A Flavour of the Book: “One time, though, I
walk in an I find Davinder sittin inside there with his tongue sittin inside
some girl’s throat… I apologised for the interruption… but couldn’t bring
myself to leave cos, well, she was fit.
An her school blouse was half open…”
The Authortrek View: It’s daring for any
writer to pull off a novel written wholly in rudeboy dialect, but Gautam
Malkani accomplishes this feat with aplomb, especially as the slang does not
slow the reader down. It helps that Londonstani has a great plot that
makes you clip through the pages, and an even greater anti-hero in the form of
Jas, who you really get to identify with, despite the otherwise alien part of
his character. You really do feel
for Jas as he attempts to fit in with his contemporaries, which involves
dumbing himself down, denying his educations, as he tries to attain adulthood
in the only way he knows how. The
hours that Gautam Malkani spent talking to rudeboys were also well utilised, as
Londonstani provides us with a vivid picture of this part of our
culture. Londonstani is a
more than adequate heir to Trainspotting in the 21st century,
and its resolution is a real killer… This is an enthralling read from a very
accomplished and talented author, and I look forward to seeing more from Gautam
Malkani.
For more information about the author, please visit our Gautam Malkani page.
You can read a resume of the novel on our Amazon store
below.
Press Reviews: 'Londonstani is a bold
debut, brimming with energy and authenticity.' – Observer
'Breathless, hilarious and
convincing,' - New York Times
'A vibrant linguistic mash-up.' -
Vogue
'A compelling, impressively sustained… Skillfully written and structured
novel. The twist necessitates a re-questioning of everything you think you've
gleaned from the previous pages. It will eviscerate your first reading of the
book. It's simple, but not a gimmick - and is protected against that charge by
a beautifully self-aware piece of writing, in which the only violence that
truly convinces is that which befalls the narrator.' - The Daily Telegraph
'Electrifying' -Time Out
'Gripping stuff... both disturbing
and compelling. Mulkani skilfully highlights the intersection of machismo and
consumerism.' - The Guardian
'The end,
when it comes, is a complete surprise and forces the reader to question the
skin-deep assumptions we make about race.' - Sunday Telegraph
'Slangy and Sharp... a sweet book' - Arena magazine
'Londonstani
is an enthralling book - a bold and vigorous debut.' - Independent on
Sunday
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