Broadwater

by Jac Shreeves-Lee

Welcome to Broadwater Farm, one of the most well-known housing estates in Britain. A place where post-war dreams of concrete utopia ended in riots, violence and sub-standard housing.

In this collection, Tottenham-born Jac Shreeves-Lee gives voice to the people of Broadwater Farm. With evocative language and raw storytelling, she compassionately portrays their shared sense of community. A community with a rich cultural heritage, comprising over forty nationalities, generations old.

Genres: Short Stories

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2020

Reviews

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broadwater Farm, originally conceived as a utopian ideal of inner city planning, has had more than its share of disruptive history, including riots, recent murders (July 2020), and the usual challenges faced by inhabitants of high rise project living. Jac Screeves-Lee has written her debut collection introducing a large, diverse community, stories which intersect and overlap, and results in a tapestry of humanity. In some, as in real life, there is heartbreak due to perceived hopelessness, but this reader came away with admiration for the result, particularly since it was written in present day, under the reality of a pandemic lockdown. The inequalities engendered by race are prevalent throughout. Highly recommended.

[Thea | (unapologetic_bibliosmia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this one wasn’t for me. I was reeled in by the books description and hoped for real-life accounts and stories of the people of Broadwater Farm, Tottenham....however this book is made up of fictional accounts and stories and I feel like a real trick has been missed here.

I get what the author has tried to do, but I really think this would have been better achieved by using real peoples accounts of living in North London and Tottenham. By using made up stories, the author has kind of done the opposite of giving the ‘forgotten about’ and ‘overlooked’ residents a voice....she has quite literally gentrified them.

Not only that, but I found each of these short stories weird. Every single one had some weird sex scene in it, which to be honest just made me feel uncomfortable and creeped out. It didn’t add anything to these stories and so I really don’t understand the angle here. For example.....There was an old woman having sex with a young woman from down the road, an old man masturbating to his neighbors having sex, a young child afraid of her uncle who was an exhibitionist...etc etc. not nice and not doing anything to tell the people of Tottenham’s tales.

I have added one star for a couple of the stories I enjoyed about race, mainly the last one and another towards the end. But overall all of these stories were miserable and paint the people of Tottenham as alcoholics, sex pests and suicidal. Not for me at all. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for that.

[Joanna Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

My family’s from Haringey and I live in the area, so I was fascinated to read this collection of short stories about Broadwater Farm.
Although each story is separate, some characters do link through them.
They are beautifully written and each is a gem: it’s not a book to rush.
It’s also such a timely book - it tells us about the reality of racial inequality and the strength of community.
But it rarely preaches - the stories are heartfelt, like Zu Zu’s one of how she had to give up her kids after a life of adversity.
I also loved the story about Mawusi and her lover Gladys who gives her money: such a complicated yet pure relationship.
I’d really recommend these well-crafted and absorbing stories.

[Violet Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broadwater is a collection of short stories, told through a variety of different perspectives from the inhabitants of Broadwater Farm, an area in Tottenham, North London. The area is home to multiple generations and nationalities – all sharing a common experience of living in the high density housing that regularly graces some of London’s most deprived areas.

Each story, told through a different inhabitant, features the struggles of everyday life – be that the lingering impact of Windrush and the hostile environment policy, economic struggles, difficulties in family life and relationships, living with mental health problems, and the ongoing battle to just stay afloat. Every story is told in such a raw, human centered way, that the reader cannot help but fully empathise with each individual. It truly reveals the sense of the “cope and hope” style of life that the many individuals included in this book, seem to subscribe to.

Written in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster and during the Coronavirus epidemic that has highlighted the ongoing racial inequality in the UK, Broadwater is a collection of stories so suited to this time and one that will always be relevant. The promises of regeneration projects across deprived areas of London in recent years, have consistently failed to live up to expectations, as echoed by the portrayal of living conditions in these stories and by the characters themselves,

“Look, however you dress it up Ricky, so-called regeneration is just a pretty word for social cleansing.”

