An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Tania, Sunita and Chila have been close and somewhat unlikely friends since their schooldays. Sunita, a former law student and activist, married her university sweetheart Akash, and is settled, unsatisfied, into a life of overweight, underappreciated motherhood. Tania, top girl fighter at school, is a raven-maned beauty, who has rejected marriage and anything traditionally Asian, for a high-flying TV career and a compliant Indophile boyfriend called Martin. And then there's Chila. Innocent, kind, funny qualification-less Chila, with her glass animal collection, considered backward by her family, has just, to everyone's amazement, snared Deepak--the richest, most eligible bachelor within a 50-mile radius.

Writer, comedienne and actress Meera Syal, author of the prize-winningAnita and Me navigates her characters through the emotional rollercoaster of the coming-of-middle-youth--the time when the real growing up is done--with her trademark wit and sensitivity. From the bitching at the celebration--"Now the sister is howling. I'd howl if I had a moustache like hers ..." to the heavy embroidery and tears of a traditional Indian wedding, via the "artistic" wedding photos and "'about seventeen hours of video," Chila sighed, "all with Hindi love songs on them and those fancy Top of the Pops effects.'", through infidelity, TV documentaries and betrayal, Syal regales the reader with the strengths and limits of female friendship.

By the way, if you're pregnant and have set your heart on natural childbirth, avoid pages 72-3. Or else book that elective caesarean and cocktail of drugs. Now. --Lisa Gee

An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Do not be put off by the front cover and read with open mind, 07 Oct 2008
I've had this book for years now and reluctant to read it because of the gaudy cover. Am I glad I ran out of books to read at home and reached out for this one! Wonderful. Beautiful. I did not have any expectation of this book, hence I read with open mind (other than being prejudiced about the front cover) and enjoyed it very much. It started a bit slow but then it gained momentum and I could not put it down until I finished it. Very touching and heart warming.

Interesting thoughts in beautiful language, 10 Sep 2006
A south-asian/african/european friend recommended this book to me, a european living in africa soon to be married to a south asian. I also loved the book. There are various themes thread through the story, which makes it interesting for a multicultural woman in a multicultural society to read as well as for anyone interested in a multicultural, multisexual society. Three 'girls' going through life, each dealing differently with relationships, family background, societal pressures and culture. I recognised many aspects both as a woman and as someone with a european background in a relationship with a Pakistani. In short: a great read!

Fabulous!!!, 06 Apr 2006
I took this book on holiday and could not put it down!- A fabulous read that made me laugh, cry, swoon and swear within the delicately written pages. Meera has out done herself with this outstanding insight into the lives of three very different friends and the bond of time that holds them together. Well worth the read.

OK I suppose, 04 Aug 2005
'In her hilarious and poignant novel' the cover blurb begins well, poignant I can see, hilarious is pushing things a long way. The book raised a few smiles in places, but if you are looking for humour, look elsewhere. It is I suppose possible that my sense of humour is just not skewed this way and I can see how if you are either from or close to the British Indian community it may amuse from an 'I can relate to that' standpoint.

As a book it reads well enough. The story revolves around the relationships between and of three thirtysomething ex-schoolfriends as they look for love and happiness. Each of them have taken different routes in their lives, some embracing the culture they were raised in, others completely rejecting it and the book deals with how that upbrining effects their approach to relationships. It's interesting enough and the characters are all likeable in their own way.

I have to say there is not much to be overly critical about this book. I enjoyed it enough but would be hard pushed to call it brilliant, though it's difficult to put my finger on why exactly it did not really connect with me. Worth a read if there is nothing else available, but there is a lot better work out there.

Disappointing, 27 Feb 2004
As a fan of Meera Syal's work in TV and film I had high expectations for 'Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee'. Unfortunately it failed to meet these expectations by a long way.

The plot itself is interesting and hooked me, even if it is a bit contrived, and some of the characters have real potential. The problem lies in the style of the narrative. Syal ambitiously tries to create four voices; a third person narrator, and a first person for each of the 3 main female characters. She fails to make these voices distinctive enough from each other and from any other author. Sometimes it felt like chick-lit with a few culture clash issues thrown in, at other times it seemed like a second-rate Zadie Smith (particlarly during the unnecessary, rambling anectdotes about OAPs who have no relevance to the plot)!

Syal clearly has alot to say about British Asian culture and most of her observations not only ring true but are very funny and described with wit and intelligence; hence two stars instead of one. However without an engaging voice the novel falls apart and these observations are the only bright spots in an otherwise diappointing read.

