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Jubilee
It is 1977, the Queen's Silver Jubilee, and a photographer captures a moment a street party with bunting and Union Jacks fluttering in the breeze. Right in the centre of the frame, a small Asian boy stares intently into the camera.
The photograph becomes iconic, a symbol of everything that is great about Britain. But the harmonious image conceals a very different reality. Amid the party food and the platform shoes, the pop music and the punk, there are tensions in the Cherry Gardens community. As the street party begins, those tensions threaten to erupt.
Fast forward to the present and the boy, Satish, has become a successful cardiologist, saving lives, respected by those around him. But he is living with a secret. When Satish is asked to take part in a reunion of those involved in that Jubilee photograph, he must confront the truth about that day, and the events that changed the course of his life
The photograph becomes iconic, a symbol of everything that is great about Britain. But the harmonious image conceals a very different reality. Amid the party food and the platform shoes, the pop music and the punk, there are tensions in the Cherry Gardens community. As the street party begins, those tensions threaten to erupt.
Fast forward to the present and the boy, Satish, has become a successful cardiologist, saving lives, respected by those around him. But he is living with a secret. When Satish is asked to take part in a reunion of those involved in that Jubilee photograph, he must confront the truth about that day, and the events that changed the course of his life
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
18 people are currently reading
387 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Harris
3 books10 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Shelley Harris was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1967, to a South African mother and a British father. She has worked, among other things, as a teacher, a reporter, a mystery shopper and a bouncer at a teen disco. When she is not writing, she volunteers at her local Oxfam bookshop, helping customers find just the right book. Her first novel Jubilee was a Richard & Judy Book Club choice, a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Vigilante is her second novel.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Shelley Harris was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1967, to a South African mother and a British father. She has worked, among other things, as a teacher, a reporter, a mystery shopper and a bouncer at a teen disco. When she is not writing, she volunteers at her local Oxfam bookshop, helping customers find just the right book. Her first novel Jubilee was a Richard & Judy Book Club choice, a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. Vigilante is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
October 19, 2012
The camera never lies – or does it?
In her brilliantly observed debut novel Shelley Harris begins her story with a photograph that has been taken during an English suburban street party to celebrate the 1977 Jubilee. That picture goes on to be an iconic image, and one syndicated around the world, in which Satish, an immigrant Asian boy is seen sitting amongst his white neighbourhood friends.
It is a powerful emblem of hope, of tolerance and racial harmony. But what happened just before that event – and its long lasting repercussions – is described in a slow-building caldron of tension as less palatable scenes simmer under the surface, the past and present bubbling up as many uncomfortable truths are revealed – of an England then, and an England now – and how attitudes may, or may not, have moved on.
In her brilliantly observed debut novel Shelley Harris begins her story with a photograph that has been taken during an English suburban street party to celebrate the 1977 Jubilee. That picture goes on to be an iconic image, and one syndicated around the world, in which Satish, an immigrant Asian boy is seen sitting amongst his white neighbourhood friends.
It is a powerful emblem of hope, of tolerance and racial harmony. But what happened just before that event – and its long lasting repercussions – is described in a slow-building caldron of tension as less palatable scenes simmer under the surface, the past and present bubbling up as many uncomfortable truths are revealed – of an England then, and an England now – and how attitudes may, or may not, have moved on.
September 21, 2012
I was recommended this book by a colleague at work. She told me that it was the best book she had read in ages. I clearly need to recommend some better books for her to read! It wasn't that it was a bad book - I did enjoy reading it. But it probably won't join the ranks of books I like to re-read or books I'd enthusiastically recommend to others.
In 1977 as the residents of Cherry Gardens hold a street party to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee a photographer from a local newspaper takes a photo. The photo appears to show the harmony of a multicultural Britain with a small Asian boy in the centre of the frame surrounded by his white friends and neighbours. But a photo only shows a freezeframe of one very brief moment without the sounds, the smells or any of the context given by what happened just before or what will happen next. And despite the harmonious impression of this photo the reality of that moment was something far less harmonious.
30 years on Satish, now a successful cardiologist, is asked to do a reunion photo. This forces him to face up to the events which happened on that day and his response to it threatens to unravel his life as it now stands. The story switches between this and 1977 to slowely unravel the story of what happened on the day of the photo. A story which shows just how much of a lie the apparent equilibrium of cultural diversity really was.
