Mixed bag

This is unsurprisingly a bit of a mixed bag but all are enjoyable to a degree and you get to meet some new talent.

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A pick and mix of pieces

of prose from people of varying degrees of fame these days. some have continued and others faded to obscurity. The writing is quite interesting in many cases, but there is little ability to develop any plot or character development in the course of twenty to forty minutes.


The only items I was moved to research to try to hear more were unavailable.

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Great introduction to many great writers

Fantastic and varied writing in this collection. I had a hard time pacing myself so that I could fully enjoy each author. Overall, a wonderful sample of these authors’ works and I look forward to getting my hands on their next novels. A common theme seemed to be the experience of immigrants in Britain or elsewhere (Indians in Dubai). We reap the rewards of such a multi-cultural society with the variety of stories produced from the immigrant experience.

Most memorable stories:

Tahmina Anam: Anwar gets everything
The story of Indians brought to work on building sites in Dubai. We get a glimpse into their living conditions, the demands to send money home, their difficult working life. One of the workmen thinks he is entitled to more--a girlfriend, air-conditioning, trips to the cinema--but ends up washing windows on a swaying platform on one of the highest buildings in the middle of a sandstorm. Anwar advises him not to look down.

Naomi Alderman: Soon and in our days
I loved this tongue-in-cheek tale, a humorous piece about Judaism in Britain, which makes us think about religion in society. Praying to the Prophet Elijah, we have a sneak preview of what would happen if he did come down on Earth. It’s not often that I actually LOL when reading, but I did here. A memorable line about Greta, who didn’t like goat's cheese. I need to read more from this author. Listening to her podcast on the Granta website, I believe she is now mentored by Margaret Atwood. Looking forward to reading more.

David Szalay: Europa
Told through the eyes of a Hungarian immigrant as he accepts a job as minder for Emma, this is a fascinating insight into his world. Emma is brought to a hotel for her first job as a prostitute. The minder reflects on his role, while attracted too to Emma, and sits with Emma’s boyfriend in the car waiting.

Evie Wyld: After the Hedland
Set in the Aussie outback among sheep shearers, the main character, a woman, tells of the tough existence and the difficulty of being a woman in this world. She is running away from something so she has no choice but to stick with what the outback throws at her. Looking forward to reading the finished novel.

Adam Thirlwell: Slow Motion
Written in conversational style, the main character really takes the reader into his head. ‘What I thought was this…’ We know his every thought as he tries to dispose of a girl's body, a girl who he woke up with but doesn’t remember going to bed with.

Sanjeev Sahota: Arrivals
Indians working and living in a cramped flats in Sheffield. Most of them are illegal and know they have no choice but to accept the worst jobs with toughest conditions. The main character got married in order to have a proper visa but doesn’t dare suggest to his wife that they move in together. He describes his days making chapatti before work, sharing the house, buying supplies from different shops to avoid chances of being caught as illegals in Britain. They go to work in van in the freezing cold, yet are thrilled to see snow for the first time. There is respect for elders, and a curiosity to know from which region in India each new person comes. I was totally engrossed in this story and am looking forward to completed novel.

Many other stories and authors worth reading in this collection.

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3 people found this helpful

Great free sample, but mostly poor other chapters

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The variability of the chapters was too great. Sometimes there were stories in a chapter, other times it was a just a chapter from a book. I think if this was just a collection of short stories (like the free sample) it would have been much better and satisfying. Too many random snippets.

What could Granta Magazine have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Reading a chapter from a yet to be published book is not that much fun. there's no entry point and no ending, so altogether inadequate. I think Granta could have been more descriptive in what this book actually contained.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

They were mostly very good.

Any additional comments?

I was very disappointed upon reading the full book after reading a great initial free sample, and feel a little duped. Perhaps if the free sample hadn't been a complete story in itself (and a very good one), then i might not have been persuaded to by this. Would not buy again :-(

Great free sample, but mostly poor or varied other chapters.

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