An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Do not be put off by the front cover and read with open mind, 07 Oct 2008
I've had this book for years now and reluctant to read it because of the gaudy cover. Am I glad I ran out of books to read at home and reached out for this one! Wonderful. Beautiful. I did not have any expectation of this book, hence I read with open mind (other than being prejudiced about the front cover) and enjoyed it very much. It started a bit slow but then it gained momentum and I could not put it down until I finished it. Very touching and heart warming.

Interesting thoughts in beautiful language, 10 Sep 2006
A south-asian/african/european friend recommended this book to me, a european living in africa soon to be married to a south asian. I also loved the book. There are various themes thread through the story, which makes it interesting for a multicultural woman in a multicultural society to read as well as for anyone interested in a multicultural, multisexual society. Three 'girls' going through life, each dealing differently with relationships, family background, societal pressures and culture. I recognised many aspects both as a woman and as someone with a european background in a relationship with a Pakistani. In short: a great read!

Fabulous!!!, 06 Apr 2006
I took this book on holiday and could not put it down!- A fabulous read that made me laugh, cry, swoon and swear within the delicately written pages. Meera has out done herself with this outstanding insight into the lives of three very different friends and the bond of time that holds them together. Well worth the read.

OK I suppose, 04 Aug 2005
'In her hilarious and poignant novel' the cover blurb begins well, poignant I can see, hilarious is pushing things a long way. The book raised a few smiles in places, but if you are looking for humour, look elsewhere. It is I suppose possible that my sense of humour is just not skewed this way and I can see how if you are either from or close to the British Indian community it may amuse from an 'I can relate to that' standpoint.

As a book it reads well enough. The story revolves around the relationships between and of three thirtysomething ex-schoolfriends as they look for love and happiness. Each of them have taken different routes in their lives, some embracing the culture they were raised in, others completely rejecting it and the book deals with how that upbrining effects their approach to relationships. It's interesting enough and the characters are all likeable in their own way.

I have to say there is not much to be overly critical about this book. I enjoyed it enough but would be hard pushed to call it brilliant, though it's difficult to put my finger on why exactly it did not really connect with me. Worth a read if there is nothing else available, but there is a lot better work out there.

Disappointing, 27 Feb 2004
As a fan of Meera Syal's work in TV and film I had high expectations for 'Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee'. Unfortunately it failed to meet these expectations by a long way.

The plot itself is interesting and hooked me, even if it is a bit contrived, and some of the characters have real potential. The problem lies in the style of the narrative. Syal ambitiously tries to create four voices; a third person narrator, and a first person for each of the 3 main female characters. She fails to make these voices distinctive enough from each other and from any other author. Sometimes it felt like chick-lit with a few culture clash issues thrown in, at other times it seemed like a second-rate Zadie Smith (particlarly during the unnecessary, rambling anectdotes about OAPs who have no relevance to the plot)!

Syal clearly has alot to say about British Asian culture and most of her observations not only ring true but are very funny and described with wit and intelligence; hence two stars instead of one. However without an engaging voice the novel falls apart and these observations are the only bright spots in an otherwise diappointing read.

Review, 25 Aug 2005
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Meera syal is fantastic a brilliant comic and author. The book was hilariously funny and depicts reality really well but also makes women feel better about their lives. the authors insight into womens thoughts and feelings is amazing and brilliantly done. I have recommended this book as a must read to all my friends.

Fabulous, 12 Aug 2005
This book is one of the best books I've read on my English literature course to date. It's approach to feminism is both interessting and powerfull. Meera Syall isn't afraid to admit the true problems women face (family life, work etc..) which most women writers nowadays choose to ignore fearing that the problems seem too trivial. Meera Syall shows that what people pass off as trivial matters aren't so trivial in a breath-taking manner. For example Sunita's problems with her marriage lead to her self harming. This book is filled with emotion, a truly fabulous read.

The worst title of all time?, 04 Aug 2005
I was recently stuck on a long-haul flight with only this to read. Don't ask me how. The point is: good grief. How to describe it? I don't want to. It's so uninteresting it hardly exists at all, as if it's been worn utterly smooth by the tides of narrative convention. Contrived, sterile, irritatingly PC. We follow the struggles of a group of photo-fit Asian 30-somethings. Inoffensive and uninteresting, it's like a novel designed by a committee - a group of Blairite New Labour MPs, for instance. And I was literally shielding the cover with my hand as I read; Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee is not just a bad title - it's the worst book title I've ever, EVER come across, bar none. The author and the publishers - indeed, everyone associated with the choice of title - ought to be hauled in front of a UN tribunal.