I thought it was interestingly put together and I liked the way that the story only unravelled bit by bit from the two different perspectives. But at the same time there were bits of the story which just seemed very flat and I feel like Harris could have made much more of this story. Satish himself was not enough of a character to really grab me. And even when he was going through great turmoil I found it hard to really connect with his emotions. I was never fully convinced by his addiction or even his fears to do with the past. I didn't find myself worrying for him - for his family or his career. I never felt fully able to appreciate either his current difficulties or the real situation of that day. In fact, I didn't ever really get the chance to forget I was reading a book and get totally involved in the characters and their life. And even though I enjoyed the book, that disappointed me.
In 1977 as the residents of Cherry Gardens hold a street party to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee a photographer from a local newspaper takes a photo. The photo appears to show the harmony of a multicultural Britain with a small Asian boy in the centre of the frame surrounded by his white friends and neighbours. But a photo only shows a freezeframe of one very brief moment without the sounds, the smells or any of the context given by what happened just before or what will happen next. And despite the harmonious impression of this photo the reality of that moment was something far less harmonious.
30 years on Satish, now a successful cardiologist, is asked to do a reunion photo. This forces him to face up to the events which happened on that day and his response to it threatens to unravel his life as it now stands. The story switches between this and 1977 to slowely unravel the story of what happened on the day of the photo. A story which shows just how much of a lie the apparent equilibrium of cultural diversity really was.
I thought it was interestingly put together and I liked the way that the story only unravelled bit by bit from the two different perspectives. But at the same time there were bits of the story which just seemed very flat and I feel like Harris could have made much more of this story. Satish himself was not enough of a character to really grab me. And even when he was going through great turmoil I found it hard to really connect with his emotions. I was never fully convinced by his addiction or even his fears to do with the past. I didn't find myself worrying for him - for his family or his career. I never felt fully able to appreciate either his current difficulties or the real situation of that day. In fact, I didn't ever really get the chance to forget I was reading a book and get totally involved in the characters and their life. And even though I enjoyed the book, that disappointed me.
July 12, 2012
I was looking forward to this book, it seemed intriguing. But OMG talk about drag it out, I think I said out loud on a few occasions 'just tell us the secret!'. I even sped read a few chapters thinking it must be coming up now... When it was eventually revealed, I just thought 'oh right' , so it really wasn't worth waiting for.
Touching on the racist elements of the book (and trying not to give any spoilers), it really was awful that this was accepted back then.
Touching on the racist elements of the book (and trying not to give any spoilers), it really was awful that this was accepted back then.
June 27, 2012
I bought this book at the airport in Birmingham and thought it would be a fun read amongst all the Jubilee paraphernalia this year in England - not what I was expecting at all. This was the first novel written by this author and although her intent was good, she missed the mark with her poor writing and it was a struggle to finish.
Satish's addiction should have been more substantiated to fall more in line with the story - as it was, it didn't flow with the plot - is this book about racism, addiction, immigrants, family secrets????? The book does come full circle in the end with the photograph and the author does bring closure in that respect but really there is a lot missing in the guts of the story.
Anyways, I finished it today finally - if you want to borrow it or have it, you are welcome to it.
Satish's addiction should have been more substantiated to fall more in line with the story - as it was, it didn't flow with the plot - is this book about racism, addiction, immigrants, family secrets????? The book does come full circle in the end with the photograph and the author does bring closure in that respect but really there is a lot missing in the guts of the story.
Anyways, I finished it today finally - if you want to borrow it or have it, you are welcome to it.
July 25, 2012
I read the blurb on this in Tesco and found it intriguing and that it was going to be a great read. Yeah, I was mislead.
The story is told both in 1977 and the present day. Usually, I quite enjoy books written in this way (or from multiple points of views), but in this case I found it really confusing.
Also, the main character of Satish... he bored me. It got to the point where I truly didn't care what happened to him. I only persevered with the book because I thought (or hoped) that it might just have been a slow burn and would eventually pick up in pace and action.
Unfortunately I only got to chapter 11 before I gave up on the book, which is something I hate to do. I have no idea what the big "secret" is, and to be honest I don't particularly care. It's not going to bug me until I find out.
I'm sad that I gave up on a book, but I had been reading it for almost a week and only managed just over 100 pages which if you asked what had happened, i couldn't tell you a thing.
If you've read it, let me know what the secret is in the comments!
The story is told both in 1977 and the present day. Usually, I quite enjoy books written in this way (or from multiple points of views), but in this case I found it really confusing.
