WOW!!!!! Hooked from the first page and read this book in one sitting… I enjoyed it so much
Thanks netgalley.co.uk for share this book with me

Generational stories are simply some of the best stories as the very nature of who we are and the impact on that from previous generations of choices and decisions is always fascinating to explore in fiction. I found the characters hard to connect with and the pace wasn't quite there for me but the depth of history and sense of place were brilliant. Would recommend.

This story was very detailed, which it needed to be, but sometimes hard to keep up with but still a wonderful story of good coming out of bad. This is not normally my genre so glad that I took a chance as I learnt a great deal from it. It was very sensitively told. A great read. Stick with it. It is worth it

A multi-generational saga of a Ugandan-Asian family. Weirdly Amazon lists it as a “perfect summer read” – well, hardly. It’s a poignant and moving account of hardship, exile, displacement and loss, an ambitious novel which the author handles with some aplomb. We start with teenage Pirbhai’s abduction from Gujarat at the end of the 19th century to work as indentured labour on the colonial Kenyan railway. From this inauspicious beginning he manages to find a new family and achieve some success in Uganda. Then comes Idi Amin’s expulsion of all Uganda Asians – I remember this event well – and we follow the family to a new life in Canada. This is the first novel I have read about this experience and I very much enjoyed it, and, perhaps more importantly, learnt a lot from it. The writing is skilful and, I think, well-paced although I have noted that some readers found it too slow. However, this slow pace gives readers time to immerse themselves in the family’s plight and so I found it a wise narrative choice. Highly recommended.

I love multi-generational stories, but at times I find it hard to connect with the characters. The premise and content of this book are amazing and truly fascinating, but I wish I could have found a deeper connection with the characters.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book, I got a quarter of the way through and felt overwhelmed by its length and slow pace.
I have read other reviews of this and may come back to it at a later date.
The mixing of Indian words without explanations was frustrating, especially regarding food. A lot of similar names made the book authentic but again somewhat hard to differentiate.
Thank you to. NetGalley and Janika.

Janika Oza's debut novel, "A History of Burning," traces three generations of a Gujarati family's journey through the tumultuous events of the 20th century. From Pirbhai's forced labor on the Kenyan railway to the family's relocation due to political upheavals in Uganda, the narrative unfolds with meticulous research. Oza skillfully portrays the emotional toll of exile, loss of community, and the impact of British colonialism. Despite the hardships, the novel celebrates resilience, with strong female characters and a theme of inherited hope, or "fire in the belly." Oza's insightful exploration acknowledges the complexities of racism and colonialism. In the end, the story emphasizes the family's enduring strength and the importance of speaking up for change.

I found this to be a very slow but worthwhile read.. The use of many Indian words particularly in describing clothing and food made this a difficult read at times but overall the story of an Indian families travels from India to Uganda and then forcibly moved on by Idi Amin is interesting and informative. Living in Leicestershire, the final home of many Ugandan Asians,this novel gave me some insight into the troubles and heartaches the families endured. The families in this novel are hard working and at all times aspiring to improve their lot traits that are obvious to anyone living in Leicestershire.

I was excited to read this book. Growing up in Kenya and having toured Uganda, I had heard a lot about the country and its history. I was curious to read a book set in a familiar place and I must say, this really did meet my expectations in that aspect. I didn't know about the extent of the horrors leading up to expulsion of Indians from Uganda. This is one of the things that the book drew my attention to and since closing the last page, I have been scouring the internet for more details on this part of history.

When it comes to the characters, I did enjoy Pirbhai's story from the start. However, I am not a huge fan of multi-generational narratives and so I got lost a couple of times though everything else in the narrative kept me going. The time jumps also threw me off a couple of times I was also invested in the plight of his descendants and the tribulations they underwent.

What a poignant, important read!

I enjoyed aspects of this book. Learning more about the world that the characters were living in, getting to know each person, learning about their lives and who they are. I was so enthusiastic when I started it. I was intrigued by Pirbhai and his fate as he was taken to Africa to start a new life. But I was expecting the story to be his life, a story about him. Instead it took twists and turns through his children’s and grandchildren, until I gave up reading because I didn’t know where the story was going and it didn’t feel like there was going to be an end. Maybe one day I will pick it up again but for now I am struggling to finish. It feels like too many people’s stories happening one after the other and I don’t really like that. I like a clearly defined story, a beginning, a middle and an end. Not a beginning, a middle, someone else’s beginning, then the middle, then someone else’s beginning, then the middle. Then the end of the first person’s story. For me reading is reading about a part of a persons life, not their whole life, and the lives of everyone around them. It feels too big for me. The writing of this book is technically great, it’s well written in terms of the formation of sentences. I just long for a more defined story that feels like it’s going to reach a conclusion.

“Time was flattening before her. She had already left once. She had already escaped. How many times could a person be made to endure? But she was a mother now. At last she understood her parents' sacrifice, which she had once thought a betrayal. You persisted for those who you loved. For her children, she would do the same”.

TW: racism, soldier brutality, death.

