Customer Reviews

Anita and Me (New Press International Fiction Series)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very wonderful and touching tale of a young Indian girl growing up in a small Midlands town in 1960s England. The book succeeds on two levels, both as the coming of age tale of young girl, dealing with her "differentness" and desire to assimilate, and as the story of a whole generation of immigrants from the subcontinent. In many ways it has that "young adult" book feel to it, lots of familiar clichéd plot devices and characters, but the nicely drawn setting makes it very different from what American readers may be used to. In particular, the use of slang stand out as particularly well-written. The only quibble I have is the jumbling of pop-culture references which don't seem to make any sense: 1960's "To Kill A Mockingbird" is called a "new" book from America, whereas fashion references seem to place it as late 60s, whereas teen heartthrob references (Donny Osmond, Shaun Cassidy) seem to place it in the 70s, and skinhead fashions are of the 1968-9 era. These are minor annoyances though, and barely distract from the touching and sometimes gut wrenching story of a little girl learning about herself.

This is truly one of the best books I have read in a very long time. Syal's prose is not meerly proficient but utterly engaging. In Meena she creates a character who is so utterly charming that even her darkest deeds (like losing her mother's diamond necklace) seem excusable lapses in a temperament which is essentially both good and clever. Meena's cheeky and almost achingly accurate narrative of what it is like to be young and growing up in a small village when all you want to do is grow up and get away will strike a long-buried chord in many readers, it certainly did in me. In this extemely funny novel Syal's political agenda is suitably both understated and omnipresent, never overshadowing Meena's hilarious antics and inevitable (and literal) fall from grace. I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen, buy it now - its fantastic.

Angie Ryan.

Oh how I enjoyed this one my dad asked me to read it and I absolutley adored this book about the Kumar's living in the 1900's or so and racism she endured. It was hilarious at SSR I would be laughing my heart out, and everyone would look at me funny. It was sad, but enjoyable. Meena is not accepted into the English world, but doesn't seem to fit in with her Indian family. You can relate if you are a kid who lies a lot trying to make your life exciting. Meena is a very enjoyable character she's smart, funny, imaginitive, creative (same thing i guess), charming, and witty. This is a book as a kid I reccomend for everyone!

The story of a few years in the childhood of Meena, an Indian girl growing up in a Midland's village in the early 70's. The clashes and harmonies of the Indian and English cultures are the backdrop and the simple style describing life through the innocent eyes of a child make this a joy to read. There is a beautiful mixture of humour and pathos. The little girl who wants to join the Girls Gang led by Anita who slowly grows up to be the friend Anita needs and rejects. My only criticism is that the book had to end.

This is one of my favorite books written by an author of Indian origin. Being Indian I could identify with so many aspects of the tale. Her wit, intelligence and sensitivity is prominent in this book, from beginning to end.

I recommend that everyone should read "Anita and Me" by Meera Syal. This story, that of a young Indian girl growing up in a British town, is really a universal tale. Feeling the temptation to rebel against your parents, needing to be one of the "cool" kids, and struggling between what is right and wrong are all important things every child must go through. Meena, the main character of "Anita and Me", is no exception. Although she is Indian, she has many childhood experiences anyone could relate to. That is what makes this story so great. It points out that underneath our skin color, everyone is human. Unfortunately for Meena, not everyone in her town always feels that way. Meena's family is accepted by their British neighbors, but only when they act "British". Whenever they showed even the smallest aspects of their Indian culture, they were ignored, or even shunned. "Anita and Me" reminds us not to fall into a trap of prejudice as so many in Meena's town did. Meera Syal, the author of the story, challenges every reader to reassess what we consider "civilized" and to look beyond the color of someone's skin to find their worth, but to look at their character.

This book did what all good books do - it dragged me into the world of the characters. Meena is the 9 year old daughter of Indian immigrants, living in a small town called Tollington.

Through her eyes we see her world, her impatience to grow up, her wish to fit in with the local people, her naughty streak and her desire to befriend the bad girl of the area, Anita.

It's a tough time for Meena growing up in this town. She sounds like a local, yet doesn't look like them. She is accepted as one of 'them', yet when another Indian is beaten and ends up in hospital, openly jeered and ridiculed by her friends, she finds herself stuck with the knowledge that she is stuck with a foot in both worlds.

Her Namina (grandma) comes to stay and during this time Meena discovers and learns more about her family and history and slowly embraces the old customs and language.

It is an adventurous year for Meena, as she begins to see that people around her are not always what they appear to be.

Meera Syal has done a superb job in capturing the small world of a child. There are laughs, frowns and sighs to be had, whilst reading this wonderful tale of Meera. Can't wait to read more from this author.

touching story that is sincere and funny. through the eyes of a girl, we see the racist poverty-stricken English suburb with immaculate clarity. syal blends in issues of second generation immigrant, adolescence, race, sexuality and culture effortlessly. I found myself wrapped around the book for hours on end, forgetting everything around me and remembering my own adolescence.

This is a great book - humour and sadness all mixed up together. We read it in our reading group and the girls liked it especially. I think if you are in your early 30s and around the same age as the author (I think?!) you recognise so much of what it was like to be growing up in the late 60s/early 70s. The stuff about being in a girl "gang" was so perfectly evoked! The exploration of growing racism in the village and how it relates to industrial growth and unemployment was revealing yet understated. Recommended.

This book oozes humanity and charm, humor and brilliant observations, the magic of being a child and the adventure of life.

Meera Syal, who is also an absolutely fabulous comedian - see Goodness Gracious Me, BBC - has me so enamored with here writing and acting that I wait impatiently for the next book or show.

W would recommend this to my best friends, and also "Life isn't all ..." which is also very funny.

Regards,

Martyn R Jones