There's always been a certain problem reading a novel after you've seen a dramatisation of it: a certain set of expectations are inevitably embedded, and so it was with Little Fires Everywhere. It's not just knowing the plot, but the making of comparisons: which parts were better in which version. Have no doubt, Ng writes superbly, and the omniscient narrator style suits this novel perfectly. Her use of simile is also deft. If I knew nothing prior to encountering Little Fires, I would have raved about its contrast of order and privilege with freedom and hardship (Elena versus Mia). The ethics of adoption and what makes someone a good/responsible parent are also fascinating. However, most credit perhaps goes to the author of the screen version. I felt the novel was let down most so by the inadequate development of Izzy's character; sure, she is misunderstood, but would she really start a fire? I felt the Richardson children's complicity in the film version was a neater/more convincing outcome. Ultimately, there are evident limitations to both the Richardson and Warren lifestyles/choices. 8/10.
By Celeste Ng