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The Last Taboo: Bali Rai
A gripping and thought-provoking story about the effect of inter-ethnic racism on a young couple’s relationship.The Last Taboo is the story of Simran, a young British girl from an immigrant Punjabi family and her boyfriend Tyrone, a black boy of Caribbean descent. Simran’s family is tolerant of the relationship at first — after all, her father’s best friend is black — but eventually the pressure from her extended family is too much to bear and the cracks start to appear. Is her father as liberal as he thinks he is? Will her brother’s lifelong friendship with Tyrone’s cousin survive? And what will happen to Simran and Tyrone’s relationship? Is it even worth all the grief? And more than that, is it worth dying for…?
Paperback
First published June 27, 2006
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About the author
Bali Rai
80 books72 followersBali Rai was born in 1971 and grew up in Leicester. As a child, Bali wanted to be a footballer or to write stories. Always an avid reader, he hails Sue Townsend, Douglas Adams and Robert Swindells as his writing heroes. Bali grew up reading Dr Seuss and Meg and Mog and his first book purchase was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He realised he wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool F.C. and after gaining a politics degree in London he returned to his home city and combined a variety of jobs in pubs and clubs with completing his first novel. Bali set about writing a story he had been thinking about for many years. He wanted to write accessible material for children of all ages and backgrounds and realising there were no British Asian authors writing for children, he saw a gap. Bali hopes his novels capture the unique ethnic mix of the UK, of which he is proud to be a part.
Bali writes stories inspired by his working class Punjabi/Sikh background, but his aim was always that his writing should be enjoyed by readers everywhere, irrespective of class or culture. His has the ability to tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the UK and blend this with humour and often a overriding optimism. Bali visits schools and libraries in every major UK city, averaging 70 school and library events a year.
His first book, (un)arranged marriage, created a huge amount of interest and won many awards, including the Angus Book Award and the Leicester Book of the Year. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase first novel award. Rani and Sukh and The Whisper were both shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize.
All of Bali’s teen titles have been short-listed for awards across the UK, including twice making the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist. His third novel Rani and Sukh has represented the UK at the International IBBY awards and this title has its own Facebook tribute group set up by fans. Bali’s first three novels appear in The Ultimate Teenage Book Guide. Bali also writes shorter novels for Barrington Stoke, his first book, Dream On, was selected for the Booktrust’s inaugural Booked Up list. He also writes the hugely popular Soccer Squad series for younger readers.
Bali writes stories inspired by his working class Punjabi/Sikh background, but his aim was always that his writing should be enjoyed by readers everywhere, irrespective of class or culture. His has the ability to tackle the harsh realities of growing up in the UK and blend this with humour and often a overriding optimism. Bali visits schools and libraries in every major UK city, averaging 70 school and library events a year.
His first book, (un)arranged marriage, created a huge amount of interest and won many awards, including the Angus Book Award and the Leicester Book of the Year. It was also shortlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase first novel award. Rani and Sukh and The Whisper were both shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize.
All of Bali’s teen titles have been short-listed for awards across the UK, including twice making the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist. His third novel Rani and Sukh has represented the UK at the International IBBY awards and this title has its own Facebook tribute group set up by fans. Bali’s first three novels appear in The Ultimate Teenage Book Guide. Bali also writes shorter novels for Barrington Stoke, his first book, Dream On, was selected for the Booktrust’s inaugural Booked Up list. He also writes the hugely popular Soccer Squad series for younger readers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 20, 2014
This was a different YA read :)
More than a take on a love story, it describes the racial tension between a community of asian (Indian) people and a group of black people.
I was a little disapointed by the ending, but well, I guess it was realistic.
More than a take on a love story, it describes the racial tension between a community of asian (Indian) people and a group of black people.
I was a little disapointed by the ending, but well, I guess it was realistic.
October 1, 2008
Love It!
April 4, 2012
http://kulturforunge.dk/2012/04/04/de...
Simran går i folkeskolens ældste klasse i London sammen med veninde Lisa. De er begge to engelske, føler sig engelske, men Simrans familie kommer fra Indien, fordi hendes farfar immigrerede til England. Simrans mor og far har også opdraget Simran som en engelsk pige med engelske rettigheder, men den indiske familie i London, der strækker sig ud over forældrene fætre, kusiner, onkler og tanter, går meget op i indiske traditioner, normer og religion. Helt galt er det for dem, hvis indere kommer sammen med sorte, og det gør Simrans far, da hans bedste ven er sort.
