The Buddha of Surburbia: Amazon.co.uk: Hanif Kureishi: Books

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Modern Classics)

by Sam Selvon

4.8 out of 5 stars (4) �6.99

Brick Lane

by Monica Ali

3.2 out of 5 stars (115) �4.88

White Teeth

by Zadie Smith

3.3 out of 5 stars (203) �4.40

The Magic Toyshop (Virago modern classics)

by Angela Carter

4.4 out of 5 stars (15) �5.99

Intimacy

by Hanif Kureishi

4.1 out of 5 stars (23) �4.79

› Explore similar items

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)

multicultural

london

coming of age

modern europe

minorities

literary fiction

immigrants-indi an

hanif kuresishi literature

hanif kureishi

guru

great britain

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:

Create your own review

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

By	Lou Ice "Swedish novelist" (Brighton, England) - See all my reviews

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

› See all 19 customer reviews...

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

› See all 19 customer reviews...

Listmania!

Books to momentarily escape from this dull world.: A list by Ms. Bethan Kitchen "Beth Kitchen"
Reading Record: A list by shoopdelang
Books that've left me wanting more: A list by Musical Prevert "Will"

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > K > Kureishi, Hanif
Books > Fiction > By Period

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

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 by Hanif Kureishi

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

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Put a sparkle in your smile with up to 50% off selected Oral-B and Philips rechargeable toothbrushes.

›Up to 50% off power toothbrushes

Treat Someone

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

	89% buy the item featured on this page: The Buddha of Surburbia 4.2 out of 5 stars (19)
	3% buy Brick Lane 3.2 out of 5 stars (115) �4.88
	3% buy White Teeth 3.3 out of 5 stars (203) �4.40
	2% buy The White Tiger 3.7 out of 5 stars (103) �3.84


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

The Buddha of Surburbia (Paperback)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product details

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

More From Hanif Kureishi

Up to 50% off Dental Care

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History