Also, the main character of Satish... he bored me. It got to the point where I truly didn't care what happened to him. I only persevered with the book because I thought (or hoped) that it might just have been a slow burn and would eventually pick up in pace and action.
Unfortunately I only got to chapter 11 before I gave up on the book, which is something I hate to do. I have no idea what the big "secret" is, and to be honest I don't particularly care. It's not going to bug me until I find out.
I'm sad that I gave up on a book, but I had been reading it for almost a week and only managed just over 100 pages which if you asked what had happened, i couldn't tell you a thing.
If you've read it, let me know what the secret is in the comments!
October 6, 2012
Not a bad little story, the title is somewhat self-explanatory, in that it is themed around a jubilee event. What I liked about it? The flash backs to the silver jub and forward to this year's diamond effort, some of the characters, particularly Mandy and Sarah (I can picture them in their 70s flares) and the accurate recounting of what it was like in 1977 middle England. But, the downsides, I didn't particularly like the main character, Satish. The end was disappointing, I kept thinking there was more to the story right up until the last page. And also the fact that it seemed to miss whole chunks of story that could have been included, what happened when he fessed up to his wife about the diazepam? Or didn't he? We'll never know.
So a solid 3* it is.
So a solid 3* it is.
July 28, 2012
This book promised so much on the cover description but it just failed to materialise in the story.
The books theme had very good potential but I don't feel that it was at all well executed. It was a good look at the nostalgia of the 1970's but so much more development of the characters was required. The book ticked along but was not a great page turner.
This book has already been relegated to the charity shop pile as I could not recommend it to anyone else.
The books theme had very good potential but I don't feel that it was at all well executed. It was a good look at the nostalgia of the 1970's but so much more development of the characters was required. The book ticked along but was not a great page turner.
This book has already been relegated to the charity shop pile as I could not recommend it to anyone else.
June 3, 2012
From BBC Radio 4:
Satish was at the centre of an iconic photo of a Jubilee street party taken in 1977 but thirty years on he dreads a reunion. Even though he is now a successful paediatric cardiologist and happily married with two children of his own, the events of that fateful day are seared on his memory.
Satish was at the centre of an iconic photo of a Jubilee street party taken in 1977 but thirty years on he dreads a reunion. Even though he is now a successful paediatric cardiologist and happily married with two children of his own, the events of that fateful day are seared on his memory.
February 25, 2019
This book was a complete surprise for me!
When I started reading this one, I thought there was some confusion and unnecessary detailing. And though the latter part still holds slightly true for me, I did enjoy reading the story as a whole!
The story of an Indian kid in the United Kingdom, his childhood, and how he deals with the aftermath of his childhood as an adult - it is so heartening to read about. There's racism, there's a level of cruel childish bravado, there's acceptance of the past, and then there's forgiveness. The book gives out a lot of mixed signals, but these are something that you will understand. They somehow fit right in, because as you read, you know which perspective you need to fit them into.
And that's why the book turned into a 4 for me. I'm glad I read this one - especially because this was a complete impulse buy!
When I started reading this one, I thought there was some confusion and unnecessary detailing. And though the latter part still holds slightly true for me, I did enjoy reading the story as a whole!
The story of an Indian kid in the United Kingdom, his childhood, and how he deals with the aftermath of his childhood as an adult - it is so heartening to read about. There's racism, there's a level of cruel childish bravado, there's acceptance of the past, and then there's forgiveness. The book gives out a lot of mixed signals, but these are something that you will understand. They somehow fit right in, because as you read, you know which perspective you need to fit them into.
And that's why the book turned into a 4 for me. I'm glad I read this one - especially because this was a complete impulse buy!
July 7, 2012
When Satish Patel was twelve, a photographer took a picture of the street party held in his road during the Silver Jubilee. Satish was in the foreground, seemingly happy amongst his friends, and the photo became incredibly famous - a symbol of racial integration and community spirit. Thirty years on, Satish is a successful heart surgeon, married with two children and a good life. When an old friend contacts him trying to organise a reunion to restage the photograph, Satish panics. He starts taking diazepam to calm himself, threatening his career and all he has worked so hard to attain. Why does the thought of meeting the old crowd affect him like this? What happened on the day of the jubilee that still haunts Satish?
The book flits between modern-day Satish with a drug problem which is slowly taking over his life and 1977 Satish and his friends and neighbours. Young Satish is a quiet boy, newly arrived from Uganda and finding it hard to assimilate into a new culture. Though he seems to make friends among the English children there is always a barrier between them and he senses that they will never really see him as one of them.