An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Do not be put off by the front cover and read with open mind, 07 Oct 2008
I've had this book for years now and reluctant to read it because of the gaudy cover. Am I glad I ran out of books to read at home and reached out for this one! Wonderful. Beautiful. I did not have any expectation of this book, hence I read with open mind (other than being prejudiced about the front cover) and enjoyed it very much. It started a bit slow but then it gained momentum and I could not put it down until I finished it. Very touching and heart warming.

Interesting thoughts in beautiful language, 10 Sep 2006
A south-asian/african/european friend recommended this book to me, a european living in africa soon to be married to a south asian. I also loved the book. There are various themes thread through the story, which makes it interesting for a multicultural woman in a multicultural society to read as well as for anyone interested in a multicultural, multisexual society. Three 'girls' going through life, each dealing differently with relationships, family background, societal pressures and culture. I recognised many aspects both as a woman and as someone with a european background in a relationship with a Pakistani. In short: a great read!

Fabulous!!!, 06 Apr 2006
I took this book on holiday and could not put it down!- A fabulous read that made me laugh, cry, swoon and swear within the delicately written pages. Meera has out done herself with this outstanding insight into the lives of three very different friends and the bond of time that holds them together. Well worth the read.

OK I suppose, 04 Aug 2005
'In her hilarious and poignant novel' the cover blurb begins well, poignant I can see, hilarious is pushing things a long way. The book raised a few smiles in places, but if you are looking for humour, look elsewhere. It is I suppose possible that my sense of humour is just not skewed this way and I can see how if you are either from or close to the British Indian community it may amuse from an 'I can relate to that' standpoint.

As a book it reads well enough. The story revolves around the relationships between and of three thirtysomething ex-schoolfriends as they look for love and happiness. Each of them have taken different routes in their lives, some embracing the culture they were raised in, others completely rejecting it and the book deals with how that upbrining effects their approach to relationships. It's interesting enough and the characters are all likeable in their own way.

I have to say there is not much to be overly critical about this book. I enjoyed it enough but would be hard pushed to call it brilliant, though it's difficult to put my finger on why exactly it did not really connect with me. Worth a read if there is nothing else available, but there is a lot better work out there.

Disappointing, 27 Feb 2004
As a fan of Meera Syal's work in TV and film I had high expectations for 'Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee'. Unfortunately it failed to meet these expectations by a long way.

The plot itself is interesting and hooked me, even if it is a bit contrived, and some of the characters have real potential. The problem lies in the style of the narrative. Syal ambitiously tries to create four voices; a third person narrator, and a first person for each of the 3 main female characters. She fails to make these voices distinctive enough from each other and from any other author. Sometimes it felt like chick-lit with a few culture clash issues thrown in, at other times it seemed like a second-rate Zadie Smith (particlarly during the unnecessary, rambling anectdotes about OAPs who have no relevance to the plot)!

Syal clearly has alot to say about British Asian culture and most of her observations not only ring true but are very funny and described with wit and intelligence; hence two stars instead of one. However without an engaging voice the novel falls apart and these observations are the only bright spots in an otherwise diappointing read.

Review, 25 Aug 2005
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Meera syal is fantastic a brilliant comic and author. The book was hilariously funny and depicts reality really well but also makes women feel better about their lives. the authors insight into womens thoughts and feelings is amazing and brilliantly done. I have recommended this book as a must read to all my friends.

Fabulous, 12 Aug 2005
This book is one of the best books I've read on my English literature course to date. It's approach to feminism is both interessting and powerfull. Meera Syall isn't afraid to admit the true problems women face (family life, work etc..) which most women writers nowadays choose to ignore fearing that the problems seem too trivial. Meera Syall shows that what people pass off as trivial matters aren't so trivial in a breath-taking manner. For example Sunita's problems with her marriage lead to her self harming. This book is filled with emotion, a truly fabulous read.

The worst title of all time?, 04 Aug 2005
I was recently stuck on a long-haul flight with only this to read. Don't ask me how. The point is: good grief. How to describe it? I don't want to. It's so uninteresting it hardly exists at all, as if it's been worn utterly smooth by the tides of narrative convention. Contrived, sterile, irritatingly PC. We follow the struggles of a group of photo-fit Asian 30-somethings. Inoffensive and uninteresting, it's like a novel designed by a committee - a group of Blairite New Labour MPs, for instance. And I was literally shielding the cover with my hand as I read; Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee is not just a bad title - it's the worst book title I've ever, EVER come across, bar none. The author and the publishers - indeed, everyone associated with the choice of title - ought to be hauled in front of a UN tribunal.

