- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (4 Jun 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747577110
- ISBN-13: 978-0747577119
- Product Dimensions: 21.4 x 13.4 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 297,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'This is a tender, funny book, which captures the weirdness of second generation British lives as well as anything else I've read. A lot of people will recognise something of themselves in the image of an alienated Pakistani boy wandering round 80's Luton wearing a Springsteen tour T-shirt. I know I did.' Hari Kunzru 'Greetings From Bury Park is a perfect memoir, every bit as funny, sad and lyrical as I hoped it would be ever since rumour spread on the Springsteen devotee's vine of its possible existence.' Emma Forrest 'A fascinating, full-blooded and often funny journey into the heart of darkness - Luton, that is - that you don't have to be a Muslim or a Bruce Springsteen fan to get into. I am neither.' Andrew Collins
Product Description
Sarfraz Manzoor was three years old when he emigrated from Pakistan to Britain in 1974 with his mother, brother and sister. They came to join their father, who worked on the production line at Vauxhall, and settled in the Bury Park neighbourhood of Luton. Sarfraz's teenage years were a constant battle to reconcile being both British and Muslim. Frustrated by real life, he sought solace in TV and music. But it was when his best friend introduced him to Bruce Springsteen that his life changed forever. In this perceptive, affectionate and timely memoir, Sarfraz Manzoor retraces his journey from Lahore to Luton to Ladbroke Grove, from the minor frustrations of his childhood to his response and analysis of the tragedies of 9/11 and 7/7. Original, darkly tender and wryly amusing, it is an inspiring tribute to the power of music to transcend race and religion - and a touching salute of thanks from one working-class Pakistani Muslim boy to the father who died too soon for his son to make him proud.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a huge Springsteen fan for over 30 years I came to the book expecting fan worship; what I didn't expect was a warm and engaging book about Father-Son relationships.
I will pass the book to my son - maybe it will explain some things to him.
And the Springsteen bits were very very good.
I will pass the book to my son - maybe it will explain some things to him.
And the Springsteen bits were very very good.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed this book! brilliant, honest and entertaining of a life outline by a mixture of Eastern and Western values.
I completed this book in 2 nights and shared the story to some of my friends. I will pass it to them so they can enjoy it as well as I did.
I completed this book in 2 nights and shared the story to some of my friends. I will pass it to them so they can enjoy it as well as I did.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was a breath of fresh air; so much so that I found it difficult to put it down! It was elegantly written with great charm and sophistication. One can actually place themselves in the scene of the events and therefore empathise with the author.
I completed this book in little over a night and felt somewhat sad to file it away in my bookcase. Would definitely recommend to anyone, particularly those whose parents came to the UK in the 60s and 70s, as we often forget how difficult life was for that generation and how easy, we, the second generation, have had it in comparison. It certainly allowed me to respect my parents' generation and relate to them on a whole new level.
Sarfraz - well done on such a fantastic piece of work. I look forward to many more literary masterpieces from you in the coming years.
I completed this book in little over a night and felt somewhat sad to file it away in my bookcase. Would definitely recommend to anyone, particularly those whose parents came to the UK in the 60s and 70s, as we often forget how difficult life was for that generation and how easy, we, the second generation, have had it in comparison. It certainly allowed me to respect my parents' generation and relate to them on a whole new level.
Sarfraz - well done on such a fantastic piece of work. I look forward to many more literary masterpieces from you in the coming years.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good in parts.
Having lived in an area close to Bury Park, I was interested how it would be portrayed in the book. I was a little disappointed that apart from the reference to the Father wanting... Read more
Published 16 months ago by jonesy
Absolute must.
Sarfraz is a absolute legend and inspiration for all minority groups. Absolutely love the book and completely bang on. Read more
Published on 23 Dec 2007 by 2tellyou
humorously written
Sarfraz
A great book which captures so many of my own experiences of family life especially the day to day things. Read more
A great book which captures so many of my own experiences of family life especially the day to day things. Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by Adeela Shafi
Brilliant!
Anyone who is a music fan will most likely have one band that stands out most for them, that provides a soundtrack for their life, and for Sarfraz this is Bruce Springsteen. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2007 by K. Birch
Enlightening and Entertaining
Sarfraz Manzoor's autobiographical account of life as British Muslim Pakistani growing up in Luton in the 70s/80s. Read more
Published on 26 July 2007 by Mala
A book of eight essays
This book consists of eight chapters and each chapter is an essay about Manzoor's life, each one with a different theme, e.g. religion, racism, America. Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by Mike Dawson
A real gem!
At a time when young Muslim men are only mentioned in the media in relation to terrorism, it is extremely refreshing to hear the story of a young Muslim man who doesn't fulfil that... Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by Shabana
A unique and honest memoir
I really enjoyed this book!
This is a lovely memoir describing the working class struggles of a young Pakistani boy growing up in Luton in the 80's. Read more
This is a lovely memoir describing the working class struggles of a young Pakistani boy growing up in Luton in the 80's. Read more
Published on 12 July 2007 by s.u
A pure joy to read
When the book arrived I thought I would have a quick read of the first few pages. A few hours later I was still reading and found it very hard to put down. Read more
Published on 11 July 2007 by LSMS
An important book
I didn't know what to expect with this book. I think I was expecting an angry, sexually charged Hanif Kureishi-style tale of growing up in a bigoted, repressed Britain in the 1970s... Read more
Published on 11 July 2007 by MH
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