Derfor bevarer Simrans det også som en hemmelighed, da hun bliver forelsket i Tyrone, der er sort. Simran ser en dejlig, charmerende fyr, ikke en sort fyr, men hun er meget i tvivl om hendes forældre bliver dobbeltmoralske, hvis hun fortæller at hendes første rigtige kæreste er sort. Der går dog ikke lang tid inden Simrans onkel og tante finder ud af det, og så bryder helvede løs. ikke hjemme hos Simran, men rundt omkring hos alle familiemedlemmerne i London, samt på skolen og ude i byen, hvor indere gør en masse ud af, at man skal holde sig fra sorte.
En realistisk love story
Bogen er en rigtig romantisk, sød og realistisk love story, som man ikke kan undgå at holde af. På overfladen er det den søde, pæne pige, der bliver forelsket i den lidt utilpassede slagsbror. Da vi kommer længere ind i historien, viser det sig, at de passer meget bedre til hinanden, end de egentlig selv havde forestillet sig fra begyndelsen. Det er i sig selv rigtig smukt, men det søde og hyggelig bliver selvfølgelig spoleret af alle de religiøse problemer, fordommene og bandekrigene.
Skønt med en mandlig forfatter der kan skildre pigetanker og venindeforhold
Synsvinklerne skifter lidt for meget for min smag. Simrans er klart den nemmeste at identificere sig med, hvilket måske er lidt pudsigt fordi Bali Rai er en mand. Men stor respekt for det, for vi er jo utrolig vant til at kvindelige forfattere kaster sig over drenge som deres hovedpersoner, mens det faktisk er lidt mere tabu, at mænd skriver med piger og kvinder som deres hovedpersoner. Så netop i en bog, der handler om tabu, synes jeg det er virkelig stærkt og forfriskende, at Bali Rai lykkedes så godt med Simrans tanker, og netop får skildret en utrolig stærkt venindeskab mellem Simran og Lisa.
For mange bipersoner
Vi hopper også over til David, det er Simrans bror, når bandeproblemerne skal tegnes op, og det bliver lidt problematisk fordi David ikke rigtig ved hvor han vil hen med sit liv, og bliver en lidt utydelig klon af Simran. Der er også en del tilbageblik til Simrans farfar, da han begyndte som grønthandler i London sidst i 70′erne. Alt sammen for at give os en helhed, så vi bedre kan forstå. For mig blev det dog mere vildledende for der er så mange bipersoner med nævnt ved indiske navne, som man ikke kan huske, man har hørt om eller ej.
Uddrag af ‘Det sidste tabu’
“Far!”
Han så på mig og derefter på baconpakken i hans hånd. “Vi må hellere købe det billige. Ellers slår din mor mig ihjel.”
“Jeg slår dig ihjel om lidt … Så du det par?”
Han så sig omkring, men de var gået ned ad den næste gang.
“Hvad for et par?” Han lagde luksusbaconen tilbage og tog en pakke almindeligt bacon.
“Nogle gange er du altså håbløs. Der var en indisk kvinde med en sort mand,” forklarede jeg.
“Og …?” Han gik over til disken med pålæg.
“Det er da ret ualmindeligt, ik’?”
Han trak på skuldrene. “Sikkert. Kan Jay bedst lide skinke eller kylling?”
“Far!”
“Hvad er det? De er sammen – og hvad så?”
Det gik op for mig, at jeg var alt for gennemskuelig.
“Jeg tænkte bare på, om de får en masse bøvl med andre – andre indere.”
“Det kan godt være,” svarede han og tog et læs kyllingepålæg.
Lun feel good-fornemmelse
‘Det sidste tabu’ er en rigtig god bog, som jeg hele tiden havde lyst til at læse videre i. Det stærke er realismen i både Simran og Tyrones forhold og i Simran og Lisas gode venindeskab. Dialogerne er også lige så hyggelige, sjove og smådrillende, som de er, når man i virkeligheden taler med sine venner og veninder. Det giver bare en lun feel good-fornemmelse, når Lisa kan kalde Simran for ‘dumme ko’, uden at Simran tager det ilde op og bliver fornærmet. Det beviser også hvor gode veninder de er. Da jeg intet kender til raceproblemer mellem indere og sorte i England, kan jeg ikke udtale mig om hvor udbredt problemet er nu i 2012, men det må jo være ganske stort, når Bali Rai ofte fortæller hvordan politiet bliver indblandet i bandekrigene. Derfor var det også dejligt at lære noget nyt.
