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Should We Fall Behind Hb
Jimmy Noone escapes his difficult life in a small town and finds himself living on the streets of a big city where he meets Betwa, who brings with her a chance of real friendship and a glimpse of new hope. Betwa disappears and Jimmy walks across the sprawling metropolis searching for her.He arrives on Shifnal Road on the other side of the river where people from all over the world live side by side yet some inhabitants are so isolated they seem to have disappeared altogether. Jimmy becomes the catalyst for their lives colliding.Journeys to the street and to the city are retraced, so too are stories abundant with lost dreams, unrivalled friendship, profound love and stifling grief, each underpinned with the subtle threads of commonality which intersect them all.Should We Fall Behind is about the passing of time, and the intricate weaves of joy and suffering, love and loss which shape human life along the way. It is about the people who have somehow become invisible, and how their stories make them visible once more
Hardcover
First published October 22, 2020
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About the author
Sharon Duggal
5 books45 followersSharon Duggal's debut novel, The Handsworth Times was The Morning Star's 'Fiction Book of the Year 2016' and Brighton City Reads 2017. Her short stories appear in anthologies and her second novel, Should We Fall Behind, came out in Oct 2020 to critical acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 12, 2020
I need to begin by talking about Duggal’s prose. From the first page, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the writing, the crystalline precision of the carefully wrought sentences, as if each word had been painstakingly carved out of ice or glass. It is a wonderful, freeing feeling as a reader to sense that you are in exceptional hands from the moment you start reading. I was happy to give myself over to the story immediately. There is nothing pretentious about the prose, nothing purpled or excessive – it is clean, delicate, exact, showing the same kind of respect for words as the writer shows for her characters.
The use of multiple points of view works incredibly well in this novel. We open with Jimmy’s story, and he is, in many ways, at the heart of the novel. As we switch to different characters’ perspectives, we see him through their eyes. To Ebele, he is a threat, lurking too close to their home as he shelters in the wreck of a car. To Nikos, he is a nuisance. To Rayya, he is an object of compassion, and the recipient of her surplus of unused maternal energy. And to Tuli, Ebele’s young daughter, and one of my favourite characters in the book, he is Storyman, a visitor from the world of imagination.
Perspective and subjectivity is handled so brilliantly in this book; characters are more than they seem on the surface, their complexities revealing themselves to the reader and to some, though not all, of the other personages in the story, so that sympathy ebbs and flows between the characters and the reader in a delicate balance. Nikos and Ebele, and even at times Jimmy himself, present themselves to the world as harsh, abrasive, hard to like, but a gradual thread of understanding is woven through their backstories and their interactions. As with everything in Should We Fall Behind, this is cleverly and subtly done; there are no simplistic redemption arcs or pat happy endings here. Similarly, two of the most sympathetic characters, Betwa and Daban, are not given named point of view chapters, and the absence of their perspective is just as revealing as the presence of other points of view. Daban’s goodness and kindness is echoed in Rayya’s generosity and in Tuli’s innocence – he is there in their actions, almost, for me, taking on a more symbolic role. Betwa, too, is less of a physical presence, and the contrast between the news stories that circulate and the memories of her that Jimmy holds onto feels significant.
For me, this book is about radical empathy. It is about understanding without sentimentality, affording dignity and respect to people whose voices are too often silenced. I strongly feel that this novel is a powerful antidote to sensationalist news stories: the often tragic events of these characters’ lives are handled with sensitivity and a lack of drama that strikes me as not only compassionate but respectful. This book is not a twee morality tale about embracing our shared humanity in a big group hug; it is a quiet call to lay down arms and consider why we put up such barriers between ourselves and those we view as ‘other’. It feels deeply important, relevant and hugely intelligently rendered. I can’t recommend this book highly enough; it is one that will stay with me for a very long time.
The use of multiple points of view works incredibly well in this novel. We open with Jimmy’s story, and he is, in many ways, at the heart of the novel. As we switch to different characters’ perspectives, we see him through their eyes. To Ebele, he is a threat, lurking too close to their home as he shelters in the wreck of a car. To Nikos, he is a nuisance. To Rayya, he is an object of compassion, and the recipient of her surplus of unused maternal energy. And to Tuli, Ebele’s young daughter, and one of my favourite characters in the book, he is Storyman, a visitor from the world of imagination.
Perspective and subjectivity is handled so brilliantly in this book; characters are more than they seem on the surface, their complexities revealing themselves to the reader and to some, though not all, of the other personages in the story, so that sympathy ebbs and flows between the characters and the reader in a delicate balance. Nikos and Ebele, and even at times Jimmy himself, present themselves to the world as harsh, abrasive, hard to like, but a gradual thread of understanding is woven through their backstories and their interactions. As with everything in Should We Fall Behind, this is cleverly and subtly done; there are no simplistic redemption arcs or pat happy endings here. Similarly, two of the most sympathetic characters, Betwa and Daban, are not given named point of view chapters, and the absence of their perspective is just as revealing as the presence of other points of view. Daban’s goodness and kindness is echoed in Rayya’s generosity and in Tuli’s innocence – he is there in their actions, almost, for me, taking on a more symbolic role. Betwa, too, is less of a physical presence, and the contrast between the news stories that circulate and the memories of her that Jimmy holds onto feels significant.
For me, this book is about radical empathy. It is about understanding without sentimentality, affording dignity and respect to people whose voices are too often silenced. I strongly feel that this novel is a powerful antidote to sensationalist news stories: the often tragic events of these characters’ lives are handled with sensitivity and a lack of drama that strikes me as not only compassionate but respectful. This book is not a twee morality tale about embracing our shared humanity in a big group hug; it is a quiet call to lay down arms and consider why we put up such barriers between ourselves and those we view as ‘other’. It feels deeply important, relevant and hugely intelligently rendered. I can’t recommend this book highly enough; it is one that will stay with me for a very long time.
December 13, 2022
Bluemoose is publisher who have a knack of choosing the right stories. To date I have never ever been disappointed by book from their stable. Should we Fall behind is no exception to the rule.
The novel has elements that I love, mainly a set of character who are united by one event or one person. This the case of Should We.. that person is Jimmy Noone who is a runaway and has befriended a woman called Betwa, who has disappeared. Jimmy then remembers the neighbourhood she lives in and decides to look for here there, camping out in an abandoned car. This creates a rift in the area and the neighbours try interact with Jimmy.