The 1977 portion of the book is brilliantly done. Beneath the veneer of friendliness seethes an ugly racism which reveals itself slowly to a confused Satish. Gradually, he learns to keep aspects of his home life hidden from his friends, as he knows they won't understand and fears ridicule, and we see how even his best friends are affected by peer pressure and exhibit a casual racism towards him. The 1970s setting is perfect, with lots of little period details to evoke a sense of nostalgia. I wasn't quite four at the time of the Silver Jubilee, but the feel and impression of those days came right back to me. The present-day sections were well-written too, and I enjoyed seeing how Satish's life had been changed by what happened in his past, but the heart of the novel was in his childhood, and I kept willing these contemporary scenes to be over quickly so I could get back to 1977.
The dreadful incident of jubilee day looms large over the whole book, deliberately kept hidden from the reader until very near the end. What could it be? My mind was whirring over all sorts of possible scenarios; after such a massive build-up, it was bound to be something pretty shocking. I did feel the author was setting herself up for an anticlimax here, but actually when the ending came it slotted in perfectly and I didn't feel at all disappointed.
This was a very impressive debut from the author, and I loved the unsettling mood of quiet unease which slowly built over the course of the novel.
The book flits between modern-day Satish with a drug problem which is slowly taking over his life and 1977 Satish and his friends and neighbours. Young Satish is a quiet boy, newly arrived from Uganda and finding it hard to assimilate into a new culture. Though he seems to make friends among the English children there is always a barrier between them and he senses that they will never really see him as one of them.
The 1977 portion of the book is brilliantly done. Beneath the veneer of friendliness seethes an ugly racism which reveals itself slowly to a confused Satish. Gradually, he learns to keep aspects of his home life hidden from his friends, as he knows they won't understand and fears ridicule, and we see how even his best friends are affected by peer pressure and exhibit a casual racism towards him. The 1970s setting is perfect, with lots of little period details to evoke a sense of nostalgia. I wasn't quite four at the time of the Silver Jubilee, but the feel and impression of those days came right back to me. The present-day sections were well-written too, and I enjoyed seeing how Satish's life had been changed by what happened in his past, but the heart of the novel was in his childhood, and I kept willing these contemporary scenes to be over quickly so I could get back to 1977.
The dreadful incident of jubilee day looms large over the whole book, deliberately kept hidden from the reader until very near the end. What could it be? My mind was whirring over all sorts of possible scenarios; after such a massive build-up, it was bound to be something pretty shocking. I did feel the author was setting herself up for an anticlimax here, but actually when the ending came it slotted in perfectly and I didn't feel at all disappointed.
This was a very impressive debut from the author, and I loved the unsettling mood of quiet unease which slowly built over the course of the novel.
April 3, 2016
Back in 1977, the United Kingdom celebrated the Jubilee with street parties and decorated streets. A photo of the party in Cherry Gardens made the newspapers and was splashed all over the media. For Satish, the day is a painful memory, one that he would prefer to forget. So thirty years later when they want to reconstruct the photograph, Satish is reluctant.
Jubilee highlights the racism that was prolific through out the 70’s. Harris does a great job of allowing you to feel the injustice of the treatment and shows that racism is a by-product of ignorance and stupidity. Harris also shows how secrets and lies can and will follow all those involved for years. As the story builds it becomes less about racism and more about others cruelty and ignorance.
I felt that the story was trying to employ popular techniques, but it just didn’t work. While it is clear that the book is leading up to a significant event, I found it slightly frustrating that it took so long to get to the point. The events leading up to the day of the street party are told from several characters points of view. While it does give you more insight into the story, it jumps a little too much. Often, I got confused as to who was who. I was constantly asking was it Colette or Sarah who was Cai’s sister. To be honest, it probably isn’t a book that I would pick up and read again.
Jubilee highlights the racism that was prolific through out the 70’s. Harris does a great job of allowing you to feel the injustice of the treatment and shows that racism is a by-product of ignorance and stupidity. Harris also shows how secrets and lies can and will follow all those involved for years. As the story builds it becomes less about racism and more about others cruelty and ignorance.
I felt that the story was trying to employ popular techniques, but it just didn’t work. While it is clear that the book is leading up to a significant event, I found it slightly frustrating that it took so long to get to the point. The events leading up to the day of the street party are told from several characters points of view. While it does give you more insight into the story, it jumps a little too much. Often, I got confused as to who was who. I was constantly asking was it Colette or Sarah who was Cai’s sister. To be honest, it probably isn’t a book that I would pick up and read again.