LIFE IS ALL HA HA HE HE, 29 Dec 2003
THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOK, AFTER READING ANITA AND ME, I WAS DYING FOR THE NEXT MEERA SYAL BOOK TO COME OUT, I RAD THIS WITHIN A FEW HOURS, THIS WAS A VERY WELL WRITTEN NOVEL. THE STORY WAS INTERESTING AND HELPS INDETIFY WITH BRITISH AND ASIAN CULTURE, WHILE SHOWING THE ETHNIC DIFERENCES I COULD ALSO SEE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOTH CULTURES. AS I READ MORE AND MORE THROUGH THE BOOK I FELT DRAWN TO EACH AND EVERY CHARECTER AND FELT THAT THEY GREW EACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THE CHARECTERS SEEMED VERY REAL. DEFINATELY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS NOVEL TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALSO ENJOYED READING IT.

Tania, Sunita and Chila have been close and somewhat unlikely friends since their schooldays. Sunita, a former law student and activist, married her university sweetheart Akash, and is settled, unsatisfied, into a life of overweight, underappreciated motherhood. Tania, top girl fighter at school, is a raven-maned beauty, who's rejected marriage and anything traditionally Asian, for a high-flying TV career and a compliant Indophile boyfriend called Martin. And then there's Chila. Innocent, kind, funny qualificationless Chila, with her glass animal collection, considered backward by her family, has just, to everyone's amazement, snared Deepak--the richest, most eligible bachelor within a 50-mile radius.

Writer, comedienne and actress Meera Syal, author of the prize-winning Anita and Me navigates her characters through the emotional rollercoaster of the coming-of-middle-youth--the time when the real growing up is done--with her trademark wit and sensitivity. From the bitching at the celebration--"Now the sister is howling. I'd howl if I had a moustache like hers ..." to the heavy embroidery and tears of a traditional Indian wedding, via the "artistic" wedding photos and " 'about seventeen hours of video," Chila sighed, "all with Hindi love songs on them and those fancy Top of the Pops effects.' ", through infidelity, TV documentaries and betrayal, Syal regales the reader with the strengths and limits of female friendship.

By the way, if you're pregnant and have set your heart on natural childbirth, avoid pages 72-3. Or else book that elective casaerian and cocktail of drugs. Now. --Lisa Gee

An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Do not be put off by the front cover and read with open mind, 07 Oct 2008
I've had this book for years now and reluctant to read it because of the gaudy cover. Am I glad I ran out of books to read at home and reached out for this one! Wonderful. Beautiful. I did not have any expectation of this book, hence I read with open mind (other than being prejudiced about the front cover) and enjoyed it very much. It started a bit slow but then it gained momentum and I could not put it down until I finished it. Very touching and heart warming.

Interesting thoughts in beautiful language, 10 Sep 2006
A south-asian/african/european friend recommended this book to me, a european living in africa soon to be married to a south asian. I also loved the book. There are various themes thread through the story, which makes it interesting for a multicultural woman in a multicultural society to read as well as for anyone interested in a multicultural, multisexual society. Three 'girls' going through life, each dealing differently with relationships, family background, societal pressures and culture. I recognised many aspects both as a woman and as someone with a european background in a relationship with a Pakistani. In short: a great read!

Fabulous!!!, 06 Apr 2006
I took this book on holiday and could not put it down!- A fabulous read that made me laugh, cry, swoon and swear within the delicately written pages. Meera has out done herself with this outstanding insight into the lives of three very different friends and the bond of time that holds them together. Well worth the read.

OK I suppose, 04 Aug 2005
'In her hilarious and poignant novel' the cover blurb begins well, poignant I can see, hilarious is pushing things a long way. The book raised a few smiles in places, but if you are looking for humour, look elsewhere. It is I suppose possible that my sense of humour is just not skewed this way and I can see how if you are either from or close to the British Indian community it may amuse from an 'I can relate to that' standpoint.

As a book it reads well enough. The story revolves around the relationships between and of three thirtysomething ex-schoolfriends as they look for love and happiness. Each of them have taken different routes in their lives, some embracing the culture they were raised in, others completely rejecting it and the book deals with how that upbrining effects their approach to relationships. It's interesting enough and the characters are all likeable in their own way.