We all have our own stories, and that is the case here. There’s Niko the Cypriot who had a hard life in both his homme country and adopted one. Rayya, who has led a life full of love and is taking cared of her invalid husband, Ebele who, through a couple of traumatic incidents is wary of men, her daughter Tuli and Daban, a sort of intermediary between all the characters. Incidentally he’s the only major character who does not get his own chapter but shows up constantly in the book.
Like real life, all these characters interact with each other, either by design or through coincidence and , kudos for that, none of these characters, bar Rayya, are good or bad . All of their experiences have shaped their outlook some are kinder but they are realistically human.
One major theme is family. Each protagonist is either close to their wives, partners and children or separated by death or circumstance but everyone knows that a family unit is powerful and they all make an effort to keep contact. One constant refrain is that most characters tell Jimmy to return home, something which he is reluctant to though, although he knows it’s the right thing.
Other themes crop up: abuse , social class, immigration, mental health. There’s a lot and is all done deftly in Sharon Duggal clean, yet evocative prose. I love it when the simplest of actions, be it walking into a pub or eating after many days of starvation is rendered in such a taut and descriptive way. Even the dialogue here has an organic feel to it.
Should we Fall Behind is a wonderful book which embraces the reader into a tight bearhug and exudes that same kind of warmth.
The novel has elements that I love, mainly a set of character who are united by one event or one person. This the case of Should We.. that person is Jimmy Noone who is a runaway and has befriended a woman called Betwa, who has disappeared. Jimmy then remembers the neighbourhood she lives in and decides to look for here there, camping out in an abandoned car. This creates a rift in the area and the neighbours try interact with Jimmy.
We all have our own stories, and that is the case here. There’s Niko the Cypriot who had a hard life in both his homme country and adopted one. Rayya, who has led a life full of love and is taking cared of her invalid husband, Ebele who, through a couple of traumatic incidents is wary of men, her daughter Tuli and Daban, a sort of intermediary between all the characters. Incidentally he’s the only major character who does not get his own chapter but shows up constantly in the book.
Like real life, all these characters interact with each other, either by design or through coincidence and , kudos for that, none of these characters, bar Rayya, are good or bad . All of their experiences have shaped their outlook some are kinder but they are realistically human.
One major theme is family. Each protagonist is either close to their wives, partners and children or separated by death or circumstance but everyone knows that a family unit is powerful and they all make an effort to keep contact. One constant refrain is that most characters tell Jimmy to return home, something which he is reluctant to though, although he knows it’s the right thing.
Other themes crop up: abuse , social class, immigration, mental health. There’s a lot and is all done deftly in Sharon Duggal clean, yet evocative prose. I love it when the simplest of actions, be it walking into a pub or eating after many days of starvation is rendered in such a taut and descriptive way. Even the dialogue here has an organic feel to it.
Should we Fall Behind is a wonderful book which embraces the reader into a tight bearhug and exudes that same kind of warmth.
September 13, 2020
I knew from the title and the cover that this story was going to be heart-breaking, and yet I was still unprepared by just how hard it would hit me, so much grief and that small chance of hope left a heavy feeling in the pit of my stomach. Duggal has got some amazing characters here, they are the sort of characters that really make you examine yourself and leave you wondering if you could deal with what life happens to throw at you. I am ashamed to admit that I judged one of the characters almost instantly and I was completely wrong about that person (not naming names to avoid any spoilers).
The plot of the story is about Jimmy, a young lad living on the streets, he is searching for a lost friend, he ends up sleeping in an abandoned car near where she grew up in the hope of finding her. His arrival has an impact on the lives of those living nearby, his presence pushes them to rethink their lives and their interactions with each other trigger a series of forgotten memories. You will fall for the characters, you'll find yourself unexpectedly caring for them and hoping that things turn around for them.
This book is so full of potential for hope that you can't help getting emotional, the last 50 pages are incredible, a real rollercoaster that had me smiling one minute almost welling up the next....(luckily I am a robot and am unable to cry)...and as I got to the last pages I had no idea how this book could end in a satisfactory way but Duggal pulls it off by giving the reader a perfect ending.
This book is going to be one I recommend to everybody by showing them the last line of the book's blurb:
It is about the people who have somehow become invisible, and how their stories make them visible once more.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2020...
The plot of the story is about Jimmy, a young lad living on the streets, he is searching for a lost friend, he ends up sleeping in an abandoned car near where she grew up in the hope of finding her. His arrival has an impact on the lives of those living nearby, his presence pushes them to rethink their lives and their interactions with each other trigger a series of forgotten memories. You will fall for the characters, you'll find yourself unexpectedly caring for them and hoping that things turn around for them.
This book is so full of potential for hope that you can't help getting emotional, the last 50 pages are incredible, a real rollercoaster that had me smiling one minute almost welling up the next....(luckily I am a robot and am unable to cry)...and as I got to the last pages I had no idea how this book could end in a satisfactory way but Duggal pulls it off by giving the reader a perfect ending.
This book is going to be one I recommend to everybody by showing them the last line of the book's blurb:
It is about the people who have somehow become invisible, and how their stories make them visible once more.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2020...
October 12, 2020
This is an absolutely brilliant book about humanity & what shapes us. Numerous characters show their personalities in different ways, and we learn how who they are has been shaped by their upbringing, mainly in relation to family, loss & grief. It is beautifully written & Sharon Duggal is so good at writing human emotion from the viewpoint of many different walks of life. Loved it, highly recommended!
April 15, 2021
The ambition and scope of this book should be commended, but the execution wasn’t there for me. I think that the dialogue was inauthentic (and, at times, insulting) and the relationships cloying. The diverse cast of characters felt forced and tokenistic, and while there were moving moments, the book’s timeline undermined their power.
September 28, 2020
It’s hard to describe this book in a way which will do it justice, so the best way I can describe it is as a beautiful and poignant exploration of humanity - from the kind young homeless man trying to find a girl who brightened up his life, to the cranky old man who seems to have shut the world out since losing his beloved wife.
Duggal focuses on a cast of characters who may so often be overlooked or written off without even thinking about how they find themselves in their situation - the angry single mother who won’t trust anyone, the wife caring for the man she’s loved since she was 12 years old, and of course the young man sleeping rough and just trying to make it through another day.
This is a story that opens your heart and your mind, and makes you incredibly thankful for the family or community around you. It’s heartbreaking and compelling but also full of glimmers of hope and kindness so pure that it leaves you wanting to be a better person.