February 22, 2012
Satish Patel was a boy at the time of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, the son of an immigrant Ugandan family in an otherwise all-white Buckinghamshire village; he was a key figure in a photograph taken of the village’s Jubilee celebrations, an image which became iconic. Thirty years on, Satish is a successful cardiologist with a habit of helping himself to diazepam from the medicine cabinet; he receives a call from an old friend, telling him of plans to stage a reconstruction of the photo – but Satish is reluctant to take part.
Shelley Harris’s debut novel unpicks its central situation carefully, revealing the tensions beneath the apparent harmony shown in the photograph, and the secrets hidden by Satish and his friends and neighbours. If the ending feels to jump the gap of years a little too quickly in terms of how it deals with the issues between characters, the journey up to that point is engaging – with the writing of Satish’s addiction particularly sharp – and the book as a whole represents a promising start to Harris’s career as a novelist.
Shelley Harris’s debut novel unpicks its central situation carefully, revealing the tensions beneath the apparent harmony shown in the photograph, and the secrets hidden by Satish and his friends and neighbours. If the ending feels to jump the gap of years a little too quickly in terms of how it deals with the issues between characters, the journey up to that point is engaging – with the writing of Satish’s addiction particularly sharp – and the book as a whole represents a promising start to Harris’s career as a novelist.
July 25, 2012
This was an easy to read story about a group of people who lived in the same street as children when the Queen's silver jubilee celebrations took place. The main character is Satish, who is now a successful children's cardiac surgeon, and the story flits between current time and the day of the jubilee street party when - in the grand tradition of story-telling - 'something happened that would change the course of those children's lives for ever'. I thought the storyline was quite good, it wasn't your run-of-the-mill secret from the past, but I found the book a bit of a lightweight overall. I wasn't expecting it to be heavy going, but I never really got to give a damn about the characters. I've given it 2 stars because that means 'it was ok', which is how I feel about it - I certainly didn't hate it, I just would have liked a bit more depth to the personalities and their stories.
March 6, 2014
BABTSatish was at the centre of an iconic photo of a Jubilee street party taken in 1977, but 30 years on he dreads a reunion. Even though he is now a successful paediatric cardiologist and happily married with two children of his own, the events of that fateful day are seared on his memory.
Jubilee is Shelley Harris's first novel.
Not interesting enough for me to continue with this for another weekThis entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2012
At first I wasn't sure about the to-ing and fro-ing between present and past, but it did help to build suspense to the final scenes. The images were from a childhood Britain that I remember and I enjoyed this aspect of the book. The white racial attitudes that abounded at that time are well portrayed and I liked the final little twists and turns that were unexpected.
June 10, 2012
I don't think it was as good as everyone says it is, but an enjoyable read at an appropriate time! I found the swtiching of stories a little confusing, and thought the 'event' that happened to him a little underwhelming... maybe I missed the point?
June 23, 2016
I love love love this story, ready to read it again right away!
November 8, 2017
The author has painted a beautiful picture of the contrasting household lives of people of different faiths. It is evident that a detailed observation has been made about how people are driven by their beliefs and prejudices, how they react to a particular situation, and how different people perceive the same thing in different ways. It shows the racial discrimination that unconsciously exists in the minds of people, and how they vent it out by their petty acts. There were a few times, though, when it felt like the story was dragging a bit. There were a lot of repetitions, which the story could have survived without. On the whole, it is an entertaining read. It is basically a story about how we evolve as a person with the passage of time. Irrespective of religion and nationality, the happiness and well-being of the people is what matters the most. And that, I believe, is the best part of the story.
Two years ago I had written a story about racism as well. It is called 'Towards Absolution'. Check it out at https://thereaderplanet.wordpress.com...
Two years ago I had written a story about racism as well. It is called 'Towards Absolution'. Check it out at https://thereaderplanet.wordpress.com...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2023
Hmm. I think this book could have been much more powerful, but it was very slow, dare I say even a drag. The main character is unlikable. It is good to have a nuanced main character, who has their flaws and strengths, and I think Harris was aiming for that. However, Satish is just unlikable. During any interaction with his wife, Maya, Paris Paloma's song 'labour' would play in my head. The climax (i.e. the bad thing that happened in his past) came too late in the book and then was rushed. I did feel Satish's pain and anger and confusion at the adults not understanding why what had happened to him was so bad. The casual racism in British society which still pervades today was covered well however there seemed to be a faint notion that it was much worse in the 1970s, and nowadays, we are much more enlightened and accepting. We are certainly in a better place but sadly Britain in the 2020s is still a country rife with racism and prejudice.
