Anita and Me

This is Meera Syal's debut novel, and it's a simultaneously raucous, snarky, and loving coming of age tale.

Adolescence is hard enough on us all, but being the only "brown girl" in an old isolated faded English coal mining town, where every girlchild is "chick" or "duck". It's pretty confusing for Meena, whose loving Punjabi parents and friends stand in stark contrast to her idol, the mean girl Anita. Why are we all attracted to bad girls and bad boys? No answer here, but plenty about what it can take to grow up and away. Quotes:

"Can I give you a lift?"
Now if she'd ask that question to an Indian, they would have replied, "Oh no, we will walk, it is such a lovely day, please don't bother yourself, we enjoy strolling in the sleet, so good show more for the circulation..."

"I decided the talent to not burn whilst cooking, or at least not to feel pain, only came to Indian women after they were married."

"We will always have our children, the village mothers said, our only investment for the future, and then they sounded exactly like my Aunties." show less

A beautifully written, warm account of a childhood in the 60s with a fascinating insight into Meena's cross-cultural experiences of being an Indian girl raised in the UK. Filled with sharp and amusing insights into Asian and British culture.

I wouldn't say there was a plot to this book, but I also wouldn't say that it really needed one. The story centers around Meena, a girl whose parents immigrated to England from India and is having to deal with the prejudices of a town that doesn't really accept them. There is some entertainment within these pages, just as there are some touching moments and memorable sections that will stay with me for a while. All those things said, I don't know that I really bonded with the book the way some readers have and I think that is because I couldn't really bond with the characters. That is only my personal shortcoming, however. I kept looking at all of the interactions between Meena and her peers and thought I couldn't ever see myself in show more these situations, so of course I couldn't really accept most of it into my reading conscious the way I wanted to.

I can't deny that the book deserved the attention it has gotten, having been longlisted for the Women's Prize. There is plenty of human observation in here and there are a lot of personal stories that many will be able to relate to. This is a well written book and I'm glad I picked it up. show less

I picked this book up after being told that I would have to read it as part of the current GCSE English Literature syllabus. It isn't the type of novel I would usually read nor is it my typical cup of tea, but I am very keen to branch out into different genres of literature instead of sticking to the generic horror, fantasy and science fiction. As I read through the chapters what really struck me was that I didn't have the self-conscious awareness of the change between current events and encounters and into something Meena (main character) would explain and recall. The narrative would change from these in a very subtle and smooth way which I think Meera Syal has beautifully, With it being the type of novel which doesn't have a major show more plot, it still kept me entertained with all the exploits and explanations of the Punjabi Indian culture which I know very little about. It also displayed the major differences between two cultures as well as various themes. The characters were likeable apart from Meena's 'best friend' Anita Rutter who I would describe as the antagonist of Meena Kumar. It is very humourous and hilarious at times though it is not one of those novels which I am eager to read through again but I will have to in my studies for GCSE English. Overall, I really enjoyed it. show less

I found it a little slow to start. It took me a while to get used to the tangents, the pieces of memory fitting in like you where in a conversation rather than a tightly bound narrative.

But once I got into the style, slowed myself down I really enjoyed it. Too many times I’ve had to explain –apparently unconvincingly – to my cousins why they aren’t allowed shaved heads at school. Anita and Me explained a past that still overshadows us. Not just with race, community breakdown, death of industry and traditions are touched upon.

And even without all that it’s a memorable tale.

Amusing, touching, sharply observed intercultural story of life in a dreary West Midlands suburb.

Having heard a little on Radio 4, on route to a bookshop, we immediately added this to our heap of purchases...
There is a small section where the fair visits. There is some linkage to the overall themes (including racism, difference, etc.), but no explicit linkage between the Showmen and the heroine, whose parents came from India.