I loved this so much, and have no doubt this will stay with me for a very long time.
January 2, 2021
Every now and then you read a book where the characters within stay with you long after you’ve closed the last page. This is that book. The way the characters are presented to the reader, the way each of their stories are revealed, and the way their lives intersect with one another...is done so skilfully. I absolutely adored this book, I really didn’t want it to end, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Brilliant. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 29, 2021
This has gone straight into my top five of the year.....gutted it has finished! I tried to read it really slowly but just could not put it down. I will definitely be on the look out for more of Sharon Duggal’s books. What an amazing writer.
May 27, 2022
A really touching, thought-provoking book. Loved it
April 28, 2024
i was irrevocably changed when i finished this book in the blistering heat of 2023. the different cultures, povs, character development, everything was perfection! you realised the deeper meaning of the book at a certain moment and u were always rooting for all the characters, it warmed and broke my heart at the same time.
February 23, 2022
A good multi - perspective story, focused on th lives of working class people and immigrants. A lot of it is the backstories of the characters, which gives them a lot of sympathetic depth but unfortunately at the expense of momentum and entertainment at times, for me
July 18, 2022
Oh this book! I think it broke my heart and then mended it again. Such a beautiful story, ultimately about what makes us human. I miss the characters already. This will be a hard book to follow.
January 28, 2022
This was a great book, well written, cleverly thought out and tenderly portraying the fragile and flawed life that is human.
I love that Sharon Duggal explores the very real side of homelessness, the prejudice, the abuse and the sheer ambivalence of some towards those who have fallen through the cracks.
Her analysis of human relationships, between neighbours, co-workers, family and potential lovers is astoundingly well crafted.
The story has good pace, tension, humour, humility and love. The story of Rayya and Satish was heartbreakingly tender and poetic and really resounded with me.
Beautiful penmanship here; highly recommended.
I love that Sharon Duggal explores the very real side of homelessness, the prejudice, the abuse and the sheer ambivalence of some towards those who have fallen through the cracks.
Her analysis of human relationships, between neighbours, co-workers, family and potential lovers is astoundingly well crafted.
The story has good pace, tension, humour, humility and love. The story of Rayya and Satish was heartbreakingly tender and poetic and really resounded with me.
Beautiful penmanship here; highly recommended.
March 19, 2023
I received this book via a giveaway from The StoryGraph. I listened to it on Audrey. This story was ok overall- it didn’t fully grab me and I found myself having trouble getting through it. It was interesting that the intertwined relationships all centered around various interactions with Jimmy. I think there could probably be less characters and have more time developing these fewer characters as it was confusing to follow all of the story lines as the narration jumped between people. The descriptions of various peoples’ interactions with unhoused people (Jimmy) were interesting and poignant.
March 10, 2023
Not an easy read but beautifully written. It centres on one area and the residents that live there. Jimmy is homeless and searching for a friend that is missing. We see the variety of reactions to this interloper in their lives, some compassionate and caring. Some much less so, all the lives intertwine although they barely know each other and we see how all are struggling in their own way. Its a sad story of love and loss and the pressure of everyday life.
June 22, 2025
4.5 stars
Set in a big city, this book shines a light on a few individuals and their stories and connections.
As I read the first chapter I was unsure, but as I started to meet all of the different characters I fell in love with it.
For me, it was a reminder that we don’t know what people are dealing with or have dealt with in the past and how that shapes them. The power of kindness shone through and that made me want to be a nicer person 😇😇
Set in a big city, this book shines a light on a few individuals and their stories and connections.
As I read the first chapter I was unsure, but as I started to meet all of the different characters I fell in love with it.
For me, it was a reminder that we don’t know what people are dealing with or have dealt with in the past and how that shapes them. The power of kindness shone through and that made me want to be a nicer person 😇😇
October 19, 2020
Should We Fall Behind is captivating and beautifully character led.
From the very first page, when we meet Jimmy Noone, as he forms his friendship with the grief stricken Betwa, you know you are in for the kind of story that is going to tug mercilessly at your heartstrings, but both the journey and the destination make this book an absolute pleasure to read.
When Jimmy loses track of Betwa on the streets, his search for his only friend takes us into the heart of the small community of Shifnal Road, which is populated with some beautifully drawn characters - the pensioner Rayya with her terminally ill husband; the feisty single mother Ebele and her lonely daughter Tuli; and the widowed landlord and shopkeeper Nikos - not forgetting the all round good guy and knight in shining armour, Daban. Each of these characters lives an isolated existence, keeping their history and secret sorrows hidden deep, even though they live and work cheek-by-jowl with each other.
Although, on the surface, they seem very different to each other, and the homeless man Jimmy who is sleeping rough in their neighbourhood, there are threads and similarities that connect each of their stories. As the novel progresses, Sharon Duggal lets us experience life from their different points of view, cleverly steering us through the happy and traumatic moments that have brought them to where they are, and showing us the reality of the lives they now live.
Their lives touch, in such superficial ways, and I found myself yearning for the moment where their bubbles would merge meaningfully and their relationships could develop into something more - but they are unable to break out of the prisons they have created for themselves without a catalyst, and this proves, most unexpectedly, to be Jimmy.
Jimmy's presence evokes some pretty strong reactions in out little cast of characters - from bringing out Rayya's long supressed motherly feelings; feeding into Ebele's fear and suspicion; inspiring Tuli's imagination and longing for a friend; provoking Nikos' sorrowful anger; and spurring the lovely Daban on a quest to do good for everyone - and when a moment of crisis brings them together it sparks real change for them all.
This is a beautiful book that delves into the lives of people suffering deep seated sorrows and loneliness, who have fallen through the cracks and been left behind by the endless rat-race of modern life. It is also one which shows us how important it is to look beneath the surface to the person below, and the magic that can happen when love. kindness and understanding are allowed to triumph over fear, discrimination and hatred. I loved it!
From the very first page, when we meet Jimmy Noone, as he forms his friendship with the grief stricken Betwa, you know you are in for the kind of story that is going to tug mercilessly at your heartstrings, but both the journey and the destination make this book an absolute pleasure to read.
When Jimmy loses track of Betwa on the streets, his search for his only friend takes us into the heart of the small community of Shifnal Road, which is populated with some beautifully drawn characters - the pensioner Rayya with her terminally ill husband; the feisty single mother Ebele and her lonely daughter Tuli; and the widowed landlord and shopkeeper Nikos - not forgetting the all round good guy and knight in shining armour, Daban. Each of these characters lives an isolated existence, keeping their history and secret sorrows hidden deep, even though they live and work cheek-by-jowl with each other.
