In this ‘Big Smoke novel’, John Lanchester cleverly helps to melt the difference between fiction and non-fiction. A report on the City of London merged with a unique blend of perfectly created characters and their endeavours, this book has a hint of Dickens about the way in which it is written. His unique take on the English language creates vivid images, so much so that we know now what it is like not to get your bonus as a banker, or to be arrested with no explanation as to why. Following a small-section of the City’s elite and the international newcomers that come to work for them, this books focuses on the relations between the settled and the settlers as the latter come to integrate themselves into British society. Hard and toughened, people from all corners of the world – from Poland to Senegal – learnt to adapt to and overcome humiliation as they change their ways. A story about overcoming false allegations, the divide between rich and poor and issues of religion in Victorian England coming to the forefront, this John Lanchester novel is a MUST READ!

Welcome to Pepys Road, London home to a whole spectrum of people from all walks of life. There's an elderly woman at number 42, a Pakistani family who run the local shop at number 68, and a young football star at number 27. But that's London for you, if you afford to live there, you're welcome. What really kick starts this novel is mysterious postcards dropped through their door saying “We Want What You Have”. This book is ridiculously satisfying as we get to indulgence our voyeuristic tendencies and peep into each of the resident’s lives. Who would want what they have? The grass may be greener on the other side but would you want to be dying of a brain tumour, subjected to racism every day or be taken from your home? And that's just three of the residents. The whole street is full of flawed humans trying to keep up appearances. Even the foreign residents embrace the British way of Keep Calm and Carry On. The author has perfectly captured each of these unique voices and their struggles. It is humorous and heart breaking journey into today's London. A roller-coaster of a read in glorious Technicolor.

Book covers massive themes with a cosy turn of phrase. Great Stuff!

This story is set in our capital city and truly reflects the multi-cultural nature of our society. The author places the characters in one particular street, either because they live there or are involved with someone who does. For instance one of the most sympathetic and interesting characters is a Polish workman who works for some of the tenants. Though moving from one character to another in a narrative is not an original idea it certainly works well in this novel. The author gives a fascinating and realistic insight into the lives and emotions of a range of individuals. The story is set around the time of the beginning of our current financial crisis. This adds the element of recent history and shows the financial and other effects on the lives of some of the characters. There is a central mystery that draws many of the lives together but this is secondary to the story of the love, sadness, greed and laughter that is their everyday existence. The novel is Dickensian in its emotional scope, richness of characters, and as a portrait of modern London and English society.

This book shows a slice of life in one of London’s streets where the increase in house prices has made everybody who’s lived there for a long time incredibly wealthy and everybody else incredibly envious. As this book is about neighbours, they don’t always have a lot in common. If I have one criticism of this book, then it’s that with some of the characters you know from the beginning what’s going to happen to them, like the banker caught up in the financial crash. But the characters are well-described and their stories are often touching or funny. I found this a really good read.