After a series of riots in the late 1980s, Broadwater was given a bad reputation, but in recent years has been revived. Despite the hardship woven throughout this book, told through a myriad of different stories and perspectives, what unites them all is the shared experience of community. Every character is connected to the next and there is a common bond of solidarity that defines the feeling of this book. Each story is short and sweet, but connects to the larger picture, which is the commonality of human experience.

The book largely centers on the struggles caused by long term racial inequality, as Broadwater is home to one of the most ethnically diverse areas in London. Each story and the variety of character experiences, really reflect this in such a harrowing and eye opening way. In light of recent events in the US, and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, these stories feel all the more important and relevant for everyone to read.

But the stories also speak to everyone regardless of race, on a human level. In her writing, Jac Shreeves-Lee demonstrates the beauty in the everyday which corresponds so jarringly with an unavoidable sense of suffering. In the many stories featured in the collection is the sense of lost dreams, but channeled beautifully with a sense of hope and wonder for life.

Broadwater is a community joined together by a variety of backgrounds, races, ethnicities and the individuals that tell its story are amalgamated by a shared sense of commonality due to the endless strive for hope and the promise of a better life.

It lingers with an unavoidable sense of the harsh realities of life that so many people living in deprived areas of London face, despite the endless promises of something better to come. But on the flip side, reveals the power in the shared community, which ultimately, is the driving force that keeps so many individuals afloat.

A powerful collection of short stories that enlightens the mind and soul – it is as honest as it is captivating, and the characters will linger with you long after you finish the final pages.

[Catalina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

I really like the literary technique of painting a community through its residents. It is very fitting for short stories collections and it works well for this particular one. When it comes to representation, Broadwater seems to be doing a great job of presenting us the reality that must be The Farm. It's obvious that Shreeves-Lee knows this community very well. She is truthful in her descriptions: people struggling with crime, with inequality, with poverty, with grief, generally with life.
I found the first part of this collection weaker than the second. It surprised me with its morbidity. Like in every single story someone was dying, or being murdered or people were dealing with the aftermath of a death; to the point I was not sure what to do with it. But luckily it picked up in the second half with very emotional, even relatable stories. Also I really couldn't feel the "community spirit" that is mentioned in the synopsis and alluded at in some stories. Despite various characters appearing in different stories and some mentioning how everyone knows everyone else...to me the sense of community was rather lacking. But then I've thought that there's a huge difference between urban and rural/smaller communities. In urban communities, despite this 'knowing', there's a coldness permeating all relationships and it is more than obvious here.

Probably my favourite story was Norma's Story but Cupcake's or Olivia's story come close too. Ricky's story is great too, I've enjoyed the fantastical element and the optimistic vibe of change as a positive outcome. It worked very well and was truly fitting as an ending story.

[MisterHobgoblin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Broadwater is a depiction of the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham through 14 inter-linked short stories.

Each story is a vignette, focusing on one resident of the estate, but these characters sometimes pop up in one another's stories. Some are bleak, some are inspiring. As a body of work, they do a successful job in showing the diversity of people who live in the estate - nuances that the newspapers sometimes miss.

But none of the stories is quite long enough to build a real sense of engagement. So although the stories are interesting enough in the moment, they don't particularly leave an impression.

It would be great to see a full length novel to really bring one or two of the characters to life.

[George Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as it was chosen for my book club. It's a series of short stories that are all interesting and engaging. I enjoyed the book overall and it gave a good insight into the lives of people living on an estate in Tottenham. There's a really mix of very different characters and it the book is well written.

[Amina (aminasbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: There is so much heart and beauty in this book, I had to give it four and a half stars. Shreeves-Lee is an accomplished storyteller and manages to draw in her readers through the detailed description of each story’s setting. However, it’s varied the characters which grabbed me the most. From an old woman in a care home to a middle-aged couple coping with the loss of their child, and a teenager forced to grow up too fast, each character is well-rounded and burrows themselves in your mind.