Overall, not a terrible book, but I wanted more.
Overall, not a terrible book, but I wanted more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2018
A photograph doesn’t reveal all, it only captures a fraction of a second. This leaves the viewer deceived and thinking the smiles and laughs of a group truly reveal the heart. The author shows the tension and character development through flashbacks and descriptions of the present. As the story develops more and more secrets are revealed. Due to these characteristics of the book, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it kept me wanting more. I found myself relating to some of the characters and would even get attached to them. The reason why I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because the ending disappointed me. Harris’ explanation of how Satish felt after everything that happened was underwhelming and disagreeable (in my opinion). Also, did Satish ever tell Maya his secrets?! I guess it’s up for us to decide.
November 15, 2017
This is a quick gentle read, which travels softly between 1977 and the present. I read it as a palette cleanser, and it was perfect for that, quick and clear, casting a modern light backward on some 1977 behaviours that some people would prefer to forget.
I can't help but think this story has rather undersold the central event at the bottom of it all. There is something rather matter of fact about the telling, and perhaps that's why the second half of the story doesn't land so well. The idea is good, and the interplay between people is really well drawn. There just can't be a satisfying denouement when the central character himself downplays the harms done.
I can't help but think this story has rather undersold the central event at the bottom of it all. There is something rather matter of fact about the telling, and perhaps that's why the second half of the story doesn't land so well. The idea is good, and the interplay between people is really well drawn. There just can't be a satisfying denouement when the central character himself downplays the harms done.
June 26, 2020
Honestly an uncomfortable read. Having been 7 at the time of the actual Jubilee I could relate clearly to the party element. I think my uncomfortableness came from my knowledge now, as an adult, of the underlying culture of the time, which during my own childhood I was oblivious to.
The subject matter was dealt with so well and all references throughout incredibly accurate. Having been there once I did feel in part, that I was returning. I’m just struggling to shake a feeling of disgust at the societal norms of the period.
The subject matter was dealt with so well and all references throughout incredibly accurate. Having been there once I did feel in part, that I was returning. I’m just struggling to shake a feeling of disgust at the societal norms of the period.
September 16, 2023
Probably a 3.5 rather than a 3. I chose this book mainly for the nostalgia factor, having had a 1970s childhood myself, and in this respect it delivered. However, I have to agree with other reviews in that the revelation of the back story was frustratingly drawn out. The themes of peer pressure/appeasing the parents along with the social hierarchy of street and school were convincingly drawn though. A quick and enjoyable holiday read which would work really well as a tv drama.
May 30, 2017
Dit boek greep me helaas niet bij de keel, wat ik gehoopt had. Ik vond het moeilijk om me te verplaatsen in de gevoelens van de hoofdpersoon. Ik begreep echt niet waarom hij sommige keuzes maakte. Verder vind ik de schrijfstijl naarmate het boek vordert verwarrende worden. Je moet als lezer maar uitvogelen of je in het heden of verleden bent...
July 2, 2017
Yes, this book took six months to read! I put it down and picked back up twice. The plot was interesting, but the characters never came alive. When you don't care about the main character it's a chore to keep reading the book, but I did want to know what happened at the end. Okay, now I know, and it was interesting, but pretty predictable.
January 13, 2025
This story, of Satish a 12year old Asian boy and his neighbours on that special day of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in June 1977, will stay with me fir a long time. Though simple, the author brings to life the racism, often hidden, of the seventies, and the impact this can have over decades. Maybe being exactly the same age as these kids, made it very poignant & engaging to me.
May 31, 2018
The book got a whole extra star for the last few chapters. I was struggling through it - failing to feel much enthusiasm for Satish and his problems - but it all comes together at the end in a sudden rush of emotion and energy.
September 3, 2020
This was a book club book otherwise I might not have read it so diligently and just skipped to the end (which I normally never do). I just found it rather tedious and the main character was not very engaging.
July 4, 2022
It took me a while to read this book, and although the characters did develop it felt like not a lot happened. However, it was interesting to see the perspective of 70s Britain and the challenges people would have faced.
January 23, 2023
I was excited for this, coming out of the Queen's jubilee year of 2022, but unfortunately it didn't excite me back. Jubilee is written well enough but it just didn't ignite any big flame of interest in me. Solid but very hard to get into and become absorbed in like an excellent book does
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