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Book group chat for April - Brick Lane

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I will start of the discussion on the book we all read in march – ‘Brick lane‘ by Monica Ali.

 

It’s a book I have read before & was in my permanent collection to be re read one day,so it was a welcome choice for me.

I think it’s a great book. Its not an easy read as its very verbal, but if you can stick with it then its well worth it.

Something that really struck me this time was the poverty that Nazneen & her family are living in, in their tiny flat filled with chairs. But then the author takes you right back to her life, or her sisters life, in Bangladesh where their poverty makes her British life look like a life of luxury.

 

I really enjoyed the passages about Bangladesh & thought they were very evocative.

 

The chapters which were made up of letters from Nazneems sister were great too & I thought that was an excellent way for the author to pass years by & still keep the story ticking over.

 

I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like to be so totally subservient to your husband….with him barely letting her out of the flat to begin with. There was a line that really summed this up for me: ‘If Chanu came home this evening & found the place untidy & the spices not even ground, could she put her hands up like so & say ,don’t ask me why nothing is prepared, it was not I who decided it, it was fate. A wife could be reasonably beaten for a lesser offence’

 

I loved the character of Razia, & thought she was very well written, as well as the indomitable Mrs Islam her Benylin & Ralgex addiction.

I must say that as the book grew more political I enjoyed it less.

I also thought that Chanu going off to Bangladesh didn’t ring true to me – surely he would have tried to make his wife & daughters leave the UK too?

 

The book to read in April is ‘Bel Canto’ by Anne Pratchett

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To be honest I realy struggled with this book. I only kept reading because of this Book Club!

 

I loved the first chapter and I thought there were some lovely characters but I found it a real slog. But I will read the comments here and maybe read it again in a new light.

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To be honest I realy struggled with this book. I only kept reading because of this Book Club!

 

 

Same here! I found the characters quite shallow and so didn't really care what happened to any of them. I carried on hoping it was going to get better but for me it never did. A story about a bored housewife trapped in a marriage she didnt want with an uninspiring ending. Sorry!

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I am so glad I am not the only one who really did not get on with this book :oops:

 

I felt alot of the storyline was very predictable like Shahana running away at the end I could not understand why the mother did not see this coming :?

 

I found the passages friom the sister very tedious because the language used felt patronising to me like she was using pigeon English when in fact they would have been in her own language so would have translated in a more readable way - does that make sense :?

 

The bit I felt most real was right at the end the children taking their mother ice skating as a treat that really made me smile :D

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I never actually 'signed up' for the book club, so I hope no one will mind me barging in on this talk, it's just that I have read the book a while back so was curious to read people's opinions, and thought I'd share my own.

I did enjoy the book at the time of reading it, but my one criticism of it would be that, looking back to it now, the things I remember most is that all the characters were a little on the 'cliche' side, in a rather negative way, which leaves the reader with very little positive feelings towards the end... The side characters, like the doctor and his 'awful' wife, are rather depressing, and even Karim starts off as potentially attractive but ends up described in mostly negative ways, failing at all he attempts, and having holes in his socks!!

Nazneem is a little hard to believe in... she gets to London quite young and incredibly subdued to everything, gets little in the way of a life, gets terrified when 'lost' in a street, but seems to have a determination that lets her stand up to the bully sons of the woman who lent money to her husband, and it's hard to think how she could get that determination. It makes the story appear as if she had all the qualities to struggle through life, but all other characters (except her female friend with the drug addict son) lack it... I like books to be more balanced in their characterisation. Chanu too could have been portrayed in a slightly more positive light, rather than his constant inefficient helplessness at everything, as it would have made the readers care more about what happens in the story. The fact that most characters lack both strength at anything and positiveness/warmth about anything, makes the story appear to me as very one-dimensional, when it could have been much more varied and ambiguous...

 

This being said, I know I sound very negative, but when I did read the book I did read it quite quickly and enjoyed reading... so I'd still recommend it, but not as a perfect read...

 

On a separate note, and again sorry if this 'book club' isn't the place for this discussion, I read a review of the movie of the book, and was very surprised to read the synopsis as 'a passionate love story between a beautiful bangladeshi young woman and a young man...' Either the person who wrote the synopsis got it completely wrong, or the movie tells a totally different story, as there is no love story whatsoever in the book, only an 'attraction' story that quickly turns cold, and Nazneem is never in the book portrayed as a beautiful irresistible passionate young woman, but rather as plain and unnoticeable...

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Spot on Ziggy :wink:

 

It was depressing that is why I did not enjoy it :?

