Got specially to pass on & haven't read it.
I want to keep it, for it looks good.

The Back of the Book

Our City, Our Rules

'Pakis. Rajamuffins. Britasains. Rudeboys.Desis. Whatever we are, the other
guys are better at being it than I am. I swear I got the same fones that
they got but I still look like a gimp.'

Meet Jas, 19. Obsessed with designer clothes, scuplted facial hair, protein
shakes and pretending he lives in the ghetto rather than his overbearing
mum's five-bedroom house in Hounslow.

No matter how much Jas tries, though, it isn't enough to sleep with
seriously fit Samira or convince hard-man Hardjit. Then Sanjay - a proper
player with a Knightsbridge penthouse and a Porsche - offers him a deal he
can't resist. But will Jas be man enough to pay the price for his borrowed
bad-boy image ...

RELEASE NOTES:

Being parcelled up to go in the post tomorrow ...

Received from my NSSSSS partner along with another book and many other goodies in a truly wonderful parcel. Thank you so much CaterinaAnna. You've made my day.

I just couldn't read this book. Whether because of the patois it appears to be written in or Jas's repetitive thoughts that were getting boring I don't know. Probably both. Anyway I've decided to give up on the book but will reserve it fro Molyneux for the Convention 2008.

I'm taking this book to today's meet in Coventry so I can pass it on to Becky for the Convention in London in April.

Picked up on Saturday for passing to the Convention team.

RELEASE NOTES:

Passing to the convention team.

Donated for the Convention - thank you!

I snatched this up rather rudely as soon as it hit the table, because it joined my wishlist when I got it for Tanamo but I didn't have time to read it before I sent it to her. Imagine my surprise to recognise my own writing on the label! Thank you Tanamo & beckydore.
It will be a while before I get to this, but any BCer who has got this far in search of it is welcome to borrow it in the meantime.

It jumped the queue because within a week someone I was telling the story to said she'd like to read it.

I started this one night after going to bed, and finished it before I slept. Does there need to be more of a recommendation?

Unlike Tanamo I could cope with the language, which became more like that one imagines 'the old Jas' using as the book progressed anyway. I suspect this is because of the large number of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim teenagers - and adults - that I have worked with over the years. Thanks to that, and a little gap-filling courtesy of Goodness Gracious Me, there were few words that didn't make sense.

So much for style, what of substance?

Jas is obviously torn from the start. He knows he is different, but desperately wants to fit in, and has made some dramatic changes to his attitude to do so. But then there's Samira - someone who does not fit in with his new image, but that he wants even more. His frustrations, doubts and plans are all mixed up with the events of a few hectic months in a fairly much stream of conciousness way that drags you in to the extent that the final twist is a real shock. There must be some clues somewhere in the book for a more attentive reader than I, and I really want to re-read it in the light of the ending. So many books, so little time.

Although I disagreed with many of his choices and some of the situations in which he finds himself seem a little caricatured, Jas is a hugely sympathetic character who makes nearly everything in the book credible. It is my lingering doubt about the suddeness of the last revelation that prevent me giving this full marks, but please, read it!

RELEASE NOTES:

Actually this is a bit of a cheat and a way of getting the attention of whichever BCBirmie was most interested in this. So, wyldetwo, I think it was you, if you're reading release alerts in advance of today's meet-up and want me to save this 'til you arrive/pass it to you under the table when I arrive let me know!

I grabbed it first - does wyldetwo want it afterwards??? This goes on the TBR after my Hay-on-Wye books, then again Jen went there too so is probably in a similar position...

Wowee! I loved this book, so involving and engaging. The language wasn't a problem with me, then again I've worked in North London and read a lot of Bali Rai books! This is reminiscent of Rai, and anyone who likes his stuff should like this.

I loved the way the pretensions of the group of lads was constantly undermined and the story, although violent in parts, is also very funny. The stream of consciousness as the book reached its conclusion was almost Joycean in its wordplay, shifting viewpoints and organic form. Different literary conventions are used throughout the book, for example a double experience in a club and kebab house with the narratives of two nights interwoven.