Although, on the surface, they seem very different to each other, and the homeless man Jimmy who is sleeping rough in their neighbourhood, there are threads and similarities that connect each of their stories. As the novel progresses, Sharon Duggal lets us experience life from their different points of view, cleverly steering us through the happy and traumatic moments that have brought them to where they are, and showing us the reality of the lives they now live.
Their lives touch, in such superficial ways, and I found myself yearning for the moment where their bubbles would merge meaningfully and their relationships could develop into something more - but they are unable to break out of the prisons they have created for themselves without a catalyst, and this proves, most unexpectedly, to be Jimmy.
Jimmy's presence evokes some pretty strong reactions in out little cast of characters - from bringing out Rayya's long supressed motherly feelings; feeding into Ebele's fear and suspicion; inspiring Tuli's imagination and longing for a friend; provoking Nikos' sorrowful anger; and spurring the lovely Daban on a quest to do good for everyone - and when a moment of crisis brings them together it sparks real change for them all.
This is a beautiful book that delves into the lives of people suffering deep seated sorrows and loneliness, who have fallen through the cracks and been left behind by the endless rat-race of modern life. It is also one which shows us how important it is to look beneath the surface to the person below, and the magic that can happen when love. kindness and understanding are allowed to triumph over fear, discrimination and hatred. I loved it!
August 3, 2021
What a beautiful book! Full of wonderful characters who have been brought together in this story as Jimmy Noone travels across part of a large city looking for Betwa.
Jimmy met Betwa when sleeping rough and they had become friends. She left to return to the place she grew up but never came back to Jimmy who, missing her and worried about her, decides to look for her. Not knowing exactly where to find Betwa, Jimmy goes on his journey with a few clues and a little hope.
When he arrives at the place he hopes he will find Betwa he camps out in an abandoned car on some wasteland. As Jimmy searches we meet wonderful characters that will touch Jimmys life as he will theirs.
Characters such as Tuli a child who escapes into her imagination in order to cope with her life. Ebele, Tuli’s mother, has become weary and somewhat bitter of what life has become. Working for Nikos in his furniture store, which used to be owned by his uncle Kostas, she lives from one pay day to the next in a flat which is also owned by Nikos. Her neighbour is Grace a teacher who lives with her partner, Mandy. Next door is Mrs Rayya Banu who is caring for her husband Satish, he has Alzheimer’s and is bed ridden. They live on or near Shifnal Road. Then there’s Daban who was once a carer for Satish but now works for Nikos as a delivery driver. Nikos himself has a story, of great losses but also of love.
We get a picture of life as a homeless person in the opening of the book and through Jimmy’s journey looking for Betwa. We also learn of Jimmy’s life before he became homeless. The loss of his mother in childbirth when he and his brother, Ant, where so young and that had such an impact on his family.
We learn about these characters why and how some of them came to live in the U.K., what happened over the years to bring them to the place they now are – geographically and emotionally – we see how they interact, how they perceive themselves and each other. We see how unkind, even cruel, people can be albeit unwittingly. We see how helpful, thoughtful and kind people can be even when their own situations are so very difficult.
This is the beauty of Sharon Duggal’s writing that in this quite short book she has spread out before us humanity at it’s most vulnerable, given us a glint of hope and an understanding that if we treat each other with kindness the world would truly be a wonderful place. As the saying goes ‘Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.’ Here Duggal figuratively allows us to do just that in this wonderful and moving story.
I hope this book is widely read. That it is used to open up discussion – cultural, family, colour, sexual orientation, race, gender, age and more – on so many things, not all touched upon in the book but equally valid, and bring a deeper, kinder, richer understanding of each other that will allow us all to live together in peace, happiness and contentment. This book should be on the shelves of every library, on book club lists, in school libraries. It should be read and discussed throughout the U.K. and beyond. I would most certainly recommend it.
Book: Purchased
Jimmy met Betwa when sleeping rough and they had become friends. She left to return to the place she grew up but never came back to Jimmy who, missing her and worried about her, decides to look for her. Not knowing exactly where to find Betwa, Jimmy goes on his journey with a few clues and a little hope.
When he arrives at the place he hopes he will find Betwa he camps out in an abandoned car on some wasteland. As Jimmy searches we meet wonderful characters that will touch Jimmys life as he will theirs.
Characters such as Tuli a child who escapes into her imagination in order to cope with her life. Ebele, Tuli’s mother, has become weary and somewhat bitter of what life has become. Working for Nikos in his furniture store, which used to be owned by his uncle Kostas, she lives from one pay day to the next in a flat which is also owned by Nikos. Her neighbour is Grace a teacher who lives with her partner, Mandy. Next door is Mrs Rayya Banu who is caring for her husband Satish, he has Alzheimer’s and is bed ridden. They live on or near Shifnal Road. Then there’s Daban who was once a carer for Satish but now works for Nikos as a delivery driver. Nikos himself has a story, of great losses but also of love.
We get a picture of life as a homeless person in the opening of the book and through Jimmy’s journey looking for Betwa. We also learn of Jimmy’s life before he became homeless. The loss of his mother in childbirth when he and his brother, Ant, where so young and that had such an impact on his family.
We learn about these characters why and how some of them came to live in the U.K., what happened over the years to bring them to the place they now are – geographically and emotionally – we see how they interact, how they perceive themselves and each other. We see how unkind, even cruel, people can be albeit unwittingly. We see how helpful, thoughtful and kind people can be even when their own situations are so very difficult.
This is the beauty of Sharon Duggal’s writing that in this quite short book she has spread out before us humanity at it’s most vulnerable, given us a glint of hope and an understanding that if we treat each other with kindness the world would truly be a wonderful place. As the saying goes ‘Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.’ Here Duggal figuratively allows us to do just that in this wonderful and moving story.
I hope this book is widely read. That it is used to open up discussion – cultural, family, colour, sexual orientation, race, gender, age and more – on so many things, not all touched upon in the book but equally valid, and bring a deeper, kinder, richer understanding of each other that will allow us all to live together in peace, happiness and contentment. This book should be on the shelves of every library, on book club lists, in school libraries. It should be read and discussed throughout the U.K. and beyond. I would most certainly recommend it.