 

I was at my dermatologist last week with the book as I was still reading it and she has read and enjoyed it but said she had read reviews for the film which seemed to be very poor :shock:

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I did really enjoy this book - my main critisism would be for me that I had to listen to an audio version, and it was only available abridged in this country, so I missed out on about half of the book. This normally chops out most of the character development and concentrates on what happens, which kind of misses the point for me :lol:

 

I thought that it was fascinating. I don't know what the background of the author is though. I come from a town in Suffolk and went to teacher training college in Lincoln - The first non white/christian person I met was at college when I was 18. There were no white/christian children at any of the schools I did teaching placements at and then I got a job and a rented house in an area in Birmingham where I was an ethnic minority! I loved it and was fascinated by the different cultures. The cleaner at the school tried to teach me Urdu (on my insistance!) and we were invited for an Eid meal, which was wonderful.

 

But anyway........ sorry to go away from the subject. I really enjoyed the book even though it was really quite depressing at times. I'd love to listen to the whole thing, although it's only available in the US at the moment I think and don't want to pay to buy it from there.

 

Sorry if I've waffled!

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I read this book about 3 years ago, I chose it because I thought it would create some interesting discussions :oops: I'm really sorry that some of you didn't like it.

 

I liked it a lot. I felt it gave real insight into what it is like to be an immigrant in the UK, also it was an interesting look at an arranged marriage. The development of Nanzeen's character was great, she started off so subservient, doing everything Chanu demanded and then she started to revolt, began to feel stronger and more able to make her own decisions. Chanu was an embarrasment, a naive man who so desperately wanted to make something of himself in the UK, yet unable to give up his Bangladeshi ways and insisting that Nanzeen and his daughters do the same. I find it difficult to understand why some immigrants to this country don't bother to learn English, I understand a little more now, that they are terrified of losing their own culture, I still don't approve though. When their son died and Chanu stopped talking about things and started feeling things, I felt it was a bit of a turning point in their relationship. I wondered, if their son had survived, whether he would have become like his father or be influenced by his mother. I thought the interweaving of her sister's life was enjoyable, being so different to Nanzeen's. The 'affair' with

Karim irritated me, again I understood her being attracted to him, going to bed with Chanu probably wasn't much fun, but he was such an arrogant young man, Nanzeen wanted love, he certainly didn't. I loved all the secondary characters, particularly the ghastly Mrs.Islam. All in all very enjoyable, I enjoyed being in Nanzeen's world.

 

 

I also read a review of the film, I think it was in The Times. The reviewer said that for him the film was ruined by the 'love affair' and it would have been much better if it had been left out, and just been a story of a slice of immigrant life in London.

 

I googled Monica Ali. She came to Britain when she was 3, her mother was English and her father Bangladeshi, she was brought up in Bolton. She won a scholarship to Oxford University and read Politics and Philosophy. She now lives in Dulwich with her English husband and two children and her latest book is set in Portugal.

 

Ta Da

 

Tessa

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I read this book about 3 years ago, I chose it because I thought it would create some interesting discussions :oops: I'm really sorry that some of you didn't like it.

 

 

 

No need to apologise Tessa - even though I didn't enjoy the book I'm finding it fascinating to read what other people find enjoyable and it has stopped me from only heading to the same genre section of the bookshop :roll: I'm wondering if it's because I'm so used to reading the same old stuff that I'm finding new books a bit hard going :think:

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Well as predicted I haven't finished reading the book yet but I am about half way through, I am enjoying it so far it is interesting to get an insight into what it must be like to try and intigrate into a different society.

 

I am hoping to watch the film on DVD but want to finish the book first.

 

I am also finding it interesting to read other peoples views and to read books that other people have picked.

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I surprised myself by really getting into this book despite 2 people telling me that they had started it but not finished it, I suppose that made me determined to read it to the end!

 

I found that I cared about Nazneen and wanted to find out what was going to happen. I felt that things were going to be much worse than they were between her and Chanu and more importantly- so did she "Chanu had not beaten her yet" p.16.

 

Despite being in what appears at first glance to be a loveless arranged marriage there are snippets throughout that showed they did share a little affection which I found touching (I'm always on the look out for the positive!); When faced with disaster (when their son is dying) she feels something for Chanu "she did not want to pull away from him" p.97. Also after Chanu and the Shahana row "they went together to watch them sleep" p.166, and Chanu says on p.243 "that is the best of sights" during their day trip around London of the girls walking in front holding hands. It seems that the children give them that little thread of togetherness that otherwise is lacking.

 

Am I alone in thinking that Nazneen and the doctor were going to have an affair? I was quite disappointed when they didn't and was also disappointed in the way her affair with Karim played out. I guess I wanted more romance, and he almost seemed to be more keen on using her computer than wanting to go to bed with her :roll:

 

Despite Chanu being portrayed as quite a weak man, I felt myself both aggravated by him and sorry for him; he was too idealistic and it seemed that London had broken him and destroyed his dreams. He seemed to be quite deluded in his ability and dumbfounded when his career didn't work out how he thought it would. His ideas for a moblie library were good, but he somehow lacked the ability to see things through...except crucially his desire to return to Bangladesh.

