The Buddha of Suburbia
4 journalers for this copy...
I've heared a lot about this book but I've never actually read it, so when I saw it in WH Smiths, I jumped on the chance to pick up a copy to read.
Based in the 1970's, the book focuses on a young Karim, who comes from a mixed race family. The book describes his coming of age, describing the delights of growing up in what seems to me, an unusual situation. In many ways, Karim seems isolated from the situation, but is still entangled within it.
Here's a review from Amazon.com....
The Buddha of Suburbia is a coming-of-age novel that takes place in the suburbs near London in the 70s. Although its 'Indians in England' theme could easily have become an overly earnest exploration of ethnicity and gender and culture, Kureishi has the sense to spare us all that. Instead he's written a hilarious but often touching story in which the wit and energy of individuals are what's important.
Karim Amir, the narrator, is a 21-year-old Englishman of Indian descent who's at a crossroads in his life. He's waiting for something important to happen, but, uncertain as to what that thing is exactly, ends up just sort of hanging out, going from place to place. This gives the book a kind of wandering and aimless feel. You have several different plot lines: Karim's father leaving his mother for a London socialite and simultaneously becoming an Indian buddha adored by upper class white people; Amir's ultra-feminist friend Jamila having sex in bathrooms, studying martial arts in preparation for the Revolution, and being forced to marry a sheepish fat man from India because her father threatens to starve himself to death; Karim himself, joining an acting group to become famous but playing a ridiculous Mowgli in a production of the Jungle Book; Karim's ambitious and self-obsessed friend, Charlie, becoming a rock star and pressing the limits of sexuality by having hot candle wax dripped on his penis.
These events don't make for the most cohesive plot, but the characters themselves more than make up for it. You see Karim's parents and friends and associates as kind of sad and pathetic and funny and frustrated little people. Whereas others are intimidated or inspired or in awe of them, Karim is able to sit back and laugh at it all. There are some great moments here: My favorite is when Changez-the sheepish, fat, Arthur Conan Doyle-worshipping Indian Jamila has been forced to marry-somehow manages to clobber his father-in-law in the head with a dildo. It's one of the many scenes that are funny in a sleazy, I-shouldn't-be-laughing-at-that kind of way.
Although this book is a lot of fun to read, what really takes it to the next level is Karim's constant, gnawing sense of isolation and uncertainty about the future. Karim sees the people around him as examples of what he could become, and he senses who is pure and who isn't, and more than anything he wants to remain interesting and malleable and inspired; he's terrified of the boredom and misery associated with growing up in suburbia. I read this book when I want to be reminded of the importance of paying attention and having sex in bathrooms and laughing and taking chances and refusing to settle down.
Based in the 1970's, the book focuses on a young Karim, who comes from a mixed race family. The book describes his coming of age, describing the delights of growing up in what seems to me, an unusual situation. In many ways, Karim seems isolated from the situation, but is still entangled within it.
Here's a review from Amazon.com....
The Buddha of Suburbia is a coming-of-age novel that takes place in the suburbs near London in the 70s. Although its 'Indians in England' theme could easily have become an overly earnest exploration of ethnicity and gender and culture, Kureishi has the sense to spare us all that. Instead he's written a hilarious but often touching story in which the wit and energy of individuals are what's important.
Karim Amir, the narrator, is a 21-year-old Englishman of Indian descent who's at a crossroads in his life. He's waiting for something important to happen, but, uncertain as to what that thing is exactly, ends up just sort of hanging out, going from place to place. This gives the book a kind of wandering and aimless feel. You have several different plot lines: Karim's father leaving his mother for a London socialite and simultaneously becoming an Indian buddha adored by upper class white people; Amir's ultra-feminist friend Jamila having sex in bathrooms, studying martial arts in preparation for the Revolution, and being forced to marry a sheepish fat man from India because her father threatens to starve himself to death; Karim himself, joining an acting group to become famous but playing a ridiculous Mowgli in a production of the Jungle Book; Karim's ambitious and self-obsessed friend, Charlie, becoming a rock star and pressing the limits of sexuality by having hot candle wax dripped on his penis.
These events don't make for the most cohesive plot, but the characters themselves more than make up for it. You see Karim's parents and friends and associates as kind of sad and pathetic and funny and frustrated little people. Whereas others are intimidated or inspired or in awe of them, Karim is able to sit back and laugh at it all. There are some great moments here: My favorite is when Changez-the sheepish, fat, Arthur Conan Doyle-worshipping Indian Jamila has been forced to marry-somehow manages to clobber his father-in-law in the head with a dildo. It's one of the many scenes that are funny in a sleazy, I-shouldn't-be-laughing-at-that kind of way.
Although this book is a lot of fun to read, what really takes it to the next level is Karim's constant, gnawing sense of isolation and uncertainty about the future. Karim sees the people around him as examples of what he could become, and he senses who is pure and who isn't, and more than anything he wants to remain interesting and malleable and inspired; he's terrified of the boredom and misery associated with growing up in suburbia. I read this book when I want to be reminded of the importance of paying attention and having sex in bathrooms and laughing and taking chances and refusing to settle down.
I've decided to offer this book as a bookray :)
This book will travel as follows in the bookray:-
1. paganfrog
2. loopy1
3. Theresa-A
4. YowlYY
5. arugh48187
6. mmz18407
Enjoy :)
1. paganfrog
2. loopy1
3. Theresa-A
4. YowlYY
5. arugh48187
6. mmz18407
Enjoy :)
just got this book from jenh, so i havent read it just yet. will update when i have done so.
I found this book very slow going and dull, and unfortunantly I didnt enjoy the read.
Sending off to Loopy1 now.
I found this book very slow going and dull, and unfortunantly I didnt enjoy the read.
Sending off to Loopy1 now.
Book arrived safely, thanks. I'm just about keeping up the in/out ratio :-)
Should start this one within a week. Another book I've heard about but never read. Thanks for sharing :-)
Should start this one within a week. Another book I've heard about but never read. Thanks for sharing :-)
I must confess, I didn't really like this book as much as I thought I would. It had some entertaining moments, but on the whole I found it rather depressing. Harim really didn't seem to have any idea where to go or what to do.
It was an interesting insight into the life of someone with an Indian father and a British mother, and it almost got somewhere towards the end when the father starts talking.
I hope this one fares better with the next reader. I'm currently waiting for an address.
Thanks for sharing :-)
Update: this was posted on 4th November 2003 - I've just mailed Theresa-A to ask if it arrived safely.
17/11/03
It was an interesting insight into the life of someone with an Indian father and a British mother, and it almost got somewhere towards the end when the father starts talking.
I hope this one fares better with the next reader. I'm currently waiting for an address.
Thanks for sharing :-)
Update: this was posted on 4th November 2003 - I've just mailed Theresa-A to ask if it arrived safely.
17/11/03
I have collected ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’ from the Post Office, along with two other books also from loopy1. I’ll read it and pass it on as soon as I can.
I have started ‘The Buddha of Suburbia’, but still have a bit to go. I have however, just found out that I shall be receiving another copy of this book soon, as part of a set of books I am getting as a gift. I will therefore send this copy on to YowlYY, rather than holding up this ray any further. Thanks anyway jenh!
