- Paperback: 389 pages
- Publisher: Alma Books Ltd; Television tie-in edition edition (15 Dec 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1846880009
- ISBN-13: 978-1846880001
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 958,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Everyone who reads McCarten's generous, humane, funny, and moving novel will come away enriched." - Timothy Mo "High farce laced with some acute observations on racial prejudice, bigotry, the strength of women's bonds, and an exploration of Islam" - Eve "Anthony McCarten dares to speak of English multiculturalism in the satirical tongue that most native writers keep mute" - Observer "Anthony McCarten's sparkling new novel manages to deal with big issues - cultural differences, religion, marriage - in a funny and often very moving way" - Dublin Sunday Tribune"
Sunday Times
"McCarten's novel hovers between indignant satire and engaging
comedy of manners"
comedy of manners"
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have now read two of McCarten's books, and though I adored Spinners I find this book even more satisfying. It is embedded in more realism than its precedessor, and combines wit with piercing socialm commentary, pathos with profundity. You will fall in love with Tracy Pringle and Saaman Sahar, and their entire extended family, but my favourite character would have to be Tracy's dad, Eric, the limping clown of the piece whose love for his daughter invites so much tragedy. I predict that McCarten's is a major literary career in the making.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
English Harem promises cross-cultural romance and culture clashes, and for the first third delivers. The romance is handled sensitively and convincingly, but also rather quickly. It rather a surprise to get to the wedding so early. What's going to fill the rest of the book? Well as it turns out some rather clunky plot developments around child custody, and increasingly predictable stereotyping.
I had enjoyed the 1st third but couldn't get to the end soon enough. No doubt the book is well intentions, but good intentions don't make up for poor characterisation and plotting.
I had enjoyed the 1st third but couldn't get to the end soon enough. No doubt the book is well intentions, but good intentions don't make up for poor characterisation and plotting.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is so good to see that this word of mouth hit - which proved so popular when my book club read and discussed it earlier this year - has slowly found its way onto the bestseller lists, and deservedly so, for it is a timely and superbly realised work of art that has much to say about the zeitgist -dreaded word - with much to savour and be grateful for. Most of our readers group found it superior to White Teeth and wonder why books like this, which have so much to say about modern Britain, don't appear on the Booker Prize lists. Go figure. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
full of eastern promise
would recommend this reading , I did see the TV adaption of it with Art Malik and Martine Mchutchinson which I really enjoyed, Full of ignorance and compassion. Read more
Published 3 months ago by suecclassic
Much better than the movie
I saw the movie with Martin McCutcheon and Art Malik last Christmas and enjoyed it thoroughly. Now I have read the book on which the film was based, and liked it even better. Read more
Published on 25 Sep 2006 by Michael Donovan
Unconvincing characterisations
Perhaps it isn't fair of me to review this book, having succeeded in only fully reading the first 150 pages. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2006 by Discerning Shopper
Excellent!
I agree with every 5* review on here for this book, and I'm not sure where's a whole lot more I can add. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2006 by Atheana
A must read - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!
I was given this book for Christmas and really didn't know too much about this author, but from the first page I was captivated by this stunning timely tale of east meets west... Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2006 by Ben Pujji
A multicultural adventure
A young London working class girl becomes one of three wives of a middle aged Persian. Superb characterizations; funny; touching; a novel about goodness (in a totally unmawkish... Read more
Published on 19 Mar 2005 by Ralph Blumenau
THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel because of its imaginative storyline and the fantastic descriptions mccarten uses of the characters. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2005 by Frazier Wiltford
Each page is a delight
Every now and again there is a book that is just a thoroughly good read, where you think 'This is so well written' and you want to read every word carefully. Read more
Published on 30 May 2002
A comic masterpiece - read it and enjoy
Simply great writing. For a first class English novel I recommend this book to any reader. Take Saul Bellow, mix him with Garcia Marquez and have the resulting writer pen a series... Read more
Published on 5 Mar 2002
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