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Reading date - October 2020 I went back to this review loads of times to make it a bit tamer because even though I am free to criticise books, I haven't written one myself so I can't really be too critical.  This is the toned down version.. Shite. Utter shite. This was hyped up so much and I cannot see why.  Dire.  Probably the worst book I've read in a long, long time. The main "story" is that the protagonist commits suicide.  You are told this in the first chapter and within the first few pages so it's not a spoiler.  What follows is a totally pointless car-crash of so many different topics, told by so many people, over so many different time frames that it makes it difficult to put it together as one coherent story.     This could have been great story if it didn't sweep up every single issue possible.  It may work as a film but only if certain aspects are left out.  It covers childhood abandonment, the miners strikes, undercover poli...

Reading date - September 2020 This book took me ages to read (a week) because I kept researching as I was reading it.  It is set around the area I worked in last year, St James Square at the cross of Piccadilly and Green Park.  I kept stopping to Google distances covered in the book to see if it was realistic as I think if you're going to that much effort to be realistic then it should hold up to scrutiny, otherwise you should just totally make places up.  I'm glad to report back that everything in this respect is spot on.  Not only are the areas in the correct places (ooh err missus) but even bus routes are correct.  For example, they get the number 7 bus (I got it all the time before Covid) and little comments here and there show that they have followed the route as the actual bus goes..e.g. it cruises past Ladbroke Grove like a four wheel drive and that and also past Paddington, both which are noted as throwaway comments to those who know no better. I am fore...

Reading date - September 2020 I found this book in Poundland and how it managed to fly under my radar is beyond me. I snapped it up going on the name of the author alone.  I love reading stuff by Punjabi authors as they are few and far between.  I was hoping this would be about my culture and thankfully it was..sadly, it's about something that is very common within the Punjabi community. The book is about three immigrants (two illegal, one on a visa) who find themselves in the UK for various reasons.  There is a fourth protagonist, a girl who is born and bred in the UK and is a baptised Sikh. The book covers the back stories for all three men very well, the character development is written in a way which is not only truthful but also heartbreaking.  The story of what happens when they get to the UK is a no punches pulled account of what happens.  I know all about how bad life is in the UK for people who come from India to work.  I am talking about those who...

Reading date - September 2020 Another book I saw everyone raving about and wanted to desperately read myself.  So I did.  This book is beautiful. It tells the story of two twins who live in a sleepy town.  They both escape the town and then one leaves the other..becoming the vanishing half. I can't say too much about this because I don't want to spoil it but it's such a good book.  Some parts are really unbelievable..like a black girl being able to pass herself off as being white as she is so light-skinned.  I'm sorry but that is ridiculous.   It is set in the 1970's and goes through until the 80's I believe.  Some parts are totally unbelievable but that is why it's a work of fiction and I need to let go of my notion that things are so unbelievable when I am reading fiction. The book is a sad book overall but there is happiness towards the end.  I really liked it. I'd recommend it. I definitely want to read more of her work.