The author of 'Brick Lane', which I've read but don't remember.

This hardback edition has been passed onto me by a friend.

Monica Ali just has to have spent time in the less well known parts of Portugal to have written a book which evokes the atmosphere and spirit of the local bars and their customers so very, very well. And her descriptions of some of the ex-pats!!! Well, I could picture them! I know these people!

Although the story was nothing stupendous, I really enjoyed reading this.

I've now loaned it to my friend Christine, whilst I decide what to do with it next.

Back with me again now, and up in one of the caravans in case one of our guests needs some reading material.

Christine didn't think it was any good, though she agrees that Monica Ali managed to recreate the spirit of the Portuguese villages.

Arrived today, Kleptokitty! Will read asap!
Thanks!

Not being brilliant, but I enjoyed this book. Specially for the way all the foreign characters look at every day life in small, rural Portugal. I always see these kinds of narrative as a mirror to my face, for the time I also lived abroad, in a different culture than mine. The portuguese characters express some of the many portuguese common personalities, people we know from our own lives. Nice reading.

Sent by mail to my dear bookcrossing friend Kleptokitty.