A History of Burning by Janika Oza

A book rarely feels more like an experience than a story, and “A History of Burning” is just that. Janika Oza’s novel traces a family through generations across India, Uganda, England, and Canada. The scope of the story is nothing short of impressive, starting in 1898 and ending in 1992; and yet, not a single sentence feels extraneous. Despite its length, this captivating novel provides depth to its characters and highlights significant historical events. With each chapter telling a story worth digesting, the book immerses the reader in almost a century's worth of life.

The novel opens with Pirbhai’s struggle to find a job in a small village in India. His life spirals when he is tricked into becoming a laborer on the East African Railway for the British. Pirbhai’s guilt for abandoning his family, intertwined with his actions under British orders, is written with such nuance and detail; it catapults the reader into witnessing how every decision impacts the future generations of Pirbhai’s family.

“’A History of Burning’ is a must-read,” praises guest reviewer @nehaxstitch, “especially for those who have not yet been exposed to the South Asian diaspora outside of the more commonly discussed locations, such as the United States, Canada, and England.”

The stories of Indian laborers’ unending work on the East African Railway, Idi Amin’s dictatorship, and the expulsion of South Asians from Uganda are explicitly outlined, and further historical events are implied. Viewing these events through the firsthand lens of the characters further proves Oza’s brilliance. Her writing is well-researched, illustrative, and enchanting.

See review on BrownGirlBookshelf here