See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

23 used & new from £0.01
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Buddha of Suburbia (FF Classics)
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The Buddha of Suburbia (FF Classics) (Paperback)

by Hanif Kureishi (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


22 used from £0.01 1 collectible from £16.98
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 12 used & new from £11.86
Paperback (Special 80th Birthday Edition) £8.00 £4.80 33 used & new from £2.49
Audio Cassette (Abridged,Audiobook) 3 used & new from £8.88
Audio Cassette (Audiobook) £48.12 £45.71 8 used & new from £14.74
Unknown Binding Order it used

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Modern Classics)

The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Sam Selvon
4.8 out of 5 stars (4)  £6.99
Brick Lane

Brick Lane

by Monica Ali
3.2 out of 5 stars (115)  £4.79
White Teeth

White Teeth

by Zadie Smith
3.3 out of 5 stars (203)  £4.39
The Magic Toyshop (Virago modern classics)

The Magic Toyshop (Virago modern classics)

by Angela Carter
4.4 out of 5 stars (15)  £5.99
Intimacy

Intimacy

by Hanif Kureishi
4.1 out of 5 stars (23)  £4.79
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 284 pages
  • Publisher: Faber and Faber; New edition edition (5 April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0571200435
  • ISBN-13: 978-0571200436
  • Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11.2 x 2.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 305,248 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #20 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > K > Kureishi, Hanif

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Product Description
The winner of the Whitbread Best First Novel 1990, this is the story of Karim Amir, "an Englishman born and bred - almost", who lives with his English mother and Indian father in the South London suburbs. It is written by the author of "My Beautiful Launderette" and "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid".

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
contemporary literature
coming of age
indian
hanif kureishi
fiction
british

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Buddha of Suburbia (FF Classics)
89% buy the item featured on this page:
The Buddha of Suburbia (FF Classics) 4.2 out of 5 stars (19)
Brick Lane
3% buy
Brick Lane 3.2 out of 5 stars (115)
£4.79
White Teeth
3% buy
White Teeth 3.3 out of 5 stars (203)
£4.39
The White Tiger
2% buy
The White Tiger 3.7 out of 5 stars (104)
£3.84
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A search for identity crossing the boundaries of hybridity., 10 Jan 2002
By lilmerricks@hotmail.com (Northamptonshire, England) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Buddha of Suburbia (Paperback)
Hanif Kureshi introduces us to the world of Karim, who, as a Seventeen year old boy with an English mother and an eccentric Indian father, is searching for his own identity. Karim is more of an English youth than the exotic Indian boy as everyone percieves him to be. Indeed, his English step-brother is more exotic than him. Karim experiments with new ideas in his search to find himself, he is not pinned down to any place or group of people. Instead, he is able to mix with anyone, and move around in any social circle in 1970s London. It is his hybridity that allows him to do this. He is neither one thing or another.
A very amusing and thought provoking novel. It opens the world up, and at the same time it makes it seem more familiar to us. We learn a great deal about ourselves through it.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A classy book about class, 6 Jul 2007
This review is from: The Buddha of Suburbia (Paperback)
A very well-written and interesting account on life in the late 70's London, seen through the eyes of Karim; half English, half Indian. It all starts with his Indian dad having an affair with Eva, a charismatic and bohemian woman from his writing group. This leaves Karim's family in ruins and as the story develops Karim tries to come to terms with it all. After all he likes Eva, and her rock star son, Charlie.

Karim is eager to explore life to the max through explicit living; sex, drugs and rock n' roll. He gets some kind of direction though when Eva introduces him to a theatre director and he embarks on an acting career.

Parallel to the story about Karim's family runs the story about Anwar's family. Anwar is an old friend of Karim's dad and runs a shop with his wife Jeeta and daughter Jamilla, who is very rebellious. But Jamilla is forced into a marriage with an Indian man, which doesn't develop as Anwar wishes.

All the characters are beautifully drawn and you feel a lot of warmth for them. The political struggle between the different classes is also very well portrayed via middle-class arty-farties and suburban activist groups. Kureishi succeeds in guiding the reader from flowery hippies to hard core punks without being judgmental.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing perspective, 26 Jul 2005
By A Customer
This review is from: The Buddha of Suburbia (Paperback)
What I love most about this book is that it stays away from ye olde stereotype of 'British Asians' .Oh, and it's really funny. I wasn't born in 70's London but it makes me feel as though I was. Kureishi is a talented writer and this book is worth the packing and postage.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Rather slow moving and lacking in a good thread throughout
This is a book that received much acclaim at the time, although frankly speaking I struggled through it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by John M

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlike anything you've ever read
A fair and balanced review would conclude that if you are conservative minded, prudish, not interested in music/popular culture and too sensitive to palate Asians engaging in... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Lord Kinky Gallupstien

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money...
It's one of those books that's received more acclaim than it deserves, the reasons why it receives any acclaim at all leave me at somewhat of a loss. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Ibrahim Ali

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected
I have only just read this book, having missed reading it when it was first published. I wasn't expecting the story to be so funny and I giggled aloud several times while reading... Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2007 by lilysmum

5.0 out of 5 stars An exceptional novel
The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi is truly an exceptional novel about the 70;s decade in London. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2006 by P. DATTA

5.0 out of 5 stars friggin excellent...
this has to be a cult book. it is absolutely amazing giving a storyline that i have never read before and doubt i ever will in the near future. Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2004 by Dan

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read
Kureishi is one of the geratest writers of our times. The Buddha of Suburbia is extremely enjoyable and true to life. It's the story of 'the other' in the West. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2001

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking
I found this book to be very thought-provoking. It's not the most profound book I've ever read, but I liked how the main character, Karim Amir, serves as a kind-of foil for the... Read more
Published on 27 Oct 2001 by John M Flemming

3.0 out of 5 stars Not that good!
Pretty amusing, enjoyable and a fairly accurate recall of a time and place. But no classic and one of those books you quickly forget about. Read more
Published on 2 May 2001 by Clive Pacey

4.0 out of 5 stars zeitgeist of late 70s society, music and parental divorce.
A humerous, intellectual and very observed insight into the growing up of a British Indian, his sexuality, viewpoints, career and family life. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2001

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

More From Hanif Kureishi

Something to Tell You

Something to Tell You by Hanif Kureishi

'An entertaining series of glimpses of London's demi-monde, from the... Read more
£7.99 £4.79

 

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

›Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates