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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
This was a book that I picked up and put down over the course of 4-5 months but was ultimately pleased to finish. It is not that I disliked the story or the writing, it took me so long simply because it is a "slice of life" story that, in my opinion, almost encourages a meandering approach to its consumption. I became quite fond of Nazneen and enjoyed returning to this book each time; however, it is not what I would call a "gripping" read. Each time I re-opened the book I felt like I was re-opening the door into Nazneen's life, able to pick up where I left off with little issue. It was comfortable, welcoming. I would recommend this book but not if you are someone who prefers a fast-paced and/or action-packed plot.
28% percent into the book I failed to identify with any of the characters and felt like the book was going nowhere. I don't have time for this.
Ali weaves a subtle narrative that explodes like Nazneen's life. Racism, disillusionment, free will vs predestination -- Ali tackles some huge topics without breaking a sweat.
This was a lovely story of a woman finding her own voice as a Bangladeshi immigrant wife in London. The themes of motherhood, marriage, sisterhood, female friendships, and romantic love were all intertwined in one story. The ending was very satisfying. However, sometimes I felt a little bored with the slow pace of the writing - I think if I were older I would appreciate the nuances of her life a bit better.
This book is very well written, but incredibly hard to get through. It captures how trapped these people are in their lives so well that it's painful to read. Short listed for the Booker Prize.
Read my full review here:
https://tessasworldofthings.blogspot.de/2017/03/brick-lane-by-monica-ali.html
This book follows Nazneen, a Bangladeshi woman, who was forced into an arranged marriage with a considerably older man, Chanu. She and her husband immigrate to England, more precisely London, when she was only 18, in order to find a better and wealthier life. Chanu, being a well-educated man, is gone to work every day, leaving his wife at home. With no knowledge of the language or the culture, Nazneen has to find her way through the urban jungle.
When her first son is given and then taken by fate, when her sister, who ran away for a love marriage in Bangladesh, tells her about her struggles, Nazneen relies on her fate to show her the right path. She gives birth to two daughters, their oldest turning into a modern, English teenager, but Chanu can only think of going back to Bangladesh, because there he will be treated with more respect than by the English. In order to raise enough money for their trip back home, Chanu gets Nazneen a job as a seamstress. While working she meets Karim, a fellow Bangladeshi, who, for the first time in her life, makes her realize how passion and love can feel like. At this point Nazneen has to decide: Will she stand by and let fate decide how her life will go on, or will she take action.
One of this books comments, you know, the quotes from newspapers on the book covers and such, says (from Observer) "richly complex characters". There are no richly complex characters. Nazneen doesn't do anything. She's incredibly unhappy with her life, but she just doesn't feel like doing anything against it, because apparently she's fine with it. Since her fate decided. This book of 492 pages revolves around a character, that has no individual thought, that doesn't take action, that is entirely passive and repeats stories about her childhood that probably are supposed to have some deeper, more thoughtful meaning, but are entirely lost on me. Or maybe they don't and Ali just wanted to fill a few pages. Much more interesting is Nazneen's sister Hasina, you know, the one who ran away to get married because she was in love, the one who takes action, struggling and fighting... She writes letters to Nazneen, and when you read the book, you read the letters. For reasons I can't decipher, Ali decided to write these letters in ridiculously broken English. One, I doubt that Hasina would write in English to her sister, but rather use her native tongue, so Two, I don't think that Hasina is incapable of speaking her own language. So, why on earth would Ali represent her in such a horrible way? She's the only character that's sort of raising some fascination, and calling anything in this book fascinating would be a complete overstatement. Chanu, one of two men in this book, is the most annoying man I've ever read about. Such a talker, jeez! And of course no matter what he didn't accomplish, it's always somebody else's fault. It might be because he never walks the talk, but hey, just guessing here.
I didn't like this book. At all. It took me incredibly long to reach the last fifty pages or so, when finally something is happening and Nazneen finally does something, but then I already trudged through the rest of the 380 pages..
https://tessasworldofthings.blogspot.de/2017/03/brick-lane-by-monica-ali.html
This book follows Nazneen, a Bangladeshi woman, who was forced into an arranged marriage with a considerably older man, Chanu. She and her husband immigrate to England, more precisely London, when she was only 18, in order to find a better and wealthier life. Chanu, being a well-educated man, is gone to work every day, leaving his wife at home. With no knowledge of the language or the culture, Nazneen has to find her way through the urban jungle.
When her first son is given and then taken by fate, when her sister, who ran away for a love marriage in Bangladesh, tells her about her struggles, Nazneen relies on her fate to show her the right path. She gives birth to two daughters, their oldest turning into a modern, English teenager, but Chanu can only think of going back to Bangladesh, because there he will be treated with more respect than by the English. In order to raise enough money for their trip back home, Chanu gets Nazneen a job as a seamstress. While working she meets Karim, a fellow Bangladeshi, who, for the first time in her life, makes her realize how passion and love can feel like. At this point Nazneen has to decide: Will she stand by and let fate decide how her life will go on, or will she take action.
One of this books comments, you know, the quotes from newspapers on the book covers and such, says (from Observer) "richly complex characters". There are no richly complex characters. Nazneen doesn't do anything. She's incredibly unhappy with her life, but she just doesn't feel like doing anything against it, because apparently she's fine with it. Since her fate decided. This book of 492 pages revolves around a character, that has no individual thought, that doesn't take action, that is entirely passive and repeats stories about her childhood that probably are supposed to have some deeper, more thoughtful meaning, but are entirely lost on me. Or maybe they don't and Ali just wanted to fill a few pages. Much more interesting is Nazneen's sister Hasina, you know, the one who ran away to get married because she was in love, the one who takes action, struggling and fighting... She writes letters to Nazneen, and when you read the book, you read the letters. For reasons I can't decipher, Ali decided to write these letters in ridiculously broken English. One, I doubt that Hasina would write in English to her sister, but rather use her native tongue, so Two, I don't think that Hasina is incapable of speaking her own language. So, why on earth would Ali represent her in such a horrible way? She's the only character that's sort of raising some fascination, and calling anything in this book fascinating would be a complete overstatement. Chanu, one of two men in this book, is the most annoying man I've ever read about. Such a talker, jeez! And of course no matter what he didn't accomplish, it's always somebody else's fault. It might be because he never walks the talk, but hey, just guessing here.
I didn't like this book. At all. It took me incredibly long to reach the last fifty pages or so, when finally something is happening and Nazneen finally does something, but then I already trudged through the rest of the 380 pages..
The story was slow to start, but about halfway through it became interesting and I was hooked. The characters evolve slowly, but I get the impression that as I read more, they learn more about themselves, and I discover more about them. Like any typical relationship. It ended a little abruptly, and with little conclusion. But I guess that's how life usually is.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and was happy that I read it.
Overall, I enjoyed the characters and was happy that I read it.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Great
Monica Ali's novel is a brilliant family drama that also serves as a portrait of London. It's funny and sharp and very touching.
Monica Ali's novel is a brilliant family drama that also serves as a portrait of London. It's funny and sharp and very touching.
I had to push through Brick Lane in bits and pieces, partly due to time, partly because it didn't hold my interest. In the end though it became quite the page turner - I was so anxious to find out how it ended.