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phoebe20's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I saw this on the shortlist for the Man Booker prize, and not having even heard of it previously, found an audio copy in the library. I would say to readers that it may not be the best method of accessing the story, with multiple names and stories to keep track of, I did lose the thread a few times and forget who was who.
Once settled into the stories though, I managed to follow the flow, and found this quite a moving and intense set of inter-related stories about immigration, tradition, family and making a life for yourself.
The story begins in Sheffield (close to where I live), with a houseful of Asian men living together in close quarters, scraping a living. We then see the backstories of a handful of them, taking us over to India, and to some rather traumatic adolescences that have led some of them to emigrate.
I loved hearing about India, though when the full stories emerged I was horrified and quite upset (though you read nothing graphic). The experience of 'the immigrant' in England is, I thought, well portrayed - they are not shown as job-stealers and dole-scroungers. Each has a family, a history, a reason for being in Sheffield. Many are exploited, sent on false leads for work, forced into situations they wouldn't have dreamed of pursuing (theft, criminal undertakings) at home.
My favourite storyline takes in the 'visa wife' of one of our immigrants, an English-born, devout Sikh who takes on a husband for reasons of her own, and her story takes precedence in the second half of the book. Much more to her than meets the eye.
I won't go into the storylines for each characters, you don't need to know their histories to understand the crux of the book - it's a revealing book about immigration today, why people feel they must leave their families in search of a better (new) life, what happens to them in the 'promise land', how they are treated.
The set of men (and one wife) gives a whole host of perspectives on immigration. I thought this was excellent, once I'd got to grips with multiple names (much harder on CD), I was riveted by their stories. It may be depressing at times, but it does feel honest, and it does also leave you feeling a sense of hope.
I saw this on the shortlist for the Man Booker prize, and not having even heard of it previously, found an audio copy in the library. I would say to readers that it may not be the best method of accessing the story, with multiple names and stories to keep track of, I did lose the thread a few times and forget who was who.
Once settled into the stories though, I managed to follow the flow, and found this quite a moving and intense set of inter-related stories about immigration, tradition, family and making a life for yourself.
The story begins in Sheffield (close to where I live), with a houseful of Asian men living together in close quarters, scraping a living. We then see the backstories of a handful of them, taking us over to India, and to some rather traumatic adolescences that have led some of them to emigrate.
I loved hearing about India, though when the full stories emerged I was horrified and quite upset (though you read nothing graphic). The experience of 'the immigrant' in England is, I thought, well portrayed - they are not shown as job-stealers and dole-scroungers. Each has a family, a history, a reason for being in Sheffield. Many are exploited, sent on false leads for work, forced into situations they wouldn't have dreamed of pursuing (theft, criminal undertakings) at home.
My favourite storyline takes in the 'visa wife' of one of our immigrants, an English-born, devout Sikh who takes on a husband for reasons of her own, and her story takes precedence in the second half of the book. Much more to her than meets the eye.
I won't go into the storylines for each characters, you don't need to know their histories to understand the crux of the book - it's a revealing book about immigration today, why people feel they must leave their families in search of a better (new) life, what happens to them in the 'promise land', how they are treated.
The set of men (and one wife) gives a whole host of perspectives on immigration. I thought this was excellent, once I'd got to grips with multiple names (much harder on CD), I was riveted by their stories. It may be depressing at times, but it does feel honest, and it does also leave you feeling a sense of hope.
margaretrose's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the middle and the end much more than the beginning. If you liked A Fine Balance, I think you'll like this. Similar in that there is a mixed caste group of characters followed over a period of time that focuses on economic hardship. Setting is different (England versus India) but the beginnings felt very similar.
saff24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
hopegreen's review against another edition
1.0
relentlessly grim and saturated with hopelessness. not for me.
kingarooski's review
4.0
Good but utterly grim. I'm a migrant but my life's been a doddle compared to the experiences of these 3 young men. Bit slow in places and suddenly it comes together at the end. Also: they ate a lot of roti in this book.
caty_murray's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
darrpauline51's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0