GOOD BITS: Surprisingly, my favourite stories had older protagonists. There’s something really poignant about how the author depicts ageing in various forms. From seeking emotional connection later in life (Gladys Pringle in Michelle’s story) to moving to a care home (Olivia’s story), or being taken care of by your children (Hilda in Cupcake’s story), I found these narratives completely compelling. It feels like the author is making a statement about change, whether that’s change of a person or location/area or relationship.

NOT SO GOOD BITS: It’s a minor point but it seemed like some connections between stories had been plonked in. For example, there are a few instances where the name of a previous character is mentioned but they have no bearing on the plot. I also felt the voice of Ricky in the final story was a bit too forced. He was too good a character, which allowed him to be a beacon of hope for the future of the estate, but lost the magic of the emotional, raw, flawed characters present in the other stories.

NB, - in the interests of transparency - I was lucky enough to be gifted an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book ahead of publication by Fairlight Books

[Michelle Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this book expecting a gritty depiction of inner city life but what I got was much more nuanced than that. Like most people my only knowledge of Broadwater Farm Estate was news reports I saw in the times of the riots. This book changed my impressions of the estate, being a lot more positive and uplifting than I was expecting.

The writer has given a voice to the 'ordinary' people of the estate that should be listened to.

Despite the characters in the book coming from a variety of backgrounds, races, ethnicities there was a shared sense of community that I was envious of. The characters were different to me in many ways but I still found them relevant and liked the way the author slowly revealed the relationships between them as the book came to its conclusion.

The book was beautifully written but still used simple language and never overly sentimental or emotional.. Even though the stories cover important social issues I never felt I was being preached at.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and plan to read it again.

[Laura Besley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jac Shreeves-Lee’s debut collection, Broadwater: short stories grounded in Tottenham, is comprised of 14 short stories and a brief introduction narrated by Ricky, the protagonist in the final story. These gritty stories about love and loss, race and belonging, ageing and hope are interlinked, to lesser and greater degrees, creating a strong feeling of cohesion, of community, which is precisely what the collection is about: the community of Broadwater Farm.

There is a feeling of inevitability about love and loss within these stories, as if its coming or going is totally out of the characters’ control. One example is when Ruth ‘can’t ask what the point is and tell [Dave] that love can only ever hurtle towards its own end.’ Or when ‘Winston doesn’t expect Karen to understand; they often miss one another’s meaning and he’s learned to push down the hurt of her cool dismissals.’ And whereas Binty, Ruth’s sister, once thought ‘love cancelled out everything’ now feels she has no control over the fact that her relationship with Dan has ended; she is Dan’s victim, Dan’s prey’ and has ‘OLD, obsessive love disorder, which affects about 0.1% of adults.’

Race and a sense of belonging feature heavily within the lives of these characters. When it was suggested that Winston, who dresses up as Santa every year to commemorate the loss of his son, form part of an ethnic group and stay ‘at the back, in front of the wheelchair users, to make a “statement”,’ his wife, Karen, responded, with the following:

‘I know about racism in a way you couldn’t possibly know,’ Karen said. ‘You know about how racism is received, but I know how racism works, how it’s done. I can beat the organisers at the own game. Watch me; I know how they think. I’m white, Winston, and I know what that means. A lot of white people don’t recognise their whiteness much less accept the privilege that comes with it.’

In ‘Michelle’s Story,’ Michelle starts a relationship with Gladys – a white woman much older than her and is upset when Gladys bites her while lovemaking. ‘[I]t’s weird but white women always bite me in bed. […] I read somewhere that biting’s a form of ownership, marking one’s territory, branding.’ Gladys doesn’t feel it’s important, or sinister, saying, ‘[p]erhaps it’s not about ethnicity or race at all.’ To which Michelle replies: ‘Not about race, Glad? When isn’t anything about race when you boil it down?’