Book: Purchased
October 10, 2020
At the heart of this story is Jimmy. Young, troubled and homeless, he finally seems to find a human connection with another young homeless girl, Betwa. When Betwa disappears Jimmy finds himself drawn to the neighbourhood she has described, desperate to find the warmth and humility she has awakened within him.
Within this novel are a cast of people waiting to be found. Multigenerational, multicultural, these skilfully drawn characters all come together in one place. But each have different stories that have modelled and shaped them.
Here are a collection of lives that haven’t taken the course individuals have hoped. In each case familial relationships have both nurtured and disappointed; at times they have twisted, at times they have broken. Each character harbours their losses and regrets, there is a tangible sense of each holding themselves still and close , trying to not to crack as they get through each day.
The arrival of Jimmy within their community, a human being at his lowest ebb, acts as a catalyst. For Rayya, looking after her dying husband, watching the love of her life disappear before her eyes, her long buried maternal feelings are reignited and she reaches out with compassion and empathy.
Ebele, running from her past, protecting her young daughter, reacts with hostility and fear. While landlord, Nikos Makrides, can barely lift himself from his own grief and loss to feel anything at all.
With insight and clarity Duggal brings the community of characters together, woven tight with a gentle prose, sharpen with an edge of humanity and reality that brings some sense of resolution to each character. Here is a story that effortlessly pulls the reader into the depths of character’s hopes, dreams and despair. Here is a commentary on how we treat our fellow man, when our fellow man is in desperate need. This is a window on what individuals truly see when they encounter a homeless person or more specifically when they fail to see. Why, for example, do we equate possessions with actual human worth? When does a person stop being seen as a person? With intelligence and perception this writing sweeps away the myths surrounding street dwellers and forces us to look beyond what we think we see.
The relationship developing between Betwa and Jimmy , shows us the best of human connections. It is this relationship that reawakens him and gives him purpose, and it is a process repeated within the story of other characters . This novel is a web of human connection, radiating outwards in the most joyful way.
Within this novel are a cast of people waiting to be found. Multigenerational, multicultural, these skilfully drawn characters all come together in one place. But each have different stories that have modelled and shaped them.
Here are a collection of lives that haven’t taken the course individuals have hoped. In each case familial relationships have both nurtured and disappointed; at times they have twisted, at times they have broken. Each character harbours their losses and regrets, there is a tangible sense of each holding themselves still and close , trying to not to crack as they get through each day.
The arrival of Jimmy within their community, a human being at his lowest ebb, acts as a catalyst. For Rayya, looking after her dying husband, watching the love of her life disappear before her eyes, her long buried maternal feelings are reignited and she reaches out with compassion and empathy.
Ebele, running from her past, protecting her young daughter, reacts with hostility and fear. While landlord, Nikos Makrides, can barely lift himself from his own grief and loss to feel anything at all.
With insight and clarity Duggal brings the community of characters together, woven tight with a gentle prose, sharpen with an edge of humanity and reality that brings some sense of resolution to each character. Here is a story that effortlessly pulls the reader into the depths of character’s hopes, dreams and despair. Here is a commentary on how we treat our fellow man, when our fellow man is in desperate need. This is a window on what individuals truly see when they encounter a homeless person or more specifically when they fail to see. Why, for example, do we equate possessions with actual human worth? When does a person stop being seen as a person? With intelligence and perception this writing sweeps away the myths surrounding street dwellers and forces us to look beyond what we think we see.
The relationship developing between Betwa and Jimmy , shows us the best of human connections. It is this relationship that reawakens him and gives him purpose, and it is a process repeated within the story of other characters . This novel is a web of human connection, radiating outwards in the most joyful way.
October 15, 2020
This is a thought provoking read about Britain in 2020.
Thank you to Kevin at Bluemoose Books for this proof copy of Should We Fall Behind by Sharon Duggal, my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.
2020 is my year of reading books by new authors and from new publishers, aided by being furloughed from work at the moment. I’m so pleased that I have been able to discover the writing of Sharon Duggal and will be looking to read more books published by Bluemoose Books.
Jimmy is a young man who has travelled far from home seeking a new life but is currently homeless. Meeting Betwa encourages him to open up about how he ended up where he is, so when she goes missing, he starts to look for her.
As Jimmy looks for Betwa, he meets Rayya at Shifnal Road, who looks after him with food parcels and other home comforts. Rayya left India many years ago with her husband Satish, who is now lost in his own world. Rayya would have loved to become a mother and reflects on this.
Next door to Rayya there are two flats. Upstairs, Tuli (age 6) lives with her mother, Ebele. Tuli wants her mother to stick to her promises about going outside and to have a warm home, like their downstairs neighbour Grandy (aka Grace and Mandy). Tuli enjoys spending time with Grace (who has chocolate) and being allowed into their garden. Her mother struggles to trust people, especially men.
Ebele’s flat on Shinfal Road is owned by her employer, Cypriot born Nikos Makrides, who owns the furniture shop. His wife died recently and his children are living thousands of miles away in Canada. His uncle was a good friend to Rayya and Satish. He employs Daban, who has worked as a carer for Satish and met Jimmy when working as a pub doorman.
I enjoyed how Sharon Duggal slowly drip fed information about each of the main characters, about their past and their present situations, so that the reader can start to understand how they ended up so lost and lonely. As I started the book, I found myself making judgements about characters which changed totally during the course of the book – a timely reminder that we should never make snap judgements, but should look at the full picture.
As the story develops, the lives of the main characters become more interwoven and the neighbours are suddenly visible to each other. This story is full of tragedy and heartbreak, of lost loves and opportunities, but also gives the characters the chance to slowly move forward, to try to stop history repeating itself and to allow others to help.
I’ve read a wide mixture of books in 2020, but this is one that will stay with me for a long time. I work for a social mobility charity and this is a timely reminder about how we need to ensure that the young people we work with aren’t allowed to become invisible. In this era of Instagram influencers and the strange obsession with celebrities, this book reminds us about the real lives not being edited by photo filters. A 5 star read for this reader.
Thank you to Kevin at Bluemoose Books for this proof copy of Should We Fall Behind by Sharon Duggal, my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.
2020 is my year of reading books by new authors and from new publishers, aided by being furloughed from work at the moment. I’m so pleased that I have been able to discover the writing of Sharon Duggal and will be looking to read more books published by Bluemoose Books.
Jimmy is a young man who has travelled far from home seeking a new life but is currently homeless. Meeting Betwa encourages him to open up about how he ended up where he is, so when she goes missing, he starts to look for her.
