We don't want to tell you too much about this book. It is a truly special story and we don't want to spoil it.
Nevertheless, you need to know something, so we will just say this: It is extremely funny, but the African beach scene is horrific.
The story starts there, but the book doesn't.
First published: 2009
Pages: 287
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
Amazon Rating: 4.0 out of 2,600 reviews
Our review in brief:
| 1. Rating: 7.7 out of 10 |
| 2. Recommended: Most people said they would recommend the book and some had already done so. |
| 3. Audience: The book would suit both men and women over about 18. There are lots of underlying themes which were interesting to explore; it would therefore make a good book for young adults to study. |
| 4. Type of Read: It was an easy to read in terms of language, but the themes, particularly the way the refugees were treated, the frequent reference to suicide and "the scene on the beach" means some people may find it upsetting. |
| 5. Quality of the Author: The quality of the writing was good, however a few members felt the story was too contrived. The story did not feel natural but was a good medium to convey the way our refugees are treated and why the refugees would risk everything to come to the UK. |
| 6. Other Observations: The book generated some interesting discussions, but we did not really find the humour that the author had promised. |