Ageing and a lack of control over our bodies is a theme that runs throughout the collection. ‘For Norma bodies are mysteries. They commit mutiny every day but are never held to account.’ Norma, who had a stroke before she turned forty, is now in a wheelchair and has lost the ability to walk or talk, feels ‘gaoled’ by her body and ‘is convinced God takes away those gifts we don’t use.’

‘Olivia’s Story’ spans an entire lifetime, with particular focus on her early days, and her final ones which were spent at Belleview House, a nursing home. Subsequently, in ‘Seb’s Story’, Olivia tells Seb she’s ‘not frightened of death […] It’s the way of all living things.’

Talking to his best friend, Paula, Sebs asks, ‘Do you think we’ll mess up when we’re older?’ and Paula replies: ‘Probably. Looks like that’s all adults do, and then they get dementia and die.’ What seems like a throwaway comment from one young person to another, on reflection carries significant weight; not only for the lives within the stories of this collection, but for real life, the one we as readers are living and breathing and just trying to get through as best we can, messing up as little as possible, before we slip into old age and beyond.

Despite all the darkness and desolation, there are lighter moments and stories of hope, particularly Ricky’s story which mirrors the introduction; looking at not just his life, but the community of Broadwater Farm. Ricky’s friend, Tiny, belittles the redevelopment of the area, complaining that ‘[t]he stadium is just another Trojan horse’ and ‘[b]ig money don’t trickle down’, but Ricky refuses to be pulled into the negativity of his friend and is convinced ‘[c]hange is coming.’

The stories in Broadwater are all highly enjoyable. They do that wondrous thing of breaking open a world, just a fraction, to allow readers a glimpse of what it would be like to live it, to live in ‘Glorious technicolour Tottenham.’

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Broadwater, Jac Shreeves-Lee tells the stories of 14 fictional residents of the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham, North London. The area is well-known in real life as a symbol of ‘failed’ post-war architecture - 1960s concrete tower blocks that were supposed to be the utopian neighbourhoods of the future, but instead became undesirable and neglected ‘dumping grounds’ due to their design faults - as well as the 1985 and 2011 riots. Rather than concentrating on the issues that have come to define the estate, though, the author zooms in on the everyday lives of a variety of individuals, to great effect.

The one word I would use to describe Broadwater is ‘kaleidoscopic’. Turn the kaleidoscope once and you’re looking through the eyes of a young man who works in his father’s petrol station but loves literature and dreams of becoming a social worker. Turn it again and you’re looking through the eyes of an older woman who’s had a stroke and can’t talk, but is still the same perceptive, fun-loving person inside. Another turn, and you’re looking through the eyes of a middle-aged woman with a traumatic past who had her children taken into care when a tragic turn of events left her struggling to cope. All life is here.

Many of the stories have sad elements. None of the characters are saints, and some of them are in tough situations due to dysfunctional relationships, difficult childhoods, illness, bereavement, and the rock-and-a-hard-place decisions they have been forced to make. People suffer from broken hearts, tell lies, and are tipped over the edge.

Shreeves-Lee doesn’t limit herself to the present day, delving into characters’ histories to show us what they’ve been through and how they ended up where they are now. Reflecting the diversity of the estate, most of the characters are POC, and we gain an insight into the racism they have experienced, whether it’s the outright abuse that particularly characterised the 1950s-1980s, or the institutional racism that makes it hard for young Black people to succeed today.

That doesn’t mean this book is unremittingly grim, though. Hope breaks through in the form of ambitious young people, inspiring teachers, loving relationships, improving fortunes, and humour. Shreeves-Lee also has a real knack for making the ordinary sparkle; her descriptions of everyday scenes at the petrol station shop, as well as the café, are especially vivid and had me craving pre-lockdown life. There’s just something warm and cosy about steamed-up windows, custard creams and life rolling on - although it does involve an inordinate amount of mopping for some of the characters.