And the revelation at the end had me letting out a small shriek, and that hasn't happened since at least June. I did read it quickly, too, and there were a few hints but nothing I could have picked up on.

Going to check if wyldetwo wanted to read this then will definitely offer it on a bookring.

BookRay!

Usual rules apply...

Make a journal entry when you receive the book
Contact the next reader for their address when you are almost done
Post a review when you've read the book - please try to send it on within a month of receipt if you can
Make a journal entry or controlled release notes when you send the book on

PARTICIPANTS

Elhamisabel Germany (anywhere)
Sheepseeker Germany (anywhere)
Okyrhoe Greece (anywhere)
[[[Bug2004 US-Nebraska (US only) - asked to be skipped]]]
[[[Bindibooks US Penn (US pref) - asked to be skipped]]]
Sarkiegirl US California (anywhere)
Katisha50 UK (anywhere) <---- it's here!
Scotsbookie UK (Europe)
Cross-patch UK (anywhere)
[possibly: Heaven-Ali UK (UK)]

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Posting to the first person in the BookRay!

Arrived today. Thank you!
Will start reading today.

Finished.
It took meabout 40 or 45 pages to get into the story. I didn't have any problems with the language, it's justthat I wasn't interested in the story until around page 45. But then the story grabbed me. I thought it was a bit ironic how those wannabe bad boys had their images clashed with their realities at home.
I was thinking throughout the book that Jas was different, not only because he was smarter. So I was right in that.
I liked the book, it was a good read.

I've already got Sheepseeker's address, the book will be mailed tomorrow.

Edit:
9.04.09: book mailed today.

The book arrived today, thanks!

I've got quite a number of rings with me at the moment. Please PM me if I take too long!

All in all a good book!

The language was no problem (I shared a flat in London with 10 Hindu people for some time), but it was difficult to get through the first 50 or so pages. I found those rather boring. It was a bit difficult at times to keep track of the different perspectives.

What I found amazing all through the book was, that these boys have to fit (rather pretend to fit) into so many roles: hard boys, sons, oh so cool guys, bollywood figures - no wonder they always fight for recognition.

Thanks for sharing the book with us! It's already on its way to Okyrhoe - have fun!

Arrived in Athens today. Thanks LyzzyBee for including me in the ring, and Sheepseeker for posting the book to me!

If anything, this book brings to mind Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. Only the story is very real, in that it is set in present-day London, and reflecting actual lifestyles and speech idioms of a particular subculture in Britain.
The ending is quite a surprise, although a credible one. I'm not sure I appreciate it, it was just too much to have to deal with in the end, although if you go back and re-read it all, it does seem logical. I just don't feel that the suspense part of the plot is what it's all meant to be.

I'll be reading the Greek edition soon.
----------

Finished the book and PMed the next person on the list.

Edit 15/6/2009 - Bug2004 asked to be skipped, waiting to hear from Bindibooks.
Edit 19/6/2009 - Bindibooks asked to be skipped, now contacting Sarkiegirl.
Edit 22/6/2009 - On its way to Sarkiegirl.

It came today! I have two to read before it, and then I will start it!
Thanks!

I am taking wayyyy too long for this book. I have a lot going on and it got put on the back burner.
Plus, even though I lived in London for three months, some of the language was difficult for me.
I'm glad I received it, thank you for giving me the chance! I think I'll try to read it another time
when I have more time!!!

I'm going to send it to Katisha50 on Monday!
Thanks again!!
Sorry I took so long!

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I have sent it to the next bookcrosser! Thanks! :)

Arrived yesterday. Thank you, sarkiegirl. I will get to it as soon as I can.

I had no problem with the language, neither in terms of offence nor understanding.

But I HATED this book, and I disagree with LyzzyBee that it is similar to Bali Rai. I was finding it a chore to read, with no positives to keep me going, so I stopped reading it.

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Over to you, Audrey. I'll be interested to hear what you think of it.

I think we're going to have to put this one down as Lost In The Post. What a shame!