I have to say there is not much to be overly critical about this book. I enjoyed it enough but would be hard pushed to call it brilliant, though it's difficult to put my finger on why exactly it did not really connect with me. Worth a read if there is nothing else available, but there is a lot better work out there.

Disappointing, 27 Feb 2004
As a fan of Meera Syal's work in TV and film I had high expectations for 'Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee'. Unfortunately it failed to meet these expectations by a long way.

The plot itself is interesting and hooked me, even if it is a bit contrived, and some of the characters have real potential. The problem lies in the style of the narrative. Syal ambitiously tries to create four voices; a third person narrator, and a first person for each of the 3 main female characters. She fails to make these voices distinctive enough from each other and from any other author. Sometimes it felt like chick-lit with a few culture clash issues thrown in, at other times it seemed like a second-rate Zadie Smith (particlarly during the unnecessary, rambling anectdotes about OAPs who have no relevance to the plot)!

Syal clearly has alot to say about British Asian culture and most of her observations not only ring true but are very funny and described with wit and intelligence; hence two stars instead of one. However without an engaging voice the novel falls apart and these observations are the only bright spots in an otherwise diappointing read.

Review, 25 Aug 2005
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Meera syal is fantastic a brilliant comic and author. The book was hilariously funny and depicts reality really well but also makes women feel better about their lives. the authors insight into womens thoughts and feelings is amazing and brilliantly done. I have recommended this book as a must read to all my friends.

Fabulous, 12 Aug 2005
This book is one of the best books I've read on my English literature course to date. It's approach to feminism is both interessting and powerfull. Meera Syall isn't afraid to admit the true problems women face (family life, work etc..) which most women writers nowadays choose to ignore fearing that the problems seem too trivial. Meera Syall shows that what people pass off as trivial matters aren't so trivial in a breath-taking manner. For example Sunita's problems with her marriage lead to her self harming. This book is filled with emotion, a truly fabulous read.

The worst title of all time?, 04 Aug 2005
I was recently stuck on a long-haul flight with only this to read. Don't ask me how. The point is: good grief. How to describe it? I don't want to. It's so uninteresting it hardly exists at all, as if it's been worn utterly smooth by the tides of narrative convention. Contrived, sterile, irritatingly PC. We follow the struggles of a group of photo-fit Asian 30-somethings. Inoffensive and uninteresting, it's like a novel designed by a committee - a group of Blairite New Labour MPs, for instance. And I was literally shielding the cover with my hand as I read; Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee is not just a bad title - it's the worst book title I've ever, EVER come across, bar none. The author and the publishers - indeed, everyone associated with the choice of title - ought to be hauled in front of a UN tribunal.

LIFE IS ALL HA HA HE HE, 29 Dec 2003
THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOK, AFTER READING ANITA AND ME, I WAS DYING FOR THE NEXT MEERA SYAL BOOK TO COME OUT, I RAD THIS WITHIN A FEW HOURS, THIS WAS A VERY WELL WRITTEN NOVEL. THE STORY WAS INTERESTING AND HELPS INDETIFY WITH BRITISH AND ASIAN CULTURE, WHILE SHOWING THE ETHNIC DIFERENCES I COULD ALSO SEE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOTH CULTURES. AS I READ MORE AND MORE THROUGH THE BOOK I FELT DRAWN TO EACH AND EVERY CHARECTER AND FELT THAT THEY GREW EACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THE CHARECTERS SEEMED VERY REAL. DEFINATELY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS NOVEL TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALSO ENJOYED READING IT.

Funny and thought provoking, 02 Oct 2000
This was a very well written novel. The pace was good, the story interesting and informative concerning the difficulties of Asian women in British culture. It never patronised the reader and yet was accessible to everyone whatever their cultural understanding. The characters were well drawn and you really cared about what happened to them. It was very funny but never written in a just for laughs way. I also found it quite moving. It showed greater maturity of style than Anita and Me, although I also enjoyed that book very much.

A memorable and powerful story . Meera's best yet., 07 Jul 2000
if you want to know more about the way inwhich ontemporary British Asian women live their lives, then read this book. Meera has not run away from telling it the way it really is(warts and all)

Novel? I could have made it at home for nothing!, 30 Dec 1999
I love Goodness Gracious Me and all that but as an Indian myself, I struggled with this novel as I didn't know whether Syal was being objective or just voicing her own opinions and by doing so, running the Asian community down. Personally thought that 'the tinsel' and 17 hour video regarding Indian weddings were both derogatory and cliched as we've heard this all before. Generally felt this book was dated and represented the 40 something Asian posse (not me!). Some lines were funny but none that stick out in my mind.

