Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Book giveaway: Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera

35 replies

TinaMumsnet · 19/05/2014 16:59

We're giving away 50 copies of Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera. It’s an epic tale of family, love, and politics spanning the 20th century. Told with humour, tenderness and insight by one of Britain's most promising young writers, it was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize.

To Arjan Banga, returning to the Black Country after the unexpected death of his father, his family's corner shop represents everything he has tried to leave behind – a lethargic pace of life, insular rituals and ways of thinking. But when his mother insists on keeping the shop open, he finds himself being dragged back, forced into big decisions about his imminent marriage back in London and uncovering the history of his broken family – the betrayals and loyalties, loves and regrets that played out in the shop over more than fifty years.

Click here if you’d like to read an extract of the book, or apply for a free copy now. We will post on the thread once all the copies have gone.

This book giveaway is sponsored by Windmill Books.

Book giveaway: Marriage Material by Sathnam Sanghera
OP posts:
yummum120 · 19/05/2014 18:57

I hope I'm lucky enough to be selected.

ILikeWarmHugs · 19/05/2014 21:28

I would love to enter the giveaway but it doesn't seem to be working.

frazzledbutcalm · 20/05/2014 21:55

Have applied, fingers crossed.

mom2010 · 26/05/2014 09:04

have applied too. I have been trying to get a copy from the library but it is always out on loan. Will feel really lucky if I am chosen. Fingers crossed. :)

everythingisonmurtaghlist · 26/05/2014 09:12

Fingers crossed will be chosen

EduardoBarcelona · 26/05/2014 12:03

this is a BRILLIANT book - I recommend it to all of you.

EduardoBarcelona · 26/05/2014 12:03

but you have spelled his name wrong!

ShanghaiDiva · 26/05/2014 12:11

Agree with Eduardo - a great read.

EduardoBarcelona · 26/05/2014 12:18

i laughed a lot till at the end i went Shock

AliceMumsnet · 27/05/2014 10:08

This giveaway is now closed. We will notify those who have been selected to receive a free copy via email. Please feel free to come back and discuss the book on this thread, we would love to hear your thoughts.

everythingisonmurtaghlist · 28/05/2014 15:36

Woo hoo! Just got my email - can't wait to read it. Better get my current book read.

EduardoBarcelona · 28/05/2014 15:38

Ooh you'll LOVE

TroyMcClure · 05/06/2014 17:41

boo, I didnt get one.
there is a little film though for those of you interested

it might enhance your experience ;)

Quangle · 05/06/2014 17:49

boo - missed it. I loved Boy with the Topknot so much I had to track down Sathnam Sanghera's email address to tell him how great I thought it was. And he replied, really nicely Smile

TroyMcClure · 05/06/2014 17:51

he's a very nice boy.
Despite everything Wink

EnglishRose1320 · 10/06/2014 10:04

Just arrived in the post, looking forward to reading it!

keriku · 10/06/2014 18:10

My copy arrived today, as soon as I finish my current book, I will devour it! Thanks, mumsnet

ILikeWarmHugs · 11/06/2014 21:30

Received the book, will post when I've read it.

frazzledbutcalm · 11/06/2014 22:22

Received mine today ... thank you mumsnet!!

funkydiva80 · 11/06/2014 22:24

Received mine yesterday will post a review once I have read it - thanks mumsnet I never get selected for anything!!

MovingBack · 12/06/2014 08:30

I received my copy in the post on Tuesday, thank you so much. I devoured the book - everything came to a halt until I finished it on Wednesday afternoon!!!

I absolutely loved this book - the story, the characters, the setting, the span of time it covered (the 1970s bits particularly), the way it was written (very funny and very moving).

Highly recommended - I've just given it 5 stars on my Goodreads page and will be telling everyone to read it Smile

JimmyCorkhill · 15/06/2014 10:48

Got my copy - thank you sooooooo much. I haven't finished it but it is great. Really well written. Such detail for the characters and the settings. If you enjoyed The Buddha of Suburbia and/or White Teeth it is similar to those. Top marks so far.

yummum120 · 16/06/2014 15:00

Thank you for the book. I found the beginning quite slow and boring but then after a while it gets interesting. Parts of it made me LOL. I think overall it was a good read. I liked the year it was based around as those years was quite significant to myself, it gave me a insight of what was happening around that time.

keriku · 16/06/2014 19:46

This is a very interesting book on what it means to be Asian growing up in our society in the second half of the 20th century. It is the first time, I have ever read a book written by an Asian. Bits of it are hilarious, while others are heartbreaking. It covers the racism the family endure in England, but also how they themselves feel towards other cultures and castes. I felt that there was a chunk missing between the second last and final chapters. A book about how the secrets and lies of life tie families down and the pressures the family members feel to conform. I loved how each chapter was named after a magazine or paper eg Bunty or Jackie. Well worth a read!

mom2010 · 17/06/2014 14:01

Thanks mumsnet! I finally got to read marriage material after giving up at having a chance from my local library. It was well worth the wait and for once the hype too. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the characters and though when i first read the synopsis, I thought what is so new about reading about a british asian family that hasnt been said before, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a fresh perspective and an angle.

Here is a detailed review of the book on my blog.

onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/marriage-material-satnam-sanghera.html

Thanks once again for a great read.