Still in her teenage years, Nazneen finds herself in an arranged marriage with a disappointed man who is twenty years older. Away from the mud and heat of her Bangladeshi village, home is now a cramped flat in a high-rise block in London's East End. Nazneen knows not a word of English, and is forced to depend on her husband. But unlike him she is practical and wise, and befriends a fellow Asian girl Razia, who helps her understand the strange ways of her adopted new British home. Nazneen keeps in touch with her sister Hasina back in the village.

But the rebellious Hasina has kicked against cultural tradition and run off in a 'love marriage' with the man of her dreams. When he suddenly turns violent, she is forced into the degrading job of garment girl in a cloth factory. Confined in her flat by tradition and family duty, Nazneen also sews furiously for a living, shut away with her buttons and linings - until the radical Karim steps unexpectedly into her life. On a background of racial conflict and tension, they embark on a love affair that forces Nazneen finally to take control of her fate.

Strikingly imagined, gracious and funny, this novel is at once epic and intimate. Exploring the role of Fate in our lives - those who accept it; those who defy it - it traces the extraordinary transformation of an Asian girl, from cautious and shy to bold and dignified woman.

As this is so wanted on Cliff1976's wish list site, I am going to set up a bookring for it :o)

Bookring
* I will make a list below of members in the order the book will circulate (this may be amended later)
* Please make a journal entry when you receive the book, then read, review and release the book within 6 weeks of receiving it, to keep it going.
* When ready to release the book, send a PM to the next person on the list asking for their address.
* When the last person on the list receives the book, please PM me for my details, to return the book.


HAVE FUN !!!

Bookring set up February 3rd 2005

Signed up:

1. Sorgin - Spain - Europe Pref.
   
2. RoryG - Finland - Europe Pref.
   
3. Suzy26 - Netherlands - Intl.
   
4. YourOtherLeft - USA (PA) - USA Pref.
   
5. Andersor - USA (CA) - USA Pref.
   
6. Lyraness - USA (CA) - USA Pref.
   
7. AnaBanana - USA (CA) - USA Pref.
   
8. Rainflower - USA (AZ) - USA Pref.
   
9. NancyLuvsBooks - USA (MS) - USA Only.
   
10. Knitwit - USA (PA) - Intl.
    
11. MmeClinton - USA (ME) - Intl.
    
12. Neuilly - USA (ME) - USA Pref.
    
13. Scram33 - USA (NC) - Intl.
    
14. BabyImran - Malaysia - Intl.
    

RELEASE NOTES:

started the journey :o)

I got the book, thanks so much for sharing it with us Helly77.
I'll start reading it as soon as I finish the book I'm with now.

I picked this up from the post office today. I have another ring before this, but it shouldn't take too much time.

Reading this took more time than I thought it would. This had much to do with my life situation at the moment, maybe more than with the book itself. I really liked the book. I liked the way Nazneen started to take control of her own life and how it was hard for her, because she wasn't raised that way.

I will send this on to Suzy26 as soon as I get her address.

Received this book about two weeks ago, but didnot have a chance to journal it yet. We moved to a new house, so I was without internet connection for a while. I have already read about 140 pages and I like it very much so far. Thanks for sending the book to me, RoryG, and thanks to Helly77 for ringing it.

This novel is very much about fate and the troublesome struggle of one woman to get out from under it. The manner in which Nazneen is torn apart between her feelings for Chanu, Karim, Hasina, Razia, Shahana and Bibi is wonderfully portrayed. Chanu is a very annoying man, especially in the first part of the story, but there is so much humour in the way the author describes him that he becomes quite harmless and in the end you even grow to love him a little bit. I also love the way the daughters are described: the rebellious, recalcitrant Shahana and the subservient Bibi, always eager to please everyone. It is heartrending to read what Hasina's life is like in Bangladesh. These clumsy letters she writes to Nazneen makes it all the more harrowing, especially by the things that are not said. The only weak point in the story, imho, is the relationship Nazneen has with Karim. It starts out of the blue and ends just like that. There donot seem to be many feelings involved. I had difficulty believing this part of the story, whereas the rest was all so real to me. Also, I think the story could have been a bit shorter. It tends to be a bit long-winded, many repetitions without much action. I do like Monica Ali's writing style, though, especially since this is her debut novel.

I have pm'd yourotherleft for her address.

Brick Lane is on its way to yourotherleft.

This came in the mail yesterday. I'll read it and pass it on as soon as I can. Thanks!

I expected to like this book more than I did. It took me longer to read than I expected because I didn't seem to have any trouble putting it down.

It was, above all, a character study of Nazneen and the way she learns to take charge of her life. I think the way that the author chooses to reveal the change in Nazneen's attitude is in the small things that take place within her while the events that triggered the change seem to be less important. I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters, especially Chanu. Though he is an annoying character, he becomes more and more lovable throughout the story so that you come accept and even like the character even in his glaring imperfections, and possibly because of them.

It was satisfying to experience the "new" Nazneen by the end of the story, but I think I missed a lot of the pieces of the puzzle that went into producing the larger theme of this book....

Thanks for sharing Helly77 (and for your patience). Its on its way to Andersor today!

Arrived today. I'll start it and pass it along soon.
Thanks for sharing!

3/2 - I too found this book easy to put down. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished it. I already have the next person's address and will mail it out today.
Thanks again for sharing!

Thank you for passing this book along to me. March is a pretty crazy month for me, but I'll try and read it and pass it along as soon as possible.

I'll send this book along as soon as I can. I didn't really have time to read it, and I think it's time it's sent on its way. Sorry for taking so long.

I received this book in the mail about one week ago and will begin reading it as soon as possible. Thank you for including me in this bookring.

I enjoyed this book and thank you Helly77 for sharing it. Sorry it took me so long to finish... I had a move and job change during the process... but I did enjoy it. I will send it on as soon as possible!

Rainflower had too many books TBR so I will try the next person in line...
I never heard back from NancyLuvsBooks and knitwit had already read the book. I will try MmeClinton.

I have just received this in the mail and will put it at the top of my TBR pile, then send it on to Neuilly!

This is a finely crafted novel, and I understand why it received so much attention. I agree with the comments that precede about how the characters come across... and also that it seemed to take me forever to get through, even though I like the writing! PErhaps I was just in need of a riveting read, and this doesn't suck you in. I feel as though I have a much better idea about an immigrant experience that I knew nothing about, and that is cool. I have been trying to find someone on the book ring to send this on to but so far have not connected postively! Hope to send it off soon!

thanks so much for sending this back to me :)

Thanks to everyone who took part in the ring, I'm glad you all had chance to read this book....now it's my turn!!!!!