As Jimmy looks for Betwa, he meets Rayya at Shifnal Road, who looks after him with food parcels and other home comforts. Rayya left India many years ago with her husband Satish, who is now lost in his own world. Rayya would have loved to become a mother and reflects on this.
Next door to Rayya there are two flats. Upstairs, Tuli (age 6) lives with her mother, Ebele. Tuli wants her mother to stick to her promises about going outside and to have a warm home, like their downstairs neighbour Grandy (aka Grace and Mandy). Tuli enjoys spending time with Grace (who has chocolate) and being allowed into their garden. Her mother struggles to trust people, especially men.
Ebele’s flat on Shinfal Road is owned by her employer, Cypriot born Nikos Makrides, who owns the furniture shop. His wife died recently and his children are living thousands of miles away in Canada. His uncle was a good friend to Rayya and Satish. He employs Daban, who has worked as a carer for Satish and met Jimmy when working as a pub doorman.
I enjoyed how Sharon Duggal slowly drip fed information about each of the main characters, about their past and their present situations, so that the reader can start to understand how they ended up so lost and lonely. As I started the book, I found myself making judgements about characters which changed totally during the course of the book – a timely reminder that we should never make snap judgements, but should look at the full picture.
As the story develops, the lives of the main characters become more interwoven and the neighbours are suddenly visible to each other. This story is full of tragedy and heartbreak, of lost loves and opportunities, but also gives the characters the chance to slowly move forward, to try to stop history repeating itself and to allow others to help.
I’ve read a wide mixture of books in 2020, but this is one that will stay with me for a long time. I work for a social mobility charity and this is a timely reminder about how we need to ensure that the young people we work with aren’t allowed to become invisible. In this era of Instagram influencers and the strange obsession with celebrities, this book reminds us about the real lives not being edited by photo filters. A 5 star read for this reader.
January 16, 2021
This is a gem of a book, a quiet study the people inhabiting a suburban street, neighbours who barely interact until they have a shared problem.
The problem arrives in the form of “Storyman” Jimmy Noone, a homeless runaway, travelling across a city in search of his friend Betwa. He is “mired, stuck in a kind of sinkhole”, moving from a subway - where he is woken by Vivaldi at best, and the Police at worst – to a shop doorway where he is kicked awake - and finally an abandoned car at the back of a row of houses.
The people of Shifnal Road who see Jimmy from their back windows, respond differently to his presence.
Rayya Banu, caring for her husband Satish who can no longer eat , starts cooking again, bringing Jimmy food, blankets, books and advice.
“The woman began to irritate him with her cloying concern.”
Ebele Mangaroo sees him only as a potential threat to her young daughter, Tuli, and insists that her employer and landlord, Nicos Makrides take action.
Daban, former carer for Satish Banu, current driver for Nicos Makrides and occasional bouncer, shows Jimmy the most uncomplicated acceptance and acts as the catalyst for what happens next.
“Life isn’t a fairy-tale.”
This is a story where generosity and love, innocence and acceptance, enriches the giver as much as the receiver.
If you are looking for a beautifully crafted novel with kindness at its core, told through rich character portraits of people who feel real, with all their baggage and ignorance and fears and private griefs, then this is the perfect lockdown book to bring a little joy.
The problem arrives in the form of “Storyman” Jimmy Noone, a homeless runaway, travelling across a city in search of his friend Betwa. He is “mired, stuck in a kind of sinkhole”, moving from a subway - where he is woken by Vivaldi at best, and the Police at worst – to a shop doorway where he is kicked awake - and finally an abandoned car at the back of a row of houses.
The people of Shifnal Road who see Jimmy from their back windows, respond differently to his presence.
Rayya Banu, caring for her husband Satish who can no longer eat , starts cooking again, bringing Jimmy food, blankets, books and advice.
“The woman began to irritate him with her cloying concern.”
Ebele Mangaroo sees him only as a potential threat to her young daughter, Tuli, and insists that her employer and landlord, Nicos Makrides take action.
Daban, former carer for Satish Banu, current driver for Nicos Makrides and occasional bouncer, shows Jimmy the most uncomplicated acceptance and acts as the catalyst for what happens next.
“Life isn’t a fairy-tale.”
This is a story where generosity and love, innocence and acceptance, enriches the giver as much as the receiver.
If you are looking for a beautifully crafted novel with kindness at its core, told through rich character portraits of people who feel real, with all their baggage and ignorance and fears and private griefs, then this is the perfect lockdown book to bring a little joy.
May 9, 2021
A surprisingly touching and beautiful book. Duggal writes with delicate and poignant prose, that makes even the dreary streets they present feel inviting.
The story initially follows a young homeless man Jimmy on the streets of an unnamed british city (probably London, but could equally be Birmingham or somewhere). He meets a new homeless woman Betwa; they soon strike a fast friendship but she one day goes completely missing. He then follows some half-remembered directions to the area of Shifnal Road, where he searches for her. The book then branches out to explore the lives of the inhabitants of Shifnal Road, past and present.
All of these narratives are presented with deep empathy; really letting us in to the hearts of this ragtag group of strangers. It's very well done- a significant number of these people are pretty awful; to themselves and each other. But you udnerstand them, and you can see why they are the way they are. It's doubly heartbreaking when two characters, both of whose viewpoints we've inhabited, clash against each other. You know that all either needs is a bit of kindness, and someone to reach out to them; but neither of them are capable of doing so, and the heartache compunds on itself.
In terms of active plot there's not a huge amount going on, it's really just a rather emotional slice-of-life, exploring the issues of immigration to the UK, multiculturalism, and class divides in a deft and realistic manner. Weirdly then, some of the dialogue holds it back from being a truly excellent book- some of it feels distinctly stilted and unnatural.
On the whole, a good read, with authentic modern characters and their moving stories.
The story initially follows a young homeless man Jimmy on the streets of an unnamed british city (probably London, but could equally be Birmingham or somewhere). He meets a new homeless woman Betwa; they soon strike a fast friendship but she one day goes completely missing. He then follows some half-remembered directions to the area of Shifnal Road, where he searches for her. The book then branches out to explore the lives of the inhabitants of Shifnal Road, past and present.
All of these narratives are presented with deep empathy; really letting us in to the hearts of this ragtag group of strangers. It's very well done- a significant number of these people are pretty awful; to themselves and each other. But you udnerstand them, and you can see why they are the way they are. It's doubly heartbreaking when two characters, both of whose viewpoints we've inhabited, clash against each other. You know that all either needs is a bit of kindness, and someone to reach out to them; but neither of them are capable of doing so, and the heartache compunds on itself.