Buy this Book, buy in now- no really, BUY IT NOW., 08 Nov 1999
An honest, sad and often hilarious novel, Meera Syal should be worshipped from near and far.There is much in this book for everyone to identify with - Asian , White, Male or Female - there are many frightening truths in these pages. Be prepared, this book will suck your time away - read it only if you have nothing urgent to do!!

Seductively tantalizing, 05 Nov 1999
As a Non-Indian fan of Syall I ordered this book as soon as it was available - Anita & Me was so many things, educational, humerous, sad, hopeful and I mustn't forget colouful - this latest book for me was hard to get into I kept losing the characters initially, but once they were found by me I could not put the book down - the agony of Tania & Deepaks animalistic attraction - Sunita like a chicken slowly hatching from an eggshell (there is no way back in)and Chila probably the most astute of the bunch - there is much similarity between the Indian superstitions and traditions I was brought up in, in the North Staffs. area 60 years ago - let's have more Meera with a heavy dose of humour.

An excellent portrayal of a second generation Asian, 08 Oct 2006
Anita and Me is a brilliant debut novel by Meera Syal. The novel journeys during the days of 1960's Britain set in small town in the midlands. The story is narrated by Meena a born and bred second generation Asian who experienced life of what life is like living in a Punjabi family household and within the English community.

The narrative approach is superb and filled with interesting details about the Indian way of life and how it conflicts with Western values. The author being herself a second generation, has really added her own experience and knowledge to deliver a superb piece of storytelling. The main focal point is about divided loyalty. In the context of the novel, Meena wants indulge in habits such as eating fish and chips and wants a boyfriend, which this influence prompted from meeting a girl named Anita who she becomes increasingly attached to. Does the friendship last long? Her loyalty towards the Indian roots is questioned. That is the general flavour of the story.

Anita and Me is an enjoyable to read and gives you an insight from an Asian perspective about life in Britain.

Stunning and laugh out loud!, 30 Apr 2006
I read this at fifteen and was totally stunned- I love how the 10 year old narrator sees her world and has a unique take on seemingly mundane events of her life! It also made me laugh out loud- Syal in her writing, knows how to have a laugh. In reference to the reviewer who taught this in his class- if any book is taught in a classroom people are inevitably going to find fault with it- this shouldn't detract from how worthwhile this book is. The story as a whole works very well and rather than the main character seeming being too old for her age- what struck me is how the author paints such an accurate picture of a ten year old- who sees the world without the moral scruples of an adult- she falls prey to the normal temptations children succomb to and is a refreshingly honest antidote to the usual "innocent-bystander" way many books narrate childhood. The decisions she makes and the way she deals with her life is just an example of the way kids have more insight than adults give them credit for. Its entertaining, thought provoking and funny. If you have any imagination and a sense of humour you'll love it. Im just sorry Im not reading it again for the first time.

Grown up and stuffed up, 08 Apr 2006
Well, I DID teach this novel at school. It has many good points, particularly the sense of exoticism next to familiarity and the relationship between the girls, but as it went on, the kids and I became more and more aware of its weaknesses.
The most obvious is that Meena is far too knowing for her age, and too grown up altogether. This becomes all too obvious towards the end, when Sam Lowther gets the hots for her and she can't be more than eleven.
It seems to be padded out, with some scenes duplicated - Sam raising hell at the Village Fete and at the demolition is the most obvious.
It isn't that well-written - you can't 'stab' someone with a butcher's cleaver, any more than you can 'hiss' something that doesn't contain an s- sound.
The ending was a big let-down (pulled out of To Kill a Mockingbird - unknown from mystery house saves the day?) and underscored for me the sense that lurking behind this story there's a real experience that hasn't quite been transmuted into fiction.
But even so, the book didn't deserve what the film did to the ending. Ugh, the movies - they sentimentalise everything.

Couldn't get past page 42!!!, 18 May 2005
I picked up this book through Book Crossers and was excited to read it because of the movie and the fact that I live in the UK. But I honestly had to grind my teeth through the first 42 pages and ultimately decided that life is too short to read something so painfully dull.

