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Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock 'n' Roll
 
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Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion and Rock 'n' Roll (Hardcover)

by Sarfraz Manzoor (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
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Product details

  • Hardcover: 269 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: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 144,368 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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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

13 Reviews
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3 star:
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2 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, engaging, touching, 9 April 2009
By Forty runner (Brighton) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Greetings from Bury Park: Race. Religion. Rock 'n' Roll (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.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but slighlty repetitive, 27 Jun 2007
By Avid reader (London, UK) - See all my reviews
This is a good book, I found myself laughing out loud at various points and Manzoor is a talented writer. He frequently teases out hypocrises and creates a vivid picture of his somewhat miserable existence in Luton in the 1980s. However, I only give the book 4*s because there are many events or incidents that Manzoor repeats - for instance, his friend and he visit the Twin Towers in New York and this incident is covered twice. Given that the book is fairly short as it is I felt this was unnecessary. I enjoyed his reflections on Mr Springsteen though!
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7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A real gem! , 13 Jul 2007
By Shabana (London) - See all my reviews
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 stereotype. Manzoor's tale of growing up in Luton uses warmth and humour to describe his struggle to balance the demands of family life and culture with his personal hopes and dreams. He articulates with great honesty and accuracy the difficult relationship he had with his father and the experiences and pressures faced by second generation British Muslims.

The antidote to the trials and tribulations in Manzoor's home life arrives in the form of Bruce Springsteen and the enthusiasm with which he conveys this life changing discovery is inspiring to say the least. Springsteen's music acts as a healing balm, offering understanding and solace to a young man struggling to reconcile the expectations of his father with his ambitions. Islam and Springsteen may make an unlikely pairing, but Manzoor proves that, in his heart at least, they can sit alongside one another in harmony.

Manzoor's writing takes the reader on a journey that covers the entire emotional spectrum and leaves one feeling content in the knowledge that his battles, and indeed his father's battles before him to create a better life, were worth the pain and effort. Reading this book reminded me of my own relationship with my family and the journey that my parents have made from their homeland. It also made me feel less alone with my experience of being a second generation British Muslim.

This book won't only appeal to Muslims though. This is a story about growing up in an uninspiring English town, the complicated dynamics of family life, and the decisions and sacrifices one can make to influence the path that their life takes. Manzoor is certainly one home-grown Muslim we should be proud of.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute must.
Sarfraz is a absolute legend and inspiration for all minority groups. Absolutely love the book and completely bang on. Read more
Published 22 months ago by 2tellyou

4.0 out of 5 stars 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
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by Adeela Shafi

5.0 out of 5 stars 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

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 Jul 2007 by Mala

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Imaginative...
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. Read more
Published on 22 Jul 2007 by Farah Pervez

3.0 out of 5 stars 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 Jul 2007 by Mike Dawson

5.0 out of 5 stars 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
Published on 12 Jul 2007 by s.u

5.0 out of 5 stars 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 Jul 2007 by LSMS

5.0 out of 5 stars 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... Read more
Published on 11 Jul 2007 by MH

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing and apposite
This is a funny well written account of a Muslim Pakistani growing up in Britain. I was drawn to the book by he author's devotion to Bruce Springsteen and found his account of how... Read more
Published on 7 Jul 2007 by S. J. Christie

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