Broadwater is a kaleidoscopic collection of short stories that portrays a variety of characters and situations with sympathy, sparkle and warmth.

[David Wilby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only now are readers able to experience how Covid 19 gave space and inspiration to many writers, artists and creatives. Those who were busy redefining limitations and developing creative ideas under the unique conditions of lockdown like Jac Shreeves-Lee are for the first time beginning to publish works such as Broadwater.

I think it's fair to say lockdown was both good as well as bad for most people. Whereas it replenished the creative process with a new vigour and quiet hopefulness, self-isolation also scared the hell out of a lot people. Broadwater is a collection of fourteen short stories which confronts this reality by focussing on dual polarities: joy and tragedy, love and heartbreak, the commonplace and the magical. In one story, which takes place at Christmas, there's a mass march of 1,000 santas that starts at Trafalgar Square, while elsewhere we are witness to at least two stabbings, rioting and drugs dealing.

There's often a kind of hyperrealness to Shreeves-Lee's storytelling. It's as if, stuck indoors at her writing desk, she was inspired by bolts from the blue of creative licence that enabled her to dream up the whackiest of far-fetched storylines. To be honest, for a novel set on one of London's most notorious housing estates, I'd expected social breakdown, deteriorating cladding, rising damp, graffiti-strewn lifts, prostitution etc., instead we get stories of buried treasure in the back yard, wheelchair-bound disco dancers and trips to the stars. "Abhor what is evil. Hold fast to what is good." writes Shreeves-Lee at one point, blasting us with optimism, before we turn the page and the protagonist finally snaps, grabs a pistol and murders his neighbour.

You get the feeling the author is fighting banality itself. Broadwater takes us ever deeper into the cauterised twists and turns of North London's most ghettoised housing estate, until eventually "hope" and "escape" come to mean the same thing.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this type of short story collection, where the stories are loosely connected. The main character of one story may be a side character in another, showing you a fleeting glimpse of an outside perspective.

I think the author did a good job of showing a diverse range of people living in or connected to Broadwater in some way. Some stories touched me in some way and others didn't, as is often the case with short stories. A few of them were a bit too bleak for my tastes. There was a lot of sadness and longing for a better life. However, there were also some stories I really enjoyed, especially the closing story. That one leaves the collection on an interesting note, which I appreciated.


Overall, I enjoyed this collection and it provided me with a slice of life of a random bunch of fictional people inthe Tottenham area. It sometimes left me wanting a bit more, but I guess that is what short stories do!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Broadwater" is a collection of nineteen short stories about people who live in and around the Broadwater Farm Estate in Tottenham, North London. The estate became infamous after riots in 1985 and again in 2011. Jac Shreeves-Lee, the author, was born and raised in Tottenham; she still lives locally and sits on the bench as a magistrate. She is therefore deeply rooted in the area where she grew up, and these short stories, which have a combined cast of about 14 characters both show the community at its best as well as telling us the effects of social cleansing and the deprivation that the community is known for. I thoroughly recommend

[Barbara Tsipouras · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is collection of normal stories about normal people, all living on Broadwater Farm or nearby, some of them know each other. This knowing each other so well gives the impression of small town life and small town gossip.

I must admit that I had no idea what Broadwater Farm is. During the first 2-3 stories I thought of it as a real farm. Slowly I understood that it's just the opposite, some kind of ghetto.

It was hard to keep up with the different characters. The stories about very diverse people and their history lack suspense but leave you with a feeling of melancholy.

[Effy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an anthology of short stories are set either in Broadwater Farm in Tottenham or.with strong connections to "the Farm".

Whilst the individual stories were interesting, I was left feeling unsatisfied as they just offered a brief window into each character's life and then it was on to someone else. There was overall between the stories with certain characters receiving mentions in various stories but I found it really difficult to keep track of these connections.

The writing is absolutely impeccable, the format just wasn't to my tastes.