There is no actual action in this book...it's all adjectives and the flowery language overpowers the story, if there is an actual story. Boring, boring, boring!!!!

poignant and laugh out loud funny, 29 Oct 2003
This is a fantastic book which captures the spirit of childhood in a way i've never encountered before. i saw the film and didn't like it but after reading life isn't all haha heehee i decided to give it a go. I think it surpasses life... which itself was a sparkling, witty, intelligent and poignant book. Meena is a fantastic character who just springs to life from the page and reminds me of my tomboy self at her age. this book is everything in the right measure; witty, serious and endlessly touching.

Do not be put off by the front cover and read with open mind, 07 Oct 2008
I've had this book for years now and reluctant to read it because of the gaudy cover. Am I glad I ran out of books to read at home and reached out for this one! Wonderful. Beautiful. I did not have any expectation of this book, hence I read with open mind (other than being prejudiced about the front cover) and enjoyed it very much. It started a bit slow but then it gained momentum and I could not put it down until I finished it. Very touching and heart warming.

Interesting thoughts in beautiful language, 10 Sep 2006
A south-asian/african/european friend recommended this book to me, a european living in africa soon to be married to a south asian. I also loved the book. There are various themes thread through the story, which makes it interesting for a multicultural woman in a multicultural society to read as well as for anyone interested in a multicultural, multisexual society. Three 'girls' going through life, each dealing differently with relationships, family background, societal pressures and culture. I recognised many aspects both as a woman and as someone with a european background in a relationship with a Pakistani. In short: a great read!

Fabulous!!!, 06 Apr 2006
I took this book on holiday and could not put it down!- A fabulous read that made me laugh, cry, swoon and swear within the delicately written pages. Meera has out done herself with this outstanding insight into the lives of three very different friends and the bond of time that holds them together. Well worth the read.

OK I suppose, 04 Aug 2005
'In her hilarious and poignant novel' the cover blurb begins well, poignant I can see, hilarious is pushing things a long way. The book raised a few smiles in places, but if you are looking for humour, look elsewhere. It is I suppose possible that my sense of humour is just not skewed this way and I can see how if you are either from or close to the British Indian community it may amuse from an 'I can relate to that' standpoint.

As a book it reads well enough. The story revolves around the relationships between and of three thirtysomething ex-schoolfriends as they look for love and happiness. Each of them have taken different routes in their lives, some embracing the culture they were raised in, others completely rejecting it and the book deals with how that upbrining effects their approach to relationships. It's interesting enough and the characters are all likeable in their own way.

I have to say there is not much to be overly critical about this book. I enjoyed it enough but would be hard pushed to call it brilliant, though it's difficult to put my finger on why exactly it did not really connect with me. Worth a read if there is nothing else available, but there is a lot better work out there.

Disappointing, 27 Feb 2004
As a fan of Meera Syal's work in TV and film I had high expectations for 'Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee'. Unfortunately it failed to meet these expectations by a long way.

The plot itself is interesting and hooked me, even if it is a bit contrived, and some of the characters have real potential. The problem lies in the style of the narrative. Syal ambitiously tries to create four voices; a third person narrator, and a first person for each of the 3 main female characters. She fails to make these voices distinctive enough from each other and from any other author. Sometimes it felt like chick-lit with a few culture clash issues thrown in, at other times it seemed like a second-rate Zadie Smith (particlarly during the unnecessary, rambling anectdotes about OAPs who have no relevance to the plot)!

Syal clearly has alot to say about British Asian culture and most of her observations not only ring true but are very funny and described with wit and intelligence; hence two stars instead of one. However without an engaging voice the novel falls apart and these observations are the only bright spots in an otherwise diappointing read.

Review, 25 Aug 2005
This book was so good I couldn't put it down. Meera syal is fantastic a brilliant comic and author. The book was hilariously funny and depicts reality really well but also makes women feel better about their lives. the authors insight into womens thoughts and feelings is amazing and brilliantly done. I have recommended this book as a must read to all my friends.

Fabulous, 12 Aug 2005
This book is one of the best books I've read on my English literature course to date. It's approach to feminism is both interessting and powerfull. Meera Syall isn't afraid to admit the true problems women face (family life, work etc..) which most women writers nowadays choose to ignore fearing that the problems seem too trivial. Meera Syall shows that what people pass off as trivial matters aren't so trivial in a breath-taking manner. For example Sunita's problems with her marriage lead to her self harming. This book is filled with emotion, a truly fabulous read.

