Reviews

Brick Lane by Monica Ali

nainatai's review against another edition

5.0

I am SO glad I read this! I loved her writing, i loved how she manages to capture Nazneen's feelings. And I absolutely love the fact that to put her point across, she didn't turn her husband into a monster. When you start the book, you think it's going to be about a whole lot of suffering and abuse, but it turns out to be much different than that. Definitely recommend.

jodiehanley's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective 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? Yes

2.0

charlottesteggz's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

carlyg123's review against another edition

4.0

Not something I'd have read if it wasn't on my university reading list, but it was a good enough read.

Like Of Mice and Men in the narrative, with the way in which it tells a story. There seems no beginning, middle or end. Just a tale of a migrant family. And it was insightful.

mepsem's review against another edition

2.0

I appreciated the desire and longing for more, the need to carry on and to do so. A story of hope, a generational experience of craving more.

blakefrymusic's review against another edition

challenging reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I had to read this book for a class and I seriously struggled to stay engaged. I recommend the audiobook if you’re having trouble! Otherwise it’s not that bad. The main character is pretty lifeless which is by design, but doesn’t make for a very compelling perspective. Cool to learn about the setting, culture, and history of this era however.

mishmamukith's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

annrhub's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-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

4.5

aaliyah_bilky's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

J'ai rarement mis aussi longtemps à lire un livre que j'ai tant aimé
Après, il faut dire que Monica Ali avait des choses à dire omg est ce qu'on met 3000 mots par page comme ça ?
Chose importante à noter : j'ai adoré ce roman pour la seule et unique raison que je suis d'origine Bangladeshie, et I could relate to most of what was in that novel: from Chanu who casually insults his daughters et les menace des pires chatiments to la réalité de la vie de Hasina en passant par l'adaptation à la vie en Angleterre
Nazneen est l'une des protagonistes les plus soporifiques qu'il m'ait été donné de lire mais encore une fois, ça fait aussi partie de la vie, tout le monde n'est pas intéressant 
ce que j'ai aimé : les lettres entre Nazneen et Hasina (clairement mes passages préférés!!), Chanuuu qui emmène sa famille en excursion, Nazneen qui quitte enfin l'extrémiste qui n'a pour seule personnalité que de sentir le citron vert, la réalité d'une famille et des enfants qui essaient de s'adapter à une double culture, LA PROSEEEE omg les images que Monica Ali utilise dans ses descriptions sont tout simplement exceptionnelles
ce que je n'ai pas aimé: que Nazneen décide de rester en Angleterre?? donne moi une seule bonne raison pour laquelle tu préfères une vie seule loin de ta famille, dans une ville dont tu ne connais ni la langue ni les moeurs au lieu d'aller sauver ta soeur ? ; la vieille sorcière au sirop pour la toux donc les arnaques auraient pu être arretées bien plus tôt s'ils avaient gardé des comptes et arrêté d'être trop polis

liawindsor's review against another edition

2.75

This started so well and slowly dragged more and more until I was just skimming the final pages. Nazneem turned from a really interesting narrator with an unusual perspective, so the most boring protagonist I have ever read.