose of it. The writing style provides a unique tone and voice to all of the characters and shapes this into the unique story that it is.

In terms of characters, nothing was missing. They were all introduced with enough details from the past and present so that we understood who they were, and who they are now and where they could possibly go in the future.

I think this is a necessary read, and a unique book with a unique perspective that I haven't been faced with before. I suggest you look into it to get a better glimpse of what life looks like for ordinary people in India, and the kind of things that happen there, which we think in our little comfortable bubbles are just tales are fiction. A Burning may be fiction, but that doesn't deny the reality of what it talks about.

I honestly can’t believe that this book is a debut. It’s written with such beauty, honesty and heart, that you would think Majumdar had been writing for decades. An ambitious debut novel, with a wonderful plot by a writer with a lot to offer.

The story of 3 lives intersecting. Majumdar takes major risks with a multi-perspective, voice driven novel whose politics often occur in the background, but her excellent plotting abilities kept me turning the page. This novel gets you thinking. It makes you consider the power your words have. Words can be twisted, they can form a lie, they can tell the truth, they can provide freedom, or cause death.

“Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham = Somtimes Happiness Sometimes Sorrow.”

“A Burning” is a cautionary tale for those who claim politics has no place in their lives. Majumdar ties the private terrors of ‘inconsequential’ people to the larger forces pulsing through India. She lays bare many issues, and keeps you reading when you most want to turn away.

This book is short and concise, but reads like an epic.

My first book to review this year and what a way to start.
I was immediately drawn into the world of Jivan and how now by the press of finger on Facebook the corruption and false statements that circle not only social media but the politics and power of India seek to destroy her hopes. Also how her friend Lovely is dreaming beyond the hostility of her parents and those who refer to us one of 'uglies' because of her hopes to be an actress and that the position of hijrah will move to one of exalted praise in the big bucks of Bollywood. Then finally, although the most corrupt the character of PT Sir, the lame insignificant teacher who becomes drawn politics and whose sense of the 'real patriotism' also encircles him in false hopes but a better lifestyle.
This is a wonderful collision of three strong characters and associated people included in their lives. I particularly liked Amercandi in the women's jail and Jivan's parents. The author weaves the tastes and smells of Indian food within the depths of poverty and despair to the elite higher echelons of government. In its own way food goes beyond strengthening and sustaining the mind but showing how its rituals can endure despite the worst conditions of humanity. Also the festivals the lights and the religion - intoxicating and then threatening.
I would probably not have been drawn to this novel and expected none of the perceptive and emotional roller coaster on which I travelled to the last tearful pages. Contemporary India with its past and its present horrors and beauties of all types be it in human form or on the side food stalls bring the whole novel to life in a stunning fashion.
Wonderful read. First of 2021 and already a 5 * winner.