Brick Lane
Brick Lane by Monica Ali
At the tender age of eighteen, Nazneen’s life is turned upside down. After an arranged marriage to a man twenty years her elder she exchanges her Bangladeshi village for a block of flats in London’s East End. In this new world, where poor people can be fat and even dogs go on diets, she struggles to make sense of her existence – and to do her duty to her husband. A man of inflated ideas (and stomach), he sorely tests her compliance.
But Nazneen submits, as she must, to Fate and devotes her life to raising her family and slapping down her demons of discontent. Until she becomes aware of a young radical, Karim.
Against a background of escalating racial and gang conflict, they embark on an affair that finally forces Nazneen to take control of her life…
Reviews
"This book revealed to me a hidden Britain that, has often been hinted at, but never understood until now."
"Read twenty pages only. Sorry not my type of read."
"This was the biggest load of twaddle that I have ever read. Who ever chose this should be fired. They are not great readers if they thought this should be Book of the Month."
"Did not like the book. Not my type of content."
"Not my type of book, too much detail and not enough action. I found myself, most unusually, skipping pages looking for something to happen."
"Read approximately 70 pages, but, unfortunately not my type of book."
"Did not enjoy."
"A good way to read of other cultures."
"A very good read."
"Different. Enjoyed the book."
"This novel tells the story of a Bangladeshi family. The characters are well described and interesting, particularly Nazneen, the main character. The story gave a good insight into the difficult life she and her family lead. Throughout, the author managed to convey both humour and sadness in her writing. I probably wouldn’t have chosen this book for myself, but, I’m glad it was suggested to me as I found it a very enjoyable read."
"Monica Ali’s ‘Brick Lane’ is one of those novels that offers an insight into another way of life while reaffirming what is common to all of us. While huge global issues – immigration, racism, religious extremism – rage all around, it is the petty and the local and the domestic which highlight the differences and the similarities amongst people everywhere.
Nazneen seems in her late 30s/early 40s to reach a pivotal point which I recognised: a realisation reached gradually, almost regretfully, that fate is something that lies in her own hands rather than something she is at the mercy of.
Without an in-your-face feminist message, the novel still celebrates the importance of the women in Nazneen’s life. At the same time Ali manages to portray Nazneen’s husband, Chanu, with sympathy and in spite of his
Irritating habits, I found myself liking him for trying to be a better man.
I liked this book for its reality – the recognition that through the domestic and the trivial, a woman can still find herself empowered; that without dramatic lightening strikes of realisation, a person can still ‘see’ a new way of life.
Humour, warmth and a writing style which is often poetic, make this novel a thoroughly enjoyable read."