Kunne være spændende at debattere
Man kan hurtigt får det til at lyde forkert, hvis man siger at en bog kunne være god til undervisningsbrug i folkeskolen, for dansklærerne vælger ofte sådan nogle kedelige bøger, som de elskede fra deres egen skoletid. Men det er også derfor ‘Det sidste tabu’ kunne være god at læse i klassen, for den handler om vores tid her og nu, og den skildrer bare så mange følelser, både pigernes og drengenes, at alle kan finde nogen at identificere sig med.
Bali Rai lægger ikke skjul på at han ønsker det sidste tabu nedbrudt, men derudover er der heller ikke nogle bedrevidende og moraliserende pegefingre når drengene slås og pigerne sviner hinanden til, og det er faktisk rigtig rart, for det skaber et stort rum og en respekt for, at man som læser godt kan danne sig sin egen mening. Det er også derfor bogen kunne være spændende at debattere i en klasse. Der er ikke én sandhed, der er mange. Ligesom i alt andet her i livet.
Simran går i folkeskolens ældste klasse i London sammen med veninde Lisa. De er begge to engelske, føler sig engelske, men Simrans familie kommer fra Indien, fordi hendes farfar immigrerede til England. Simrans mor og far har også opdraget Simran som en engelsk pige med engelske rettigheder, men den indiske familie i London, der strækker sig ud over forældrene fætre, kusiner, onkler og tanter, går meget op i indiske traditioner, normer og religion. Helt galt er det for dem, hvis indere kommer sammen med sorte, og det gør Simrans far, da hans bedste ven er sort.
Derfor bevarer Simrans det også som en hemmelighed, da hun bliver forelsket i Tyrone, der er sort. Simran ser en dejlig, charmerende fyr, ikke en sort fyr, men hun er meget i tvivl om hendes forældre bliver dobbeltmoralske, hvis hun fortæller at hendes første rigtige kæreste er sort. Der går dog ikke lang tid inden Simrans onkel og tante finder ud af det, og så bryder helvede løs. ikke hjemme hos Simran, men rundt omkring hos alle familiemedlemmerne i London, samt på skolen og ude i byen, hvor indere gør en masse ud af, at man skal holde sig fra sorte.
En realistisk love story
Bogen er en rigtig romantisk, sød og realistisk love story, som man ikke kan undgå at holde af. På overfladen er det den søde, pæne pige, der bliver forelsket i den lidt utilpassede slagsbror. Da vi kommer længere ind i historien, viser det sig, at de passer meget bedre til hinanden, end de egentlig selv havde forestillet sig fra begyndelsen. Det er i sig selv rigtig smukt, men det søde og hyggelig bliver selvfølgelig spoleret af alle de religiøse problemer, fordommene og bandekrigene.
Skønt med en mandlig forfatter der kan skildre pigetanker og venindeforhold
Synsvinklerne skifter lidt for meget for min smag. Simrans er klart den nemmeste at identificere sig med, hvilket måske er lidt pudsigt fordi Bali Rai er en mand. Men stor respekt for det, for vi er jo utrolig vant til at kvindelige forfattere kaster sig over drenge som deres hovedpersoner, mens det faktisk er lidt mere tabu, at mænd skriver med piger og kvinder som deres hovedpersoner. Så netop i en bog, der handler om tabu, synes jeg det er virkelig stærkt og forfriskende, at Bali Rai lykkedes så godt med Simrans tanker, og netop får skildret en utrolig stærkt venindeskab mellem Simran og Lisa.
For mange bipersoner
Vi hopper også over til David, det er Simrans bror, når bandeproblemerne skal tegnes op, og det bliver lidt problematisk fordi David ikke rigtig ved hvor han vil hen med sit liv, og bliver en lidt utydelig klon af Simran. Der er også en del tilbageblik til Simrans farfar, da han begyndte som grønthandler i London sidst i 70′erne. Alt sammen for at give os en helhed, så vi bedre kan forstå. For mig blev det dog mere vildledende for der er så mange bipersoner med nævnt ved indiske navne, som man ikke kan huske, man har hørt om eller ej.
Uddrag af ‘Det sidste tabu’
“Far!”
Han så på mig og derefter på baconpakken i hans hånd. “Vi må hellere købe det billige. Ellers slår din mor mig ihjel.”
“Jeg slår dig ihjel om lidt … Så du det par?”
Han så sig omkring, men de var gået ned ad den næste gang.
“Hvad for et par?” Han lagde luksusbaconen tilbage og tog en pakke almindeligt bacon.
“Nogle gange er du altså håbløs. Der var en indisk kvinde med en sort mand,” forklarede jeg.
“Og …?” Han gik over til disken med pålæg.
