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amyvl93's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
You People is a novel that covers some serious and important topics, but was one I didn't ever quite find compelling enough to want to really pick up.
The novel is based around a pizza restaurant in London, where the staff are all people looking for a new start. The plot focuses in particular on waitress Nia, who has left her alcoholic mother behind in Wales, and chef Shan, who has fled war in Sri Lanka and is haunted by the guilt of not knowing what has happened to his wife and son. The restaurant is managed by Tuli, an enigmatic character with his fingers in many pies, and the other staff are all also migrants from various parts of the world.
There are some moments in the novel that really highlight, similar to The Beekeeper of Aleppo the experience of those seeking a new life in the UK, legally or not. The raids on businesses by Home Office staff are incredibly evocatively written. However, much of the novel is a bit of a plod through Nia trying to work out how she feels about Tuli's range of work and Shan's day-to-day life. The plot escalates quite dramatically over the final third of the novel and I was slightly unsure about how earned that felt.
Some interesting topics covered here, but there are many other novels that look at similar things in a slightly more accomplished way.
The novel is based around a pizza restaurant in London, where the staff are all people looking for a new start. The plot focuses in particular on waitress Nia, who has left her alcoholic mother behind in Wales, and chef Shan, who has fled war in Sri Lanka and is haunted by the guilt of not knowing what has happened to his wife and son. The restaurant is managed by Tuli, an enigmatic character with his fingers in many pies, and the other staff are all also migrants from various parts of the world.
There are some moments in the novel that really highlight, similar to The Beekeeper of Aleppo the experience of those seeking a new life in the UK, legally or not. The raids on businesses by Home Office staff are incredibly evocatively written. However, much of the novel is a bit of a plod through Nia trying to work out how she feels about Tuli's range of work and Shan's day-to-day life. The plot escalates quite dramatically over the final third of the novel and I was slightly unsure about how earned that felt.
Some interesting topics covered here, but there are many other novels that look at similar things in a slightly more accomplished way.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking, War, Alcoholism, Deportation, Domestic abuse, and Xenophobia
lostinthelibrary's review
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was just okay. I have read better books about the immigrant experience and the more interesting themes like the morality of Thuli and the motivations behind his work weren't really explored. Everything seemed quite rushed and surface level despite the important and tense topic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation and Trafficking
Moderate: Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Infidelity
kayliecelery's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Where do I start?
This book was so respectfully done and made me love all of the characters.
You follow two points of view throughout this book of Nia and Shan. Nia is a Welsh girl with Indian heritage from her father who she never knew, who comes to London after leaving home. Shan is an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka who has come to London to try and get away from the violence in his home country. Trying to get his wife and child over to him too.
Shan's story was so sad and hard to read at times especially when the anxieties he had were overwhelming for him. It was written so well that you were there with him and felt the pain and fear he was going through.
Nia's story was also sad but what I loved the most was her character development throughout especially as she gets more involved in the comings and goings of the restaurant Vesuvius.
Both lead characters were heartfelt and I wanted to know where they got to.
I would have loved to have had an extra pov from the restaurant owner Tuli, as I felt he was a really intriguing character.
Overall, I thought this was eye opening, it showed the troubles that those seeking asylum or immigration can go through but again in such a respectful way.
I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by the author.
This book was so respectfully done and made me love all of the characters.
You follow two points of view throughout this book of Nia and Shan. Nia is a Welsh girl with Indian heritage from her father who she never knew, who comes to London after leaving home. Shan is an illegal immigrant from Sri Lanka who has come to London to try and get away from the violence in his home country. Trying to get his wife and child over to him too.
Shan's story was so sad and hard to read at times especially when the anxieties he had were overwhelming for him. It was written so well that you were there with him and felt the pain and fear he was going through.
Nia's story was also sad but what I loved the most was her character development throughout especially as she gets more involved in the comings and goings of the restaurant Vesuvius.
Both lead characters were heartfelt and I wanted to know where they got to.
I would have loved to have had an extra pov from the restaurant owner Tuli, as I felt he was a really intriguing character.
Overall, I thought this was eye opening, it showed the troubles that those seeking asylum or immigration can go through but again in such a respectful way.
I will definitely be looking forward to reading more by the author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Torture
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, and Murder
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