a babe of a novel
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Wow! What a discovery! This babe is a heroine for our times. She's sharp, witty, vulnerable and oh, so human. Forget Beowulf, if you want a tale of courage and sadness, told in verse that makes you laugh and cry, pick up the emperor's babe. You'll fall in love with her.
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scintillating, tantalising, ravishing
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I heard about this books because I scour the papers for recommended books and this one came up trumps time and time again. I have to say that few books move me in the way this one did. It made me step outside of my own mind, my own way of thinking, and go into the head of this amazing girl called Zuleika who lived in 211 but seemed as if she lived next door today. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Zuleika - she's so full of life and wit. Few writers have created a character so multi-faceted and so vivid and so loveable. It is a very imaginative book, in fact one of the most, if not THE most imaginative book I have ever read and I read all the time. It's set in Roman London but it constantly refers to contemporary London, making it swing between both centuries. It's a bloody good story too, a real page turner and the characters leap off the page with such energy and origanlity. I keep recommending this book to my friends because it is such fun to read while also having intellectual weight too. It's a magical mix of many things and I will keep returning to read it. A real groundbreaker!
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fantastic - imaginative - funny - sad - a mega hit
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This is a wonderful read. Original, fast paced and written in verse.This book has everything - some history, street savvy, a litle latin, sex and soul. Bernadine is one of the most exciting writers out there. I could not put it down.
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so funny, so witty, so unexpected
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this book was such a surprising read. i guessed it would be fun from the press i'd read but i didn't expect it to be so full of riches. it's so different to any other novel that i've read and also any poetry - it's in a class of its own. i kept laughing out loud at so much of it, sitting on the tube making a fool of myself. then it's moving too - deeply moving, because the character of Zuleika is so heartwarming. it's the kind of book i want everyone to read because it opens up the imagination in such a brilliant way. at last here is something to read that is what the reviews say it is - truly, wonderfully original, and to that i will add - groundbreaking.
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A funny, sexy and modern look at black and british history
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This is a great book on so many levels. Firstly it's entertaining and fun, mixing clever references to the modern day, into the voice of its funky roman heroine. But more seriously, Zuleika, the daughter of African immigrants, represents both contemporary expressions of migration, love, and class, as well as the forgotten history of black people in Britain. As the novel is written in verse, it will introduce a different form of narrative to a new audience. Make sure you and your friends are among them.
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