The worst title of all time?, 04 Aug 2005
I was recently stuck on a long-haul flight with only this to read. Don't ask me how. The point is: good grief. How to describe it? I don't want to. It's so uninteresting it hardly exists at all, as if it's been worn utterly smooth by the tides of narrative convention. Contrived, sterile, irritatingly PC. We follow the struggles of a group of photo-fit Asian 30-somethings. Inoffensive and uninteresting, it's like a novel designed by a committee - a group of Blairite New Labour MPs, for instance. And I was literally shielding the cover with my hand as I read; Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee is not just a bad title - it's the worst book title I've ever, EVER come across, bar none. The author and the publishers - indeed, everyone associated with the choice of title - ought to be hauled in front of a UN tribunal.

LIFE IS ALL HA HA HE HE, 29 Dec 2003
THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOK, AFTER READING ANITA AND ME, I WAS DYING FOR THE NEXT MEERA SYAL BOOK TO COME OUT, I RAD THIS WITHIN A FEW HOURS, THIS WAS A VERY WELL WRITTEN NOVEL. THE STORY WAS INTERESTING AND HELPS INDETIFY WITH BRITISH AND ASIAN CULTURE, WHILE SHOWING THE ETHNIC DIFERENCES I COULD ALSO SEE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOTH CULTURES. AS I READ MORE AND MORE THROUGH THE BOOK I FELT DRAWN TO EACH AND EVERY CHARECTER AND FELT THAT THEY GREW EACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THE CHARECTERS SEEMED VERY REAL. DEFINATELY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS NOVEL TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALSO ENJOYED READING IT.

Funny and thought provoking, 02 Oct 2000
This was a very well written novel. The pace was good, the story interesting and informative concerning the difficulties of Asian women in British culture. It never patronised the reader and yet was accessible to everyone whatever their cultural understanding. The characters were well drawn and you really cared about what happened to them. It was very funny but never written in a just for laughs way. I also found it quite moving. It showed greater maturity of style than Anita and Me, although I also enjoyed that book very much.

A memorable and powerful story . Meera's best yet., 07 Jul 2000
if you want to know more about the way inwhich ontemporary British Asian women live their lives, then read this book. Meera has not run away from telling it the way it really is(warts and all)

Novel? I could have made it at home for nothing!, 30 Dec 1999
I love Goodness Gracious Me and all that but as an Indian myself, I struggled with this novel as I didn't know whether Syal was being objective or just voicing her own opinions and by doing so, running the Asian community down. Personally thought that 'the tinsel' and 17 hour video regarding Indian weddings were both derogatory and cliched as we've heard this all before. Generally felt this book was dated and represented the 40 something Asian posse (not me!). Some lines were funny but none that stick out in my mind.

Buy this Book, buy in now- no really, BUY IT NOW., 08 Nov 1999
An honest, sad and often hilarious novel, Meera Syal should be worshipped from near and far.There is much in this book for everyone to identify with - Asian , White, Male or Female - there are many frightening truths in these pages. Be prepared, this book will suck your time away - read it only if you have nothing urgent to do!!

Seductively tantalizing, 05 Nov 1999
As a Non-Indian fan of Syall I ordered this book as soon as it was available - Anita & Me was so many things, educational, humerous, sad, hopeful and I mustn't forget colouful - this latest book for me was hard to get into I kept losing the characters initially, but once they were found by me I could not put the book down - the agony of Tania & Deepaks animalistic attraction - Sunita like a chicken slowly hatching from an eggshell (there is no way back in)and Chila probably the most astute of the bunch - there is much similarity between the Indian superstitions and traditions I was brought up in, in the North Staffs. area 60 years ago - let's have more Meera with a heavy dose of humour.

LIFE IS ALL HA HA HE HE, 29 Dec 2003
THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE BOOK, AFTER READING ANITA AND ME, I WAS DYING FOR THE NEXT MEERA SYAL BOOK TO COME OUT, I RAD THIS WITHIN A FEW HOURS, THIS WAS A VERY WELL WRITTEN NOVEL. THE STORY WAS INTERESTING AND HELPS INDETIFY WITH BRITISH AND ASIAN CULTURE, WHILE SHOWING THE ETHNIC DIFERENCES I COULD ALSO SEE THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BOTH CULTURES. AS I READ MORE AND MORE THROUGH THE BOOK I FELT DRAWN TO EACH AND EVERY CHARECTER AND FELT THAT THEY GREW EACH IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THE CHARECTERS SEEMED VERY REAL. DEFINATELY THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. I HAVE RECOMMENDED THIS NOVEL TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALSO ENJOYED READING IT.