“Det er da ret ualmindeligt, ik’?”
Han trak på skuldrene. “Sikkert. Kan Jay bedst lide skinke eller kylling?”
“Far!”
“Hvad er det? De er sammen – og hvad så?”
Det gik op for mig, at jeg var alt for gennemskuelig.
“Jeg tænkte bare på, om de får en masse bøvl med andre – andre indere.”
“Det kan godt være,” svarede han og tog et læs kyllingepålæg.
Lun feel good-fornemmelse
‘Det sidste tabu’ er en rigtig god bog, som jeg hele tiden havde lyst til at læse videre i. Det stærke er realismen i både Simran og Tyrones forhold og i Simran og Lisas gode venindeskab. Dialogerne er også lige så hyggelige, sjove og smådrillende, som de er, når man i virkeligheden taler med sine venner og veninder. Det giver bare en lun feel good-fornemmelse, når Lisa kan kalde Simran for ‘dumme ko’, uden at Simran tager det ilde op og bliver fornærmet. Det beviser også hvor gode veninder de er. Da jeg intet kender til raceproblemer mellem indere og sorte i England, kan jeg ikke udtale mig om hvor udbredt problemet er nu i 2012, men det må jo være ganske stort, når Bali Rai ofte fortæller hvordan politiet bliver indblandet i bandekrigene. Derfor var det også dejligt at lære noget nyt.
Kunne være spændende at debattere
Man kan hurtigt får det til at lyde forkert, hvis man siger at en bog kunne være god til undervisningsbrug i folkeskolen, for dansklærerne vælger ofte sådan nogle kedelige bøger, som de elskede fra deres egen skoletid. Men det er også derfor ‘Det sidste tabu’ kunne være god at læse i klassen, for den handler om vores tid her og nu, og den skildrer bare så mange følelser, både pigernes og drengenes, at alle kan finde nogen at identificere sig med.
Bali Rai lægger ikke skjul på at han ønsker det sidste tabu nedbrudt, men derudover er der heller ikke nogle bedrevidende og moraliserende pegefingre når drengene slås og pigerne sviner hinanden til, og det er faktisk rigtig rart, for det skaber et stort rum og en respekt for, at man som læser godt kan danne sig sin egen mening. Det er også derfor bogen kunne være spændende at debattere i en klasse. Der er ikke én sandhed, der er mange. Ligesom i alt andet her i livet.
January 14, 2019
3.5 stars
I picked this up as it seemed like a classic YA that I should have already read by now. I've been putting off reading it for literally years but I finally decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. Yes, it has that early noughties cringe teenage writing that is very outdated now but the story was still strong and has a lovely meaning. It still feels real, despite the cringeworthy language. Also I was even surprised by the ending! A good read that I'd definitely recommend to younger teens. It's also great to read a YA love story that isn't from a white, very Western point of view.
I picked this up as it seemed like a classic YA that I should have already read by now. I've been putting off reading it for literally years but I finally decided to read it, and I'm glad I did. Yes, it has that early noughties cringe teenage writing that is very outdated now but the story was still strong and has a lovely meaning. It still feels real, despite the cringeworthy language. Also I was even surprised by the ending! A good read that I'd definitely recommend to younger teens. It's also great to read a YA love story that isn't from a white, very Western point of view.
December 10, 2014
A very interesting look at the racism that exists between some Asian and some black communities.
Seventeen year old Simran fancies Tyrone, a boy from a neighbouring school, the first time she sees him. It turns out he fancies her back, and after making him work for it a little, they begin to date. But there's one problem - Tyrone is black, and Simran is Asian. A lot of people in her community - whether Asian, black, or white, disagree with interracial dating, including some members of her own extended family. There is particular tension between members of the local Asian and black communities, with fights breaking out between some youths on either side. Simran has to decide whether she wants to face up to the prejudice and how to deal with it, even if it means going against members of her own family.
I thought this book was topical and dealt with a difficult and complex issue without preaching. I liked that both Simran and Tyrone were typical teenagers, they weren't saint-like heroes fighting prejudice, they were regular teenagers who fancy one another and have the misfortune to run into racist attitudes and then have to work out how the hell to deal with it. They both made mistakes and said stupid things as well as smart things, which made them more realistic and sympathetic. I liked Simran's mum, dad, and older brother David, who also has to deal with racism as his best friend is black and some of his cousins are racist. Simran's grandfather, who has more of a role at the very end of the book, was awesome too, I want to adopt him! The 'love' stuff was a little bit eye-roll-inducing but typical teenage first love stuff. I'm just old and cynical. I liked Tyrone as well, it would have been cool to get more of his side of the story in addition to Simran's and David's.