[Aindrila Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broadwater is an anthology of stories of simple people from the Broadwater farm. It gives us an insight into the people from a small town,their lives and their gossip.
Not only the writing beautiful and impeccable,but was also important. It talks about many important things,but never preaches. It reads like an old timey storytelling,and I love that.
The characters are so different and so diverse,which I adored. It was a bit tough to keep up with them all and remember how they all are linked though.
Overall,I really really liked this book.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging collection of short stories focusing on a variety of demographics across broadwater farm estate. Some stories at times seemed a little far fetched, e.g. extreme violence erupting from a previously cool-tempered level headed character. But this may just be my privileged perspective. I loved having a window into the lives of Londoners living on a council estate and the community dynamics that come with this.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down - one of my favourite reads. I did not know much about Tottenham but these short stories taught me a lot while keeping me hooked and engaged at each page turn. Every short story is so vivid and powerful, with the entirety of the book linked in an ingenious yet subtle manner. Jac is clearly an amazingly talented writer and I could not recommend this enough.

[Jacob Aron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all short story collections, a bit of a mixed bag. I liked how characters from one would pop up in another, which really helps the book feel like a portrait of Tottenham, but some of the dialogue didn't always ring true. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Elle Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still savouring the subtly linked short stories of the good people of Tottenham. Having spent time there myself I find the observations, atmosphere and life stories very sharp but fuzzy round the edges. Very moving. Exquisite.

[Jan Share · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I don’t usually read short stories but I loved being able to finish a story in one ‘sitting’.Having lived in Tottenham since 1985 until very recently I knew all the places in the book and could picture the settings of the story.
Only thing wrong - it’s Sindy not Cindy doll .

[theshortstory.co.uk (TSS Publishing)]

See Laura Besley's review on The Short Story: https://theshortstory.co.uk/short-sto...

[Phil Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection - a definite read for people who enjoy vignettes which all flow together. May have to re-read it straight away to get how wonderfully connected the short stories are.

[Katie (readingwithkt) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"These stories are about ordinary people struggling with the everyday realities of life. Characters 'cope and hope' within the context of contemporary London."

I have been reading this short story collection on and off since September, taking breaks after some of the heavy stories (of which there are a few). Between being glued to election coverage, I dipped in and out of the stories over the past couple of days and finished off the collection.

Jac Shreeves-Lee clearly has a talent for writing. I loved the way she builds characters and creates these micro-plots which allow you to dip into the real lives of the residents she has imagined. Each story felt perfectly formed in terms of the amount of character and plot development, something which I greatly admire in short story writers.

My favourite stories were Ricky's Story and Norma's Story, but honourable mentions must go to Cupcake's Story and Olivia's Story, too.

Norma's Story is dark and depressing, even deeply unsettling in places. But Jac Shreeves-Lee doesn't shy from sharing this darker side to real peoples lived experiences. Indeed, in many of the stories, I felt like she shone a light on people whose stories are rarely seen in popular media and I really respect that. Norma has suffered a stroke, has no access to her voice and is a wheelchair user. This sudden disability leaves Norma completely dependent on her husband: a man who seems to have little respect for her. On one occasion, he leaves Norma overnight in the care of a neighbour and they venture out together and have the loveliest time and it just filled my heart right up. Honestly, I was almost in tears reading Norma being treated so kindly. Hers is a story which will stay with me. CW: rape, abuse.

Ricky's Story is a beautiful imagining and a wonderful note to finish on: leaving the reader with a feeling of hope for the future. It was so beautiful that it made my little heart sing. I don't want to say too much about it because I think it's best experienced for yourself. CW: parental separation.

I really enjoyed the variety and diversity in this collection. Though some difficult themes are explored, I feel that Jac Shreeves-Lee is a master storyteller and I'd definitely like to read more of her writing.


Content warnings: weaponry, murder, racism, rape, sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, trauma, domestic violence, sex work. (please note this may not be exhaustive - it is from the top of my head).