BLOODY LOVE THIS BOOK - Marriage material by Sathnam Sanghera

[RainierWolfcastle]

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.

[Quangle]

Loved The Boy With The Topknot so much I emailed him to tell him so! Will definitely look out for this one.

[RainierWolfcastle]

oh he is splendid too. Is on twitter if you want to tell him.
I have read almost all of it today, missing my son scoring tries and the like.

[Sallystyle]

Two chapters in and love it already.

Thanks for posting this :)

[RainierWolfcastle]

hooray! we will make like,,, erm an ARMY

[HerBigChance]

The Arnold Bennett book is superb, definitely worth a read.

[RainierWolfcastle]

i am going to do that too

[PervCat]

Did you finish ?

[tripfiction]

I second that it is a great book!

[PervCat]

oh i am glad!

[fedupwithdeployment]

It's on my list...seen extracts and looks hilarious.

[hackmum]

I've read the Arnold Bennett book, and it's a surprisingly good read.

I've also read Sanghera's memoir about growing up in Wolverhampton, which is very enjoyable, so I'll look out for this one.