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pinkdino88's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
anna_hepworth's review
3.0
Ostensibly a story of radicalisation of a young Muslim man, this covers a lot of emotional ground.
This was a difficult book to read on many levels -- the young man who doesn't fit in in either country that he might consider home, the process of radicalisation, the dysfunctional relationships, and in the end the slow destruction of the young man's sanity. Plus, the writing style -- diary entries ostensibly for his ex-wife and young daughter to read after his death -- managed to be weirdly distancing.
I was intrigued enough by the blurb to pick this up cheaply second hand. And it was certainly worth reading. But I don't think I'm going to want to read it again, and I'm certainly not going to recommend it to people.
This was a difficult book to read on many levels -- the young man who doesn't fit in in either country that he might consider home, the process of radicalisation, the dysfunctional relationships, and in the end the slow destruction of the young man's sanity. Plus, the writing style -- diary entries ostensibly for his ex-wife and young daughter to read after his death -- managed to be weirdly distancing.
I was intrigued enough by the blurb to pick this up cheaply second hand. And it was certainly worth reading. But I don't think I'm going to want to read it again, and I'm certainly not going to recommend it to people.
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Ours are the Streets centres on Imtiaz, an immigrant living in Britain. He is disillusioned with the immigrant dream, suffering from a sense of failure and not belonging. A trip to Pakistan after his father’s death leads to his radicalisation. In addition he possibly suffers from mental health issues including depression. A sad, unsettling and thought provoking read.
oletamary's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
becgoldsmith's review
3.0
Was not in the right mood for this at all. Like I KNEW the writing was good but I just wasn't feeling it. I think it was meant to be suspenseful, but the fact that it took me nearly two weeks to read ruined that for me. Also the main character's wife is a redhead named Rebekah and he's a giant asshole to her, which put me off a bit.
rowenaelizabeth's review
2.0
2.5
I don't know about this one, interesting and sensitive topic that has left me thinking on the book now that I've finished it, but there was something about it I just didn't like. The main character is self-centred and paranoid both before and after his trip to afghanistan so his radicalisation doesn't seem to make much difference, he 'finds' religion but it doesn't affect the way he acts at all. This is such a complex and important subject, but I feel like this book doesn't explore it with enough depth. Living in Sheffield myself, the constant references to places I know did jolt me and draw me in, making it more real, but I doubt this would have the same effect on non-sheffield people.
I don't know about this one, interesting and sensitive topic that has left me thinking on the book now that I've finished it, but there was something about it I just didn't like. The main character is self-centred and paranoid both before and after his trip to afghanistan so his radicalisation doesn't seem to make much difference, he 'finds' religion but it doesn't affect the way he acts at all. This is such a complex and important subject, but I feel like this book doesn't explore it with enough depth. Living in Sheffield myself, the constant references to places I know did jolt me and draw me in, making it more real, but I doubt this would have the same effect on non-sheffield people.
balancinghistorybooks's review
4.0
I chose Sunjeev Sahota's Ours Are the Streets for the Pakistan stop of my Around the World in 80 Books challenge. I very much enjoyed his novel The Runaways, and was keen to read more of his work. Ours Are the Streets is an extended diary, or series of letters, addressed to the protagonist Imtiaz's family. Sahota discusses many important themes here, from assimilation and interracial differences, to faith and culture. The narrative voice is an engaging and realistic one, and it reminded me somewhat of Mohsin Hamid's fantastic The Reluctant Fundamentalist. I personally enjoyed the non-linear structure, which is comprised of scenes and memories, and which Imtiaz recounts in prose form.
Ours Are the Streets has had very mixed reviews, and most of these tend to come with quite low ratings. I did not feel at all disengaged from the narrative at any point; rather, this is a strong, pertinent, and thoughtful novel, and whilst it is a relatively quick read, there is much to digest once its final page has been turned. There is a lot of emotional depth here, and I found it incredibly powerful.
Ours Are the Streets has had very mixed reviews, and most of these tend to come with quite low ratings. I did not feel at all disengaged from the narrative at any point; rather, this is a strong, pertinent, and thoughtful novel, and whilst it is a relatively quick read, there is much to digest once its final page has been turned. There is a lot of emotional depth here, and I found it incredibly powerful.
stephend81d5's review
3.0
could of been a much better book but felt it was disjointed and could of potrayed the suicide bomber much better but overlal not too bad for an orange prize shortlisted book