I also like that this book shows that while friendship and love can overcome racism, it does still exist, and in many forms.
Seventeen year old Simran fancies Tyrone, a boy from a neighbouring school, the first time she sees him. It turns out he fancies her back, and after making him work for it a little, they begin to date. But there's one problem - Tyrone is black, and Simran is Asian. A lot of people in her community - whether Asian, black, or white, disagree with interracial dating, including some members of her own extended family. There is particular tension between members of the local Asian and black communities, with fights breaking out between some youths on either side. Simran has to decide whether she wants to face up to the prejudice and how to deal with it, even if it means going against members of her own family.
I thought this book was topical and dealt with a difficult and complex issue without preaching. I liked that both Simran and Tyrone were typical teenagers, they weren't saint-like heroes fighting prejudice, they were regular teenagers who fancy one another and have the misfortune to run into racist attitudes and then have to work out how the hell to deal with it. They both made mistakes and said stupid things as well as smart things, which made them more realistic and sympathetic. I liked Simran's mum, dad, and older brother David, who also has to deal with racism as his best friend is black and some of his cousins are racist. Simran's grandfather, who has more of a role at the very end of the book, was awesome too, I want to adopt him! The 'love' stuff was a little bit eye-roll-inducing but typical teenage first love stuff. I'm just old and cynical. I liked Tyrone as well, it would have been cool to get more of his side of the story in addition to Simran's and David's.
I also like that this book shows that while friendship and love can overcome racism, it does still exist, and in many forms.
August 21, 2009
A quick read!
I wasn't too impressed by this book, compared to (un)arranged marriage.
I was distracted by the shift in voice between the segments - Simran and David in the first person, but the cousins's and the grandfather's passages in the third. I can't help feeling there's a lack of balance, or at least a lack of focus, because of this.
I feel that the oversimplification of the 'other' side, detracts from the complexity of the issue. It's easy to perceive the cousins & uncles as types rather than characters, representing only hatred and agressive behavior, without explaining the whys and wherefores of this phenomenon.
In the end it's not clearly explained how the uncles & cousins are intolerant while Simran's father & brother aren't.
How can this be, given the understanding nature of the grandfather? I can interpret the cousins, whose actions are guided by the Desi Posse code, (for more on this, see Gautam Malkani's Londonstani), but the matter of the uncles remains undeciphered, given the concluding revelation of the grandfather's personality.
I wasn't too impressed by this book, compared to (un)arranged marriage.
I was distracted by the shift in voice between the segments - Simran and David in the first person, but the cousins's and the grandfather's passages in the third. I can't help feeling there's a lack of balance, or at least a lack of focus, because of this.
I feel that the oversimplification of the 'other' side, detracts from the complexity of the issue. It's easy to perceive the cousins & uncles as types rather than characters, representing only hatred and agressive behavior, without explaining the whys and wherefores of this phenomenon.
In the end it's not clearly explained how the uncles & cousins are intolerant while Simran's father & brother aren't.
How can this be, given the understanding nature of the grandfather? I can interpret the cousins, whose actions are guided by the Desi Posse code, (for more on this, see Gautam Malkani's Londonstani), but the matter of the uncles remains undeciphered, given the concluding revelation of the grandfather's personality.
April 7, 2015
Simran comes from quite a modern Punjabi family, her own parents had to fight disapproval over their own marriage and seem laid back and very non-traditional. It then comes as a shock to simran when she falls in love with Tyrone who just happens to be black she comes up against shocking prejudice from her own extended family especially her own cousins who you would think being brought up in multicultural nation would be ok. It is quite an eye opener to realise that racism is not just between black and white but can rear its ugly head anywhere. As the couple get closer they run into more problems, there has already been violent outbursts amongst the 2 different cultures. It seems as if no one is happy about this match and the violence starts to get out of hand with a very shocking ending. I found this book to be a bit slow starting and took me a while to get into the characters but towards the end especially when the older generations started to get involved it really took off.
April 4, 2009
I found this an excellent story! It's a quick read and when I got towards the end I couldn't have put it down if I'd tried. I found it quite gripping as events unfolded. The race issues gave me much to think about as the things that happen in the book could and probably do really happen. I really got involved with the characters. I very much liked Simran's parents with the calm way they treated the situation when they became aware of her new boyfriend and the fact that they did show dissaproval of the language that they used.
July 9, 2012
This book was amazing, i couldn't let go of it and read it withing 3hours! such an amazing novel!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews