Humorous, sad and honest
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I have just finished reading this book and found it such a good read that I felt compelled to share this view with anyone thinking of purchasing it.
I am not a fan of the memoir genre but the reviews of this book made me curious and so I purchased it. I laughed and cried when I read it and I was struck by how Sanghera has managed to write a book about his life as a British Asian and yet manage to captivate a much wider audience than this with his tales of growing up in the 1970s and 80s.
The tale of the schizophrenia afflicting his father and sister is tragic and yet full of hope and pride.
This is not only a journey through his past to understand these illnesses but a journey for Sanghera to discover who he is and become more comfortable with this. He does this with such engaging humour that you are full of the admiration his mother must feel for her son.
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Such a rewarding read...........
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I chose this book because Wolverhampton is my home town. I don't think I would have read it without that connection.
BUT... I was both moved and entertained by Sathnam Sanghera's family story. Whilst it is set in Sikh culture - it deals with issues (schizophrenia, family pressures, parental expectations etc) that can affect anyone - regardless of background.
An amazing book. Highly recommended.
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Captivating & Honest.
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I started to read this in the afternoon and found myself finishing the last chapter in the wee hours of the next morning - just could not put it down! A personalised introspective through an experience that most Second Generation British Sikhs in the UK will immediately identify with, which I think is why it was so captivating for me. The author also highlights the devastating illness of schizophrenia and the consequences of this upon his experiences, especially in retrospect and the analysis of that. It is also partially soul searching (not in an identity cisis sort of way - far from it) in a way that Second Generation British Asians experience personal conflicts and turmoils with the direction that they have found for themselves and the pull of expectations from their First Generation forebearers. A great style of writing that never bores or fades.
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my favourite of 2008
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Having just finished the book this morning, i must say that it is superb. Being a 'British Punjabi' myself a lot this hit home. But that's not to say it's only for punjabi's or indians, this book is relavant for everyone. Sathnam Sanghera invites us into his family openly as he journey's to discover his past which is superbly written, funny, honest, moving, engrossing and so much more. A great tribute to his family and ultimately his mum. A must read.
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Highly Recommended
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Sathnam has written a wonderfully moving memoir of life in an Indian immigrant family in Britain. It's about as far removed from my life as an Australian growing up on a farm near Sydney as it gets, but I couldn't put the book down. It will have you crying tears of laughter and tears of joy. I can't recommend it highly enough.
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