The Corner Shop
A BBC 2 Between the Covers Book Club Pick
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The Corner Shop
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Narrated by:
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Babita Sharma
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By:
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Babita Sharma
About this listen
A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK
WINNER OF THE BUSINESS BOOK AWARD FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL BOOK THAT PROMOTES DIVERSITY
'Nuanced, human and engaging' Nikesh Shukla, Observer
'Full of life, characters, gossip and all the richness of the local community' Sir David Jason
'A delightful story of growing up "above the shop"' Nigel Slater, Observer
'Cleverly links her own memories of shop-bound life with the last 50 years of British history' Spectator
'I come from a hidden world: I am the daughter of shopkeepers. I've seen you on a Sunday morning, nipping out to get a pint of milk or to grab a newspaper. I came to know a lot about you; whether your politics leaned to the right or left, whether you were gay or straight, and whether you were plagued by cash-flow problems or had enough disposable income to indulge your penchant for Cadbury's Crème Eggs.'
Babita Sharma was raised in a corner shop in Reading, and over the counter watched a changing world, from the clientele to the products to the politics of the day. Along with the skills to mop a floor perfectly and stack a shelf, she gained a unique insight into a shifting landscape - and an institution that, despite the creep of supermarkets, online shopping and delivery, has found a way to evolve and survive. The Corner Shop is the remarkable human story of these little institutions that have changed the course of our history.
From the general stores of the first half of the 20th century (one of which was run by the father of a certain Margaret Thatcher), to the reimagined corner shops run by immigrants from India, East Africa and Eastern Europe from the 60s to the noughties, the corner shop has shaped the way we shop, the way we eat, and the way we understand ourselves.
'A triumph' Radio Times
'A compelling, full selection box of a story' Sanjeev Kohli
'One of the best books I've read on the immigrant experience in this country' Daily Mail
'I loved it cover to cover' Angela Clutton, author of The Vinegar Cupboard
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What listeners say about The Corner Shop
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 27-09-19
grt.book
l loved it very much. It is true story of corner shop .Very interesting book
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sally R
- 10-05-22
A trip back in time with a new perspective
I wasn't taken by the title and wouldn't normally choose this type of book. However this was chosen by the book club and I was pleasantly surprised.
This story takes me back to childhood and the innocent eyes with which I saw everything. I wasn't aware of why the electric went off so often, or that England faced such a huge depression. These pieces of information filled in many gaps for me and I didn't expect to find them in this book. Also not to forget the story itself. It is about hardship and struggle which I knew well, parents worked all hours and days of the week and they were a tag team to look after the kids in-between jobs. The struggle for the Sharma's was different but much like my own family.
This isn't just about a corner shop and the Sharma's, it is about life in the 70s as well as the lead up to the 70s and the years after. Politics that changes lives for the better and worst. Legislation that affected shop owners. But don't let that put you off if you don't like politics - because I don't either. Instead the story picks out changes in the law that affect us all, how the Sharma's and thousands like them ended up in England, because they were asked to come here - England needed them.
Interesting and eye opening and I'm glad to have listened. Just a quick note on the narrator... good overall just felt the delivery was rather formal instead of feeling relaxed, this may just be because it was true rather than fiction. Wouldn't put me off listening again or to another audiobook she has narrated ☺️
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hoops
- 26-06-19
Delightful and informative
A delightful and charming review of both the corner shop and recent social history from an unlikely perspective. Perceptive and informative. Excellent commentary.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Y A ROWLAND
- 26-03-23
Educational & Thought provoking
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Great insight in to the lives of our Corner Shop Keepers. Fascinating journey through the social history surrounding the corner shop. Recommend.
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