In terms of active plot there's not a huge amount going on, it's really just a rather emotional slice-of-life, exploring the issues of immigration to the UK, multiculturalism, and class divides in a deft and realistic manner. Weirdly then, some of the dialogue holds it back from being a truly excellent book- some of it feels distinctly stilted and unnatural.
On the whole, a good read, with authentic modern characters and their moving stories.
July 25, 2021
I have just finished this book and really enjoyed the way the characters’ lives wove in and out of each other to tell a compelling story.
It was really a story of hopes being dashed for those who had also had to endure the injustices of homelessness, poverty, racism and domestic abuse – all in a supposed multicultural environment that never really gets to be skin deep.
I found the uprooted relationship between Rayya and Satish especially touching and the inevitability of decline so poignant. Despite her disappointments in life, she still found a time to be kind in a place most would have despaired of. We also came to understand why Nikos had become so embittered, and why taking him at and reacting with him at face value would have been so worthless. I was really pleased at his attempt at rebuilding his family relationships.
The wisdom of displaced elderly people shines through the book as much as their laments for the passing of time that has also transported them from ‘home.’ Nobody deserves to be lonely and yet it is said that all of us are only ‘two bad decisions’ from becoming Jimmy. Falling behind is truly an appalling prospect – thank goodness there are some in ‘society’ who recognise that all individuals have a story to tell and just need a little help to catch up.
I hadn’t read any previous books by this author but may well try her debut novel The Handsworth Times next.
It was really a story of hopes being dashed for those who had also had to endure the injustices of homelessness, poverty, racism and domestic abuse – all in a supposed multicultural environment that never really gets to be skin deep.
I found the uprooted relationship between Rayya and Satish especially touching and the inevitability of decline so poignant. Despite her disappointments in life, she still found a time to be kind in a place most would have despaired of. We also came to understand why Nikos had become so embittered, and why taking him at and reacting with him at face value would have been so worthless. I was really pleased at his attempt at rebuilding his family relationships.
The wisdom of displaced elderly people shines through the book as much as their laments for the passing of time that has also transported them from ‘home.’ Nobody deserves to be lonely and yet it is said that all of us are only ‘two bad decisions’ from becoming Jimmy. Falling behind is truly an appalling prospect – thank goodness there are some in ‘society’ who recognise that all individuals have a story to tell and just need a little help to catch up.
I hadn’t read any previous books by this author but may well try her debut novel The Handsworth Times next.
October 8, 2021
By coincidence I read this book immediately after 'Girl, Woman, Other' by Bernardine Evaristo. The two books bear comparison: both assemble a disparate cast of characters, loosely connected; both explore the pain and joy we cause one another; both are set mainly in contemporary – ie, post-Thatcher – Britain; both have themes of loss, disappointment, hope, courage and integrity.
Both are superbly written, with humour, deftly-employed research, and sharp detail.
Both explore how courage works, what it feels like, where it comes from.
In both cases, too, key figures are immigrants and the children of immigrants, struggling against prejudice and condescension.
To praise one is not to diminish the other. So I would like to applaud Sharon Duggal’s overarching compassion in 'Should We Fall Behind'. The title is telling: all the protagonists in her novel – Jimmy, the young tramp; Ebele, the anxiety-ridden mother; her daughter, the child Tuli; Nikos, the ageing and angry Greek Cypriot; Rayya, the elderly Indian lady; Daban, the strong young driver whose decency runs like a stream of silver through the novel, and who will not tolerate lies – all have in some respect, and at some point, fallen behind, and, quite simply, need a hand. I finished reading with tears in my eyes. What a wonderful book.
Both are superbly written, with humour, deftly-employed research, and sharp detail.
Both explore how courage works, what it feels like, where it comes from.
In both cases, too, key figures are immigrants and the children of immigrants, struggling against prejudice and condescension.
To praise one is not to diminish the other. So I would like to applaud Sharon Duggal’s overarching compassion in 'Should We Fall Behind'. The title is telling: all the protagonists in her novel – Jimmy, the young tramp; Ebele, the anxiety-ridden mother; her daughter, the child Tuli; Nikos, the ageing and angry Greek Cypriot; Rayya, the elderly Indian lady; Daban, the strong young driver whose decency runs like a stream of silver through the novel, and who will not tolerate lies – all have in some respect, and at some point, fallen behind, and, quite simply, need a hand. I finished reading with tears in my eyes. What a wonderful book.
January 6, 2024
As a long-term resident of Birmingham (including, at times, Handsworth, Lozells and later Smethwick) I thoroughly enjoyed Duggal's first book, 'Handsworth', and expected more of the same from 'Should We Fall Behind'. To a certain extent, I got what I came for - careful, familiar detail of Asian and to a lesser extent Cypriot, Turkish and Carribean culture, but plenty of coverage also of white working class culture (the book is set in Shifnal near Telford to the north-west of the Midlands). Characters are well drawn and distinguished, and are memorable. The setting is hugely familiar - declining northern towns, people left behind.
The alternating chapters for different characters' voices is a creative writing trope that annoys me, so I didn't enjoy that. It's so lazy and predictable. Nor is this a particularly uplifting book; in fact it's quite depressing in describing lives that have fallen apart for whatever reason. It's a straightforward read, and I'll likely read her next book, but probably to while away a migraine or a train journey, rather than with a sense of great anticipation.
The alternating chapters for different characters' voices is a creative writing trope that annoys me, so I didn't enjoy that. It's so lazy and predictable. Nor is this a particularly uplifting book; in fact it's quite depressing in describing lives that have fallen apart for whatever reason. It's a straightforward read, and I'll likely read her next book, but probably to while away a migraine or a train journey, rather than with a sense of great anticipation.
December 3, 2021
Should We Fall Behind* Sharon Duggal *. Este libro es sobre formar comunidad. Como a veces la formamos por decisión y como a veces llega. Nos sitúa en un barrio de ciudad inglesa, de esos de calle angosta y sin salida, donde llega a vivir Jimmy, al tomarse un auto abandonado. Entramos con él y su vida de vagabundo, que trata de encontrar a una amiga perdida com pocas más pistas que las cositas que dejó atrás. Los vecinos aparecen por las ventanas, no muy conformes. Y con esa corriente de aire entramos por la rendija a conocer la vida que ocurre en cada casa, el camino que los llevó a vivir ahí. Hay personajes preciosos y entrañables que se quedan con uno por mucho tiempo (Tuli, Rayya, Daban), pero sobre todo hay humanidad, que la autora despliega seleccionando los detalles, mostrando los sentimientos. Las historias son evocativas y enganchan. Nos pasean por distintos continentes y épocas, nadando en las corrientes y remolinos del tiempo hasta llegas a este vecindario. Es la vida como es, una interconexión humana. Excelente lectura.
