The Buddha of Suburbia

The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kuresihi is one of those books that has been on my shelf for a while, a recommendation and hand-down from my parents, but I have never really gotten round to reading. Now that I am commuting by tube every day, I seem to have a lot of time to read. I very quickly got through this one....it's fantastic. The story is of a young man living in the suburbs of London, following his journey into the centre of London both physically and socially. The content of the book is ever so slightly dated now, but I think that is what I really liked about it. 

I think the book has a lot to say by way of religion, class, family and race, but I think what resonated most with me was the idea of 'suburbia'. The initial joy at the freedom and anonymity gained from London, and the gradual yearning for a return to the normality and security of the South London suburbs. 

“The city blew the windows of my brain wide open. But being in a place so bright, fast and brilliant made you vertiginous with possibility: it didn't necessarily help you grasp those possibilities."