In Our Mad and Furious City

Posted on 18 July 2018 by Guy Gunaratne

For Selvon, Ardan, and Yusuf, growing up under the towers of Stones Estate, summer means what it does anywhere football, music, and freedom, but now, after the killing of a British soldier, riots are spreading across the city, and nowhere is safe While the fury swirls around them, Selvon and Ardan remain focused on their own obsessions, girls, and grime Their friend Yusuf is caught up in a different tide, a wave of radicalism surging through his local mosque, threatening to carry his troubled brother, Irfan, with it Provocative, raw, poetic yet tender, In Our Mad and Furious City marks the arrival of a major new talent in fiction. New Read [ In Our Mad and Furious City ] author [ Guy Gunaratne ] For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr Longlisted for Booker Prize 2018, Shortlisted for Goldsmith prize 2018 For those of us who had an elsewhere in our blood, some foreign origin, we had richer colours and ancient callings to hear For those of us who had an elsewhere in our blood, some foreign origin, we had richer colours and ancient callings to hear.I finished thisthan two weeks ago but I struggled to write a review Unfortunately, this was one of those books that I know it s well written and with literary and sociologic me Longlisted for Booker Prize 2018, Shortlisted for Goldsmith prize 2018 For those of us who had an elsewhere in our blood, some foreign origin, we had richer colours and ancient callings to hear For those of us who had an elsewhere in our blood, some foreign origin, we had richer colours and ancient callings to hear.I finished thisthan two weeks ago but I struggled to write a review Unfortunately, this was one of those books that I know it s well written and with literary and sociologic merit but which meant nothing to me I mean, I liked it but I wasn t moved too much and I struggled a bit too finish, not because of the language as other friends mentioned I had no problem with that, in the end there are nothan 20 slang words repeated over and over again, ennet The format was interesting, The story is told from the interlocking points of view of three young men with different ethnic backgrounds Irish, Caribbean black and Muslim , living one of the poorer neighborhoods of London,... Each of us were caught in the same swirl, all held together with our own small furies in this single mad, monstrous and lunatic city I re read this book following its shortlisting for the 2018 Goldsmith Prize something which caught me a little by surprise I have augmented my review and upgraded my ranking on reflection I think this is the book that should have won the Booker and definitely should have been shortlisted but the Goldsmith seems a stretch too far as it lacks the formal innov Each of us were caught in the same swirl, all held together with our own small furies in this single mad, monstrous and lunatic city I re read this book following its shortlisting for the 2018 Goldsmith Prize something which caught me a little by surprise I have augmented my review and upgraded my ranking on reflection I think this is the book that should have won the Booker and definitely should have been shortlisted but the Goldsmith seems a stretch too far as it lacks the formal innovation I would expect from a Goldsmith winner.This debut novel was longlisted for the Man Booker prize having been shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize one week earlier, and after having...Exceptional I hope this book blows up and becomes huge because really, it deserves to be.Alternating the perspectives of three London teenagers and two of their parents, it dials the pressure and momentum up, up, up with ever shorter chapters as the events of the book escalate and yes, it s furious Set over two days in a London housing estate under a gathering storm cloud of racial tensions, the violent struggle is both timely and timeless Brexit and its associated wave of anti immigrant sent Exceptional I hope this book blows up and becomes huge because really, it deserves to be.Alternating the perspectives of three London teenagers and two of their parents, it dials the pressure and momentum up, up, up with ever shorter chapters as the events of the book escalate and yes, it s furious Set over two days in a London housing estate under a gathering storm cloud of racial tensions, the violent struggle is both timely and timeless Brexit and its associated wave of anti immigrant sentiment might be happening now but this stuff has been going on since always In Our Mad and Furious City shows the older generation looking back on earlier instances of strife, the violent patterns that just keep on repeating Is how I learn what they meant when they call it a bad tide It was the people bad mind here, the flow of the water, smell of the air During a high tide things come fairly The people them welcome a newcomer like novelty Other times the tide is low and them smiles turn to...Shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize 2018Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018This year s Booker longlist undoubtedly contained some big surprises I can t defend all of them but, like Milkman, The Long Take and Everything Under, this extraordinary and vibrant picture of modern London was not on my radar before the list was announced, and I would love to see all four of them shortlisted.The bleak setting is the Stones estate, a group of tower blocks in north London with a richly multicultural Shortlisted for the Goldsmiths Prize 2018Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018This year s Booker longlist undoubtedly contained some big surprises I can t defend all of them but, like Milkman, The Long Take and Everything Under, this extraordinary and vibrant picture of modern London was not on my radar before the list was announced, and I would love to see all four of them shortlisted.The bleak setting is the Stones estate, a group of tower blocks in north London with a r...Nominated for the Goldsmiths Prize 2018Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018This book is going to win the Booker update No it didn t, which of course only means that the judges were wrong Set in London, the story discusses identity, a topic that is central for so many current political issues, from Brexit to the divided States of America, to globalization, religous conflicts, you name it On top of that, the language is vivid and fresh, and Gunaratne finds many compelling images that Nominated for the Goldsmiths Prize 2018Longlisted for...Book Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.comMy initial reactions to this book were what do these words mean and what is going on The first question was because the narrative is written from the perspective of half a dozen very different characters of which four are teenagers from inner London, whose everyday language is very much of the street During the early chapters I found www.urbandictionary.com very handy but as the book progressed I becamecomfortable with the terms.My s Book Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.comMy initial reactions to this book were what do these words mean and what is going on The first question was because the narrative is written from the perspective of half a dozen very different characters of which four are teenagers from inner London, whose everyday language is very much of the street During the early chapters I found www.urbandictionary.com very handy but as the book progressed I becamecomfortable with the terms.My second question was because I could not easily fit together the characters although I felt confident that the author would bring them together in time This he did but I was then left with concerns over the timelines as I could not reconcile the generatio...Was an ugliness in this Britain, I feel it then But I had not learn it yet I had learn to drink a bitter, smoke a weed, learn to work and play lairy, but not that To see it there writ across the brick, it have me numb and leave me feeling a sorta deep down shame Sorta shame the Lord give you when you love a wretched thing Was how it feel like when I realise that this Britain did not love me back, no matter how much I feel for it This then is not the London of ease and merriment, of summerWas an ugliness in this Britain, I feel it then But I had not learn it yet I had learn to drink a bitter...I was asked if I would like to read this at some point for my thoughts.I ve finally got to it The covers been putting me off, the writing is urban street dialogue and I ve needed to Google some of the words and contents which slowed me down, irritated me and frustrated me even , but, it needs to stay this way for impact So I was determined to press on The overall of this is a shocking insight.It s not an enjoyable read it s a factual one, us the reader just needs to accept the happenings I was asked if I would like to read this at some point for my thoughts.I ve finally got to it The covers been pu...This This is what the Booker is about Review soon.UPDATE Now re read after its surprise, to me inclusion on the Goldsmith s shortlist I m glad it was put on this shortlist, though, as I may not have re read it otherwise and it benefits from a second reading I found myself thinking a lotas I read it this time about the reasons people leave and the reasons people stay We have an older generation in the book Nelson and Caroline who left their home countries and settled in London And we have a younger generation Selvon, Ardan and Yus UPDATE Now re read after its surprise, to me inclusion on the Goldsmith s shortlist I m glad it was put on this shortlist, though, as I may not have re read it otherwise and it benefits from a second reading I found myself thinking a lotas I read it this time about the reasons people leave and the reasons people stay We have an older generation in the book Nelson and Caroline...

English
18 July 2018

Guy Gunaratne