Different cover.

I've read so much about this Booker Prize shortlisted novel that I had to pick it up when I saw it in the bookshop the other day.

To be read.

Promised to augustusgloop when I'm finished

Hmmm...I think I suffered from a case of "too high expectations" at the start of this book.
I found it hard to get into but by about a third of the way through I was fine. I felt for Nanzeen, trying to find her way in a strange country in an arranged marriage and I enjoyed some of the supporting characters, especially her neighbour Razia.

I think Monica Ali paints a wonderful picture of the east end of London and by the end of the book I was gripped and didn't want it to end. Some of her descriptions were magical and I had to stop reading at one stage and go & make curry !! The only criticism I have is that I would have loved to know what happened to Hasina in Bangladesh.

This is going to augustusgloop when she returns from her wonderful trip abroad.

Taking to meetup @ Zanzibar Newtown Tuesday 12/10 for augustusgloop

Received from kirst040 at tonight's Sydney MeetUp at Zanzibar's, Newtown.

I had forgotten I had asked for this one. Oops. Another one for the TBR mountain range.

Sorry for the delay. After two *blush* wonderful trips abroad I finally finished this.

I had the opposite experience. I got into the book within a couple of chapters but felt it seemed to lose momentum towards the end, events unravelling in a hurried whirl.

Monica has a vivid way of describing scenes which I would often reread over and over just to appreciate them. Her use of unlikely but brilliantly accurate metaphors made me weep with envy. She is a descriptive genius and one I would love to emulate.

And I agree--I really wanted to find out more about Hasina too =)

Picked this one up at the meetup at The Australian Hotel in The Rocks last night. Looks like a fascinating story...

Needing to declitter, so I'm sending this one on its way...

On the book shelves upstairs.