 

I believe he did not have any fight left in him, and that is why he did not/could not insist his family come too. I think that "allowing" them to stay in England was the most honourable thing he did in the book.

 

I would have been interested however to see how Nazneen and the girls adapted to life in Bangladesh, and also would have liked to see her reunited with her sister.

 

I wasn't sure how well the story worked near the end when it was juxtaposed with the riots, I'm not sure that was really necessary to set in a political context- the characters' lives on a private sphere was enough for me and setting them in a public sphere seemed to be trying too hard.

 

Phew, I feel like I've only just touched the surface on this review, I may write more in reponse to other's views more as a discussion.

 

I am looking forward to reading Bel Canto as I have no idea what its about!

 

 

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I read it last summer.

 

I found the "affair" if you can call it that, not particularly believable, given the time in which the book was set, and the constraints of the culture.

 

The social climbing and not realsing that he was making a laughing stock of himself I found uncomfortable reading. It seemed cruel.

 

Gave an insight into another time and another culture though.

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I really enjoyed Brick Lane, although I must confess that I cheated and listened to it on my ipod, rather than reading it.

 

I felt that the scene was brilliantly set and I was really drawn into Nazneen's life and couldn't wait to find out how the story would pan out. I enjoyed the comparison of Nazneen's life in London and her sister's life in Bangladesh.

 

The comedy elements of the story: Mrs Islam, Chanu and the Drs Wife were a good balance to the story of the sisters. Although they all had a tragic side to them as well. The affair with Karim seemed unrealistic to me, I don't think Nazneen would have had an affair with him in real life, and his expectation that she would marry him seemed very odd to me.

 

I found it an interesting picture of the culture of immigrants and also the conflicts felt by 2nd generation immigrants.

 

A good choice for the book club! I'm looking forward to this month's read.

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OOOhhhhhh! Now I didn't know there was a book club on this forum! Can I join?

 

Mylocal book group is taking a break as one of our group is undergoing chemo and we are not allowed to meet without her. She says she would feel terribly left out so we agreed not to meet until she is well enough.

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Gosh that is sad.

 

There is a sticky at the top of the nesting box - get your name in there and if you stick around long enough you will get to choose the book of themonth eventually :D

 

Anyone can join in the fun.

 

And Tessa, although I did not enjoy the book I am enjoying reading what others have to say. That is why I stuck with it, so I could understand everyone's thoughts.

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OOOhhhhhh! Now I didn't know there was a book club on this forum! Can I join?

 

 

I have added you to the list.

You will proabaly get to choose a book in 2012 or something :roll::lol:

 

Make sure you take a look at the sticky,so you know what book is coming up next :P

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I really enjoyed this book, I know there are some things the characters do that seem out of place like Nazneen sudddenly finding the strength of character to stand up to people, but I felt that was actually more like real life. I imagine her as being a strong person really but her upbringing and then her life in this country with an over bearing husband had ingrained in her the way to behave. Just now and agan she shows signs that with a different upbringing she could have been a very different person. I felt it showed very well what moving to a completley foreign culutre could be like, especially when everyone around you in that country was trying to keep you in the culture you knew from childhood. I loved the way Nazneen seemed to want to breakout of the mould others had made for her, hence the affair etc, but in the end the social conditioning won over in most areas of her life and in a way she was content with that.. Made me think how much I might be influenced by those around me and my upbringing.

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I'm just going to write a few comments and then go back and read through everyone elses! :)

 

I found this book sometimes a difficult read not in the fact that it's verbal but in the very human misery portrayed. It's really brought home to me how sort of cushioned I am from any sort of real hardship.

 

I really enjoyed the book though it was very sad and hopeless in places. The characters created were wonderful and entirely believable and though the warts-and-all look into their lives was at times uncomfortable it has given Monica Ali's book great heart I feel.

 

I've no idea if the attitudes portrayed in the book are typical so wouldn't pretend to comment on any real issues raised through the story but it certainly showed very clearly how matters of immigration and cultural differences aren't easy to solve.

 

Thanks Tessa for choosing it, a very good choice, and I'll be off to Blockbuster to rent the DVD version later.

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A bit late with my comments but I wanted to finish the book first and with only odd moments to read it took a while. I actually read this book a year or so ago and enjoyed it but welcomed an excuse to reread it. I found Nazneen a very sympathetic and real character and a fascinating insight into what the lives of many immigrant womens lives might be like.

 

I found the letters from her sister interesting but very sad. I loved her descriptions of Lovely's charitable endeavours !