I have never read such an incredible multi-generational novel like A History of Burning. The secrets, trauma, sacrifice and the pursuit of survival against all odds was overpowering, with an astounding level of fleshing out both plot and characters for every new branch of the family. A simple book review can not do justice to the layers uncovered through this book, but at worst, they can shed light on a true gem.

“He had been impenetrable, so polished. She had believed so fully in the idea of him that she’d overlooked what lay beneath. She had thought nothing could break them. But he was just a man”.

The story follows Pirbhai’s generational line through several generations, spanning from the indentured servitude of Indians in Uganda during the British rule of the country, into England and Canada. The story is quite jumpy and requires the reader to pay special attention for fear of missing anything. It’s not an easy read physically or emotionally, but it feels apt. I was shocked with how many twists transpired, but the style of writing lent itself well to bringing the reader into the plot and I found myself tearing up and grieving with the family, pondering over the events that rolled out long after putting down the book.

“In the evenings she rolled Harilal’s clothes into little cylinders, disappeared his toys one by one. They saw this and thought she was okay, she was grieving, moving forward. They thought she was simmering, cooling. But they didn’t know. They couldn’t see. That it didn’t matter. That already, she was sitting on fire”.

Each generation are plagued by current events going on in the wider social sphere combined with their own personal challenges tied into a lack of roots, ranging from the expulsion of the Indian citizens in Uganda under Idi Amin’s rule, to covert racism in Canada where accents are mistaken for ignorance and scenarios where sexuality needs to be hidden for the purpose of papers and security in an otherwise unstable world. The author masterfully navigates these battles without placing greater importance on any and recognising the weight of the negative impacts of the constant upheaval of the entire family.

“Rajni backed away until she could no longer see him, holding herself apart, knowing that love, like fire, needed oxygen to survive.”

I adored this story, thank you NetGalley for the Arc.

I love books that teach me something about a part of history that I'd not heard of before, I often feel ashamed of myself for being ignorant on so many important, dramatic events and eras.. this story includesd. It's epic, emotional it's detailed and incredibly well researched. Hats off to the author

I really enjoy stories that span several generations, and this was no exception. It was heartbreaking, as I couldn't help myself from getting attached to the characters. They experienced so many painful events that honestly were quite emotional to read. This also made me more aware of the Indian communities in East Africa. I had no knowledge of it before, but I am glad to know more about it know. Definitely looking forward to Janika Oza's other books.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a true epic of a novel, spanning over a hundred years of one family's history. I have South Asian family from Uganda so am always interested in how the history of this time is portrayed, and this was particularly visceral. However, the timelines intertwined cleverly and the narrative built to a satisfying conclusion. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to learn about this period of history.

An account of life under Idi Amin


Pirbhai is only thirteen when he is taken across the sea to East Africa on a vague promise of work. He grows up fast, and when he meets fierce, loyal Sonal, they know instantly they are one another's future.

A reminder of the terrible time that Indians had under the rule of Idi Amin. Will any of us ever forget what they went through to get out of the country alive?

Rony

Elite Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I found this book interesting , enlightening and emotional.I t was so well researched but not boring covering a huge period of time from 1898 until 1992. Following the trials and tribulations of one family over four generations was truly eye opening when seen against the backdrop of the society they grew up in. It definitely does not leave you thinking that the colonial era was one to be proud of.
.A highly recommended read

A devastating yet hopeful account of East Asian explosion from Uganda during Idi Amin’s reign. I live for an epic family saga, and historical fiction featuring a beautiful country I’ve been privileged enough to visit? even better!

A story that brought me to tears, filled me with love and made me burn with rage. I found it to be well written and well researched. I liked the author’s inclusion of personal context and skills in character development. I found it both educating and moving, which is a tough feat.

My only negative was that the time jumps seemed a little to abrupt. At times I was left confused and having to flick back and re-read to get my barings.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A young boy is fooled into travelling from India to Africa to assist in building the railroad. This novel follows that boy as he grows, meets his wife Sonal, also an immigrant, and his family through several generations. It truly is an epic story of family love and difficulties amid a background of immigration and racism. The heart of the story is the plight of the Asian community in Uganda as the country moves from British rule to independence to the Idi Amin regime.

I’d have happily given this book the full 5 stars except for a couple of issues. The language was very particular to the Asian and African communities and I spent a lot of time looking up the meaning of things. I was reading an ebook version but perhaps the physical copy has an explanation given. Secondly there were large chronological jumps in the story which I felt broke the rhythm and left me, the reader, wondering exactly how things might have happened in between.
All in all, well worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

An epic, multi-generational novel which spans the links between Uganda, India and Kenya, beginning at the turn of the century. It is a fascinating read about one family's fight for survival, Although I was very aware of the atrocities committed during Amin's reign, this book highlights the involvement and interference by the UK. It's hard to imagine having to flee your country once but to have to do it two or three times must have been soul destroying. I thought the book was insightful, hard hitting and very sad. Like other readers though, I was disappointed with the ending.