le voila
Its about shopkeepers basically, based on an Arnold Bennett novel ( which I haven't read) "An old Wives tale".
Its perfect on growing up in Wolverhampton, about family and most of all about caste and race.
There is a dual narrative that intertwines half way through and there are just countless little exquisite observations from the mother's alopecia to the skunk smoking Ranjit ( who is just fantastically terrible). SO many bits that will make you guffaw in public and so many bits that make you wince with familiarity.
I loved the references to Enoch Powell as former MP of Wolverhampton and the vignettes about proposed local hunger strikes to let bus drivers wear turbans.
However ut all this makes the book sound terribly worthy, its not. You will hoot with laughter. Honest.