 

I was less convinced by the affair with Karim and have no idea how plausible it was. I guess I'd have found it more believeable if their ages had been similar and if it had happened when the girls were younger.

 

Chanu's character made me squirm a bit with embarassment for him and feel sorry for him at the same time. Whilst it had the feeling if wrapping up loose ends slightly I thought the bit at the end where the doctor describes Chanu as his good friend was lovely - it was a good way of showing that what Nazneen could see of their friendship and her interpretation of it was not the whole story and that both got more from it than was apparent.

 

The snippet where Nazneen looks at the tin with it's picture of rural England and thinks that she has never seen that England was sad. It reminded me of relatives that moved to London for work decades ago and have seen very little else of England.

 

I felt 9/11 fit into the context of the story and was treated appropriately.

 

I could go on with different aspects I liked - not sure if I'll watch the movie, I liked the book too much...

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This is not the sort of book I would naturally gravitate towards, so it was with some trepidation that I started it.

 

I have to say I really surprised myself by enjoying it immensely!

 

I felt Monica Ali really allowed us to get inside the skins of Nazneen and, to a lesser extent, Chanu. I felt more detached from Hasina (sp??). Having lived in London in the late 70s/early 80s I can understand the culture shock that Nazneen would have experienced and her isolation in her concrete "prison", contrasting starkly with the sunshine and neighbourliness of her Bangladesh memories. The death of their son is a real sad point, and somehow their 2 daughters never satisfy Chanu, who epitomises unfulfilled hopes and dreams.

 

Nazneen turns the corner with the arrival of her sewing machine and some sort of independence, though the political side and the affair with Karim weren't really important to me, other than as vehicles for Nazneen's awakening. The ending is a little predictable, considering the title, but I did enjoy meeting the variety of characters such as the squashed little Dr. Azad, the anglicised Razia and the creepy Mrs. Islam with her hypochondria, loan-sharking and bully-boy sons.

 

Thanks to Tessa for introducing me to this book. :)

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I finished this book when I was away last week, then read the newspaper article written by Monica Ali which was printed at the back and thought the points that she made about the controversial aspects of the story and the making of the book into a film rounded off the book nicely.

 

I enjoyed this book far more than i thought I would.

 

I am surprised at the comments about there being no love story. I felt that on the contrary the whole story is based around human realtionships and their many nuances.

 

The comparisons between 'love marriages' and 'arranged marriages' were fascinating. Early passion can lead to dissappointment whereas living with someone over a long period of time can bring about great affection.

 

I found the affair with Karim very plausable because two people can meet anywhere and feel great passion for each other which can transcend any social boundaries often with tragic results this sort of thing happens every day, just reading any tabloid newspaper will confirm this.

 

Nazneen was very torn between the passion she felt for Karim and the great affection and loyalty she felt for Chanu and when she decided that she would not be going with Chanu back to Bangladesh it felt right that she also ended her affair with Karim, she was beginning to see through him as the initial intensity of their relationship faded.

 

Nazneen came accross as a very strong woman who was bound within the contraints of her culture and little flashes of her personality like the description of her dancing on her bed in front of the mirror showing off her legs and changing her clothes, which is something common to most women and was quite moving to read.

 

I also found Chanu to be a believable character, he was full of hope and new ideas when he first married, but was also confused between his own culture and the British way of life. Throughout the book his spirit seemed to be gradually crushed and his return to Bangladesh was a last ditch attempt to make something of his life. He never recovered from the tragic loss of their son and had a difficult relationship particularly with his eldest daughter, which had as much to do with the fact that she was female as it did to do with cultural clashes and her strong personality which she seems to have inherited from the women on her mother's side.

 

Overall this book gave me a great insight into what it must have been like to be an immigrant in this country at that time right upto the present day. The book also showed how the human spirit can be so resilient yet so fragile at the same time. It also told a story of love and friendship in many different guises.

 

The great thing about this kind of reading group is reading a book that you would otherwise have not picked up and enjoying it :D

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Finally finished this book last and really struggled with it towards the end.

 

I enjoyed the first part immensely especially Nazneen's observation of life going on around her.

 

I found the passionate affair disappointing - I wasn't expecting Lady Chatterley, but, felt the lack of text about the impact of the 'affair' on her feelings left a big space in the book.

 

I did chuckle at Chanu's attempts to better himself but felt very sorry for him as he never quite had the gumption to get on.

 

I enjoyed the characters Razia and Dr Azid but felt Karim lacking a personality.

 

It felt as though, halfway through the book, the writer was directed to change the style and pace of the book to get a more sombre message across. This gave a mixed message of was the book a rom com or a serious tale?

 

I will see the film just to see how the story translates to film but this is definitely not on my must re-read list!

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