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Review
Vividly rendered...Strong characterisation and richly authentic dialogue TIME OUT A glimpse into an urban nightmare where violence is casual, drugs are the norm...a freshness in the details and in the dialogue - frighteningly believable. THE INDEPENDENT Real tension and suspense... an abosorbing debut from a writer who clearly has important things to say. OBSERVER A powerfully written debut novel. WALES ON SUNDAY
Review
Vividly rendered...Strong characterisation and richly authentic dialogue (TIME OUT )
A glimpse into an urban nightmare where violence is casual, drugs are the norm...a freshness in the details and in the dialogue - frighteningly believable. (THE INDEPENDENT )
Real tension and suspense... an abosorbing debut from a writer who clearly has important things to say. (OBSERVER )
A powerfully written debut novel. (WALES ON SUNDAY )
A glimpse into an urban nightmare where violence is casual, drugs are the norm...a freshness in the details and in the dialogue - frighteningly believable. (THE INDEPENDENT )
Real tension and suspense... an abosorbing debut from a writer who clearly has important things to say. (OBSERVER )
A powerfully written debut novel. (WALES ON SUNDAY )
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First Sentence
The sound of Hip Hop swirled and flowed like an unseen mist through flat 36, Denver House, Greenside Estate. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
The sound of Hip Hop swirled and flowed like an unseen mist through flat 36, Denver House, Greenside Estate. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was, and is, excellent. I'm always very weary of giving anything a perfect score (after all, what is perfect?), but there was no 4.75, so a 5/5 will have to do. I actually read 'The Scholar' 2 years after reading 'Society Within' (which I studied for A level), then I read the reviews on this site; the majority stating that 'The Scholar' was much better. I enjoyed both books, as they deal with an aspect of life in the UK hardly ever really sufficiently represented on television, let alone in text. 'Society Within' draws you into the marginalised societies that not only the young characters are living in, but also young people today, right under our own noses: "A world inside another world, operatin' with its own rules and regulations, its own terms and understandin's" (p.132). Reading it, also allowed me to reflect upon the dialect used by the (mainly black) characters, often seen as substandard in our society, yet Newland forces it upon the reader; if you want to understand and enjoy this book, you have to also make the effort to see their dialect as standard. It commands respect. In addition, I enjoyed the love-story in 'Society Within', as well as the mixture of harsh, and at times vile, occurrences on the Greenside Estate.
Still, most of the events that occur in 'The Scholar' are much more harsh, which is one of the reasons why I feel some people prefer Newland's first novel. He's less sympathetic to the reader. At times a simple reflection of life itself, to the extent that I found myself so emotionally involved, so caught up in the fast-paced, manic nature of the events that sometimes all I could do was read and read, whilst at others I was too afraid of what the next page/paragraph would bring. It took me 3-4days to read the last 20 pages, simply because I was so scared that I knew how it would end. I was wrong. In fact, I think that happened a lot in this novel; Newland is so hard to predict. I liked that though- it meant I was never bored. Even the ending had me reaching for my 'Society Within' book, simply so that I could try & piece together what happened next to Sean & Cory, but there still wasn't enough information!!
MR. NEWLAND: PLEASE WRITE A SCRIPT!!! The world of movies needs writers such as yourself! If you don't, you may well get a letter from me a few years from now stating that I've HAD to turn your novels into a script.. Haha!
Both books are excellent, and to some degree Newland writes them with different styles, so why not simply get them both. That is... if you can stomach it. x
Still, most of the events that occur in 'The Scholar' are much more harsh, which is one of the reasons why I feel some people prefer Newland's first novel. He's less sympathetic to the reader. At times a simple reflection of life itself, to the extent that I found myself so emotionally involved, so caught up in the fast-paced, manic nature of the events that sometimes all I could do was read and read, whilst at others I was too afraid of what the next page/paragraph would bring. It took me 3-4days to read the last 20 pages, simply because I was so scared that I knew how it would end. I was wrong. In fact, I think that happened a lot in this novel; Newland is so hard to predict. I liked that though- it meant I was never bored. Even the ending had me reaching for my 'Society Within' book, simply so that I could try & piece together what happened next to Sean & Cory, but there still wasn't enough information!!
MR. NEWLAND: PLEASE WRITE A SCRIPT!!! The world of movies needs writers such as yourself! If you don't, you may well get a letter from me a few years from now stating that I've HAD to turn your novels into a script.. Haha!
Both books are excellent, and to some degree Newland writes them with different styles, so why not simply get them both. That is... if you can stomach it. x
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a collector's item! Newland joins the wave in young british black authors. His characters are engaging, believable and authentic. Sean and Cory are cousins who have grown up together. Whereas one is interested in educating and furthering himself, the other is more immersed in the steetlife. Cory gets too deep and Sean steps in. Only to undergo a complete transformation. The once studious cousin is behaving in a manner even Cory is shocked at. The rest of the plot centres on Cory sorting out his life and the people around him. The book really came alive for me and I felt like I was watching a movie because it is very cinematic and fast paced. A real page turner!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I don't have anything bad to say about this book, I started reading it and within hours I'd nearly finished it, it is sooo hard to put down. Don't be fooled into thinking that it's just another ghetto book where they just kill one another and sell drugs; it's actually a very good story about life on a West London estate and the writer manages to capture you so strongly that you feel like you know Cory & Sean and you get attatched! The follow-up 'Society Within' isn't as good as the first though.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Scholar - A Westside Story
When I first read this book I couldn't put it down. I felt that I could relate to the characters on many different levels and coming from west london myself the book had me... Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2004
THE BEST
When my cuz lent me the book a year ago I thought oh no not another black book! and started to read it slowly but after the first few pages I could not put it down! Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2003 by Shauntelle
gripping, very real life
This book is absolutely with grips with the 'real life' out on the streets. When you feel you read the book you actually feel the pain, love that is being expressed by the... Read more
Published on 6 July 2001
fabulous
I found the first few pages difficult to get to grips with due to the language, after that I was well and truely hooked. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2000
An excellent read.
I first saw the book in my college library,and I immediately took it out. From the first page, I couldnt put it down. Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2000
Excellent reading - a very gritty and real tale.
I heard about this book quite some time ago and never really got around to reading it - do not make my mistake. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2000
bonafide stories from w12
im from "the bush" currently in acton ive lived all my life in the area described in the book and i can tell you it is real the stories the places the characters if you... Read more
Published on 10 Dec 1999 by b-ski@easynet.co.uk
Excellent, reads like a story from theUS East or West Coast
I was able to get right into the story from page 1. The characters are believable and it gives an insight into life on a London Estate for those of us who have never experienced... Read more
Published on 9 Nov 1999 by stephblenman@msn.com
I couldn't put it down!
The other review describes it all. This is an excellent book. There is no doubt in my mind that I will buy Courttia Newland's next book. Do yourself a favour, read this book.
Published on 2 Sep 1999
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