April 26, 2022
Should We Fall Behind tells the story of Jimmy, a young man who has been sleeping rough for a while. Dossing down in a subway one night he meets Betwa, and as their friendship blossoms it seems that maybe life is looking up.
When Betwa disappears, Jimmy tries to find her by haunting the places she described to him. This brings him to Shifnal Road and its residents. The story centres on Jimmy and his quest, but each of the people he encounters has their own story, their own sorrows and heartbreaks. Told from these multiple viewpoints, their lives are slowly revealed as Jimmy's mere presence causes ripples in the community and for many becomes a catalyst for change.
Sharon Duggal writes beautifully, with sensitivity and compassion, bringing these different characters to full and vibrant life. She demands empathy with lives so varied from our own experience - even the difficult and spiky ones. Should We Fall Behind is a fabulous read, but also an intelligent and subtle reminder that none of us is so very different from our fellow humans, and we are all deserving of the same dignity and respect.
When Betwa disappears, Jimmy tries to find her by haunting the places she described to him. This brings him to Shifnal Road and its residents. The story centres on Jimmy and his quest, but each of the people he encounters has their own story, their own sorrows and heartbreaks. Told from these multiple viewpoints, their lives are slowly revealed as Jimmy's mere presence causes ripples in the community and for many becomes a catalyst for change.
Sharon Duggal writes beautifully, with sensitivity and compassion, bringing these different characters to full and vibrant life. She demands empathy with lives so varied from our own experience - even the difficult and spiky ones. Should We Fall Behind is a fabulous read, but also an intelligent and subtle reminder that none of us is so very different from our fellow humans, and we are all deserving of the same dignity and respect.
January 11, 2025
You know when you get to a book on your to read list which has been there for a while. You can't remember where you heard about it, who recommended it, or anything, it doesn't even sound like the type of book you would enjoy. You nearly delete it but then decide to give it a go and are really glad you did.
The book follows Jimmy, a young homeless man, searching for an also homeless girl, Betwa, who he met and spent a few weeks with on the street before she disappeared one evening at a fair. He goes to Shifnal Road where she lived and stays in an abandoned car while he searches for her. The chapters of the book follows the lives of a few of Shifnal Road's residents, Rayya, looking after her disabled husband, Ebele, and her daughter Tuli, and Nikos their landlord. The book explores the histories of this group characters, how life has treated them, their dreams and misfortunes and their journey to where they are at this point of time.
It is a beautiful books, a poignant title for all those who get left behind in life.
The book follows Jimmy, a young homeless man, searching for an also homeless girl, Betwa, who he met and spent a few weeks with on the street before she disappeared one evening at a fair. He goes to Shifnal Road where she lived and stays in an abandoned car while he searches for her. The chapters of the book follows the lives of a few of Shifnal Road's residents, Rayya, looking after her disabled husband, Ebele, and her daughter Tuli, and Nikos their landlord. The book explores the histories of this group characters, how life has treated them, their dreams and misfortunes and their journey to where they are at this point of time.
It is a beautiful books, a poignant title for all those who get left behind in life.
September 28, 2020
Sharon Duggal's second offering is an achingly tender gem, which explores the meaning of home and community in its many, complex guises.
The story centres on Jimmy, a homeless young man in a nameless British city, who has fallen in love with another street dweller, the mysterious Betwa. He takes as a base an abandoned car in a grotty alley close to where she lived and we meet the characters he encounters there: Rayya who liked to run as a girl and now cares for her terminally ill husband, Satish; angry single mother Ebele and her daughter Tuli; Ebele's employer Nikos, and Daban who sees beyond Ebele’s brittle exterior to the hurt within and wants to care for her. On these beautifully crafted pages we’re invited into the worlds of characters not often seen in contemporary fiction - the lost and the forgotten. People who’ve been let down by a country which promised so much. Jimmy hopes that if Betwa could ‘carry his pain for a just a moment it would be made lighter’ and ‘with another person’s touch upon it, he’d know it was okay not to be completely fixed. Being broken didn’t mean he couldn’t be pulled up if he’d somehow fallen behind.’ How might it be if we could carry another’s pain just for a moment? The sentiment (rather than sentimentality, of which there is none) of Should We Fall Behind is so pertinent to now. I adored it.
The story centres on Jimmy, a homeless young man in a nameless British city, who has fallen in love with another street dweller, the mysterious Betwa. He takes as a base an abandoned car in a grotty alley close to where she lived and we meet the characters he encounters there: Rayya who liked to run as a girl and now cares for her terminally ill husband, Satish; angry single mother Ebele and her daughter Tuli; Ebele's employer Nikos, and Daban who sees beyond Ebele’s brittle exterior to the hurt within and wants to care for her. On these beautifully crafted pages we’re invited into the worlds of characters not often seen in contemporary fiction - the lost and the forgotten. People who’ve been let down by a country which promised so much. Jimmy hopes that if Betwa could ‘carry his pain for a just a moment it would be made lighter’ and ‘with another person’s touch upon it, he’d know it was okay not to be completely fixed. Being broken didn’t mean he couldn’t be pulled up if he’d somehow fallen behind.’ How might it be if we could carry another’s pain just for a moment? The sentiment (rather than sentimentality, of which there is none) of Should We Fall Behind is so pertinent to now. I adored it.
February 15, 2021
I had no preconceived ideas as what was between the covers of this book .. but as the novel unfolds, bringing to life the complex and sad lives of the characters, I realised it was going to be a heartbreaker. Sensitively written, with a focus on multicultural backgrounds I found myself quite grounded and so privileged when everyone within the book struggled with their own history.
The novel gradually picks up momentum with stories of lost dreams, profound love and grief, but what grows from this is the commonality and friendships that unexpectedly develop. It is above all a story about life, learning from others and facing the truth.
The novel gradually picks up momentum with stories of lost dreams, profound love and grief, but what grows from this is the commonality and friendships that unexpectedly develop. It is above all a story about life, learning from others and facing the truth.
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